bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Kingella kingae: osteoarticular infections of the sternum in children: a report of six cases
Authors: Luegmair Matthias , Chaker Mourad , Ploton Christine , Berard Jérôme 
Published: November 2008

Purpose Kingella kingae is increasingly recognized as a pathogen of osteoarticular infections (OAI) below the age of 2 years. It was reported that bones and joints which are rarely infected by other pathogens were frequently invaded by K. kingae. Based on a series of six cases, we present the typical clinical and paraclinical manifestation of K. kingae infections of the sternum and sterno-manubrial joint. Methods A review of the clinical, laboratory, radiological, microbiological, and molecular data of six consecutive children admitted to a paediatric unit for OAI of the sternum was done. Results Culture alone allowed for the detection of K. kingae as the responsible pathogen in three cases, molecular methods in the three other cases. Clinical and laboratory findings, as well as imaging methods, proved to be useful in the diagnostic process. Conclusion Our findings suggest that infections of the lower sternum and the junction between the manubrium and the xyphoid process are typical, if not pathognomonic, for the organism. A respective diagnostic and therapeutic protocol was established.
AN INCREASE OF INTELLIGENCE IN SUDAN, 1987–2007
Authors: KHALEEFA OMAR , SULMAN AFRA , LYNN RICHARD 
Published: November 2008

SummaryResults are reported for mean IQs on the WAIS-R in Sudan in 1987 and 2007. There was a gain of 4·05 Full Scale IQ points over the 20-year period, representing a gain of 2·05 IQ points a decade. The Verbal IQ showed a loss of 1·65 IQ points, while the Performance IQ showed a gain of 7·2 IQ points. These results are broadly consistent with those in economically developed countries in showing that mean IQ on the WAIS-R has increased in Sudan, and the Performance IQ has increased more than the Verbal IQ.
Seasonal variations in the density of and corallivory by Drupella rugosa and Cronia margariticola (Caenogastropoda: Muricidae) from the coastal waters of Hong Kong: ‘plagues’ or ‘aggregations’?
Authors: Morton Brian , Blackmore Graham 
Published: November 2008

Sixteen coral sites in the coastal waters of Hong Kong were examined for the corallivorous muricid gastropods Drupella rugosa and Cronia margariticola. These were recorded from all sites where there was significant hard coral cover and observed feeding upon species of Platygyra, Leptastrea, Stylocoeniella, Porites, Favites, Cyphastrea, Goniastrea, Favia, Acropora, Montipora, Pavona, Lithophyllon, Hydnophora, Echinophyllia and Plesiastrea. One large aggregation (~2000 individuals) of, mainly, D. rugosa was observed but much smaller groups (<20 individuals) were more typical. Five sites were chosen for more detailed study and surveyed during winter and summer. Despite being characterized by different coral communities, inter-site densities of D. rugosa were not significantly different and, usually, ~2 individuals · m2 were recorded. Seasonal differences were, however, significant with numbers greater during the summer, possibly related to reproduction. Feeding activity followed a similar pattern and was also largely confined to summer.Prey selection by Drupella rugosa was complex in the field and changed according to the relative abundance of each coral taxon. Acropora was strongly selected for at all sites where it was present and Montipora, Platygyra and Pavona were usually fed upon in greater proportions than their abundances. Leptastrea, Cyphastrea, Favites, Favia and Goniastrea were fed upon but in proportions lower than suggested by their abundances. Goniopora was never fed upon despite being relatively common. The seasonality of feeding, low density, rarity of large feeding aggregations, prey selection and aspects of the feeding behaviour, that is, generally only consuming the coral's coenenchyme (the polyps surviving), suggest that while D. rugosa is widespread in Hong Kong, and contrary to other views, it poses little, if any, threat to local coral communities. Thus, reported feeding clusters of D. rugosa are probably not ‘plague’ outbreaks but examples of seasonally fostered ‘aggregations’ of feeding (and probably reproducing) individuals. Indeed, no ‘plague-like’ outbreak of any species of Drupella has been reported upon in the literature since 1999.
Population dynamics of Pseudo-nitzschia pungens in Zhelin Bay, China
Authors: Huang Changjiang , Lin Xiaoping , Lin Junda , Du Hong , Dong Qiaoxiang 
Published: November 2008

Population dynamics of the planktonic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia pungens was investigated at the Zhelin Bay, China, between May 2000 and December 2004. Monthly or seasonal plankton samples were collected from nine stations along the inner to outer bay gradient. Among the 1045 samples collected, P. pungens on average accounted for 2.9% of the total phytoplankton cells, with densities ranging from 0 to 50.94 × 104 cells l−1 and a grand mean of 1.43 × 104 cells l−1. Two hundred and fourteen samples (20.5%) had densities of P. pungens above 104 cells l−1 and 40 samples (3.8%) had densities that were above 105 cells l−1. Results of the grey incidence–regression analysis show that water temperature, zooplankton and salinity were the most important among the 13 environmental factors influencing population density of P. pungens. Water temperature has a highly significant linear relationship with the population density, with 23.8°C or higher being an essential condition for the algal bloom. Grazing by zooplankton was probably the most important factor controlling the algal bloom. With continued decreasing of richness and organism size of the zooplankton community at the Zhelin Bay, P. pungens blooms may become more frequent. The bay has a large-scale mariculture operation, therefore it is important to carefully examine and monitor the potential impacts of toxin-producing P. pungens on human health as well as ecosystem health of the bay.
Spatial and temporal distribution in a tropical hydroid assemblage
Authors: Di Camillo C.G. , Bavestrello G. , Valisano L. , Puce S. 
Published: November 2008

The hydroid assemblage of the Siladen Island coral reef (North Sulawesi, Indonesia) is made up of 107 species belonging to 51 genera and 28 families. The study of their spatial distribution has identified three different zones which are well-characterized: (1) the reef flat, where hydroids are mainly represented by cryptic species living in the shady crevices of the corals, epibiontic on sponges or sea grasses; (2) the edge of the reef characterized by hydroids growing mainly on the shady side of the corals, with the exception of the tufts of the large colonies of the stinging zooxanthellateAglaophenia cupressina; and (3) the vertical reef, where hydroids reach their maximum diversity and abundance and are often involved in symbiotic relationships.The number of hydroid species shows a seasonal trend with a summer minimum (July–September) and a winter maximum (November–February). The strong correlation between these variations and the abundance of rainfall suggests that food availability, strictly related to the seasonal amount of rain, represents the main abiotic factor triggering the hydroid species richness and the abundance of this tropical assemblage.
Seasonal growth and reproduction biology of the Baltic prawn, Palaemon adspersus (Decapoda: Palaemonidae), in the southern Black Sea
Authors: Bilgin Sabri , Samsun Osman , Ozen Ozcan 
Published: November 2008

Seasonal growth pattern and reproductive biology of the Baltic prawn, Palaemon adspersus, were studied in the southern Black Sea between February 2002 and January 2004. The seasonal von Bertalanffy growth parameters, computed from monthly length–frequency distributions, were estimated as L∞ = 62.99 mm TL, K = 1.190 year−1, C = 0.815, and WP = 0.847 for females and as L∞ = 49.63 mm TL, K = 1.085 year−1, C = 0.011, and WP = 0.407 for males. Growth performance index of females (Φ′ = 3.67) was greater than it was for males (Φ′ = 3.43). Based on latitudinal gradients, water temperature negatively affected Φ′ of P. adspersus. Sexual dimorphism in size was evident, females being larger than males. This typically shallow water species was observed in water depths as deep as 30 m. Compared to shallower water depths, larger individuals were observed in deeper water depths. The size at sexual maturity for females (TL50) was estimated as 53.60 mm TL. Ovigerous females were recorded from March to August and juveniles appeared in the benthic population in August. Ovary development was related to photoperiod and occurrence of ovigerous females was linked to increased water temperature.
Pro-Lie groups which are infinite-dimensional Lie groups
Authors: HOFMANN K. H. , NEEB K.-H. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractA pro-Lie group is a projective limit of a family of finite-dimensional Lie groups. In this paper we show that a pro-Lie group G is a Lie group in the sense that its topology is compatible with a smooth manifold structure for which the group operations are smooth if and only if G is locally contractible. We also characterize the corresponding pro-Lie algebras in various ways. Furthermore, we characterize those pro-Lie groups which are locally exponential, that is, they are Lie groups with a smooth exponential function which maps a zero neighbourhood in the Lie algebra diffeomorphically onto an open identity neighbourhood of the group.
The equivariant cohomology ring of weighted projective space
Authors: BAHRI ANTHONY , FRANZ MATTHIAS , RAY NIGEL 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWe describe the integral equivariant cohomology ring of a weighted projective space in terms of piecewise polynomials, and thence by generators and relations. We deduce that the ring is a perfect invariant, and prove a Chern class formula for weighted projective bundles.
Can CORE assessment data identify those clients less likely to benefit from brief counselling in primary care?
Authors: Saxon David , Ivey Catherine , Young Tracey 
Published: November 2008

AbstractStudies show that counsellors in primary care see many clients with difficulties of a severity similar to those found in secondary care services. Evidence from both RCTs and studies of routinely collected data indicates that many of these ‘clinical’ clients benefit from brief counselling intervention. However, little is known about why some benefit while others fail to do so despite completing their counselling contract. This paper considers client characteristics recorded at assessment and aims, using logistic regression analysis, to identify those characteristics predictive of a poor outcome. Results indicate that a number of characteristics are associated with poor outcome; the most important predictors are economic inactivity and aspects of the patient's condition, particularly continuous/recurrent depression, with some differences between genders. However, the models produced were not acceptable in their predictive power. This may be partly due to data quality issues or important characteristics not being available in the data. The paper concludes that being unemployed or on state benefits may be a proxy measure of severity that has an important impact on outcome for all patients, and particularly for males. Some reasons are suggested and areas of future research are identified.
A five‐year evaluation of the effectiveness of person‐centred counselling in routine clinical practice in primary care
Authors: Gibbard Isabel , Hanley Terry 
Published: November 2008

AbstractCounselling is the recommended treatment for individuals with mild to moderate mental health problems of recent onset. In this evaluation of a primary care counselling service offering person‐centred counselling, the Core Outcome Measure (CORE‐OM) was administered at referral and at the beginning and end of therapy. A pre‐post therapy effect size for 697 individuals over a 5 year period was 1.2. This compares with a waitlist (between referral and pre therapy) effect size of 0.24 for 382 individuals over a three year period. The results indicate that person‐centred counselling is effective for clients with common mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. Effectiveness is not limited to individuals with mild to moderate symptoms of recent onset, but extends to people with moderate to severe symptoms of longer duration.
Developing clinical effectiveness in psychotherapy training: Action research
Authors: Van Rijn Biljana , Sills Charlotte , Hunt Jill , Shivanath Suhith , Gildebrand Katarina , Fowlie Heather 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis study is an evaluation of a new approach to clinical training in Transactional Analysis using the methodology of action research. The evaluation focuses on the second year of training and placement‐based clinical practice at the Metanoia Institute, UK. The design of the training year was research‐based and used the concept of an ‘internship’ year. The design aimed to close the gaps between clinical practice, supervision and formal training; facilitate translation of theory into practice; and integrate findings from the ‘common factors’ research into effectiveness of psychotherapy. Training and supervision methods were linked and focused on emerging issues in clinical practice and the development of students’ capacity for critical reflection and a research attitude to practice. The evaluation was a naturalistic study which used quantitative and qualitative methodology within the action research framework to reflect on the impact of the training on the participants, the organisation and the clinical practice. The quantitative outcomes show that the project developed the effectiveness of students’ clinical practice and reflexivity. Qualitative analysis gives insight into the experiences of the participants and the emotional impact of the research process.
The psychological impact of bereavement on insecurely attached adults in a primary care setting
Authors: McChrystal Jane 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAims: this study investigated the psychological effects of bereavement from an attachment perspective within a primary care setting. It hoped to examine associations between bereavement, insecure patterns of attachment and psychological symptoms. Method: bereaved adults (n=36) recruited from 2 general practices participated in the Modified Adult Attachment Interview in order to assess their state of mind with regard to attachment according to a discourse analytic method. Levels of depression and anxiety recorded in participants’ medical records were compared in the year before and after bereavement. The medical records of a group of non‐bereaved adults (n=20) were also compared over 2 years. Results: interview transcripts were assigned to the insecure category and the participant group had significantly higher levels of psychological symptoms after bereavement when compared with the control group. It was not possible to establish a link between insecure attachment and raised levels of psychological symptoms after bereavement due to the absence of securely attached individuals from the research sample. Conclusions: this study supports evidence of the adverse effects of bereavement on mental health. It provides insights into the psychological characteristics and needs of a group of bereaved adults in a primary care setting, which could be used to inform the practice of counsellors and other health care professionals.
Constructive conversations: Revisiting selected developments with clients and counsellors
Authors: Strong Tom , Nielsen Kate 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAim: to examine client and counsellor experiences in using and responding to social constructionist (e.g. solution‐focused, narrative and collaborative approaches) questions and other conversational interventions. Method: retrospective comments were elicited from 32 clients and 12 counsellors (trained in social constructionist counselling approaches) in reviewing their videotaped use of (or response to) questions and interventions from the social constructionist approaches in single session lifestyle consultations. These comments were transcribed then analysed using the constant comparison method of grounded theory. Results: five common themes (but with different emphases for clients and counsellors) were identified: exploring and adopting the client's perspective; identifying alternative perspectives; identifying strengths, possibilities, and solutions; developing a shared understanding; struggling to talk in a different way. Conclusions: the findings will be useful to counsellors interested in improving their responsive use of questions and interventions in dialogues with clients.
Re‐establishing contact: A qualitative exploration of how therapists work with alliance ruptures in adolescent psychotherapy
Authors: Binder Per-Einar , Holgersen Helge , Høstmark Nielsen Geir 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWhat challenges do therapists face when they experience ruptures in the working alliance in psychotherapy with adolescent clients; and what are their most typical strategies when they try to re‐establish contact? These issues were explored through qualitative interviews with nine psychotherapists from outpatient child and adolescent psychiatric clinics in Bergen, Norway. A descriptive and hermeneutically informed phenomenological approach was used to analyse the interview transcripts. Most therapists/participants described that they would explore the reason for the rupture from the adolescent's point of view, and all participants often understood ruptures in light of the adolescents’ need for autonomy. However, the participants differed strongly in how much they would focus on the relationship per se, on intrapsychic factors, or on the adolescent's life outside therapy. For the therapists who regarded the relationship as something to be explored, client ambivalence to treatment was seen as something that could be confirmed and validated. If not, ambivalence seemed more likely to be handled as a choice situation. Therapists who explored ambivalence also tried to develop ways to talk about fluctuations in the adolescent's motivation and distress, and often interpreted ‘not wanting therapy’ as a way of communicating difficulties with the relationship.
Risks and benefits of transcatheter thrombolytic therapy in patients with splanchnic venous thrombosis
Authors: Smalberg Jasper H. , Spaander Manon V. M. C. W. , Jie Kon-Siong G. , Pattynama Peter M. T. , van Buuren Henk R. , van den Berg Bart , Janssen Harry L. A. , Leebeek Frank W. G. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryTranscatheter local thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute, extended splanchnic venous thrombosis is controversial. Here we present our single-center experience with transcatheter thrombolytic therapy in these patients. All consecutive patients (n=12) with acute,extended splanchnic venous thrombosis who underwent transcatheter thrombolytic therapy in our hospital, were included in this study. Thrombolytic therapy was successful for three thrombotic events and partially successful for four thrombotic events.Two patients developed minor procedure-related bleeding (17%).Six patients (50%) developed major procedure-related bleeding, with a fatal outcome in two. Transcatheter thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute, extended splanchnic vein thrombosis is found to be associated with a high rate of procedure-related bleeding. Therefore, thrombolysis should be reserved for patients in whom the venous flow cannot be restored by using conventional anticoagulant therapy or stent placement across the thrombosed vessel segment.H.L.A. Janssen and F.W.G. Leebeek are both Clinical Fellows of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).
High glucose conditions induce upregulation of fractalkine and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in human smooth muscle cells
Authors: Dragomir Elena , Manduteanu Ileana , Calin Manuela , Gan Ana , Stan Daniela , Koenen Rory , Weber Christian , Simionescu Maya 
Published: November 2008

SummaryThe major complication of diabetes mellitus is accelerated atherosclerosis that entails an inflammatory process, in which fractalkine and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) play a key role.We investigated the effect of diabetes-associated high glucose (HG) on these chemokines and signalling mechanisms involved in human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC). Exposure of SMC to HG resulted in an increase of fractalkine and MCP-1 expression and the activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway, a process associated with elevated oxidative stress.Transfection with decoy oligodeoxynucleotides identified the involvement of transcription factors activator protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the observed up-regulation of chemokines. The MAPK inhibitors blocked the phosphorylation of IkBα and c-jun, indicating the role of MAPK in NF-κB and AP-1 activation in SMC under HG conditions.The up-regulation of MCP-1 and fractalkine was associated with increased adhesive interactions between HG-exposed SMC and monocytes. Treatment of HG-exposed SMC with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α (PPAR α ) activators (fenofibrate and clofibrate) resulted in a reduction of mRNA and protein expression of MCP-1 and fractalkine.In conclusion, HG upregulates the expression of fractalkine and MCP-1 in SMC leading to increased monocyte-SMC adhesive interactions by a mechanism involving activation of MAPK, activator protein-1 (AP-1) and NF-κB. The increased expression of these two pro-inflammatory chemokines and the ensuing increased adhesion between SMC and monocytes may trigger the inflammatory process associated with further vascular complications of diabetes.
Recombinant production of a hybrid plasminogen activator composed of surfactant protein B and low-molecular-weight urokinase
Authors: Ruppert Clemens , Mahavadi Poornima , Wygrecka Malgorzata , Weaver Timothy E. , Magdolen Viktor , Idell Steven , Preissner Klaus T. , Seeger Werner , Günther Andreas , Markart Philipp 
Published: November 2008

SummaryIntraalveolar fibrin deposition is commonly observed during acute inflammatory and chronic interstitial lung diseases and may contribute to impairment of surfactant function and gas exchange.We recently described a chemically cross-linked chimeric protein consisting of surfactant protein (SP)-B and urokinase (uPA) for targeting alveolar fibrin under conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or lung fibrosis.We now investigated the feasibility of a recombinant production of a fusion protein encoding mature SP-B and uPA, termed SPUC. Four different SPUC proteins (N-term SP-B/C-term uPA, N-term uPA/C-term SP-B, each +/− His-tag) were prepared by cloning the cDNA encoding mature SP-B and low-molecular-weight uPA into the expression vector pcDNA3.1. CHO-cells were transfected with the constructs and the supernatant and cell lysates were analyzed for expression of SPUC.Using a chromogenic substrate assay uPA activity was found in supernatants and lysates of transfected cells with highest activities related to the N-term uPA/C-term SP-B (+/− His-tag) construct in supernatants 48h after transfection.Casein enzymography showed an enzymatically active fusion proteins with a molecular weight of ∼ 42 kDa in the supernatant of cells transfected with the N-term uPA/C-term SP-B (+/− His-tag) construct,but only a minor activity with the N-term SP-B/C-term uPA construct. The N-term uPA/C-term SP-B construct was also shown to possess higher resistance towards inhibition by plasminogen activator inhibitor-1.We conclude that recombinant production of a fusion protein consisting of mature SP-B and uPA is feasible, when the SP-B moiety is fused to the C-terminus of urokinase.