bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Chornobyl accident and cognitive functioning: a follow-up study of infant evacuees at age 19 years
Authors: Taormina D. P. , Rozenblatt S. , Guey L. T. , Gluzman S. F. , Carlson G. A. , Havenaar J. M. , Zakhozha V. , Kotov R. , Bromet E. J. 
Published: January 2008

BackgroundThe cognitive and academic outcomes of infants exposed to radiation after the meltdown at Chornobyl have been intensely debated. Western-based investigations indicate that no adverse effects occurred, but local studies reported increased cognitive impairments in exposed compared with non-exposed children. Our initial study found that at age 11 years, school grades and neuropsychological performance were similar in 300 children evacuated to Kiev as infants or in utero compared with 300 classmate controls, yet more evacuee mothers believed that their children had memory problems. This study re-examined the children's performance and academic achievement at age 19 years.MethodIn 2005–2006, we conducted an 8-year follow-up of the evacuees (n=265) and classmate controls (n=261) assessed in Kiev in 1997. Outcomes included university attendance, tests of intelligence, attention, and memory, and subjective appraisals of memory problems. Scores were standardized using a local population-based control group (n=327). Analyses were stratified by parental education.ResultsEvacuees and classmates performed similarly and in the normal range on all tests, and no differential temporal changes were found. The results were comparable for the in utero subsample. The rates of university attendance and self-reported memory problems were also similar. Nevertheless, the evacuee mothers were almost three times as likely to report that their children had memory problems compared with controls.ConclusionsChornobyl did not influence the cognitive functioning of exposed infants although more evacuee mothers still believed that their offspring had memory problems. These lingering worries reflect a wider picture of persistent health concerns as a consequence of the accident.
The relationship between trauma and beliefs about hearing voices: a study of psychiatric and non-psychiatric voice hearers
Authors: Andrew E. M. , Gray N. S. , Snowden R. J. 
Published: January 2008

BackgroundCognitive models suggest that distress associated with auditory hallucinations is best understood in terms of beliefs about voices. What is less clear is what factors govern such beliefs. This study aimed to explore the way in which traumatic life events contribute towards beliefs about voices and any associated distress.MethodThe difference in the nature and prevalence of traumatic life events and associated psychological sequelae was compared in two groups of voice hearers: psychiatric voice hearers with predominantly negative beliefs about voices (PVH) and non-psychiatric voice hearers with predominantly positive beliefs about voices (NPVH). The data from the two groups were then combined in order to examine which factors could significantly account for the variance in beliefs about voices and therefore levels of distress.ResultsBoth groups reported a high prevalence of traumatic life events although significantly more PVH reported trauma symptoms sufficient for a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Furthermore, significantly more PVH reported experiencing childhood sexual abuse. Current trauma symptoms (re-experiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal) were found to be a significant predictor of beliefs about voices. Trauma variables accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in anxiety and depression.ConclusionsThe results suggest that beliefs about voices may be at least partially understood in the context of traumatic life events.
Determination of corona, LTE, and NLTE regimes of optically thin carbon plasmas
Authors: Gil J.M. , RodrÍguez R. , Florido R. , Rubiano J.G. , Martel P. , MÍnguez E. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractIn this work is accomplished the determination of the corona, local and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium regimes for optically thin carbon plasmas in steady state, in terms of the plasma density and temperature using the ABAKO code. The determination is made through the analysis of the plasma average ionization and ion and level populations. The results are compared whit those obtained applying Griem's criterion. Finally, it is made a brief analysis of the effects of the calculation of level populations assuming different plasma regimes in radiative properties, such as emissivities and opacities.
Plastic detection comb better than visual screening for diagnosis of head louse infestation
Authors: BALCIOGLU C. , BURGESS I. F. , LIMONCU M. E. , ŞAHIN M. T. , OZBEL Y. , BILAÇ C. , KURT O. , LARSEN K. S. 
Published: January 2008

SUMMARYFinding lice can be difficult in head louse infestation. We compared a new louse detection comb with visual inspection. All children in two rural Turkish schools were screened by the two methods. Those with lice were offered treatment and the results monitored by detection combing. Children with nits only were re-screened to identify latent infestations. Using visual inspection we found 214/461 children (46%) with nits but only 30 (6·5%) with live lice. In contrast detection combing found 96 (21%) with live lice, of whom 20 had no nits. Detection combing was 3·84 times more effective than visual inspection for finding live lice. Only 10/138 (7·2%) children with nits and no lice were found to have active infestation by day 16. We found that the detection comb is significantly (P<0·001) more effective than visual screening for diagnosis; that nits are not a good indicator of active infestation; and that treatment with 1% permethrin was 89·6% effective.
Observations related to theSalmonellaEU layer baseline survey in the United Kingdom: follow-up of positive flocks and sensitivity issues
Authors: CARRIQUE-MAS J. J. , BRESLIN M. , SNOW L. , ARNOLD M. E. , WALES A. , McLAREN I. , DAVIES R. H. 
Published: January 2008

SUMMARYA follow-on study was carried out on 23 holdings identified asSalmonellapositive in the 2004/2005 European Union (EU) baseline survey ofSalmonellain laying hens. Eleven of 13 cage and 4/7 floor houses remained positive forSalmonellawhen the new flock was tested, and from 10/13 cage and 3/7 floor houses aSalmonellaof the same serovar/phage type as found in the EU survey was isolated. There was a high correlation between the level of contamination in the houses at the time of the EU survey and in the follow-on flock. On seven occasions the house identified as positive in the EU survey was sampled after cleaning and disinfection but before a new flock was placed, and in all of themSalmonellacould be isolated from the houses. The observed number of infected houses in infected holdings suggests that the holding-level prevalence in the United Kingdom would be about 21% higher than the results obtained in the EU survey.
English vocabulary learning with word lists, word cards and computers: implications from cognitive psychology research for optimal spaced learning
Authors: Nakata Tatsuya 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe spacing effect is known to be one of the most robust phenomena in experimental psychology, and many attempts have been made to realize effective spaced learning for L2 vocabulary learning. This study compares vocabulary learning with word lists, word cards, and computers in order to identify which material leads to the most superior spaced learning. In the experiment, 226 Japanese high school students studied ten English words with one of the three learning materials: lists, cards, and computers. One-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that although no significant difference existed between the Card group and the other two, the PC group significantly outperformed the List group on the delayed post-test. Item analysis using Chi-squares demonstrated that on the delayed post-test, the List group's successful recall rates for four of the ten items were significantly lower than those of the Card or PC group. Correlational analysis indicated that the time invested in learning and the subsequent post-test scores did not correlate significantly for the List and Card groups. Paradoxically, a negative correlation was observed between the PC group's study time and their post-test scores. The lack of meaningful relationships between the study time and subsequent retention may be partially due to the limited ability of certain learners to learn effectively while using certain materials. A questionnaire given to the participants found that, in general, computers were evaluated more favorably than lists or cards. At the same time, however, learners exhibited large variations in their evaluation of computers, implying the importance of considering individual differences when introducing CALL to learners. In summary, the study has demonstrated the superiority of computers over lists, the limited advantage of word cards over lists, and no statistically significant difference between computers and cards. The findings are significant because although the advantages of cards or computers have been advocated, no study has ever tested such claims empirically.
Integrating CALL and Genre Theory: A proposal to increase students' literacy
Authors: Lirola María Martínez , Cuevas María Tabuenca 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe use of computer programs that can be used to correct and assess students' written work in the EFL classroom has become more commonplace within the last decade. This paper discusses the role of CALL in the process of data collection, standardisation of assessment criteria and compilation of the number of errors in the areas of grammar learning and its application to L2 writing. Students benefited from the correction process and showed increased grammatical awareness through the corrected feedback. However, the analysis of the results after the first correction phase demonstrated that the students had improved less than expected. For this reason, in the second year, Genre Theory was adopted as a theoretical framework so that students would become aware of the relationship between the structure and shape of texts in order to be effective in a particular context, and to achieve the goals of a particular culture. As proponents of the genre approach, we argue that making the genres explicit and showing how to write them will help students to be aware of how knowledge is structured in different written genres. A careful selection of text types was made at the beginning of the year so that improvement in the students' writing not only depended on the CALL system being used, but also on the different genres or text types used as class material. In this study, we intend to demonstrate that the combination of new technologies in the classroom and Genre Theory helped students to increase their writing competency. Our research highlights the relationship between literacy, new technologies, and effective writing with an emphasis on the educational application.
Modeling Global Land‐Use Decision Making Analysis, Integration and Modeling of the Earth System (AIMES) Third Young Scholar's Network Workshop; Bristol, United Kingdom, 2–4 June 2007
Authors: Verbeeten Elke , Poulter Benjamin , Braimoh Ademola , Herrmann Stefanie , Cabral Pedro , Balogun Ahmed 
Published: January 2008

The need to understand human impacts on the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems and to design sustainable management policies necessitates integrating land‐use decision making into an Earth systems perspective.To address this, the Third AIMES Young Scholar's Network Workshop on Modeling Land‐Use Decision Making brought togetheran interdisciplinary group of young researchers from diverse backgrounds, ranging from biophysical to socioeconomic research. Participants came from both developing and developed countries. The workshop sought to (1) improve understanding of land‐use decision‐making processes and (2) identify knowledge gaps that hamper progress in integrating these processes into Earth system models.
Studying geohazards with ocean cores. Addressing geologic hazards through ocean drilling: An IODP international workshop, Portland, Oregon, 27–30 August 2007
Authors: Morgan Julia , Silver Eli , Camerlenghi Angelo , Dugan Brandon , Kirby Steve , Shipp Craig , Suyehiro Kiyoshi 
Published: January 2008

How can Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) drilling contribute to the understanding of highly hazardous geologic events, such as great earthquakes, submarine landslides, and volcano collapses, all of which can generate devastating tsunamis and threaten huge parts of Earth's coasts? Eighty‐nine participants from 18 countries grappled with this topic for 4 days near Portland, Oreg., in late August and spawned a number of working groups focused on generating proposals to gain such understanding.Ideas included potential scientific targets and locations for drilling, proposed observatories to study active and potentially precursory processes, in situ measurement techniques, and methodologies for interpreting sedimentary records. A common theme was the unique opportunity afforded by IODP drilling to study active processes relevant to geohazards, especially at known points within the deformation cycle. The meeting also led to proposed additions to the IODP initial science plan.
AGU Council and other Union leaders meet in San Francisco
Authors: Holoviak Judy C. 
Published: January 2008

On 9 December, the chairs of the focus groups met with Union officers to discuss common concerns, in particular, ways to assure that all members can participate fully in AGU activities regardless of their primary scientific affiliation with the Union. The chairs of the policy committees joined the others and discussed programmatic priorities for the coming 6–12 months.At the Council Forum later that day, the full Council and the focus group chairs discussed the items to be considered for Council action on 14 December. During the Forum, Executive Director Fred Spilhaus reported on the surveys he had been asked to conduct related to AGU's practice of not publishing the actual election counts.
Antarctica: A Keystone in a Changing World: 10th International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences; Santa Barbara, California, 26 August to 1 September 2007
Authors: Bell Robin E. , Luyendyk Bruce P. , Wilson Terry J. 
Published: January 2008

The 10th International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences was convened at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where 350 researchers presented talks and posters on topics including climate change, biotic evolution, magmatic processes, surface processes, tectonics, geodynamics, and the cryosphere. The symposium resulted in 335 peer‐reviewed papers, 225 of which are published online (http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1047/). A proceedings book will also be published by the National Academies Press.Advances in our understanding of Antarctic tectonics were many, often involving techniques that provide information under ice sheets or from proxies such as glacial till to provide clues on provenance. John Goodge (University of Minnesota‐Duluth) and coworkers reported a 1440‐million‐year‐old granite boulder from glacial till from the Nimrod Glacier that can be matched to North American Laurentian province granites, supporting the postulated (Southwest U.S.—East Antarctica (SWEAT) hypothesis) fit of East Antarctica and North America more than 1 billion years ago. Considerable debate concerned the formation of the Transantarctic Mountains and the role of plateau collapse.
Molecular determinants of activation and membrane targeting of phosphoinositol 4-kinase IIβ
Authors: Jung Gwanghyun , Wang Jing , Wlodarski Pawel , Barylko Barbara , Binns Derk D. , Shu Hongjun , Yin Helen L. , Albanesi Joseph P. 
Published: January 2008

Mammalian cells contain two isoforms of the type II PI4K (phosphoinositol 4-kinase), PI4KIIα and β. These 55 kDa proteins have highly diverse N-terminal regions (approximately residues 1–90) but conserved catalytic domains (approximately from residue 91 to the C-termini). Nearly the entire pool of PI4KIIα behaves as an integral membrane protein, in spite of a lack of a transmembrane domain. This integral association with membranes is due to palmitoylation of a cysteine-rich motif, CCPCC, located within the catalytic domain. Although the CCPCC motif is conserved in PI4KIIβ, only 50% of PI4KIIβ is membrane-associated, and approximately half of this pool is only peripherally attached to the membranes. Growth factor stimulation or overexpression of a constitutively active Rac mutant induces the translocation of a portion of cytosolic PI4KIIβ to plasma membrane ruffles and stimulates its activity. Here, we demonstrate that membrane-associated PI4KIIβ undergoes two modifications, palmitoylation and phosphorylation. The cytosolic pool of PI4KIIβ is not palmitoylated and has much lower lipid kinase activity than the membrane-associated kinase. Although only membrane-associated PI4KIIβ is phosphorylated in the unique N-terminal region, this modification apparently does not influence its membrane binding or activity. A series of truncation mutants and α/β chimaeras were generated to identify regions responsible for the isoform-specific behaviour of the kinases. Surprisingly, the C-terminal approx. 160 residues, and not the diverse N-terminal regions, contain the sites that are most important in determining the different solubilities, palmitoylation states and stimulus-dependent redistributions of PI4KIIα and β.
Complementary regulation of TBC1D1 and AS160 by growth factors, insulin and AMPK activators
Authors: Chen Shuai , Murphy Jane , Toth Rachel , Campbell David G. , Morrice Nick A. , Mackintosh Carol 
Published: January 2008

AS160 (Akt substrate of 160 kDa) and TBC1D1 are related RabGAPs (Rab GTPase-activating proteins) implicated in regulating the trafficking of GLUT4 (glucose transporter 4) storage vesicles to the cell surface. All animal species examined contain TBC1D1, whereas AS160 evolved with the vertebrates. TBC1D1 has two clusters of phosphorylated residues, either side of the second PTB (phosphotyrosine-binding domain). Each cluster contains a 14-3-3-binding site. When AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is activated in HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293 cells, 14-3-3s bind primarily to pSer237 (where pSer is phosphorylated serine) in TBC1D1, whereas 14-3-3 binding depends primarily on pThr596 (where pThr is phosphorylated threonine) in cells stimulated with IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), EGF (epidermal growth factor) and PMA; and both pSer237 and pThr596 contribute to 14-3-3 binding in cells stimulated with forskolin. In HEK-293 cells, LY294002 inhibits phosphorylation of Thr596 of TBC1D1, and promotes phosphorylation of AMPK and Ser237 of TBC1D1. In vitro phosphorylation experiments indicated regulatory interactions among phosphorylated sites, for example phosphorylation of Ser235 prevents subsequent phosphorylation of Ser237. In rat L6 myotubes, endogenous TBC1D1 is strongly phosphorylated on Ser237 and binds to 14-3-3s in response to the AMPK activators AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside), phenformin and A-769662, whereas insulin promotes phosphorylation of Thr596 but not 14-3-3 binding. In contrast, AS160 is phosphorylated on its 14-3-3-binding sites (Ser341 and Thr642) and binds to 14-3-3s in response to insulin, but not A-769662, in L6 cells. These findings suggest that TBC1D1 and AS160 may have complementary roles in regulating vesicle trafficking in response to insulin and AMPK-activating stimuli in skeletal muscle.
An insight into the mechanism of inhibition of unusual bi-subunit topoisomerase I fromLeishmania donovaniby 3,3′-di-indolylmethane, a novel DNA topoisomerase I poison with a strong binding affinity to the enzyme
Authors: Roy Amit , Das Benu Brata , Ganguly Agneyo , Bose Dasgupta Somdeb , Khalkho Neeta V. M. , Pal Churala , Dey Sumit , Giri Venkatachalam Sesha , Jaisankar Parasuraman , Dey Sanjit , Majumder Hemanta K. 
Published: January 2008

DIM (3,3′-di-indolylmethane), an abundant dietary component of cruciferous vegetables, exhibits a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties. In the present study, we show that DIM is a potent inhibitor of Leishmania donovani topoisomerase I with an IC50 of 1.2 μM. Equilibrium dialysis shows that DIM binds strongly to the free enzyme with a binding constant of 9.73×10−9 M. The binding affinity of DIM to the small subunit is 8.6-fold more than that of the large subunit of unusual LdTOP1LS (bi-subunit L. donovani topoisomerase I). DIM stabilizes topoisomerase I–DNA cleavage complexes in vitro and also in vivo. Like CPT (camptothecin), DIM inhibits the religation step when the drug was added to preformed topoisomerase I–DNA binary complex. Hence, DIM is similar to CPT with respect to its ability to form the topoisomerase I-mediated ‘cleavable complexes’ in vitro and in vivo. But unlike CPT, DIM interacts with both free enzyme and substrate DNA. Therefore DIM is a non-competitive class I inhibitor of topoisomerase I. DIM also inhibits the relaxation activity of the CPT-resistant mutant enzyme LdTOP1Δ39LS (N-terminal deletion of amino acids 1–39 of LdTOP1LS). The IC50 values of DIM in simultaneous and enzyme pre-incubation relaxation assays were 3.6 and 2.9 μM respectively, which are higher than that of wild-type topoisomerase I (LdTOP1LS), indicating that the affinity of DIM to LdTOP1Δ39LS is less than that for LdTOP1LS. This is the first report on DIM as an L. donovani topoisomerase I poison. Our study illuminates a new mode of action of enzyme inhibition by DIM that might be exploited for rational drug design in human leishmaniasis.
Thai Speech and Language Test for children between 1 and 2 years of age
Authors: Prathanee Benjamas , Pongjanyakul Amornrat , Chano Jiraporn 
Published: January 2008

Background: Children with delayed speech and language development are at considerable risk for later language impairment, social and behavioural problems, and illiteracy. Early diagnosis is needed for intervention planning and prevention. However, a speech and language test for Thai children has not been available.Aims: To establish a Thai Speech and Language Test for Thai children between zero and 2 years of age.Methods & Procedures: The authors reviewed both Thai and international speech and language development tests and studies related to factors associated with speech and language development. A Thai Speech and Language Test for children between zero and 2 years of age (TSLT2) was then formulated. The test was used with 419 typically developing Thai children in Khon Kaen, north‐east Thailand.Outcome & Results: Language quotients were calculated to quantify/qualify Thai language development norms. Inter‐rater reliability of the test ranged between 0.64 and 1, while internal consistencies ranged between 0.83 and 0.95 for tests on children between 1 and 2 years of age.Conclusions: Professionals or paraprofessionals can use the Thai Speech and Language Test for children between 1 and 2 years of age, which is the first Thai tool for the assessment, diagnosis and remediation planning of children with delayed speech and language development. It should be also adapted for use in other regions in Thailand. However, the test for children aged between 3 and 9 months should be revised and continue to be developed.