bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Christine Noble’s story
Authors: Hames Annette , Noble Christine 
Published: March 2009

Accessible summary

Christine and her family have had intensive support into their home since February 2004.
Initially it did not work because there were too many different people doing too many different things.
Support was much better once the support team was smaller.
With the additional support of her family and advocate, Christine has been able to successfully look after her children at home.

SummaryChristine lives with her three children, Elizabeth, George and Louise. Following the unexpected death of her husband in December 2001, she has been offered practical support into the home, so that she can continue to look after her children. It has been a long struggle, getting the right support package into the home, and here, we tell Christine’s story.Christine’s story identifies how communication is vital, particularly when so many organisations are involved. She has been able to express her needs through the help of her advocate and her extended family. Looking back on the service, difficulties have occurred at times when there is communication breakdown. In order to foster good communication within the home, the immediate support group works best with as few people as possible. Everyone’s roles and responsibilities need to be clear, and as members of the group change, group members and their managers need to be reminded of these. As Christine has felt that she is more valued, so her skills have grown and improved.This story ends with a list of what seem to have been the vital ingredients of this support package. We hope that this information will be helpful to other families and service providers.
Ecology and taxonomy‐driven deviations in the frog call–body size relationship across the diverse Australian frog fauna
Authors: Hoskin C. J. , James S. , Grigg G. C. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractRelationships between some properties of frog calls and body size are widely recognized. However, generality across call components and diverse faunas, and sources of deviation, remain poorly tested. Using 116 east Australian frog species, we tested the relationship between three call traits and body size, and the effects of taxonomic family and calling habitat. Call dominant frequency (DF) has a highly significant negative relationship with size, whereas call duration and pulse rate do not. Frog families show the same slope of relationship between DF and size, but hylids call at significantly higher frequency relative to size. Within hylids, stream breeders call at significantly lower DF than pool breeders of comparable size – below the DF of stream noise in typical breeding habitat – a shift likely to enhance signal detection against background environmental noise. This contrasts with all previous observations from other regions that frogs call at high (even ultrasonic) frequency to avoid masking by stream noise.
Regulation of catecholamine release and tyrosine hydroxylase in human adrenal chromaffin cells by interleukin‐1β: role of neuropeptide Y and nitric oxide
Authors: Rosmaninho‐Salgado Joana , Araújo Inês M. , Álvaro Ana Rita , Mendes Alexandrina F. , Ferreira Lígia , Grouzmann Eric , Mota Alfredo , Duarte Emília. P. , Cavadas Cláudia 
Published: March 2009

J. Neurochem. (2009)109, 911–922.AbstractAdrenal chromaffin cells synthesize and secrete catecholamines and neuropeptides that may regulate hormonal and paracrine signaling in stress and also during inflammation. The aim of our work was to study the role of the cytokine interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) on catecholamine release and synthesis from primary cell cultures of human adrenal chromaffin cells. The effect of IL‐1β on neuropeptide Y (NPY) release and the intracellular pathways involved in catecholamine release evoked by IL‐1β and NPY were also investigated. We observed that IL‐1β increases the release of NPY, norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine (EP) from human chromaffin cells. Moreover, the immunoneutralization of released NPY inhibits catecholamine release evoked by IL‐1β. Moreover, IL‐1β regulates catecholamine synthesis as the inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase decreases IL‐1β‐evoked catecholamine release and the cytokine induces tyrosine hydroxylase Ser40 phosphorylation. Moreover, IL‐1β induces catecholamine release by a mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)‐dependent mechanism, and by nitric oxide synthase activation. Furthermore, MAPK, protein kinase C (PKC), protein kinase A (PKA), and nitric oxide (NO) production are involved in catecholamine release evoked by NPY. Using human chromaffin cells, our data suggest that IL‐1β, NPY, and nitric oxide (NO) may contribute to a regulatory loop between the immune and the adrenal systems, and this is relevant in pathological conditions such as infection, trauma, stress, or in hypertension.
Differences in myocardial velocities during supine and upright exercise stress echocardiography in healthy adults
Authors: Bjällmark Anna , Larsson Matilda , Shahgaldi Kambiz , Lind Britta , Winter Reidar , Brodin Lars‐Åke 
Published: March 2009

SummaryBackground:  Tissue Velocity Imaging (TVI) is a method for quantitative analysis of longitudinal myocardial velocities, which can be used during exercise and pharmacological stress echocardiography. It is of interest to evaluate cardiac response to different types of stress tests and the differences between upright and supine bicycle exercise tests have not been fully investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare cardiac response during supine and upright exercise stress tests.Method:  Twenty young healthy individuals underwent supine and upright stress test. The initial workload was set to 30 W and was increased every minute by a further 30 W until physical exhaustion. Tissue Doppler data from the left ventricle were acquired at the end of every workload level using a GE Vivid7 Dimension system (>200 frames s−1). In the off‐line processing, isovolumic contraction velocity (IVCV), peak systolic velocity (PSV), isovolumic relaxation velocity (IVRV), peak early diastolic velocity (E’) and peak late diastolic velocity (A’) were identified at every workload level.Result:  No significant difference between the tests was found in PSV. On the contrary, E’ was shown to be significantly higher (P<0·001) during supine exercise than during upright exercise and IVRV was significantly lower (P<0·001) during supine exercise compared to upright exercise.Conclusion:  Upright and supine exercise stress echocardiography give a comparable increase in measured systolic velocities and significant differences in early diastolic velocities.
Clinically unapparent melanocytic nevi on the prepuce
Authors: Val‐Bernal J. Fernando , Val Daniel , Garijo M. Francisca 
Published: March 2009

Background:  Melanocytic nevi from the genitalia are uncommon. Nevi on the vulva are much better described than nevi on male genitalia. To our knowledge, a systematic study of preputial melanocytic nevi has not been reported.Objective:  To investigate the frequency of clinically unapparent melanocytic nevi on a series of preputial excisions.Materials and Methods:  We undertook a prospective histologic study of the prepuce obtained in a series of 372 consecutive circumcisions for phimosis performed during the period between January 2000 and December 2002.Results:  Incidental preputial melanocytic nevi were detected in four (1.1%) patients. Lesions were dermal in nature, most of them showed pigment in superficial dermal nests and had pseudovascular spaces. There were no cytologic atypia, mitotic figures, architectural disorder or inflammatory infiltrate. The mean (standard deviation, SD) of the maximum diameter was 1.08 (0.85) mm (range 0.34–1.79 mm). The mean age (SD) of the patients was 41.5 (4.95) years (range 29–58).Conclusions:  Incidental melanocytic nevi, although uncommonly, can be observed in the prepuce. They are detected in adults and may pose a diagnostic challenge when they are detected in the setting of concurrent malignant melanoma.
Fibroblast apoptosis in a patient affected by lamellar ichthyosis
Authors: Tavian Daniela , Colombo Roberto , Misiti Francesco , Ena Pasquale , Ena Luca , Sampaolese Beatrice , Giardina Bruno , Clementi Maria E. 
Published: March 2009

Background:  Lamellar ichthyosis (LI) is a congenital recessive skin disorder characterized by generalized scaling and hyperkeratosis. The pathology may be caused by mutations in transglutaminase 1 (TGM1) gene that encodes an enzyme critical for terminally differentiating keratinocytes. Because of evidences that transglutaminase enzymes are involved in programmed cell death, we investigated morphological and biochemical apoptotic parameters in cultured skin fibroblasts from a patient with a severe LI and homozygous for the TGM1 R142H mutation.Method:  The principle apoptotic signals (mitochondrial membrane potential, analysis of oxygen consumption, DNA fragmentation and Bax/Bcl‐2 gene expression) were analyzed in cultured fibroblasts from a LI patient, his mother (TGM1 mutation carrier) and a control subject.Results:  LI fibroblasts showing a reduction of fibronectin expression evidenced a strong inhibition of oxygen consumption, a dramatic drop in the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), and a higher apoptotic index.Conclusion:  The present results suggest a possible connection between the alterations in the keratinization process leading to LI and the observed increased fibroblast apoptosis.
Effect of quetiapine on cognitive function in schizophrenia: a mismatch negativity potentials study
Authors: Yuan Guo-zhen , Zhou Zhen-he , Yao Jian-jun 
Published: March 2009

Objective:The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the effects of quetiapine on abnormalities of early auditory processing in patients with schizophrenia were reflected by mismatch negativity (MMN).Methods:Subjects were 23 patients with schizophrenia and 23 controls. Psychopathology was rated in patients with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline and after 4-week and after 8-week treatments with quetiapine. Auditory stimuli for event-related potentials consisted of 100 ms/1000 Hz standards, intermixed with 100 ms/1500 Hz frequency deviants and 250 ms/ 1000 Hz duration deviants. A stimulus onset asynchrony of each was 300 ms. Electroencephalograph was recorded at Fz. BESA 5.1.8 was used to perform data analysis. MMN waveforms were obtained by subtracting waveforms elicited by standards from those elicited by frequency- or duration-deviant stimuli.Results:Quetiapine decreased all PANSS scores. Patients showed smaller mean amplitudes of frequency and duration MMN at baseline than did controls. A repeated measure analysis of variance with sessions (i.e. baseline and 4- and 8-week treatments) and MMN type (frequency versus duration) as within-subject factors revealed no significant MMN type or MMN type × session main effect for MMN amplitudes (for MMN type:F= 0.704, df = 1,p= 0.403; for MMN type × session:F= 0.299, df = 2,p= 0.796). Session main effect was significant (F= 3.576, df = 2,p= 0.031). Least square difference tests showed significant differences between MMN amplitudes at 8 weeks and those at both baseline (p= 0.025) and 4 weeks (p= 0.020). MMN amplitudes at 8 weeks were higher than those at baseline.Conclusions:Quetiapine improved the amplitudes of MMN after the 8-week treatment. MMN offers objective evidence that treatment with the quetiapine may ameliorate preattentive deficits in schizophrenia.
Battery for assessment of neuropsychological status (RBANS) in schizophrenia: a pilot study in the Spanish population
Authors: Sanz Juan C. , Vargas Martín L. , Marín Juan J. 
Published: March 2009

Objectives:The aims of this study were to research the following issues in a Spanish population of patients with schizophrenia. (a) The sensitivity and reliability of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) to detect cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. (b) The convergent validity of RBANS on a larger battery of neuropsychological tests sensitive to the cognition disorders typically observed in schizophrenia. (c) The correlates of poor performance in RBANS with clinical features and illness severity.Method:Thirty schizophrenia patients, 30 non-psychotic patients and 30 healthy participants were assessed using RBANS (form A). We administered a battery of neuropsychological tests and four scales to evaluate patient’s clinical status.Results:Schizophrenia patients and non-psychotic patients performed significantly worse than healthy controls on RBANS, and schizophrenia patients performed slightly worse than non-psychiatric controls, but this difference was not significant. Good inter-test reliability and concurrent validity were found. Only a moderate correlation between RBANS performance and illness severity was observed.Conclusions:RBANS revealed coherence in identifying cognitive impairment in schizophrenia patients of a different cultural background, and it is shown to be a sensitive, valid and easy-to-perform tool for the neuropsychological assessment of Spanish patients with schizophrenia.
Maternal knowledge of infant feeding guidelines and label reading behaviours in a population of new mothers in San Francisco, California
Authors: Wojcicki Janet M. , Gugig Roberto , Kathiravan Suganya , Holbrook Kate , Heyman Melvin B. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between maternal nutrition knowledge and maternal socio‐demographics including participation in the Special Supplemental Women, Infants and Children's (WIC) Program. A cross‐sectional study of new mothers at two San Francisco hospitals was conducted using some of the American Academy of Pediatrics' guidelines in a structured questionnaire to assess maternal nutritional knowledge. Maternal nutritional attitudes towards product nutrient labels were also assessed in a questionnaire format. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the odds of having high maternal nutrition knowledge and of infrequently reading nutrition labels. In multivariate logistic regression models, higher maternal nutrition knowledge (defined as answering all four nutrition questions correctly) was associated with higher income levels defined as ≥$25 000/year, odds ratio (OR) 10.03 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.51–66.74), and in linear models, higher nutritional knowledge was associated with having more children (P < 0.01), a higher income (P = 0.01) and not being a WIC participant (P < 0.01). Mothers with higher incomes were also more likely to read product nutritional labels OR 4.24, 95% CI (1.24–14.51), compared with mothers with lower incomes as were mothers with higher education levels OR 3.32, 95% CI (1.28–8.63). In San Francisco, lower income mothers are at greatest risk for low maternal nutrition knowledge and not reading product nutritional labels. Higher household income was independently associated with increased maternal nutrition knowledge and likelihood of reading nutritional labels. More comprehensive interventions need to target low‐income mothers including current WIC participants to help close the nutritional advantages gap conferred by income and education.
Incorporating nutrition into delivery care: delivery care practices that affect child nutrition and maternal health
Authors: Chaparro Camila M. , Lutter Chessa K. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractDelayed umbilical cord clamping, early skin‐to‐skin contact and early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding are three simple and inexpensive delivery care practices which have the potential to improve short‐term and long‐term nutrition and health outcomes in mothers and infants. In preterm infants, delayed clamping prevents intraventricular haemorrhage and improves haematological status, and in full‐term infants, delayed clamping improves iron status through 6 months of age. Early skin‐to‐skin contact, in addition to regulating neonatal temperature, improves early breastfeeding behaviours, which has important implications for long‐term infant nutrition and health. Finally, early exclusive breastfeeding prevents neonatal mortality and morbidity and provides numerous health and nutritional benefits to the infant, throughout infancy and beyond, as well as to the mother. Though each practice has been the subject of controlled trials and systematic reviews, with evidence of benefit from their implementation, these practices are not common in many delivery settings, nor are their long‐term effects on infant and maternal nutrition and health status adequately recognized. We discuss the immediate and long‐term health and nutrition benefits of each practice, and identify the policy and programme changes needed for integration and implementation of these practices into standard delivery care.
Reconnecting Sacrament and Virtue: Penance in Thomas'sSumma Theologiae
Authors: Morrow Maria C. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractCatholic moral theology today, especially virtue ethics, often bears little connection to the sacraments; Catholic ethicists largely do not discuss the sacramental life when they address issues of morality or concepts of virtue. Given this disconnect, Thomas Aquinas's consideration of penance in theSumma Theologiaeprovides an important way to reconnect virtue to sacrament, as well as to emphasize virtue in relation to God. Penance is both a virtue and a sacrament inasmuch as it involves acts of the will. As a virtue, penance is a species of justice, an act of the will choosing according to right reason in aiming to amend for offenses against God. The acts of the virtue of penance, especially contrition, confession and satisfaction, constitute the matter of the sacrament of penance. Hence the sacrament presupposes the virtue even though the sacrament is a cause of grace whereas the virtue is an effect of grace. Penance as sacrament and virtue are virtually inseparable. A reclamation of penance as virtue and sacrament in the field of Catholic moral theology highlights the role of grace and hence connection of virtue to God, while also re-grounding virtue ethics in the sacramental life, especially through the sacrament of penance.
Beyond the ‘Awkward Embrace’: Disability Rights, Dialogue and ‘Law, Love and Language’ Revisited
Authors: O'Brien Nick 
Published: March 2009

AbstractDespite the perceived ‘human rights revolution’ within Church teaching since Vatican II, a measure of dissonance survives between secular rights theory and practice on the one hand and, on the other, ethical thinking informed by the natural law tradition. This article examines some recent developments in that secular theory and practice for signs of possible rapprochement. In particular, it considers the way in which the emergence of ‘disability’ as a rights issue, for example in the recently ratified United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, has contributed to the transformation of equality and human rights law and so has helped shape a broader transformation of rights theory and practice. Central to that transformation has been the ambition of establishing human rights as the basis of a progressive political programme, as witnessed for example by the work of Sandra Fredman and by the Hamlyn Lectures of Conor Gearty, whose Catholic provenance makes his approach especially salient. The article concludes by considering Herbert McCabe's interpretation of Aquinas’ ethics, especially in his Law, Love and Language, and proposes some potentially fruitful points of contact between McCabe's approach and the identified developments in secular rights theory.
Pistil traits and flower fate in apricot (Prunus armeniaca)
Authors: Rodrigo J. , Herrero M. , Hormaza J.I. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractAlthough pollination is essential for both seed and fruit set in most angiosperms, even after an adequate pollination, only a fraction of the flowers develop into fruits. The role played by floral traits on reproductive success is well known, but the possible influence of pistil traits has been overlooked, probably because of the difficulty of non‐destructive pistil examination. The aim of this work was to examine the influence of several pistil traits on reproductive success in apricot (Prunus armeniaca). For this purpose, in a population of individually labelled flowers, the styles were cut off once the pollen tubes had reached the ovary but prior to the achievement of fertilisation. This approach allowed relating several morphological and physiological pistil parameters in the dissected styles and stigmas to the subsequent set or abscission of the corresponding ovary that remained in the plant. Under the same pollination conditions, the flowers that finally set a fruit show a larger stigmatic area and a higher number of pollen grains, pollen tubes growing along the style and xylem vessels surrounding the transmitting tissue than flowers that abscise before the establishment of fruit set. Furthermore, starch is present in the transmitting tissue of the style in all the flowers that develop into fruits but only in half of the flowers that abscise. The examined pistil traits established prior to fertilisation are related to flower fate, suggesting that the capacity of a flower to become a fruit could be preconditioned at anthesis.
Long‐term changes of aphid vectors of Barley yellow dwarf viruses in north‐eastern Italy (Friuli‐Venezia Giulia)
Authors: Coceano P.G. , Peressini S. , Bianchi G.L. , Caciagli P. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractMigrations of aphid vectors of Barley yellow dwarf viruses (BYDV) were monitored using a Rothamsted Insect Survey suction trap in Friuli‐Venezia Giulia (north‐eastern Italy). Catches from 1983 to 2002 were studied for trends, correlations of total catches of each year with those of previous years, correlations between the autumn and the spring + summer catches of the same year and between spring + summer catches of one year with catches of the previous autumn. Infectivity of autumn alates was studied using biological tests, and infectivity indexes were calculated for all vector species and for Rhopalosiphum padi alone. Colonisation of barley and proportion of infected plants were checked in a field close to the suction trap from 1992 to 2002 and related to trap catches. Catches were also correlated to acreage dedicated to cereal and fodder crops in the region. During the 20 years, 15 BYDV vector species were caught in the trap, but only five species were found consistently colonising barley plants during autumn. R. padi was the most numerous species in catches, while Sitobion avenae was the predominant colonising species in the barley field. Relatively to R. padi, S. avenae colonies were about six times more numerous than expected from catches. The yearly abundance of catches of most species did not change significantly during the 20 years, with a few exceptions, significantly correlated to changes in the acreage dedicated to cereal and fodder crops. There was a significant decrease of the autumn catches of both R. padi and the total of BYDV vectors.