bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the quality of nursing care in methadone substitute clinics using action research: a process evaluation
Authors: Loth Christien , Schippers Gerard M. , Hart Harm't , Van De Wijngaart Goof 
Published: February 2007

Abstract Title. Enhancing the quality of nursing care in methadone substitute clinics using action research: a process evaluation Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to answer the research question: can participative action research help to halt the deterioration in methadone substitution treatment and develop new care strategies which are better geared toward the patients’ needs?Background.  In the Netherlands, methadone substitute treatment has been the main medical treatment for heroin addiction since the early 1980s. Although effective at first, this methadone provision has deteriorated during the last 15 years. Over time, nursing staff have had to restrict their activities to simply dispensing methadone and have not been able to develop any other interventions, such as outreach care.Method.  A participative action research process was used in two outpatient methadone substitute treatment clinics. Using the four stages of the cooperative inquiry design of Heron and the knowledge development model of Johns, a diagnosis of all the bottlenecks was made and innovative care strategies were implemented. Reflection meetings were held to offer nursing staff maximum benefit in improving the quality of nursing care.Findings.  Action research partially succeeded in enhancing care strategies. Of the two clinics involved in the study, one improved both its care organization and patient‐centred outcome. The other managed to improve the organization of the care.Conclusion.  Participative strategies can be, but are not always, a helpful method for enhancing professional care in addictions nursing. By setting out attainable goals in daily practice, some nurses were able to become active change agents. The development of knowledge is inextricably connected with the growth of new care strategies. Chronic opiate users can benefit from the expansion of professional nursing knowledge.
Psychological determinants of primary care requests for urgent outpatient appointments in elective referrals
Authors: Glozier Nick , Prince Martin 
Published: February 2007

AbstractRationale  Wide variations in referral practice from primary to secondary care have been observed. Clinical, demographic and referrer characteristics explain little of this variation. Patient psychological characteristics have been suggested as a potential explanation of this, biasing referral. The objective of this study is to investigate, in a relatively homogeneous population, the effects of patient’s psychological distress and illness beliefs upon GP’s requests for urgent outpatient assessment.Methods  An inception cohort of 188 primary care referrals to a UK NHS Trust orthopaedic department for potential lower limb arthroplasty was assessed for disease‐related pain and impairment, disability, psychological distress and illness beliefs. Associations between these and primary care requests for urgent outpatient appointments were estimated.Results  Twenty‐two referrals (12%) requested an urgent outpatient appointment. Illness beliefs of greater personal control (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.18, 4.05) but not psychological distress (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.11, 1.36) were independently associated with urgent requests. Greater pain and impairment, co‐morbidity and disability were univariately associated with this request. In both fully adjusted and parsimonious models, only patient beliefs of greater control and disability were independent determinants of this request for urgency.Conclusions  Among patients referred for assessment for lower limb arthroplasty primary care practitioner’s requests for urgent assessment are influenced by the patient’s belief of how well they can control the symptoms, over and above clinical measures, suggesting patients coping better gain faster access. Global disability appears to be the main clinical determinant, which suggests GPs are making urgent referrals appropriately. There is no evidence of any bias on age, gender or socioeconomic status. This request for urgency leads to these patients waiting 2 months less for an outpatient appointment.
Audit of nasal fracture management in accident and emergency in a district general hospital
Authors: Agrawal Namit , Brayley Nigel 
Published: February 2007

AbstractRationale  Nasal fractures are a common occurrence in accident and emergency and dealt with by inexperienced senior house officers. This can lead to inappropriate X‐rays being performed, no proper documentation of septal haematomas and often no follow‐up with a specialist team leading to in some cases complex cosmetic surgery whereas simple manipulation may have sufficed.Method  We report an ambispective audit carried out on nasal fracture management in a busy district general hospital over a 6‐month period.Results  46 patients were seen 24 in the first 3 months and 22 the next three. 10 had nasal X‐ray performed initially on audit. Nine had no documentation of septal haematoma and seven had no follow‐up arranged. After appropriate education and the setting up of a department protocol based on best practice, the next cycle was repeated. Two nasal X‐rays were performed looking for foreign bodies, all patients had appropriate documentation of septal haematoma and appropriate follow‐up.Conclusion  Appropriate education and implementation of departmental guidelines can result in more effective and efficient use of resources when dealing with nasal fractures in accident and emergency.
Geometric approach to segmentation and protein localization in cell culture assays
Authors: RAMAN S. , MAXWELL C. A. , BARCELLOS‐HOFF M. H. , PARVIN B. 
Published: February 2007

SummaryCell‐based fluorescence imaging assays are heterogeneous and require the collection of a large number of images for detailed quantitative analysis. Complexities arise as a result of variation in spatial nonuniformity, shape, overlapping compartments and scale (size). A new technique and methodology has been developed and tested for delineating subcellular morphology and partitioning overlapping compartments at multiple scales. This system is packaged as an integrated software platform for quantifying images that are obtained through fluorescence microscopy. Proposed methods are model based, leveraging geometric shape properties of subcellular compartments and corresponding protein localization. From the morphological perspective, convexity constraint is imposed to delineate and partition nuclear compartments. From the protein localization perspective, radial symmetry is imposed to localize punctate protein events at submicron resolution. Convexity constraint is imposed against boundary information, which are extracted through a combination of zero‐crossing and gradient operator. If the convexity constraint fails for the boundary then positive curvature maxima are localized along the contour and the entire blob is partitioned into disjointed convex objects representing individual nuclear compartment, by enforcing geometric constraints. Nuclear compartments provide the context for protein localization, which may be diffuse or punctate. Punctate signal are localized through iterative voting and radial symmetries for improved reliability and robustness. The technique has been tested against 196 images that were generated to study centrosome abnormalities. Corresponding computed representations are compared against manual counts for validation.
Fluctuation X‐ray microscopy: a novel approach for the structural study of disordered materials
Authors: FAN L. , PATERSON D. , McNULTY I. , TREACY M. M. J. , GIBSON J. M. 
Published: February 2007

SummaryMeasuring medium‐range order is a challenging and important problem in the structural study of disordered materials. We have developed a new technique, fluctuation x‐ray microscopy, that offers quantitative insight into medium‐range correlations in disordered materials at nanometre and larger length scales.In this technique, which requires a spatially coherent x‐ray beam, a series of speckle patterns are measured at a large number of locations in a sample using various illumination sizes. Examination of the speckle variance as a function of the illumination spot size allows the structural correlation length to be measured. To demonstrate this technique we have studied polystyrene latex spheres, which serve as a model for a dense random‐packed glass, and for the first time have measured the correlation length in a disordered system by fluctuation X‐ray microscopy. We discuss data analysis and procedures to correct for shot noise and detector noise. This approach could be used to explore medium‐range order and subtle spatial structural changes in a wide range of disordered materials, from soft matter to nanowire arrays, semiconductor quantum dot arrays and magnetic materials.
Size‐selective colloidal‐gold localization in transmission X‐ray microscopy
Authors: STOLLBERG H. , GUTTMANN P. , TAKMAN P. A. C. , HERTZ H. M. 
Published: February 2007

SummaryColloidal gold is a useful marker for functional‐imaging experiments in transmission X‐ray microscopy. Due to the low contrast of gold particles with small diameters it is necessary to develop a powerful algorithm to localize the single gold particles. The presented image‐analysis algorithm for identifying colloidal gold particles is based on the combination of a threshold with respect to the local absorption and shape discrimination, realized by fitting a Gaussian profile to the identified regions of interest. The shape discrimination provides the possibility of size‐selective identification and localization of single colloidal gold particles down to a diameter of 50 nm. The image‐analysis algorithm, therefore, has potential for localization studies of several proteins simultaneously and for localization of fiducial markers in X‐ray tomography.
Characterization of uniform ultrathin layer for z‐response measurements in three‐dimensional section fluorescence microscopy
Authors: VICIDOMINI G. , SCHNEIDER M. , BIANCHINI P. , KROL S. , SZELLAS T. , DIASPRO A. 
Published: February 2007

SummaryLayer‐by‐layer technique is used to adsorb a uniform ultrathin layer of fluorescently labelled polyelectrolytes on a glass cover slip. Due to their thickness, uniformity and fluorescence properties, these ultrathin layers may serve as a simple and applicable standard to directly measure the z‐response of different scanning optical microscopes. In this work we use ultrathin layers to measure the z‐response of confocal, two‐photon excitation and 4Pi laser scanning microscopes. Moreover, due to their uniformity over a wide region, i.e. cover slip surface, it is possible to quantify the z‐response of the system over a full field of view area. This property, coupled with a bright fluorescence signal, enables the use of polyelectrolyte layers for representation on sectioned  imaging property charts: a very powerful method to characterize image formation properties and capabilities (z‐response, off‐axis aberration, spherical aberration, etc.) of a three‐dimensional scanning system. The sectioned imaging property charts method needs a through‐focus dataset taken from such ultrathin layers. Using a comparatively low illumination no significant bleaching occurs during the excitation process, so it is possible to achieve long‐term monitoring of the z‐response of the system. All the above mentioned properties make such ultrathin layers a suitable candidate for calibration and a powerful tool for real‐time evaluation of the optical sectioning capabilities of different three‐dimensional scanning systems especially when coupled to sectioned imaging property charts.
A simple technique of image analysis for specific nuclear immunolocalization of proteins
Authors: CARMONA R. , MACÍAS D. , GUADIX J. A. , PORTILLO V. , PÉREZ‐POMARES J. M. , MUÑOZ‐CHÁPULI R. 
Published: February 2007

SummaryColocalization of fluorescent signals in confocal microscopy is usually evaluated by inspecting merged images from different colour channels or by using commercially available software packages. We describe in this paper a simple method for assessment of nuclear localization of proteins in tissue sections through confocal immunolocalization, propidium iodide counterstaining and image analysis. Through a macro command developed for the public domain, Java‐based software imagej, red, green, blue (RGB) images are automatically split in the red and green channels and a new image composed of the nonblack pixels coincident in both channels is created and inverted for better visualization. This method renders images devoid of both, extranuclear staining and background, thus emphasizing the nuclear signal. The resulting images can easily be used for comparison or quantification of the results. Given the simplicity of the technique and the worldwide diffusion of the software utilized, we think that this method could be useful in order to define standards of colocalization in confocal microscopy.
Comments on the paper ‘A novel 3D wavelet‐based filter for visualizing features in noisy biological data’, by Moss et al.
Authors: HENDRIKS C. L. LUENGO , KNOWLES D. W. 
Published: February 2007

Summary Moss et al. (2005) describe, in a recent paper, a filter that they use to detect lines. We noticed that the wavelet on which this filter is based is a difference of uniform filters. This filter is an approximation to the second‐derivative operator, which is commonly implemented as the Laplace of Gaussian (or Marr–Hildreth) operator. We have compared Moss' filter with (1) the Laplace of Gaussian operator, (2) an approximation of the Laplace of Gaussian using uniform filters and (3) a few common noise reduction filters. The Laplace‐like operators detect lines by suppressing image features both larger and smaller than the filter size. The noise reduction filters only suppress image features smaller than the filter size. By estimating the signal‐to‐noise ratio and mean square difference of the filtered results, we found that the filter proposed by Moss et al. does not outperform the Laplace of Gaussian operator. We also found that for images with extreme noise content, line detection filters perform better than the noise reduction filters when trying to enhance line structures. In less extreme cases of noise, the standard noise reduction filters perform significantly better than both the Laplace of Gaussian and Moss' filter.
Quantitative trait loci of tolerance to waterlogging in a European oak (Quercus robur L.): physiological relevance and temporal effect patterns
Authors: PARELLE JULIEN , ZAPATER MARION , SCOTTI‐SAINTAGNE CAROLINE , KREMER ANTOINE , JOLIVET YVES , DREYER ERWIN , BRENDEL OLIVER 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT Quercus robur L. is a mid‐European broadleaved tree species that grows readily on temporary waterlogged soils. An experiment aiming to identify potential markers of tolerance to waterlogging in this species and to assess the degree of genetic control over the corresponding traits was conducted. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) were assessed in an F1 progeny for responses to waterlogging, and the relevance of the observed traits as markers of tolerance was investigated using a precise description of the time course of their expression. Five significant QTL involved in the response to waterlogging were identified. In particular, QTL were detected for the development of hypertrophied lenticels and for the degree of leaf epinasty, but not for the formation of adventitious roots. A multi‐environment QTL model allowed a detailed description of the time course (7 weeks) of the allelic substitution effect of some of these QTL. Correlation clustering identified significant clusters of QTL, at inter‐trait as well as at intra‐trait level. These clusters suggest the occurrence of a genetically controlled response cascade to waterlogging.
A new measurement technique reveals temporal variation in δ18O of leaf‐respired CO2
Authors: BARBOUR MARGARET M. , FARQUHAR GRAHAM D. , HANSON DAVID T. , BICKFORD CHRISTOPHER P. , POWERS HEATH , MCDOWELL NATE G. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTThe oxygen isotope composition of CO2 respired by Ricinus communis leaves (δ18OR) was measured under non‐steady‐state conditions with a temporal resolution of 3 min using a tunable diode laser (TDL) absorption spectrometer coupled to a portable gas exchange system. The SD of δ18O measurement by the TDL was ± 0.2‰ and close to that of traditional mass spectrometers. Further, δ18OR values at isotopic steady state were comparable to those obtained using traditional flask sampling and mass spectrometric techniques for R. communis grown and measured in similar environmental conditions. As well as higher temporal resolution, the online TDL method described here has a number of advantages over mass spectrometric techniques.At isotopic steady state among plants grown at high light, the ‘one‐way flux’ model was required to accurately predict δ18OR. A comparison of measurements and the model suggests that plants grown under low‐light conditions have either a lower proportion of chloroplast CO2 that isotopically equilibrates with chloroplast water, or more enriched δ18O of CO2 in the chloroplast that has not equilibrated with local water. The high temporal resolution of isotopic measurements allowed the first measurements of δ18OR when stomatal conductance was rapidly changing. Under non‐steady‐state conditions, δ18OR varied between 50 and 220‰ for leaves of plants grown under different light and water environments, and varied by as much as 100‰ within 10 min for a single leaf. Stomatal conductance ranged from 0.001 to 1.586 mol m−2 s−1, and had an important influence on δ18OR under non‐steady‐state conditions not only via effects on leaf water H218O enrichment, but also via effects on the rate of the one‐way fluxes of CO2 into and out of the leaf.
Arabidopsis ESK1 encodes a novel regulator of freezing tolerance
Authors: Xin Zhanguo , Mandaokar Ajin , Chen Junping , Last Robert L. , Browse John 
Published: February 2007

SummaryThe eskimo1 (esk1) mutation of Arabidopsis resulted in a 5.5°C improvement in freezing tolerance in the absence of cold acclimation. Here we show that the increase in freezing tolerance is not associated with any increase in the ability to survive drought or salt stresses, which are similar to freezing in their induction of cellular dehydration. Genome‐wide comparisons of gene expression between esk1‐1 and wild type indicate that mutations at esk1 result in altered expression of transcription factors and signaling components and of a set of stress‐responsive genes. Interestingly, the list of 312 genes regulated by ESK1 shows greater overlap with sets of genes regulated by salt, osmotic and abscisic acid treatments than with genes regulated by cold acclimation or by the transcription factors CBF3 and ICE1, which have been shown to control genetic pathways for freezing tolerance. Map‐based cloning identified the esk1 locus as At3g55990. The wild‐type ESK1 gene encodes a 57‐kDa protein and is a member of a large gene family of DUF231 domain proteins whose members encode a total of 45 proteins of unknown function. Our results indicate that ESK1 is a novel negative regulator of cold acclimation. Mutations in the ESK1 gene provide strong freezing tolerance through genetic regulation that is apparently very different from previously described genetic mechanisms of cold acclimation.
Tinea capitis: ringworm of the scalp
Authors: Seebacher C. , Abeck D. , Brasch J. , Cornely O. , Daeschlein G. , Effendy I. , Ginter‐Hanselmayer G. , Haake N. , Hamm G. , Hipler Ch. , Hof H. , Korting H. C. , Kramer A. , Mayser P. , Ruhnke M. , Schlacke K.‐H. , Tietz H.‐J. 
Published: February 2007

SummaryThe guideline tinea capitis, as passed by three German medical societies, is presented in the present study.
Shortening the seed‐to‐seed cycle in artichoke breeding by embryo culture
Authors: Cravero V. , Cointry E. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractGlobe artichoke breeders have two important problems: lengthy seed to seed cycle and seed‐borne diseases caused by fungal pathogens. Both problems can be solved by embryo rescue. The objective of this work was to determine the best moment to isolate and culture the embryos and to determine the optimal in vitro culture conditions for their development. For that purpose embryos were collected from five cultivars in different postpollination stages and transferred into two different culture media. Growth regulators present in the medium resulted in poor root induction, but did induce a better shoot per explant development. Data have shown that 20 days is the optimal time for embryo rescue and that a medium without growth regulators would be more suitable for embryo development.
Molecular and genetic analyses of S RNase allele in Japanese pear ‘Osa‐Nijisseiki’ (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai)
Authors: Wu H.‐Q. , Zhang S.‐L. , Qu H.‐Y. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractJapanese pears exhibit S‐RNase‐mediated gametophytic self‐incompatibility, and ‘Osa‐Nijisseiki’ (S2S; SM = stylar‐part mutant) is a self‐compatible mutant from ‘Nijisseiki’ (S2S4), in which the S4‐allele exhibits style‐specific inactivation, but behaves as the functional S4‐allele in pollen. It was unclear how S4 RNase mutated to S RNase, despite many investigations having been carried out. In the present study, the S‐RNase genes in ‘Osa‐Nijisseiki’ and its self‐compatible progenies were systematically investigated at genomic, transcriptional and translational level in comparison with its wild type, ‘Nijisseiki’. The results provided evidence that the S4 RNase gene is present in the genome and expressed in the ‘Osa‐Nijisseiki’ style, especially in the stigma, but is not transmitted to its progenies.
Rapid survey for presence of a blast resistance gene Pi‐ta in rice cultivars using the dominant DNA markers derived from portions of the Pi‐ta gene
Authors: Wang Z. , Jia Y. , Rutger J. N. , Xia Y. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe Pi‐ta gene in rice confers resistance to strains of the blast pathogen Magnaporthe grisea (Herbert) Borr. (anamorph Pyricularia oryza Cav.) containing the corresponding avirulence gene AVR‐Pita in a gene‐for‐gene fashion. The Pi‐ta gene is a typical nucleotide‐binding site type resistance gene. Nucleotide sequences distinguishing the resistant Pi‐ta and susceptible pi‐ta alleles were previously identified and used for developing DNA markers for a resistant Pi‐ta haplotype and three susceptible pi‐ta haplotypes. In the present study, the existence of the Pi‐ta gene in 141 rice germplasm accessions was rapidly determined using these markers, and the results were confirmed by inoculating rice germplasm with an M. grisea strain containing AVR‐Pita. The Pi‐ta gene was found in accessions from several major rice producing countries, including China, Colombia, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Iran and the United States. The usefulness of DNA markers for rapid determination of the genotype of rice germplasm was thus demonstrated. The Pi‐ta gene also was found in rice cultivar known to contain the Pi‐ta2 gene, although the allelic relationship of these genes remains to be determined. The presence of the Pi‐ta gene in landrace cultivars in several different geographical locations, the Philippines and Vietnam, other indica rice cultivars in China and Colombia suggest that the Pi‐ta gene may have spontaneously originated in indica rice cultivars. These results are useful for incorporating the Pi‐ta gene into advanced breeding lines by marker‐assisted selection for rice breeding programmes worldwide.