bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A pilot study of research utilization practices and critical thinking dispositions of Alberta dental hygienists
Authors: Cobban SJ , Profetto‐McGrath J 
Published: July 2008

Abstract:  In order to test interventions for increasing uptake of research findings into dental hygiene practice, we must first identify factors that influence research use. There has been little work on this topic in dental hygiene, but much in other disciplines that can provide exemplars of how others have approached the study of this phenomenon.Objectives:  A pilot study was conducted to determine if protocols used to study research utilization (RU) behaviours and critical thinking dispositions (CTD) in nursing could also be applied to dental hygiene.Methods:  A cross‐sectional survey design was used with a random sample of 640 practicing dental hygienists in Alberta, Canada. Three questionnaires were included: one to capture measures of RU including direct, indirect and symbolic RU; the California Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory (CCTDI) and a demographics questionnaire.Results:  Mean responses for the three types of RU were highest for indirect at 3.52 (SD 0.720), followed by direct at 3.13 (SD 0.903) and symbolic 2.86 (SD 0.959). The majority (74.8%) scored between 280 and 350 on the CCTDI (maximum 420). Cronbach’s alpha reliability for the RU measures and four of the seven sub‐scales were over .7, indicating internal consistency reliability.Conclusions:  The instruments proved reliable for this population, but other challenges, including a low response rate, were identified during the process of using the RU questionnaire in the context of dental hygiene practice. Pilot testing identified the need for improvements to the presentation of scales to reduce cognitive load and improve the response rate.
The Bass technique using a specially designed toothbrush
Authors: Battaglia A 
Published: July 2008

Abstract:  Background:  Reducing the plaque index (PI) is still the main objective in the prevention of gingivitis and periodontitis.Aim:  This experiment evaluated the efficiency of a new manual toothbrush shape from two perspectives: allowing the maximum exploitation of the bristle surface in all directions of the dental arches and simplifying the Bass technique handling and movements in domestic oral care.Patients and method:  The distinct shape was obtained by distancing the bristle surface from the surface of the toothbrush handle in the direction of the bristles, maintaining the two surfaces on parallel planes. This modification facilitates brushing with the Bass technique, since rotation of the new toothbrush handle on its axis allows the bristle surface to cover a greater area. Sixteen patients between the ages of 23 and 49 years with at least 28 dental elements were divided randomly into two groups. On the first day, they underwent professional plaque removal and were provided with pairs of toothbrushes to test. They were evaluated 30 days later using the Full Mouth Plaque Score determined by two dental hygienists who were unaware of the instructions given concerning the method, quadrants and toothbrushes used for the experiment.Results:  The results showed that the modifications to the manual toothbrushes produced greater PI control compared with the traditionally shaped toothbrushes.Conclusion:  Although oral hygiene testing at home usually provides subjective information, in this experiment, the data provided a positive, objective result.
The effect of the Vector® scaler system on human teeth: a systematic review
Authors: Slot DE , Koster TJG , Paraskevas S , Van der Weijden GA 
Published: July 2008

Abstract:  Aim:  To review the available literature, considering the effect of instrumentation with the Vector® ultrasonic scaler on human teeth in vitro and in vivo compared to conventional ultrasonic instruments and/or hand instrumentation. The assessed effects are calculus removal, time of instrumentation, root surface aspects, cell attachment, patients’ perception, bleeding upon probing, pocket depth, clinical attachment loss and microbiological effects.Materials and methods:  MEDLINE–PubMed and the Cochrane Central register of controlled trials (CENTRAL) were searched up through January 2008 to identify appropriate studies.Results:  Independent screening of the titles and abstracts of 270 MEDLINE–PubMed and 15 Cochrane papers resulted in 15 suitable publications. The studies differed in design and outcome, so this review summarizes the outcomes in a descriptive manner. Comparisons are presented against conventional ultrasonic system and scaling and root planing.Conclusion:  The Vector® ultrasonic scaler provided comparable clinical and microbiological periodontal healing results as scaling and root planing and conventional ultrasonic system in moderately deep pockets. The Vector® ultrasonic scaler may be used as a gentle root debridement device for supportive periodontal therapy, as an alternative to other conventional ultrasonic system. The operator should however consider the extra time needed for instrumentation.
Early Bone Tissue Responses to Turned and Oxidized Implants in the Rabbit Tibia
Authors: Burgos Patricia Miranda , Rasmusson Lars , Meirelles Luiz , Sennerby Lars 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTBackground: Previous studies have shown the formation of more bone contacts with a moderately rough and porous titanium surface, created by anodic oxidation, as compared with nonmodified turned titanium control surfaces. The mechanisms leading to a stronger bone response to oxidized titanium are not well understood.Purpose: The aim of the study was to describe the early events of bone integration of titanium implants with oxidized and turned surfaces.Materials and Methods: Nine adult New Zealand White rabbits and 18 implants were used in the study. One oxidized and one turned threaded titanium implants, which had been placed in the right tibial metaphysis, were analyzed in the present study. The implants were retrieved after 7, 14, and 28 days for light microscopic examination and histomorphometric measurements in ground sections.Results: Integration of oxidized implants was seen to occur as direct bone formation on the surface, while the integration of turned implants was a result of bone ingrowth from preexisting bone and bone marrow. For oxidized implants, an almost acellular, darkly stained layer was seen after 7 to 14 days, which later became populated with osteoblasts. The presence of osteoid seams indicated appositional bone growth from the substrate toward the surrounding tissues. The bone contact values were higher for oxidized implants, and the bone area values were higher for turned implants.Conclusions: The present study confirms the idea that implant surface modification alters the bone tissue response to titanium. The early bone formation following surgery occurs directly on the moderately rough oxidized surface, while turned titanium surfaces are integrated by the ingrowth of bone from the adjacent bone marrow and preexisting bone tissues.
Immunology, Microbiology, and Virology Following Placement of NobelPerfect™ Scalloped Dental Implants: Analysis of a Case Series
Authors: Nowzari Hessam , Yi Klaus , Chee Winston , Rich Sandra K. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTBackground: Cytokine–microbiology–virology monitoring after implant placement may help to develop profiles of variables that can help to explain interaction between the immune system and alveolar bone. Descriptive information at the molecular and cellular levels after implant placement is important in the emerging field of osteoimmunology and may help to formulate hypotheses and intervention strategies in periodontology and implantology.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the presence or absence of selected cytokines in association with periodontopathogens and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) after placement of dental implants.Materials and Methods: Charts of seven consecutive patients with 19 NobelPerfect™ (Nobel Biocare, Yorba Linda, CA, USA) implants were reviewed for crevicular fluid sample outcomes. Anaerobic culture determined periodontopathogens 2 to 5 days, 3 and 6 months postimplant insertion. At 3, 6, and 12 months, real‐time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) was performed to detect active HCMV, interleukin‐1beta (IL‐1β), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), and interferon‐gamma (INF‐γ).Results: Four of five, and six of seven patients harbored no periodontopathogens at 3‐ or 6‐month intervals, respectively. In spite of absence of a bacterial challenge, IL‐1β and TNF‐α activity was significant. INF‐γ was not detected, and HCMV was present at one time interval only.Conclusions: TNF‐α is produced mainly in the early stages of acute inflammation, and high levels of this cytokine at 3 and 6 months postimplant placement may be related to a repetitive acute‐phase inflammatory response. Lack of INF‐γ and a high cytokine presence without significant corresponding periopathogens or viruses raise a concern that inflammation and, thus, inflammatory bone destruction, is possible outside of these variables. Inflammation and bone loss around this same group of scalloped implants, reported by our previous study, may have been initiated by local factors, such as particular implant design features.
Esthetic Templates for Complex Restorative Cases: Rationale and Management
Authors: KOIS DEAN E. , SCHMIDT KYLE K. , RAIGRODSKI ARIEL J. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTComplex restorative cases require difficult clinical decisions regarding the final esthetic outcome in which the operator must visualize the definitive restorative position of the teeth. These critical decisions need to be made before treatment is rendered. Communicating these decisions to the patient and the treatment team are crucial prior to achieving clinical success. The esthetic template is the conduit for providing excellent communication. The selection of the appropriate esthetic template is based on four sequential decisions: (1) dentofacial analysis, (2) blueprint development, (3) matrix management, and (4) template application. When utilizing an esthetic template, the clinician must know where the teeth should be placed based on a dentofacial analysis. The dentofacial analysis must then be communicated to the laboratory, and then a blueprint is developed from the diagnostic casts. A matrix is then fabricated from the blueprint and then related back to the existing dentition. The esthetic template is an invaluable communicator that can be utilized in office, with the patient at home, or even within the multidisciplinary treatment team. Clearly, the effective use of esthetic templates demonstrates a reversible way to visualize difficult esthetic decisions before any irreversible procedures are completed. Esthetic templates are a physical means of communication that provide the patient, technician, and multidisciplinary team an instrument to predictably manage complex restorative cases. The purpose of this article is to present a rationale for esthetic template selection and management of several techniques for complex restorative cases.CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEComplex restorative cases require difficult clinical decisions regarding the final esthetic outcome in which the operator must visualize the definitive restorative position of the teeth. The use of an esthetic template commensurate with a rationale for selection enables the operator, patient, and entire interdisciplinary team to visualize the final esthetic outcome.
Estimating the Barents Sea polar bear subpopulation size
Authors: Aars J. , Marques T. A. , Buckland S. T. , Andersen M. , Belikov S. , Boltunov A. , Wiig Ø. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractA large‐scale survey was conducted in August 2004 to estimate the size of the Barents Sea polar bear subpopulation. We combined helicopter line transect distance sampling (DS) surveys in most of the survey area with total counts in small areas not suitable for DS. Due to weather constraints we failed to survey some of the areas originally planned to be covered by DS. For those, abundance was estimated using a ratio estimator, in which the auxiliary variable was the number of satellite telemetry fixes (in previous years). We estimated that the Barents Sea subpopulation had approximately 2,650 (95% CI approximately 1,900–3,600) bears. Given current intense interest in polar bear management due to the potentially disastrous effects of climate change, it is surprising that many subpopulation sizes are still unknown. We show here that line transect sampling is a promising method for addressing the need for abundance estimates.
Asymmetrical local adaptation of maize landraces along an altitudinal gradient
Authors: Mercer Kristin , Martínez‐Vásquez Ángel , Perales Hugo R. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractCrop landraces are managed populations that evolve in response to gene flow and selection. Cross‐pollination among fields, seed sharing by farmers, and selection by management and environmental conditions play roles in shaping crop characteristics. We used common gardens to explore the local adaptation of maize (Zea mays ssp. mays) landrace populations from Chiapas, Mexico to altitude. We sowed seeds of 21 populations from three altitudinal ranges in two common gardens and measured two characteristics that estimate fitness: likelihood of producing good quality seed and the total mass of good quality seed per plant. The probability of lowland plants producing good quality seed was invariably high regardless of garden, while highland landraces were especially sensitive to altitude. Their likelihood of producing good seed quadrupled in the highland site. The mass of good quality seed showed a different pattern, with lowland landraces producing 25% less seed mass than the other types at high elevations. Combining these two measures of fitness revealed that the highland landraces were clearly adapted to highland sites, while lowland and midland landraces appear more adapted to the midland site. We discuss this asymmetry in local adaptation in light of climate change and in situ conservation of crop genetic resources.
Oncogenic BRAFV600E inhibits BIM expression to promote melanoma cell survival
Authors: Cartlidge Robert A. , Thomas G. R. , Cagnol Sebastien , Jong Kimberly A. , Molton Sarah A. , Finch Andrew J. , McMahon Martin 
Published: July 2008

SummarySomatic activating mutations of BRAF are the earliest and most common genetic abnormality detected in the genesis of human melanoma. However, the mechanism(s) by which activated BRAF promotes melanoma cell cycle progression and/or survival remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that expression of BIM, a pro‐apoptotic member of the BCL‐2 family, is inhibited by BRAF→MEK→ERK signaling in mouse and human melanocytes and in human melanoma cells. Trophic factor deprivation of melanocytes leads to elevated BIM expression. However, re‐addition of trophic factors or activation of a conditional form of BRAFV600E leads to rapid inhibition of BIM expression. In both cases, inhibition of BIM expression was dependent on the activity of MEK1/2 and the proteasome. Consistent with these observations, pharmacological inhibition of BRAFV600E or MEK1/2 in human melanoma cells (using PLX4720 and CI‐1040 respectively) led to a striking elevation of BIM expression. Re‐activation of BRAF→MEK→ERK signaling led to phosphorylation of BIM‐EL on serine 69 and its subsequent degradation. Interestingly, endogenous expression of BIM in melanoma cells was insufficient to induce apoptosis unless combined with serum deprivation. Under these circumstances, inhibition of BIM expression by RNA interference provided partial protection from apoptosis. These data suggest that regulation of BIM expression by BRAF→MEK→ERK signaling is one mechanism by which oncogenic BRAFV600E can influence the aberrant physiology of melanoma cells.
Downregulated melanogenic paracrine cytokine linkages in hypopigmented palmoplantar skin
Authors: Hasegawa Junichi , Goto Yasufumi , Murata Hiroshi , Takata Minoru , Saida Toshiaki , Imokawa Genji 
Published: July 2008

SummaryThe hypo‐pigmentation of human skin on the palms and the soles compared with other areas of the body has recently been reported to be due to mesenchymal–epithelial interactions via a fibroblast‐derived factor, dickkopf 1, an inhibitor of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Recently, it has been reported that keratinocytes play a significant role in skin color determination by producing cytokines involved in melanogenesis. Thus, we hypothesized that the downregulated expression of keratinocyte‐ or fibroblast‐derived melanogenic cytokines may also be responsible for the decreased function of palmoplantar (PP) melanocytes in addition to the suppressive effects of dickkopf 1 on melanogenic function in epidermal melanocytes. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the number of tyrosinase, S100α, c‐KIT, endothelin B receptor (ETBR), SOX10, and microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF) immuno‐positive melanocytes is significantly reduced in PP epidermis. In contrast, dopa‐histochemistry demonstrated no substantial reduction in melanocyte populations in PP epidermis. Real‐time RT‐PCR revealed that the expression of stem cell factor (SCF) and endothelin (ET)‐1 mRNAs in PP skin was significantly downregulated. In parallel, immunohistochemistry revealed that SCF and ET‐1 immuno‐staining was markedly attenuated in PP skin. Western blotting revealed that the expression of SCF, c‐KIT, and MITF‐M proteins was significantly decreased in PP skin. These findings suggest the possibility that downregulation of ET‐1/SCF/receptor linkages is also associated with the decreased function of melanocytes in PP skin.
Comparative In Vitro Activities of the Investigational Fluoroquinolone DC-159a and Other Antimicrobial Agents against Human Mycoplasmas and Ureaplasmas
Authors: Waites Ken B. , Crabb Donna M. , Duffy Lynn B. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

The in vitro susceptibilities of 151 unique clinical isolates of
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
,
Mycoplasma hominis
,
Mycoplasma fermentans
,
Mycoplasma genitalium
, and
Ureaplasma
species to DC-159a, an investigational fluoroquinolone, in comparison with those to other agents were determined. Macrolides were the most active agents against
M. pneumoniae
and
M. genitalium
, whereas clindamycin was most active against
M. hominis.
DC-159a MICs were ≤0.5 μg/ml for all
Mycoplasma
species and ≤4 μg/ml for ureaplasmas. DC-159a was the most active fluoroquinolone tested against
M. pneumoniae
and
M. fermentans
, and it was second to moxifloxacin against the other species. It was bactericidal against 10
M. pneumoniae
isolates and demonstrated killing of ≥99.9% of the inoculum at 24 h for 2 isolates. The excellent in vitro activity of DC-159a demonstrates its potential for use in the treatment of infections due to mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas.
Quantification of
Desulfovibrio vulgaris
Dissimilatory Sulfite Reductase Gene Expression during Electron Donor- and Electron Acceptor-Limited Growth
Authors: Villanueva Laura , Haveman Shelley A. , Summers Zara M. , Lovley Derek R. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have suggested that levels of transcripts for
dsrA
, a gene encoding a subunit of the dissimilatory sulfite reductase, are not directly related to the rates of sulfate reduction in sediments under all conditions. This phenomenon was further investigated with chemostat-grown
Desulfovibrio vulgaris
. Under sulfate-limiting conditions,
dsrA
transcript levels increased as the bulk rates of sulfate reduction in the chemostat increased, but transcript levels were similar at all sulfate reduction rates under electron donor-limiting conditions. When both electron donor- and electron acceptor-limiting conditions were considered, there was a direct correspondence between
dsrA
transcript levels and the rates of sulfate reduction per cell. These results suggest that
dsrA
transcript levels may provide important information on the metabolic state of sulfate reducers.
Polyphasic Approach to Bacterial Dynamics during the Ripening of Spanish Farmhouse Cheese, Using Culture-Dependent and -Independent Methods
Authors: Martín-Platero Antonio M. , Valdivia Eva , Maqueda Mercedes , Martín-Sánchez Inés , Martínez-Bueno Manuel 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

We studied the dynamics of the microbial population during ripening of Cueva de la Magahá cheese using a combination of classical and molecular techniques. Samples taken during ripening of this Spanish goat's milk cheese in which
Lactococcus lactis
and
Streptococcus thermophilus
were used as starter cultures were analyzed. All bacterial isolates were clustered by using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, species-specific PCR, and multiplex PCR. Our results indicate that the majority of the 225 strains isolated and enumerated on solid media during the ripening period were nonstarter lactic acid bacteria, and
Lactobacillus paracasei
was the most abundant species. Other
Lactobacillus
species, such as
Lactobacillus plantarum
and
Lactobacillus parabuchneri
, were also detected at the beginning and end of ripening, respectively. Non-lactic-acid bacteria, mainly
Kocuria
and
Staphylococcus
strains, were also detected at the end of the ripening period. Microbial community dynamics determined by temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis provided a more precise estimate of the distribution of bacteria and enabled us to detect
Lactobacillus curvatus
and the starter bacteria
S. thermophilus
and
L. lactis
, which were not isolated. Surprisingly, the bacterium most frequently found using culture-dependent analysis,
L. paracasei
, was scarcely detected by this molecular approach. Finally, we studied the composition of the lactobacilli and their evolution by using length heterogeneity PCR.
Purification, Molecular Cloning, and Enzymatic Properties of a Family 12 Endoglucanase (EG-II) from
Fomitopsis palustris
: Role of EG-II in Larch Holocellulose Hydrolysis
Authors: Shimokawa Tomoko , Shibuya Hajime , Nojiri Masanobu , Yoshida Shigeki , Ishihara Mitsuro 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

A family 12 endoglucanase with a molecular mass of 23,926 Da (EG-II) from the brown-rot basidiomycete
Fomitopsis palustris
was purified and characterized. One of the roles of EG-II in wood degradation is thought to be to loosen the polysaccharide network in cell walls by disentangling hemicelluloses that are associated with cellulose.