bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Information in diabetes care: is there a need to dumb down even more?
Authors: Kerr D. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAim  To assess readability of information provided for patients with Type 2 diabetes on drug treatment for their condition.Methods  A random sample of patient information on drug treatments published on the website of the main UK Diabetes charity was assessed for readability using two accepted measures and compared with articles from three national newspapers published the same day, in the setting of a hospital‐based diabetes centre. The main outcome measures were Flesch‐Reading Ease and Flesch‐Kincaid Grade Level scores available within Microsoft Office 2000.Results  Information provided for patients and medically related articles from two of three newspapers had suboptimal readability, requiring literacy skills well above the UK average.Conclusions  Information for patients with diabetes may be of limited value for 20% of the UK adult population who have problems with literacy.
Viability and bar expression are negatively correlated in Oregon Wolfe Barley Dominant hybrids
Authors: Bregitzer Phil , Cooper Laurel D. , Hayes Patrick M. , Lemaux Peggy G. , Singh Jaswinder , Sturbaum Anne K. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryThe expression level of bar, which encodes phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT), was correlated with the inviability of barley hybrids between 20 Golden Promise‐derived transgenic lines (Ds‐bar lines) and a specialized genetic marker stock, Oregon Wolfe Barley Dominant (OWBD). Each Ds‐bar line was homozygous for a modified maize Ds element that encoded bar and that had been delivered via transposition to a unique location. All Ds‐bar lines were viable and morphologically similar. Only four of the 20 hybrid populations were viable. The remaining populations died prior to producing seed. Phenotypic, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction analyses of these lines, and of lines from unrelated transformation events that also expressed bar, showed that viability was negatively correlated with bar expression. Analysis of crosses of a high‐bar‐expressing line with the OWB mapping population showed that the sensitivity of OWBD to PAT segregated as a single locus on chromosome 6HL. No sensitivity to PAT could be detected in several other lines and cultivars. OWBD has been shown to be genetically divergent from other germplasm groups within cultivated barley; therefore, the observed sensitivity may be peculiar to OWBD and thus would not impact generally on the utility of bar as a selectable marker or source of herbicide resistance in barley. Nevertheless, these results demonstrate the extent of allelic variability present in Hordeum vulgare, and suggest an additional variable for consideration when devising protocols for the transformation of Hordeum cultivars or landraces that are not known to be tolerant to PAT.
Robust expression of a bioactive mammalian protein in Chlamydomonas chloroplast
Authors: Manuell Andrea L. , Beligni Maria Verónica , Elder John H. , Siefker David T. , Tran Miller , Weber Annika , McDonald Thomas L. , Mayfield Stephen P. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryWe have engineered the chloroplast of eukaryotic algae to produce a number of recombinant proteins, including human monoclonal antibodies, but, to date, have achieved expression to only 0.5% of total protein. Here, we show that, by engineering the mammalian coding region of bovine mammary‐associated serum amyloid (M‐SAA) as a direct replacement for the chloroplast psbA coding region, we can achieve expression of recombinant protein above 5% of total protein. Chloroplast‐expressed M‐SAA accumulates predominantly as a soluble protein, contains the correct amino terminal sequence and has little or no post‐translational modification. M‐SAA is found in mammalian colostrum and stimulates the production of mucin in the gut, acting in the prophylaxis of bacterial and viral infections. Chloroplast‐expressed and purified M‐SAA is able to stimulate mucin production in human gut epithelial cell lines. As Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an edible alga, production of therapeutic proteins in this organism offers the potential for oral delivery of gut‐active proteins, such as M‐SAA.
A ubiquitin‐based vector for the co‐ordinated synthesis of multiple proteins in plants
Authors: Walker Joseph M. , Vierstra Richard D. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryThe genetic engineering of complex traits into crop plants will ultimately require strategies to co‐express more than one protein at the same time. Here, we report the development of a ubiquitin (Ub)‐based expression method that can generate two proteins from a single transcript. It contains coding regions for the proteins of interest, separated in‐frame by the coding region for the C‐terminal end of Ub followed by a full‐length Ub. On expression in tobacco, this polycistronic messenger RNA (mRNA) is translated to produce a chimeric protein that is rapidly processed by endogenous deubiquitinating proteases to release the two proteins plus a Ub moiety in intact forms. The C‐terminal protein domain is released without additional amino acids, whereas the N‐terminal protein domain retains the short C‐terminal end of Ub. The analysis of vectors with progressively shorter C‐terminal ends indicates that only the last six C‐terminal amino acids of the proximal Ub domain are needed for efficient processing in plants. By comparing the levels of luciferase and β‐glucuronidase simultaneously expressed by this method in multiple independent tobacco transformants, we synthesized consistently similar ratios of the two proteins over a wide range of protein amounts. Ub‐based polyprotein vectors should facilitate the genetic engineering of crops by providing a simple method for the co‐ordinated and stoichiometric synthesis of two or more proteins.
Sarbanes Oxley Section 404 Costs of Compliance: a case study
Authors: Sneller Lineke , Langendijk Henk 
Published: March 2007

In 2002 US Congress approved the Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX). Section 404 requires companies to assess their internal controls and acquire an attestation of this assessment from their external auditor. In this paper, we investigate the costs of compliance of this assessment and attestation.The European division of a US listed company is used as a case study. The divisional project approach is described, and costs of compliance for this division are presented in two categories: assessment costs, mainly hours spent by internal staff; and attestation costs, mainly audit fees.The case study shows that the internal hours spent on assessment are approximately 12 times higher than the initial estimate made by the SEC in 2002, and that the realised other expenses are approximately 1.4 times higher than this estimate. Furthermore, a year on year increase of 50 per cent of the company’s audit fee in the first year of Section 404 compliance is found.Companies can reduce the costs of compliance by implementing programmed controls, using auditors from countries with lower rates, remediating material weaknesses only, focusing on the internal control system rather than on individual controls, and by encouraging the auditor to rely on the company’s assessment.
Corporate Governance and Board Composition: diversity and independence of Australian boards
Authors: Kang Helen , Cheng Mandy , Gray Sidney J. 
Published: March 2007

The board of directors is one of a number of internal governance mechanisms that are intended to ensure that the interests of shareholders and managers are closely aligned, and to discipline or remove ineffective management teams. Among the most significant governance issues currently faced by the modern corporation are those relating to diversity, such as gender and age, and independence of directors.While board diversity and independence has been a growing area of research in recent years, most empirical research on this topic has been restricted to US data. The generalisability of such findings may not extend across national boundaries due to different regulatory and economic environments, cultural differences, the size of capital markets and the effectiveness of governance mechanisms. Consequently, the importance and value of various governance structures, including board diversity and independence, should be separately examined in each country, and the influential factors investigated.This study reports on the diversity and independence of the board membership of 100 top Australian companies in 2003. Australia has one of the most developed stock markets in the Asia‐Pacific region. With the collapse of several well‐known public companies such as Ansett, OneTel and HIH, there is an increasing demand to evaluate the corporate governance practices of Australian companies, including the composition of boards. Accordingly, this research provides a timely review of the state of corporate governance in Australia so far as board composition is concerned.
Private vs State Ownership and Earnings Management: evidence from Chinese listed companies
Authors: Ding Yuan , Zhang Hua , Zhang Junxi 
Published: March 2007

In this study, we investigate the role played by a firm’s ownership structure in earnings management, with reference to the Chinese capital market. We measure the impacts of both ownership concentration and different ownership types, specifically the difference between the state as blockholder and private blockholders.Analysing 273 privately‐owned and state‐owned Chinese companies listed in 2002, we establish a link between ownership structure and firms’ earnings management practices. Our results show that the relationship between earnings management measures and ownership concentration exhibits a statistically significant non‐linear, inverted U‐shape pattern known as the “entrenchment versus alignment” effect. It is clear that privately‐owned listed companies tend to maximise their accounting earnings more. However, the entrenchment effect of ownership concentration on earnings management is weaker in privately‐owned listed firms than in state‐owned listed firms. Our study also confirms that when a firm manages its earnings, it tends to do so through both operating‐related accrual mechanisms and non‐operating transactions with related parties.
Cervical screening for women with learning disability: current practice and attitudes within primary care in Edinburgh
Authors: Wood Rachael , Douglas Margaret 
Published: March 2007

Accessible summaryIt is important that all women have a regular smear test. A smear test is a check up to make sure your cervix is healthy. Your cervix is inside your vagina. A smear test helps to find changes in your cervix that might become cancer if they are not treated. Your smear test is usually done by the doctor or nurse at your doctor's surgery.Women with learning disability do not go for their smear tests as often as other women. We asked doctors and nurses how they give smear tests to women with learning disability. We also asked them what they think about this.We found that:

Often they do not know which of their patients have learning disability.
They do invite women with learning disability to have their smear tests.
Women with learning disability may not come for their smear tests for different reasons.
Doctors and nurses need help to encourage women with learning disability to come for their smear tests.

SummaryThis study aimed to evaluate current practice in, and to explore primary care professionals’ views about, providing cervical screening to women with learning disability, in two areas of Edinburgh. A postal questionnaire was sent to all 24 GP practices in the project area: 20 responded. Seven respondents were invited to participate in follow up interviews: six agreed. Results show that many practices lack robust mechanisms to identify their patients with learning disability; the low uptake of cervical screening by women with learning disability is not primarily because they are excluded from invitation for screening; practices vary in how they adapt the process of cervical screening to meet the needs of women with learning disability; and professionals make pragmatic decisions when considering screening for women unable to give informed consent. Primary care professionals need guidance and support to offer and provide screening appropriately to women with learning disability.
A systematic review of the use of buccal midazolam in the emergency treatment of prolonged seizures in adults with learning disabilities
Authors: Marshall Thomas 
Published: March 2007

Accessible summary

People with a learning disability can have epilepsy and can have long seizures.
The treatment for long seizures is rectal diazepam given up the back passage.
Some carers and people with epilepsy do not like this.
Buccal midazolam is a treatment for long seizures that is given by mouth.
Buccal midazolam seems to work as well as rectal diazepam in children with epilepsy.
New guidance to doctors says they can use buccal midazolam in adults for long seizures.
People with learning disabilities and carers can ask their doctor to prescribe buccal midazolam instead of rectal diazepam to treat long seizures.

AbstractBackground  Buccal midazolam is widely used in children for the emergency treatment of epilepsy, and these children are graduating into adult learning disability services.Aims  The aim of this paper was to appraise the evidence for buccal midazolam as a treatment for prolonged seizures in adults with learning disabilities.Method  A literature search was performed and the identified papers appraised.Results  The literature search identified only one randomized trial for buccal midazolam as emergency treatment of seizures, and this was in children and adolescents. It showed that buccal midazolam was as effective as rectal diazepam.Conclusions  There is evidence that buccal midazolam is effective, but it is unlicensed for this purpose. Rectal diazepam should remain the first choice, but buccal midazolam should be discussed with patients and carers as an alternative.Declaration of interest  nil.
A family facing end of life issues of a person with learning disabilities – a personal reflection
Authors: Harwood Ian 
Published: March 2007

Accessible summary

A medical student works with a patient with a profound learning disability, gets to know the family and considers the overall effect of the condition on them.
The family's denial of the illness can block understanding and creates problems for them all.
Practical ways of helping the family to come to terms with their grief, now and in the future are considered.
Working with people with learning disabilities is a positive experience and more medical students should be encouraged to do it.

SummaryIn 2005, the Royal College of Psychiatry Faculty of Learning Disability's three judges unanimously awarded the inaugural Medical Student Essay Prize to Ian Harwood, a mature medical student at Barts & The London School of Medicine.This reflective piece records an undergraduate's contact with an adolescent suffering from advanced Sanfillipo Syndrome and her family. The initial impetus for the essay was the challenge of carrying out a history‐taking communication skills project when the patient has profound learning difficulties and cannot verbally communicate.Research into pathological grief in the general population is a relatively recent area of focus and it has been established that little work has been performed to examine the effects of bereavement and loss on people with learning disabilities (Dodd, Dowling & Hollins, 2005). The untimely death of a child, described in 1995 by Judd as ‘a death out of season’, is one of the most shocking and profoundly disturbing events that can occur. The role, nature and consequences of denial in such a family with a member with profound learning difficulties are explored. Existing research is used to justify concern for the family's future capacity to cope and relevant management strategies are proposed.It concludes that exposing medical students to people with learning disabilities and their families can provide valuable opportunities for both personal and professional growth.
Regularized Least Squares Classifiers may Predict Crohn's Disease from Profiles of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms
Authors: D'Addabbo A. , Latiano A. , Palmieri O. , Maglietta R. , Annese V. , Ancona N. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryIn this paper we focus on the prediction of Crohn's disease (CD) susceptibility by analyzing SNP profiles for a number of defined or suggested gene polymorphisms. We assess the correlation between genetic markers and the phenotype by using well‐founded methods and procedures developed in the field of statistical learning theory. To this end, we use a sample generated by a case‐control study composed of 178 CD patients and 127 healthy controls. The genetic profile of each subject is composed of 16 genetic variants distributed over 11 genes. We find that regularized least squares (RLS) classifiers predict Crohn's disease with a statistically significant accuracy of 62%(p= 0.018), significantly increasing the diagnostic accuracy by at least 10% compared to that obtained with the more largely confirmed gene involved in CD predisposition, namelyCARD15. This also demonstrates that our sample size is adequate for accurate and significant prediction estimates. The strength of this methodology, in contrast to classical statistical methods, is that it accounts simultaneously for the effect of several genetics markers and their possible interactions. The findings of this study show that RLS methodology is able to increase the diagnostic accuracy of CD prediction by contemporary evaluation of a large number of gene polymorphisms. This approach may be particularly useful in large‐scale population screening programs, and when evaluating large datasets of gene polymorphisms (i.e. chips, microarrays). Moreover, it could shed more light on possible candidate genes with a weak genetic contribution, and for evaluating gene‐gene and gene‐phenotype interactions by analyzing populations with a reasonably small sample size.
Association Between Human Polymorphic DNA Markers and Hypoxia Adaptation in Sherpa Detected by a Preliminary Genome Scan
Authors: Malacrida S. , Katsuyama Y. , Droma Y. , Basnyat B. , Angelini C. , Ota M. , Danieli G. A. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryGenetic determinants of resistance to hypobaric hypoxia in the Sherpa are still unknown. Since adaptive gene variants must still be subjected to positive selection, linkage disequilibrium between such variants and specific alleles of flanking DNA markers is expected. Following this line of reasoning, we performed a human genome scan using 998 polymorphic DNA markers in 7 unrelated Sherpa porters living in the Solu‐Khumbu area. This minimalist approach succeeded in detecting 8 DNA markers showing homozygosity for the same shared allele. Analysis of additional DNA samples from 2 more Sherpa porters focused our attention on three polymorphic DNA markers (D6S1697, D14S274, D17S1795) showing homozygosity for the same shared allele in 8 out 9 tested individuals. Analysis of DNA samples from Sherpa and non‐Sherpa populations of Nepal proved HW equilibrium in both populations for markers D14S274 and D17S1795, while an excess of heterozygotes was observed in the Sherpa population for marker D6S1697. A significant difference in allele frequencies for D14S274 and D17S1795 between the two populations was observed. These findings exclude the possibility that homozygosity for 3 specific loci in 8 unrelated individuals might be ascribed to inbreeding or recent genetic drift. We therefore conclude that the chromosomal segments detected by such DNA markers may include genes involved in adaptation to hypobaric hypoxia.
Microfibrils, elastin fibres and collagen fibres in the human intervertebral disc and bovine tail disc
Authors: Yu Jing , Tirlapur Uday , Fairbank Jeremy , Handford Penny , Roberts Sally , Winlove C. Peter , Cui Zhanfeng , Urban Jill 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe distribution of microfibrils was studied immunohistochemically in intervertebral discs taken from young normal human surgical cases and from the bovine tail. Co‐localization of microfibrils and elastin fibres was examined by dual immunostaining of fibrillin‐1 and elastin. Collagen fibre network orientation was studied by using polarized filters. A similar microfibrillar network was seen in both bovine and human discs with network organization being completely different from region to region. In the outer annulus fibrosus (OAF), abundant microfibrils organized in bundles were mainly distributed in the interterritorial matrix. In addition, the microfibril bundles were orientated parallel to each other and co‐localized highly with elastin fibres. Within each lamella, co‐localized microfibrils and elastin fibres were aligned in the same direction as the collagen fibres. In the interlamellar space, a dense co‐localized network, staining for both microfibrils and elastin fibres, was apparent; immunostaining for both molecules was noticeably stronger than within lamellae. In the inner annulus fibrosus, the microfibrils were predominantly visible as a filamentous mesh network, both in the interterritorial matrix and also around the cells. The microfibrils in this region co‐localized with elastin fibres far less than in the OAF. In nucleus pulposus, filamentous microfibrils were organized mainly around the cells where elastin fibres were hardly detected. By contrast, sparse elastin fibres, with a few of microfibrils, were visible in the interterritorial matrix. The results of this study suggest the microfibrillar network of the annulus may play a mechanical role while that around the cells of the nucleus may be more involved in regulating cell function.
Microsatellite markers for Sachalin fir (Abies sachalinensis Masters)
Authors: LIAN CHUNLAN , GOTO SUSUMU , HOGETSU TAIZO 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe developed eight polymorphic microsatellite markers from the Sachalin fir (Abies sachalinensis Masters). The number of alleles per locus ranged from eight to 31, with an average of 21.4. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.656 to 0.937 and from 0.710 to 0.945, respectively. These markers will be available for population genetic studies and parentage analysis.
TRAMPR: AN R package for analysis and matching of terminal‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) profiles
Authors: FITZJOHN RICHARD G. , DICKIE IAN A. 
Published: March 2007

Abstracttrampr (TRFLP analysis and matching package for r) is a package for matching multiple terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) profiles between unknown samples and a database of known TRFLP profiles in order to infer the presence of species in environmental samples. It permits simultaneous analysis of multiple samples and facilitates direct workflow from electrophoresis output through to community analyses. trampr also resolves the issues of multiple TRFLP profiles within a species and (conversely) shared TRFLP profiles across species.
Development and characterization of microsatellite DNA markers for the Alpine plant species Campanula thyrsoides
Authors: ÆGISDÓTTIR H. H. , KOLLER B. , KUSS P. , STÖCKLIN J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe isolated and characterized eight polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Alpine plant species Campanula thyrsoides (Campanulaceae). Number of alleles per locus ranged from six to 12 and the observed heterozygosity was between 0.529 and 0.900. Observed vs. expected heterozygote deficits were significantly different in one out of eight loci following Bonferroni's correction for multiple tests. We did not find evidence for linkage disequilibrium between locus pairs. The microsatellite markers are being used for the study of genetic variation and gene flow within and among populations of C. thyrsoides in the Swiss Alps.