bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measuring readiness to change and locus of control belief among male alcohol‐dependent patients in Taiwan: Comparison of the different degrees of alcohol dependence
Authors: Yeh Mei‐Yu 
Published: September 2008

Aims:  The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the Drinking‐Related Health Locus of Control scale (DRIE) and the three aspects of readiness to change (i.e. ambivalence, recognition, and taking action), in response to the degree of dependence.Methods:  This study was carried out based on data collected from 160 male alcohol‐dependent patients, and the degree of alcohol dependence was divided into three categories: light, moderate, and severe, on the basis of the total scores of the short‐form Severity Degree Alcohol Dependence Data questionnaire (SADD).Results:  There were significant differences between the different degrees of dependence on drinking‐related locus of control, feelings of ambivalence toward drinking, recognition of problematic drinking, and readiness to take action to change. Patients with more severe dependence usually had higher scores of drinking‐related locus of control, indicating a tendency toward external locus of control, feelings of ambivalence, and recognition of their drinking problem; patients with light dependence usually had higher scores for taking action.Conclusions:  Clinicians can strengthen readiness to change problematic drinking if the importance of degree of dependence and drinking‐related locus of control are taken into consideration when devising interventions.
Cerebral glucose metabolism abnormalities in patients with major depressive symptoms in pre‐dialytic chronic kidney disease: Statistical parametric mapping analysis of F‐18‐FDG PET, a preliminary study
Authors: Song Sang Heon , Kim In Joo , Kim Seong‐Jang , Kwak Ihm Soo , Kim Yong‐Ki 
Published: September 2008

Aims:  The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms and cerebral glucose metabolism in pre‐dialytic chronic kidney disease (PDCKD) patients.Methods:  Twenty‐one patients with stage 5 CKD and 21 healthy volunteers underwent depressive mood assessment and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) using F‐18‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET).Results:  Several voxel clusters of significantly decreased cerebral glucose metabolism were found in PDCKD patients. The largest cluster was left prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area [BA] 9). The second largest cluster was also left prefrontal cortex (BA 9). The third largest clusters were right prefrontal cortex (BA 10) and right basolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 46). Other brain areas also showed decreased cerebral glucose metabolism including left anterior cingulate gyrus (BA 32), left premotor cortex (BA 6), left transverse temporal gyrus (BA 41), left superior temporal gyrus (BA 42), right basolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 44), right inferior parietal lobule (BA 39), left middle temporal gyrus (BA 19), and left angular gyrus (BA 39). Hypermetabolized brain areas, however, were not found in PDCKD patients compared to normal controls. For the right orbitofrontal cortex there was a negative correlation of cerebral glucose metabolism with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) in PDCKD patients (BA 11).Conclusion:  PDCKD patients with depressive symptoms had decreased cerebral glucose metabolism in several brain areas. For the right orbitofrontal cortex there was a negative correlation with HDRS in PDCKD patients. The present findings provide functional neuroimaging support for abnormal cerebral glucose metabolism in PDCKD patients with depressive symptoms.
NATÜRLICHKEIT: EINE STRUKTURELLE UND PRAGMATISCHE KATEGORIE DER SPRACHNORMIERUNG IN TEXTEN DER FRÜHEN NEUZEIT
Authors: Gardt Andreas 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTFür die Zeit vom 16. bis zum 18. Jahrhundert lässt sich die Rede von der Natürlichkeit der Sprache zunächst wörtlich verstehen: Sprachliche Strukturen werden auf Strukturen der Wirklichkeit abgebildet, und als optimal gilt weitgehende Entsprechung, etwa in den Bereichen von Wortbildung und Syntax. Während aber in den früheren Texten bei dieser Abbildung religiöse und kulturpatriotische Aspekte eine erhebliche Rolle spielen (die Natursprache der Mystiker als Ausdruck religiöser Wahrheit, das von Fremdwörtern freie Deutsch als natürlicher Ausdruck deutscher Kultur und Lebensart), dominiert später ein Verständnis von Natürlichkeit im Sinne von ‘Deutlichkeit’, in enger Verbindung mit ‘Verständlichkeit’. Dieser Betonung der darstellungsfunktionalen und kommunikativen Dimension von Sprache entspricht eine Veränderung der Forderungen an eine morphologisch, syntaktisch und stilistisch leistungsfähige Sprache.
BESTREBUNGEN ZUR EINFÜHRUNG EINES SPRACHSCHUTZGESETZES SEIT DER DEUTSCHEN VEREINIGUNG
Authors: Pfalzgraf Falco 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTSeit der deutschen Vereinigung und besonders seit der Jahrtausendwende kommt es vermehrt zu Forderungen nach einem Gesetz zum Schutz der deutschen Sprache, welches in erster Linie als Maßnahme gegen den als zunehmend wahrgenommenen Einfluss des (amerikanischen) Englisch auf das Deutsche anzusehen ist. Diesbezüglich gibt dieser Artikel einen chronologischen Überblick über die Aktivitäten des ‘Vereins Deutsche Sprache' (VDS) und die Forderungen verschiedenster Politiker nach einer möglichen deutschen Sprachgesetzgebung. Gleichzeitig wird untersucht, inwieweit ein Zusammenhang zwischen beidem bestehen könnte. Wie sich herausstellt, existieren offenbar enge Beziehungen zwischen Forderungen, die der VDS verlauten lässt, und Stellungnahmen, die einige Politiker daraufhin abgeben. Es zeigt sich, dass es oftmals eine Zusammenarbeit des VDS mit Politikern in teils hoher Position gibt und dass zahlreiche Politiker dem VDS zumindest nahe stehen. Daraus ergibt sich die Frage, ob der VDS als einflussreiche Größe in Politik und Gesellschaft derzeit zu Unrecht unterschätzt wird.
GERMAN LANGUAGE AND GERMAN IDENTITY IN AMERICA: EVIDENCE FROM SCHOOL GRAMMARS 1860–19181
Authors: Langer Nils 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTOne of our jobs as ‘AuslandsgermanistInnen’ is to promote an understanding of German culture in the home community. In our particular case, in the UK, this involves teaching a language and concepts which are – at least on the surface – fairly foreign to the target audience. How does the transmission of cultural and linguistic knowledge take place between motherland and linguistic enclaves? This paper will address this question with regard to the retention and loss of German culture and language by recent and settled immigrants in America at the turn of the nineteenth to the twentieth century. In particular, evidence from German school grammars printed in the USA will be examined to investigate what kind of cultural references were taught to school children.
Corporate Environmental Behaviors in Voluntary Programs: Does Timing Matter?*
Authors: Moon Seong‐gin 
Published: September 2008

Objective.Why do some firms participate in voluntary programs earlier than others? What conditions dictate whether firms participate in voluntary programs earlier rather than later? Current research on voluntary programs has not considered discrete processes in which corporate actors could have different motives and objectives in different time dimensions, that is, early versus late.Methods.We adopt a diffusion theory to disaggregate corporate voluntary participation behavior in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsored Green Lights (GL) voluntary program. We focus on the GL participants during two periods—the early joiners in 1993–1994, and the late joiners in 1995–1996.Results.At the early diffusion stage, firms are more likely driven by the market motive that garners a “green” reputation, an important strategic asset to promote market competitiveness; at the late diffusion stage, firms are more driven by the institutional motive to improve their relationships with regulatory agencies and subsequently relieve regulatory pressures from them.Conclusion.We find that firms have different motives for GL participation at different diffusion stages. We suggest that policymakers who want to induce firms to join voluntary programs should pay more attention to program designs and implementation schemes that accommodate different corporate interests and objectives in different time orders of firms' participations in voluntary programs.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Distancing and the Geographic Relationship Between Electricity Consumption and Production in Massachusetts*
Authors: Luna Marcos 
Published: September 2008

Objective.Based on the concept of “distancing” and its implications for ecological feedback and environmental inequality, this article examines the influence of geographic distance from power plants on residential electricity consumption in Massachusetts.Methods.Mean geographic distance to all power plants in Massachusetts was calculated to a rasterized surface and aggregated by municipality for 243 cities and towns. Using stepwise regression, annual per household residential electricity consumption by municipality was regressed on mean distance to power plants, median household income, percent minority, median number of rooms, and median age.Results.Mean geographic distance to power plants and median number of rooms emerged as statistically significant predictors of per household residential electricity consumption.Conclusions.The findings lend support to the concept of “distancing” and its implications for consumption in a domestic context. This analysis offers evidence of scale‐independent similarity between global and local phenomena of environmental inequality and resource consumption.
Policy Climates and Reductions in Automobile Use*
Authors: Borek Erika , Bohon Stephanie A. 
Published: September 2008

Objectives. This study examines how national environmental policy influences individual car‐driving behavior in the European Union.Methods. Using the International Social Survey: Environment II in conjunction with the 2001 and 2002 Environmental Sustainability Indices, we analyze the relationship between macro‐level policy indicators and the reported reduction of individual car driving for environmental reasons, controlling for meso‐ and micro‐level factors.Results. Our results show that individuals report a greater likelihood of driving less for environmental reasons when they live in nations that adopt strong pro‐environmental policies, even when such policies are not directly related to car use.Conclusions. Our finding that a national policy climate focused on environmental sustainability is associated with pro‐environmental behaviors among individuals in that nation encourages us to believe that greater international cooperation on environmental issues (such as the Kyoto Protocol) and increased strength of domestic environmental policies will positively change individual behavior.
Activity of Indenoisoquinolines against African Trypanosomes
Authors: Bakshi Rahul P. , Sang Dongpei , Morrell Andrew , Cushman Mark , Shapiro Theresa A. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTAfrican trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), caused by protozoanTrypanosoma bruceispecies, is a debilitating disease that is lethal if untreated. Available drugs are antiquated, toxic, and compromised by emerging resistance. The indenoisoquinolines are a class of noncamptothecin topoisomerase IB poisons that are under development as anticancer agents. We tested a variety of indenoisoquinolines for their ability to killT. brucei. Indenoisoquinolines proved trypanocidal at submicromolar concentrations in vitro. Structure-activity analysis yielded motifs that enhanced potency, including alkylamino substitutions on N-6, methoxy groups on C-2 and C-3, and a methylenedioxy bridge between C-8 and C-9. Detailed analysis of eight water-soluble indenoisoquinolines demonstrated that in trypanosomes the compounds inhibited DNA synthesis and acted as topoisomerase poisons. Testing these compounds on L1210 mouse leukemia cells revealed that all eight were more effective against trypanosomes than against mammalian cells. In preliminary in vivo experiments one compound delayed parasitemia and extended survival in mice subjected to a lethal trypanosome challenge. The indenoisoquinolines provide a promising lead for the development of drugs against sleeping sickness.
Modification of Lipooligosaccharide with Phosphoethanolamine by LptA in
Neisseria meningitidis
Enhances Meningococcal Adhesion to Human Endothelial and Epithelial Cells
Authors: Takahashi Hideyuki , Carlson Russel W. , Muszynski Artur , Choudhury Biswa , Kim Kwang Sik , Stephens David S. , Watanabe Haruo 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT

The lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of
Neisseria meningitidis
can be decorated with phosphoethanolamine (PEA) at the 4′ position of lipid A and at the O-3 and O-6 positions of the inner core of the heptose II residue. The biological role of PEA modification in
N. meningitidis
remains unclear. During the course of our studies to elucidate the pathogenicity of the ST-2032 (invasive) meningococcal clonal group, disruption of
lptA
, the gene that encodes the PEA transferase for 4′ lipid A, led to a approximately 10-fold decrease in
N. meningitidis
adhesion to four kinds of human endothelial and epithelial cell lines at an multiplicity of infection of 5,000. Complementation of the
lptA
gene in a Δ
lptA
mutant restored wild-type adherence. By matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis, PEA was lost from the lipid A of the Δ
lptA
mutant compared to that of the wild-type strain. The effect of LptA on meningococcal adhesion was independent of other adhesins such as pili, Opc, Opa, and PilC but was inhibited by the presence of capsule. These results indicate that modification of LOS with PEA by LptA enhances meningococcal adhesion to human endothelial and epithelial cells in unencapsulated
N. meningitidis
.
Bacteriophage 2851 Is a Prototype Phage for Dissemination of the Shiga Toxin Variant Gene 2c in
Escherichia coli
O157:H7
Authors: Strauch Eckhard , Hammerl Jens Andre , Konietzny Antje , Schneiker-Bekel Susanne , Arnold Walter , Goesmann Alexander , Pühler Alfred , Beutin Lothar 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT

The production of Shiga toxin (Stx) (verocytotoxin) is a major virulence factor of
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 strains (Shiga toxin-producing
E. coli
[STEC] O157). Two types of Shiga toxins, designated Stx1 and Stx2, are produced in STEC O157. Variants of the Stx2 type (Stx2, Stx2c) are associated with high virulences of these strains for humans. A bacteriophage designated 2851 from a human STEC O157 encoding the Stx2c variant was described previously. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the phage 2851 genome revealed 75 predicted coding sequences and indicated a mosaic structure typical for lambdoid phages. Analyses of free phages and K-12 phage 2851 lysogens revealed that upon excision from the bacterial chromosome, the loss of a phage-encoded IS
629
element leads to fusion of phage
antA
and
antB
genes, with the generation of a recombined
antAB
gene encoding a strong antirepressor. In wild-type
E. coli
O157 as well as in K-12 strains, phage 2851 was found to be integrated in the
sbcB
locus. Additionally, phage 2851 carries an open reading frame which encodes an OspB-like type III effector similar to that found in
Shigella
spp. Investigation of 39
stx
2c
E. coli
O157 strains revealed that all except 1 were positive for most phage 2851-specific genes and possessed a prophage with the same border sequences integrated into the
sbcB
locus. Phage 2851-specific sequences were absent from most
stx
2c
-negative
E. coli
O157 strains, and we suggest that phage 2851-like phages contributed significantly to the dissemination of the Stx2c variant toxin within this group of
E. coli
.
Informed consent for the study of retained tissues from postmortem examination following sudden infant death
Authors: Elliot J G , Ford D L , Beard J F , Fitzgerald K N , Robinson P J , James A L 
Published: September 2008

Objective:To develop an approach for seeking informed consent to examine tissues retained from a previous study of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as part of a study on asthma, and to document responses and participation rate.Design:Pilot open-ended approach to 10 volunteer SIDS parents, followed by staged approach (newsletter, mail and telephone call) to seek consent from the target SIDS families for the asthma study.Participants:Parents (n = 10) of SIDS infants known to SIDS and Kids Victoria and parents of SIDS infants (n = 107) from the 1991–2 SIDS in Victoria case–control study.Main outcomes:Qualitative responses of the piloted parents and study parents, and participation rates.Results:The pilot group responses were used to refine the written material to be provided. Of the 72 families for which contact details were available, 45 gave verbal consent for contact by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine regarding the asthma study, three refused and 24 did not respond to two letters. Thirty-three completed consent forms, all positive for participation in the asthma study, giving a positive response rate of 73% (33/45).Conclusions:The use of postmortem tissue for research is acceptable to the next of kin when an approach is sensitive to their concerns and needs and is made by experienced counsellors from a familiar organisation. Despite the painful memories evoked by the approach of the research group, the acceptance rate among those who could be contacted was high.
Failure to report and provide commentary on research ethics board approval and informed consent in medical journals
Authors: Finlay K A , Fernandez C V 
Published: September 2008

Background:The Declaration of Helsinki prohibits the publication of articles that do not meet defined ethical standards for reporting of research ethics board (REB) approval and informed consent. Despite this prohibition and a call to highlight the deficiency for the reader, articles with potential ethical shortcomings continue to be published.Objective:To determine what proportion of articles in major medical journals lack statements confirming REB approval and informed consent, and whether accompanying commentary alerts readers to this deficiency.Design:Retrospective, observational study.Setting:Online review of five major medical journals.Population:All clinical research articles published online between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006 in theBMJ,Lancet, Annals of Internal Medicine, JAMAand theNew England Journal of Medicine.Measurements:Statement of REB approval and informed consent.Results:Of 1780 articles reviewed, 1133 (63.7%) met inclusion criteria (manuscripts reporting human subjects, human tissue or identifiable personal data research), 36 (3.2%) articles lacked a statement of REB approval, 62 (5.5%) lacked disclosure of informed consent and 15 (1.3%) articles lacked both. Articles that did not state REB approval were associated with not stating informed consent (p<0.001). There were no editorial comments to alert readers to the lack of either REB approval or informed consent statements associated with any of the deficient articles.Conclusions:Articles that lack explicit statements of REB approval and informed consent are infrequent but continue to be published in major medical journals without editorial statements to alert the reader to this deficiency.
Do faculty and resident physicians discuss their medical errors?
Authors: Kaldjian L C , Forman-Hoffman V L , Jones E W , Wu B J , Levi B H , Rosenthal G E 
Published: September 2008

Background:Discussions about medical errors facilitate professional learning for physicians and may provide emotional support after an error, but little is known about physicians’ attitudes and practices regarding error discussions with colleagues.Methods:Survey of faculty and resident physicians in generalist specialties in Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the US to investigate attitudes and practices regarding error discussions, likelihood of discussing hypothetical errors, experience role-modelling error discussions and demographic variables.Results:Responses were received from 338 participants (response rate  = 74%). In all, 73% of respondents indicated they usually discuss their mistakes with colleagues, 70% believed discussing mistakes strengthens professional relationships and 89% knew at least one colleague who would be a supportive listener. Motivations for error discussions included wanting to learn whether a colleague would have made the same decision (91%), wanting colleagues to learn from the mistake (80%) and wanting to receive support (79%). Given hypothetical scenarios, most respondents indicated they would likely discuss an error resulting in no harm (77%), minor harm (87%) or major harm (94%). Fifty-seven percent of physicians had tried to serve as a role model by discussing an error and role-modelling was more likely among those who had previously observed an error discussion (OR 4.17, CI 2.34 to 7.42).Conclusions:Most generalist physicians in teaching hospitals report that they usually discuss their errors with colleagues, and more than half have tried to role-model discussions. However, a significant number of these physicians report that they do not usually discuss their errors and some do not know colleagues who would be supportive listeners.
Variability in forest floor at different spatial scales in a natural forest in the Carpathians: effect of windthrows and mesorelief
Authors: Šamonil P. , Král K. , Douda J. , Šebková B. 
Published: September 2008

Spatial variability of humus properties in a natural fir–beech forest was studied along with the influence of windthrows and mesorelief on this variability. In 1720 windthrows the thickness and form of the organic horizons were studied in three positions — mound, pit, and undisturbed control. On undisturbed sites, substantial variability of thickness and forms of the organic horizons was found on a fine scale (0–10 m). Close spatial dependence of some humus characteristics was found on a coarser scale (20–120 m). The mesorelief was found to be one of the key autocorrelation factors. The level of spatial dependence was not uniform; it differed between the fermented and humification horizons and among their forms. The presence of windthrows increased the variability of humus thickness on both fine (0–10 m) and coarse (level of entire locality, i.e., 11 ha) scales. However, windthrows did not increase the variability of organic horizon forms (OHFs) on a fine scale. High variability of OHFs is probably a property of fully developed mature humus in a natural fir–beech forest. On a coarse scale, the presence of pits increased the frequency of fermented zoogenous and humification residual horizons on the study area.
HOLOMORPHIC PRINCIPAL BUNDLES WITH AN ELLIPTIC CURVE AS THE STRUCTURE GROUP
Authors: BISWAS INDRANIL 
Published: September 2008

Let Λ ⊂ ℂ be the ℤ-module generated by 1 and [Formula: see text], where τ is a positive real number. Let Z := ℂ/Λ be the corresponding complex torus of dimension one. Our aim here is to give a general construction of holomorphic principal Z-bundles over a complex manifold X. Let θ1 and θ2 be two C∞ real closed two-forms on X such that the Hodge type (0, 2) component of the form [Formula: see text] vanishes, and the elements in H2(X, ℂ) represented by θ1 and θ2 are contained in the image of H2(X, ℤ). For such a pair we construct a holomorphic principal Z-bundle over X. Conversely, given any holomorphic principal Z-bundle EZ over X, we construct a pair of closed differential forms on X of the above type.