bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neurology of Fabry disease
Authors: Low M. , Nicholls K. , Tubridy N. , Hand P. , Velakoulis D. , Kiers L. , Mitchell P. , Becker G. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground: Fabry disease has diverse neurological manifestations, many of which influence morbidity and quality of life.Aims: The aim of the study was to document the clinical and subclinical neurological manifestations in a cohort of Australian patients with Fabry disease, using multiple clinical tools and a multidisciplinary approach.Methods: Participants completed focused questionnaires and underwent clinical neurological examination, Neurocognitive testing using Mini Mental State Examination and Neuropsychiatry Unit Cognitive Screen, Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST), autonomic assessment using RR interval variation, intracranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and audiology. In subsets of patients who had previously undergone QST and/or prospective serial quality‐of‐life assessments over the previous 5 years, results before and after enzyme replacement therapy were compared.Results: Twenty hemizygotes and two heterozygotes were recruited. The age (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) of male participants was 40.4 ± 11.9 years (range 20–62 years); the women were aged between 20 and 56 years. Increasing age was strongly associated with increasing neurological disability. Clinical peripheral neuropathy predominantly affected thermal sensation in all patients, with variable involvement of pinprick and light touch. QST confirmed these findings. Clinical cerebellar tests were commonly abnormal: this has not been previously reported in the absence of symptomatic cerebrovascular disease. There was hearing loss was in 90% of patients and no patient older than 44 years had normal hearing. MRI lesion prevalence increased with age. Despite neurological complications being common, formal cognitive testing was basically normal. QST thresholds for pain showed a significant change after enzyme replacement therapy.Conclusions: Neurological complications in Fabry disease are common, complex and may be devastating. All patients studied had neurological involvement, with protean and diverse manifestations.
Effect of long‐term nebulized colistin on lung function and quality of life in patients with chronic bronchial sepsis
Authors: Steinfort D. P. , Steinfort C. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractRecurrent Gram‐negative bacterial infection is a significant cause of death in patients with bronchiectasis and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nebulized colistin in cystic fibrosis has shown maintenance of pulmonary function and improved symptom scores. We prospectively followed 18 patients with chronic bronchial sepsis treated with nebulized colistin 30 mg daily. Mean decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s was significantly slower following commencement of inhaled colistin (44 mL/year vs 104 mL/year, P = 0.035). Mean decline in forced vital capacity was also significantly slower following commencement of colistin (48 mL/year vs 110 mL/year, P = 0.033). Patient‐reported quality of life improved following commencement of colistin (3.6 vs 6.2, P = 0.001). No patient had isolates resistant to colistin. No side‐effects were reported by patients in the cohort. Use of inhaled colistin in the treatment of bronchiectasis and severe (COPD) in patients with recurrent Gram‐negative infections is safe. Inhaled colistin may improve quality of life and slow decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity.
Population dynamics of marine magnetotactic bacteria in a meromictic salt pond described with qPCR
Authors: Simmons Sheri L. , Bazylinski Dennis A. , Edwards Katrina J. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryMagnetotactic bacteria (MTB) contain membrane‐bound magnetic iron minerals and are globally abundant in the suboxic/anoxic portions of chemically stratified marine and freshwater environments. However, their population dynamics and potential quantitative contribution to the biogeochemical cycles that they influence (iron, sulfur, carbon) have not been previously considered. Here we report the first quantitative description of the distribution of individual species of magnetite‐ and greigite‐producing MTB in a natural system. We developed a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay targeting 16s rRNA genes to enumerate four major groups of marine MTB, and applied the assay to samples collected with respect to geochemical parameters during summer 2003 in seasonally stratified Salt Pond, MA. Using catalysed reporter deposition‐fluorescent in situ hybridization, we also show that a large greigite‐producing bacterium is distantly related to Thiomicrospira pelophila in the Gammaproteobacteria. Ribosomal RNA copy numbers obtained with quantitative polymerase chain reaction indicate that MTB comprise up to 10% of total Bacteria and that each organism has a characteristic distributional profile with respect to the chemocline.
Novel hopanoid cyclases from the environment
Authors: Pearson Ann , Flood Page Sarah R. , Jorgenson Tyler L. , Fischer Woodward W. , Higgins Meytal B. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryHopanoids are ubiquitous isoprenoid lipids found in modern biota, in recent sediments and in low‐maturity sedimentary rocks. Because these lipids primarily are derived from bacteria, they are used as proxies to help decipher geobiological communities. To date, much of the information about sources of hopanoids has come from surveys of culture collections, an approach that does not address the vast fraction of prokaryotic communities that remains uncharacterized. Here we investigated the phylogeny of hopanoid producers using culture‐independent methods. We obtained 79 new sequences of squalene‐hopene cyclase genes (sqhC) from marine and lacustrine bacterioplankton and analysed them along with all 31 sqhC fragments available from existing metagenomics libraries. The environmental sqhCs average only 60% translated amino acid identity to their closest relatives in public databases. The data imply that the sources of these important geologic biomarkers remain largely unknown. In particular, genes affiliated with known cyanobacterial sequences were not detected in the contemporary environments analysed here, yet the geologic record contains abundant hopanoids apparently of cyanobacterial origin. The data also suggest that hopanoid biosynthesis is uncommon: < 10% of bacterial species may be capable of producing hopanoids. A better understanding of the contemporary distribution of hopanoid biosynthesis may reveal fundamental insight about the function of these compounds, the organisms in which they are found, and the environmental signals preserved in the sedimentary record.
Fusarium solani species complex isolates conspecific with Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae race 2 from naturally infected human and plant tissue and environmental sources are equally virulent on plants, grow at 37°C and are interfertile
Authors: Mehl Hillary L. , Epstein Lynn 
Published: June 2007

SummaryIn a previous taxonomic study based on multilocus sequencing of Fusarium from clinical specimens and hospital environments, the most common lineage was Fusarium solani species complex group 1 (FSSC 1) which is conspecific with F. solani f. sp. cucurbitae race 2, a pathogen of cucurbit fruits. The aims of our study were to determine if clinical and environmental isolates of FSSC 1 are plant pathogens and members of the same biological species as cucurbit isolates, and to determine if all isolates can germinate, grow and sporulate at 37°C. Isolates from the different sources did not differ in virulence on zucchini fruits. All FSSC 1 isolates were pathogenic and produced more rot than FSSC isolates from plant hosts other than cucurbits. Both mating types were found among isolates from each of the sources, and all isolates were sexually compatible with cucurbit isolates. All isolates germinated, grew and sporulated at 37°C. This is the first report in which plant pathogenicity has been verified for a collection of human clinical isolates. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that all FSSC 1 isolates, regardless of source, are a single biological species, equally virulent plant pathogens and tolerant of the human body temperature.
Socioeconomic gradients predict individual differences in neurocognitive abilities
Authors: Noble Kimberly G. , McCandliss Bruce D. , Farah Martha J. 
Published: June 2007

Abstract Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with childhood cognitive achievement. In previous research we found that this association shows neural specificity; specifically we found that groups of low and middle SES children differed disproportionately in perisylvian/language and prefrontal/executive abilities relative to other neurocognitive abilities. Here we address several new questions: To what extent does this disparity between groups reflect a gradient of SES‐related individual differences in neurocognitive development, as opposed to a more categorical difference? What other neurocognitive systems differ across individuals as a function of SES? Does linguistic ability mediate SES differences in other systems? And how do specific prefrontal/executive subsystems vary with SES? One hundred and fifty healthy, socioeconomically diverse first‐graders were administered tasks tapping language, visuospatial skills, memory, working memory, cognitive control, and reward processing. SES explained over 30% of the variance in language, and a smaller but highly significant portion of the variance in most other systems. Statistically mediating factors and possible interventional approaches are discussed.
The development of prudence in the face of varying future rewards
Authors: Lemmon Karen , Moore Chris 
Published: June 2007

Abstract The choice to delay gratification, opting for a greater reward later instead of a smaller reward now, has been used as a measure of preschoolers’ ability to make future‐oriented decisions. The present studies investigated to what extent these choice tasks reflect children's ability to make choices in favour of their future self. In Experiment 1, preschoolers were presented with choices between a smaller immediate reward of one sticker and larger delayed rewards varying in amount from two to five stickers. Whereas 3‐year‐olds showed no increased tendency to choose the delayed option as quantity increased from two to five, 4‐year‐olds’ future‐oriented choices reflected the value of the delayed reward. In Experiment 2, preschoolers chose between immediate and delayed rewards that were equal in amount and varied between one and four stickers. Three‐year‐olds reliably chose the immediate reward and showed no differentiation among rewards, whereas 4‐year‐olds chose in a manner that suggested they were trying to satisfy both immediate and future desires. Together these results support the notion that future‐oriented prudence reflects growth in concern for the future self.
IS GLOBAL ETHICS MORAL NEO‐COLONIALISM? AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ISSUE IN THE CONTEXT OF BIOETHICS
Authors: WIDDOWS HEATHER 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper considers the possibility and desirability of global ethics in light of the claim that ‘global ethics’ in any form is not global, but simply the imposition of one form of local ethics – Western ethics – and, as such, a form of moral neo‐colonialism. The claim that any form of global ethics is moral neo‐colonialism is outlined using the work of a group of ‘developing world bioethicists’ who are sceptical of the possibility of global ethics. The work of virtue ethicists is then introduced and compared to the position of the developing world bioethicists in order to show that the divide between ‘Western’ and ‘non‐Western’ ethics is exaggerated. The final section of the paper turns to the practical arena and considers the question of global ethics in light of practical issues in bioethics. The paper concludes that practical necessity is driving the creation of global ethics and thus the pertinent question is no longer ‘Whether global ethics?’, but ‘Why global ethics?’.
A CRITIQUE OF THE INNOVATION ARGUMENT AGAINST A NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM
Authors: RAJCZI ALEX 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTPresident Bush and his Council of Economic Advisors have claimed that the US shouldn't adopt a national health program because doing so would slow innovation in health care. Some have attacked this argument by challenging its moral claim that innovativeness is a good ground for choosing between health care systems. This reply is misguided. If we want to refute the argument from innovation, we have to undercut the premise that seems least controversial – the premise that our current system produces more innovation than a national health program would. I argue that this premise is false. The argument requires clarifying the concept ‘national health program’ and examining various theories of human well‐being.
SOLIDARITY AND JUSTICE AS GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN GENOMIC RESEARCH
Authors: HOEDEMAEKERS ROGEER , GORDIJN BERT , PIJNENBURG MARTIEN 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTIn genomic research the ideal standard of free, informed, prior and explicit consent is sometimes difficult to apply. This has raised concern that important genomic research will be restricted. Different consent procedures have therefore been proposed. This paper explicitly examines the question how, in genomic research, the principles of solidarity and justice can be used to justify forms of diminished individual control over personal data and bio‐samples. After a discussion of the notions of solidarity and justice and how they can be related to health care and genomic research, we examine how and in which situations these notions can form a strong moral basis for demanding certain financial sacrifices. Then we examine when these principles can justify consent procedures which diverge from the ideal standard. Because much genomic research is not expected to lead to immediate (clinical) benefits we also discuss the question of whether we can be obliged to make any sacrifices for future (not yet existing) patients. We conclude with the formulation of a number of conditions that have to be met before autonomy sacrifices can be reasonably demanded in genomic research.
In the Temple of the Passions: D. Z. Phillips and the Possibility of Philosophical Contemplation
Authors: Amesbury Richard 
Published: June 2007

AbstractD. Z. Phillips’ work in philosophy was animated by his interest in the diversity and heterogeneity of moral and religious perspectives and his antipathy towards philosophical theories that afford this variety little or no conceptual space. In contrast to what he perceived as essentialist efforts to promote certain viewpoints and to disparage others, Phillips championed a “contemplative conception” of philosophy, according to which the philosopher's aim is neither to underwrite nor to undermine but to understand. This paper argues that philosophy, while disinterested in its aims, nevertheless derives its elucidatory force from the normative contexts within which it is practised and read.
D. Z. Phillips on Belief in God
Authors: Davies Brian 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIn this paper I try briefly to say why I think that what D.Z. Phillips had to say about belief in God can be defended against certain familiar criticisms, and why I think that his treatment could have been improved. I note passages in his writings which might be thought not to reflect what belief in God amounts to, but I argue that these passages can be read as reflecting belief in God as we find it in biblical authors and in writers like Thomas Aquinas. Having noted that Phillips rejects attempts to do natural theology on largely Humean grounds, I argue against these grounds as echoed by Phillips and draw attention to a tradition of natural theology not subject to Humean objections, a tradition to which Phillips might have paid more attention than he did.
Luck, Mystery and Supremacy: D. Z. Phillips Reads Nagel and Williams on Morality
Authors: Mulhall Stephen 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThis paper critically examines D. Z. Phillips’ critical examination of Nagel's and Williams's famous exchange about moral luck. It argues that Phillips fails properly to identify the fundamental issues at stake in the exchange – particularly with respect to the role of scepticism, of the picture of the will as an extensionless point, and of the putative supremacy of morality – and so fails to recognise a certain commonality of interest between himself and those he criticises.
D. Z. Phillips and Wittgenstein's On Certainty
Authors: Stock Guy 
Published: June 2007

AbstractI start from Phillips' discussion of Rhees's dissatisfaction with the idea of a language‐game. Then, from a rereading of Moore, I go on to exemplify interconnected uses of the expressions “language‐game,”“recurrent procedure,”“world‐picture,”“formal procedure,”“agreement in judgment,”“genre picture” and “form of life.” The discussion is related to sense perception, our knowledge of time and space, and the picture‐theory. These topics connect with Wittgenstein's earlier treatment of the will – which changed markedly later. The subtext (in footnotes) confronts (i) the sceptical methods of Descartes and Hume with the grammatical methods of Leibniz, Kant and Wittgenstein, and (ii) the realism of Leibniz and the Tractatus with the transcendental idealism of Kant. My conclusion is that, although the method of Wittgenstein's later work remains in a sense grammatical, (i) in its new form it can free us from the conviction that the intellect can and must resolve one way or the other the conflicts that arise in the course of the latter confrontation, and that (ii), although release from such a conviction is to be seen as the aim of philosophical discourse in general, it allows philosophy to retain its overriding significance. A positive element in that lies in the respect the method demands for that in a human life which is transcendental to the activity of scientific theorising: respect, therefore, for the unique perspective of the individual historical agent.
Factors associated with thorough skin self‐examination for the early detection of melanoma
Authors: Martin RA , Weinstock MA , Risica PM , Smith K , Rakowski W 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground  Regular thorough skin self‐examination (TSSE) has potential for detecting melanoma early and reducing melanoma mortality.Objectives  We sought to model factors associated with skin self‐examination (SSE) and test whether efficacy and attitudes about SSE mediated these relationships.Patients/Methods  The Check‐It‐Out project is a randomized trial of an intervention to encourage TSSE; 2126 participants were recruited from the practices of primary care physicians. Correlates predicting baseline TSSE included demographic variables, skin cancer risk, physician advice to examine skin, and appropriate conditions for conducting SSE (availability of partner to assist with self‐examination, availability of a wall mirror, and use of contact lenses/glasses).Results  Those who were given physician advice, had a wall mirror, and had a partner available were more likely to perform TSSE.Limitations  We identified the factors associated with concurrent TSSE practices. Further research is needed to determine if these same factors predict future behaviour. Our findings may not be applicable in geographical areas other than our recruitment area.Conclusions  Primary care providers can recommend SSE and provide materials to increase ability to recognize skin problems. Providing instructions and aids for conducting TSSE may increase self‐efficacy.
Perceptions of facial aesthetics in surgical patients with basal cell carcinoma
Authors: Essers B , Nieman F , Prins M , Smeets N , Neumann H 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground  Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a non‐melanoma form of skin cancer that is frequently localized within the cervicofacial area. So far, little research is available on how patients perceive their facial aesthetics after surgical treatment for BCC.Objectives  To analyse (i) if there was a statistically significant improvement over time with regard to the perceived facial aesthetics of surgical patients; (ii) if there was a significant difference between primary and recurrent BCC patients; and (iii) between patients who had Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) or surgical excision (SE). To assess (iv) which baseline perceptions and/or clinical parameters may predict the evaluation of facial aesthetics at 6 months after surgery.Methods  Parallel to a clinical trial, a survey was carried out in which patients were asked, by means of a newly developed disease‐specific questionnaire, about perceptions with regard to their facial aesthetics before and after surgery.Results  Aesthetic perceptions of all surgical patients improved over time. There was no statistically significant difference on facial aesthetics between the group with a primary or recurrent BCC and patients treated with MMS or SE. Results also showed that the evaluation of postsurgical facial aesthetics can be predicted by both visibility of the tumour and preoperative perceptions.Conclusion  It is recommended to administer preoperatively a short questionnaire in which perceptions related to facial aesthetics are included. In doing so, physicians will become more familiar with the aesthetic problems patients might have regarding their afflicted facial site. Ultimately, it may help physicians in deciding whether patients will benefit from additional cosmetic procedures after surgery.
Dynamic mapping of cortical development before and after the onset of pediatric bipolar illness
Authors: Gogtay Nitin , Ordonez Anna , Herman David H. , Hayashi Kiralee M. , Greenstein Deanna , Vaituzis Cathy , Lenane Marge , Clasen Liv , Sharp Wendy , Giedd Jay N. , Jung David , Nugent III Tom F. , Toga Arthur W. , Leibenluft Ellen , Thompson Paul M. , Rapoport Judith L. 
Published: June 2007

Background:  There are, to date, no pre‐post onset longitudinal imaging studies of bipolar disorder at any age. We report the first prospective study of cortical brain development in pediatric bipolar illness for 9 male children, visualized before and after illness onset.Method:  We contrast this pattern with that observed in a matched group of healthy children as well as in a matched group of 8 children with ‘atypical psychosis’ who had similar initial presentation marked by mood dysregulation and transient psychosis (labeled as ‘multi‐dimensionally impaired’ (MDI)) as in the bipolar group, but have not, to date, developed bipolar illness.Results:  Dynamic maps, reconstructed by applying novel cortical pattern matching algorithms, for the children who became bipolar I showed subtle, regionally specific, bilaterally asymmetrical cortical changes. Cortical GM increased over the left temporal cortex and decreased bilaterally in the anterior (and sub genual) cingulate cortex. This was seen most strikingly after the illness onset, and showed a pattern distinct from that seen in childhood onset schizophrenia. The bipolar neurodevelopmental trajectory was generally shared by the children who remained with MDI diagnosis without converting to bipolar I, suggesting that this pattern of cortical development may reflect affective dysregulation (lability) in general.Conclusions:  These dynamic trajectories of cortical development may explain age‐related disparate findings from cross‐sectional studies of bipolar illness, and suggest the importance of mood disordered non‐bipolar control group in future studies.