bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of Life for Children With Cochlear Implants: Perceived Benefits and Problems and the Perception of Single Words and Emotional Sounds
Authors: Schorr Efrat A. , Roth Froma P. , Fox Nathan A. 
Published: July 2008

PurposeThis study examined children’s self-reported quality of life with a cochlear implant as related to children’s actual perceptions of speech and the emotional information conveyed by sound. Effects of age at amplification with hearing aids and fitting of cochlear implants on perceived quality of life were also investigated.MethodA self-reported quality of life questionnaire and assessments of speech perception (single words) and emotion identification were administered to a sample of 37 children with cochlear implants who were congenitally deaf, who were 5–14 years of age, and who all used spoken language.ResultsThe children reported significant improvement in quality of life because of their cochlear implants, and they also reported low levels of concern about typical problems associated with wearing an implant. The children’s perceived quality of life did not significantly predict speech perception performance at the single word level. In contrast, increased quality of life predicted better performance on the emotion identification task. Age at first use of amplification predicted perceived quality of life.ConclusionsThe findings regarding age reinforce the importance of early detection and intervention for children’s positive quality of life with cochlear implants later in childhood.
Changes in Articulator Movement Variability During Phonemic Development: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Grigos Maria I. 
Published: July 2008

PurposeThe present study explored articulator movement variability during voicing contrast acquisition. The purpose was to examine whether oral articulator movement trajectories associated with the production of voiced/voiceless bilabial phonemes in children became less variable over time.MethodJaw, lower lip, and upper lip movements were recorded longitudinally in six, 19 month-old children as they began producing the voiceless phoneme /p/. Displacement signals were time and amplitude normalized. The spatiotemporal index (A. Smith, L. Goffman, H. Zelaznik, S. Ying, & C. McGillem, 1995) was computed to examine the variability in movement trajectories across repeated productions of target utterances.ResultsSpatiotemporal variability of lip and jaw movements significantly decreased as children began producing the voiceless phoneme /p/. A significant negative correlation between the STI and the length of voice onset time (VOT) was also found in the voiceless productions in 4 of the 6 participants.ConclusionsOral articulator movement variability is reduced in children across the stabilization of voicing contrast acquisition. Further, the relationship between VOT contrast production and movement variability suggests that a coordinate system between the oral and laryngeal articulators may be refined as children acquire the voicing contrast.
Voiced Initial Consonant Perception Deficits in Older Listeners With Hearing Loss and Good and Poor Word Recognition
Authors: Phillips Susan L. , Richter Scott J. , McPherson David 
Published: July 2008

Purpose
This study examined differences in voiced consonant–vowel (CV) perception in older listeners with normal hearing and in 2 groups of older listeners with matched hearing losses: those with good and those with poor word recognition scores.

Method

Thirty-six participants identified CVs from an 8-item display from the natural voiced initial consonants /b, d, g, m, n, ð, v and z/ in three vowel contexts (/
a
, o, u/) spoken by a male and a female talker.

Results

The listeners with hearing loss and poor word recognition scores (WRS) made more of the same types of errors, as well as errors not made by listeners with hearing loss and good word recognition. Errors above chance rates for these listeners were highest in the context of /
a
/ and were similar in the contexts of /o/ and /u/. Sequential information analyses (SINFAs) verified that information was transmitted least efficiently in the context of /
a
/. The results yielded a list of consonant confusions unique to listeners with poor WRS.

Conclusions
Listeners with poor WRS have more difficulty identifying voiced initial consonants in CV syllables than do listeners with good WRS. These listeners made some systematic errors, but most errors were nonsystematic, perhaps due to the low level of feature information transmitted.
Simulating the Effects of Spread of Electric Excitation on Musical Tuning and Melody Identification With a Cochlear Implant
Authors: Spahr Anthony J. , Litvak Leonid M. , Dorman Michael F. , Bohanan Ashley R. , Mishra Lakshmi N. 
Published: July 2008

PurposeTo determine why, in a pilot study, only 1 of 11 cochlear implant listeners was able to reliably identify a frequency-to-electrode map where the intervals of a familiar melody were played on the correct musical scale. The authors sought to validate their method and to assess the effect of pitch strength on musical scale recognition in normal-hearing listeners.MethodMusical notes were generated as either sine waves or spectrally shaped noise bands, with a center frequency equal to that of a desired note and symmetrical (log-scale) reduction in amplitude away from the center frequency. The rate of amplitude reduction was manipulated to vary pitch strength of the notes and to simulate different degrees of current spread. The effect of the simulated degree of current spread was assessed on tasks of musical tuning/scaling, melody recognition, and frequency discrimination.ResultsNormal-hearing listeners could accurately and reliably identify the appropriate musical scale when stimuli were sine waves or steeply sloping noise bands. Simulating greater current spread degraded performance on all tasks.ConclusionsCochlear implant listeners with an auditory memory of a familiar melody could likely identify an appropriate frequency-to-electrode map but only in cases where the pitch strength of the electrically produced notes is very high.
Modelling non-stationary gene regulatory processes with a non-homogeneous Bayesian network and the allocation sampler
Authors: Grzegorczyk Marco , Husmeier Dirk , Edwards Kieron D. , Ghazal Peter , Millar Andrew J. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Method: The objective of the present article is to propose and evaluate a probabilistic approach based on Bayesian networks for modelling non-homogeneous and non-linear gene regulatory processes. The method is based on a mixture model, using latent variables to assign individual measurements to different classes. The practical inference follows the Bayesian paradigm and samples the network structure, the number of classes and the assignment of latent variables from the posterior distribution with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), using the recently proposed allocation sampler as an alternative to RJMCMC.
Results: We have evaluated the method using three criteria: network reconstruction, statistical significance and biological plausibility. In terms of network reconstruction, we found improved results both for a synthetic network of known structure and for a small real regulatory network derived from the literature. We have assessed the statistical significance of the improvement on gene expression time series for two different systems (viral challenge of macrophages, and circadian rhythms in plants), where the proposed new scheme tends to outperform the classical BGe score. Regarding biological plausibility, we found that the inference results obtained with the proposed method were in excellent agreement with biological findings, predicting dichotomies that one would expect to find in the studied systems.
Availability: Two supplementary papers on theoretical (T) and experi-mental (E) aspects and the datasets used in our study are available from http://www.bioss.ac.uk/associates/marco/supplement/
Contact: marco@bioss.ac.uk, dirk@bioss.ac.uk
Three ocean state indices implemented in the Mercator-Ocean operational suite
Authors: Crosnier L. , Drévillon M. , Ramos Buarque S. , Soulat F. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Crosnier, L., Drévillon, M., Ramos Buarque, S., and Soulat, F. 2008. Three ocean state indices implemented in the Mercator-Ocean operational suite. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1504–1507. We present three indices for the state of the ocean, all computed using the Mercator-Ocean analyses and ocean forecast system: an upwelling index based on sea surface temperature (SST), the tropical cyclone heat potential, showing the thermal energy available in the ocean to enhance or decrease the power of cyclones, and the Indian Ocean dipole mode index based on SST. Such indices are updated on a weekly or monthly basis.
Peeking into Pit Fields: A Multiple Twinning Model of Secondary Plasmodesmata Formation in Tobacco
Authors: Faulkner Christine , Akman Ozgur E. , Bell Karen , Jeffree Chris , Oparka Karl 
Published: July 2008

AbstractIn higher plants, plasmodesmata (PD) are major conduits for cell–cell communication. Primary PD are laid down at cytokinesis, while secondary PD arise during wall extension. During leaf development, the basal cell walls of trichomes extend radially without division, providing a convenient system for studying the origin of secondary PD. We devised a simple freeze-fracture protocol for examining large numbers of PD in surface view. In the postcytokinetic wall, simple PD were distributed randomly. As the wall extended, PD became twinned at the cell periphery. Additional secondary pores were inserted at right angles to these, giving rise to pit fields composed of several paired PD. During wall extension, the number of PD increased fivefold due to the insertion of secondary PD. Our data are consistent with a model in which a subset of the original primary PD pores function as templates for the insertion of new secondary PD, spatially fixing the position of future pit fields. Many of the new PD shared the same wall collar as the original PD pore, suggesting that new PD pores may arise by fissions of existing PD progenitors. Different models of secondary PD formation are discussed. Our data are supported by a computational model, Plasmodesmap, which accurately simulates the formation of radial pit fields during cell wall extension based on the occurrence of multiple PD twinning events in the cell wall. The model predicts PD distributions with striking resemblance to those seen on fractured wall faces.
XopD SUMO Protease Affects Host Transcription, Promotes Pathogen Growth, and Delays Symptom Development inXanthomonas-Infected Tomato Leaves
Authors: Kim Jung-Gun , Taylor Kyle W. , Hotson Andrew , Keegan Mark , Schmelz Eric A. , Mudgett Mary Beth 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe demonstrate that XopD, a type III effector from Xanthomonas campestris pathovar vesicatoria (Xcv), suppresses symptom production during the late stages of infection in susceptible tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaves. XopD-dependent delay of tissue degeneration correlates with reduced chlorophyll loss, reduced salicylic acid levels, and changes in the mRNA abundance of senescence- and defense-associated genes despite high pathogen titers. Subsequent structure-function analyses led to the discovery that XopD is a DNA binding protein that alters host transcription. XopD contains a putative helix-loop-helix domain required for DNA binding and two conserved ERF-associated amphiphilic motifs required to repress salicylic acid– and jasmonic acid–induced gene transcription in planta. Taken together, these data reveal that XopD is a unique virulence factor in Xcv that alters host transcription, promotes pathogen multiplication, and delays the onset of leaf chlorosis and necrosis.
ArabidopsisPUB22 and PUB23 Are Homologous U-Box E3 Ubiquitin Ligases That Play Combinatory Roles in Response to Drought Stress
Authors: Cho Seok Keun , Ryu Moon Young , Song Charlotte , Kwak June M. , Kim Woo Taek 
Published: July 2008

AbstractUbiquitination is involved in diverse cellular processes in higher plants. In this report, we describe Arabidopsis thaliana PUB22 and PUB23, two homologous U-box–containing E3 ubiquitin (Ub) ligases. The PUB22 and PUB23 genes were rapidly and coordinately induced by abiotic stresses but not by abscisic acid. PUB22- and PUB23-overexpressing transgenic plants were hypersensitive to drought stress. By contrast, loss-of-function pub22 and pub23 mutant plants were significantly more drought-tolerant, and a pub22 pub23 double mutant displayed even greater drought tolerance. These results indicate that PUB22 and PUB23 function as negative regulators in the water stress response. Yeast two-hybrid, in vitro pull-down, and in vivo coimmunoprecipitation experiments revealed that PUB22 and PUB23 physically interacted with RPN12a, a subunit of the 19S regulatory particle (RP) in the 26S proteasome. Bacterially expressed RPN12a was effectively ubiquitinated in a PUB-dependent fashion. RPN12a was highly ubiquitinated in 35S:PUB22 plants, but not in pub22 pub23 double mutant plants, consistent with RPN12a being a substrate of PUB22 and PUB23 in vivo. In water-stressed wild-type and PUB-overexpressing plants, a significant amount of RPN12a was dissociated from the 19S RP and appeared to be associated with small-molecular-mass protein complexes in cytosolic fractions, where PUB22 and PUB23 are localized. Overall, our results suggest that PUB22 and PUB23 coordinately control a drought signaling pathway by ubiquitinating cytosolic RPN12a in Arabidopsis.
Thirty‐eight years of change in a tropical forest: plot data from Mpanga Forest Reserve, Uganda
Authors: Taylor D. , Hamilton A. C. , Lewis S. L. , Nantale G. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractVariations in the composition and structure of mid‐altitude, semi‐deciduous topical forest in a 0.64‐ha plot in Mpanga Forest Reserve, Uganda, are described for a 38‐year period to 2006. Repeat surveys of trees in the plot with a girth ≥30 cm at reference height in 1982, 1993 and 2006, following a baseline survey in 1968, indicate only relatively minor fluctuations in density, Shannon diversity, evenness, basal area (BA) and estimated above ground biomass. The largest trees [diameter at breast height (dbh) > 40 cm] and main canopy taxa (e.g. Celtis mildbraedii) accounted for the largest fraction of BA. Mortality was the highest amongst taxa classed as early seral, understorey and/or in the smallest size category (dbh = 9.5–20 cm), while new recruits were predominantly understorey taxa. Only one tree was recorded as felled for human use between the surveys of 1968 and 1993. In contrast, a considerable increase in anthropogenic disturbance was evident at the time of the 2006 survey, and illegal logging now poses a substantial threat to future resource availability and carbon storage in what was for a time one of the most protected areas of forest in Uganda.
Audit of motor weakness and premature catheter dislodgement after epidural analgesia in major abdominal surgery
Authors: Königsrainer I. , Bredanger S. , Drewel‐Frohnmeyer R. , Vonthein R. , Krueger W. A. , Königsrainer A. , Unertl K. E. , Schroeder T. H. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryIn a quality improvement audit on epidural analgesia in 300 patients after major abdominal surgery, we identified postoperative lower leg weakness and premature catheter dislodgement as the most frequent causes of premature discontinuation of postoperative epidural infusion. Lower limb motor weakness occurred in more than half of the patients with lumbar epidural analgesia. In a second period monitoring 177 patients, lumbar catheter insertion was abandoned in favour of exclusive thoracic placement for epidural catheters. Additionally, to prevent outward movement, the catheters were inserted deeper into the epidural space (mean (SD) 5.2 (1.5) cm in Period Two vs 4.6 (1.3) cm in Period One). Lower leg motor weakness declined from 14.7% to 5.1% (odds ratio 0.35; 95% confidence interval 0.16–0.74) between the two periods. Similarly, the frequency of premature catheter dislodgement was reduced from 14.5% to 5.7% (odds ratio 0.35; 95% confidence interval 0.17–0.72). With a stepwise logistic regression model we demonstrated that the odds of premature catheter dislodgement was reduced by 43% for each centimetre of additional catheter advancement in Period Two. We conclude that careful audit of specific complications can usefully guide changes in practice that improve success of epidural analgesia regimens.
Loss of the JAK2 intramolecular auto‐inhibition mechanism is predicted by structural modelling of a novel exon 12 insertion mutation in a case of idiopathic erythrocytosis
Authors: Albiero Elena , Madeo Domenico , Ruggeri Marco , Bernardi Martina , Giorgetti Alejandro , Rodeghiero Francesco 
Published: July 2008

SummaryWe report a novel gain‐of‐function JAK2 exon 12 insertion mutation in a patient with idiopathic erythrocytosis and low serum erythropoietin level. To date, only rare cases of such mutations have been reported in the JAK2 exon 12. Using computer‐based structural modelling we propose that this mutation causes the loss of the JAK2 auto‐inhibition step, leading to the constitutive activation of JAK2 tyrosine kinase‐dependent activity. Our model‐based hypothesis provides a useful approach for the investigation of the phenotype‐genotype relationship in myeloproliferative disorders involving JAK2.
Identification of candidate tumour suppressor gene loci for Hodgkin and Reed‐Sternberg cells by characterisation of homozygous deletions in classical Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines
Authors: Giefing Maciej , Arnemann Joachim , Martin‐Subero Jose Ignacio , Nieländer Inga , Bug Stefanie , Hartmann Sylvia , Arnold Norbert , Tiacci Enrico , Frank Matthias , Hansmann Martin‐Leo , Küppers Ralf , Siebert Reiner 
Published: July 2008

SummarySeveral tumour suppressor genes (TSG) have been identified as a result of mapping homozygous deletions in cancer cells. To identify putative TSG involved in the pathogenesis of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), we investigated four cHL cell lines (L428, HDLM2, KMH2, L1236) using four different array‐Comparative Genomic Hybridisation (array‐CGH) platforms and focused on high resolution identification of homozygous deletions. Out of 79 candidate regions of bi‐allelic loss identified by array‐CGH, besides previously described regions, 28 novel regions of homozygous deletions could be verified by polymerase chain reaction. These regions ranged from 13 kb to 619 kb in size. Eleven of the 28 novel bi‐allelic losses were putative copy number polymorphisms. This left 17 regions that might harbour novel tumour suppressors involved in Hodgkin lymphoma. Expression profiling with two different platforms confirmed lack of expression of the majority of the genes located in the homozygous deletions. Furthermore, analysis of ontology annotations of genes located in the homozygously deleted regions indicated an enrichment of genes involved in apoptosis and cell death. In summary, through the mapping of homozygous deletions in cell lines this study identified a series of genes, such as SEPT9, GNG7 and CYBB, which might encode candidate tumour suppressors involved in the pathogenesis of cHL.
Diagnosing and treating Diamond Blackfan anaemia: results of an international clinical consensus conference
Authors: Vlachos Adrianna , Ball Sarah , Dahl Niklas , Alter Blanche P. , Sheth Sujit , Ramenghi Ugo , Meerpohl Joerg , Karlsson Stefan , Liu Johnson M. , Leblanc Thierry , Paley Carole , Kang Elizabeth M. , Leder Eva Judmann , Atsidaftos Eva , Shimamura Akiko , Bessler Monica , Glader Bertil , Lipton Jeffrey M. ,   on behalf of the participants of the Sixth Annual Daniella Maria Arturi International Consensus Conference
Published: July 2008

SummaryDiamond Blackfan anaemia (DBA) is a rare, genetically and clinically heterogeneous, inherited red cell aplasia. Classical DBA affects about seven per million live births and presents during the first year of life. However, as mutated genes have been discovered in DBA, non‐classical cases with less distinct phenotypes are being described in adults as well as children. In caring for these patients it is often difficult to have a clear understanding of the treatment options and their outcomes because of the lack of complete information on the natural history of the disease. The purpose of this document is to review the criteria for diagnosis, evaluate the available treatment options, including corticosteroid and transfusion therapies and stem cell transplantation, and propose a plan for optimizing patient care. Congenital anomalies, mode of inheritance, cancer predisposition, and pregnancy in DBA are also reviewed. Evidence‐based conclusions will be made when possible; however, as in many rare diseases, the data are often anecdotal and the recommendations are based upon the best judgment of experienced clinicians. The recommendations regarding the diagnosis and management described in this report are the result of deliberations and discussions at an international consensus conference.
Guidelines for point‐of‐care testing: haematology
Authors: Briggs Carol , Guthrie David , Hyde Keith , Mackie Ian , Parker Norman , Popek Mary , Porter Neil , Stephens Clare 
Published: July 2008

SummaryThis guideline provides a framework for the arrangement of point‐of‐care testing (POCT) services, previously known as near patient testing (patient self‐testing not covered). POCT is defined as any analytical test performed outside the laboratory. Primary users are often non‐laboratory healthcare workers. The guidance applies to units within hospitals as well as general practioner surgeries, community clinics and pharmacies. The head of the haematology laboratory or a point of care coordinator must take responsibility for all aspects of the POCT service, including quality and training. Depending on the size and nature of the POCT practice, a local POCT manager may also be required. Equipment selected should have received a successful independent performance evaluation. If an independent evaluation has not been performed the purchaser should assess the device according to the protocol in this document. POCT devices should generate results that are comparable to those of the local laboratory. An accredited external quality assessment programme and internal quality control system must be established. Manufacturers promoting POCT devices designed for non‐laboratory sites, e.g. pharmacies, should undertake training and annual competency assessment, perhaps using a web‐based system. A diagram to illustrate the stages for the implementation of a POCT service is illustrated.
High‐grade transformation in splenic marginal zone lymphoma with circulating villous lymphocytes: the site of transformation influences response to therapy and prognosis
Authors: Dungarwalla M. , Appiah‐Cubi S. , Kulkarni S. , Saso R. , Wotherspoon A. , Osuji N. , Swansbury J. , Cunningham D. C. , Catovsky D. , Dearden C. E. , Matutes E. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryIn a series of 48 patients with splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) with circulating villous lymphocytes, we describe the clinical and laboratory features of nine cases that transformed to high‐grade B‐cell lymphoma. These patients had a significantly greater incidence of peripheral lymph node involvement at diagnosis when compared to SMZL patients who did not transform (P < 0·03). While transformation in the bone marrow is frequently refractory to therapy and associated with poor outcome in SMZL, lymph node transformation responds well to chemotherapy with durable progression‐free and overall survival.