bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes among injecting drug users in contact with treatment centers in Belgium, 2004–2005
Authors: Micalessi M.I. , Gérard C. , Ameye L. , Plasschaert S. , Brochier B. , Vranckx R. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the current prevalence of HCV genotypes in injecting drug users recruited at treatment centers all over Belgium, and to analyze if the distribution of genotypes was correlated with demographic characteristics, at‐risk behaviors, and co‐infection with other viruses. Therefore 147 anti‐HCV‐positive serum samples were selected for subsequent HCV RNA detection and genotyping. HCV RNA could be detected in 98 (67%) of the 147 serum samples. Genotype 1 (38%) and 3 (49%) were the most common genotypes followed by genotype 4 (9%) and genotype 2 (2%). One mixed infection (1%) was detected. The subtype could be determined in 80 cases: genotype 3a was the most prevalent (49%), followed by genotype 1a (16%) and genotype 1b (15%). No significant difference was found between the distribution of genotypes and the location of treatment centers, at‐risk behaviors and co‐infection with other viruses. Nevertheless, a slight variation over time could be identified (P = 0.06): one in two genotype 3 drug users started with their injecting drug use in the last 10 years (33% in the period 1995–1999 and 21% in the period ≥2000) compared to only one in four genotype 1 drug users (20% in the period 1995–1999 and 9% in the period ≥2000). J. Med. Virol. 80:640–645, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biological Synthesis of Gold Nanowires Using Extract of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata
Authors: He Shiying , Zhang Yu , Guo Zhirui , Gu Ning 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAn environmentally friendly method using a cell‐free extract (CFE) of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata is proposed to synthesize gold nanowires with a network structure. This procedure offers control over the shapes of gold nanoparticles with the change of HAuCl4 concentration. The CFE solutions were added with different concentrations of HAuCl4, resulting in the bioreduction of gold ions and biosynthesis of morphologies of gold nanostructures. It is probable that proteins acted as the major biomolecules involved in the bioreduction and synthesis of gold nanoparticles. At a lower concentration of gold ions, exclusively spherical gold nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 10 to 20 nm were produced, whereas gold nanowires with a network structure formed at the higher concentration of gold ions in the aqueous solution. This method is expected to be applicable to the synthesis of other metallic nanowires such as silver and platinum, and even other anisotropic metal nanostructures are expected using the biosynthetic methods.
Parents of children with cystic fibrosis: how they hope, cope and despair
Authors: Wong M. G. , Heriot S. A. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBackground Cystic fibrosis is a chronic, life‐threatening illness. Coping, vicarious hope and vicarious despair are constructs that may explain why some children and parents adjust well to cystic fibrosis, while others adjust poorly. Vicarious hope refers to parent expectations that desirable things will occur in their child's future, whereas vicarious despair refers to parent expectations that undesirable things will occur in their child's future. The aims of this study were: (1) to examine parent coping strategies and associations with child and parent adjustment to cystic fibrosis; (2) to investigate the effects of vicarious hope and vicarious despair on coping, parent adjustment and child adjustment; and (3) to examine distinctions between coping, vicarious hope and vicarious despair.Methods Participants were 35 parents of children with cystic fibrosis.Results Self‐blame and behavioural disengagement were coping strategies associated with child and parent maladjustment. Social support predicted less parental emotional impact. Vicarious hope and vicarious despair predicted child mental health, parent anxiety and parent emotional impact.Conclusions Results indicate that vicarious hope and vicarious despair are distinct constructs from coping. Interventions directed at parent coping, vicarious hope and vicarious despair are implicated.
Correlates of sexuality communication among mothers and 6–12‐year‐old children
Authors: Pluhar E. I. , DiIorio C. K. , McCarty F. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPurpose  This study assessed the extent to which personal characteristics, knowledge and beliefs, and family interactions and relationships are related to the occurrence of mother–child communication about sexuality.Methods  The study used a descriptive, cross‐sectional design among a convenience sample of 298 predominantly lower‐ to middle‐income African American mothers and 298 of their 6–12‐year‐old‐children recruited from a youth‐serving, community‐based organization. Participants completed a computer‐based interview to collect data on sexuality communication, general mother–child communication, parental involvement and monitoring, parent relationship with child's peer group, child's social skills and problem behaviours, mothers' self‐efficacy, outcome expectations, comfort with sexuality communication, and demographics.Results  Mothers were more likely to communicate with daughters and older children. Greater self‐efficacy and comfort in sexuality communication were related to greater sexuality communication. We also explored several inconsistent findings in previous studies – mother's age, socio‐economic status and religiosity. Mother's age and socio‐economic status were not significant, and religiosity approached statistical significance.Conclusions  Mother's self‐efficacy and comfort are potentially modifiable variables and therefore should be taken into consideration when designing interventions that aim to increase parent–child communication about sexuality.
Alcohol use and abuse in adolescence: proposal of an alternative analysis
Authors: Simões C. , Batista‐Foguet J. M. , Matos M. G. , Calmeiro L. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBackground  A national, representative, school‐based sample of Portuguese youths was used to examine the prevalence of alcohol use in this population and to analyse differences between demographic variables such as gender and age, as well as to propose a statistical procedure that optimally quantifies categorical variables.Methods  Data on 6109 state school students from Portugal, in the 6th, 8th and 10th grades, aged 11–18, who participated in the 2002 (Health Behaviour in School‐aged Children/WHO) survey of adolescent health, were analysed. Adolescents aged between 11 and 14 were placed in the younger group, and those 15–18 years old were placed in the older group. Optimal scaling was used to optimize the computation of factor scores, which were subsequently submitted to multiple regression analysis in order to analyse the impact of gender and age on alcohol use.Results  The results of this study show that the majority of Portuguese school‐aged adolescents attending regular school at 6th, 8th and 10th grades do not drink alcoholic beverages (beer, wine or spirits) on a regular basis (at least once a month). However, about 8% of these adolescents do drink beer, 3% do drink wine and 12% do drink spirits on a regular basis. With regard to age and gender, about a quarter of the older boys stated that they drink beer or spirits regularly. The multiple regression analysis showed that age and gender had a significant impact on alcohol use.Conclusion  Alcohol – in particular spirits – is a substance used by some Portuguese adolescents. Alcohol use and abuse is more frequent in boys and increases with age. The importance of these findings for health promotion strategies is discussed.
Arabidopsis PCFS4, a homologue of yeast polyadenylation factor Pcf11p, regulates FCA alternative processing and promotes flowering time
Authors: Xing Denghui , Zhao Hongwei , Xu Ruqiang , Li Qingshun Quinn 
Published: February 2008

SummaryThe timely transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is vital for reproductive success in plants. It has been suggested that messenger RNA 3′‐end processing plays a role in this transition. Specifically, two autonomous factors in the Arabidopsis thaliana flowering time control pathway, FY and FCA, are required for the alternative polyadenylation of FCA pre‐mRNA. In this paper we provide evidence that Pcf11p‐similar protein 4 (PCFS4), an Arabidopsis homologue of yeast polyadenylation factor Protein 1 of Cleavage Factor 1 (Pcf11p), regulates FCA alternative polyadenylation and promotes flowering as a novel factor in the autonomous pathway. First, the mutants of PCFS4 show delayed flowering under both long‐day and short‐day conditions and still respond to vernalization treatment. Next, gene expression analyses indicate that the delayed flowering in pcfs4 mutants is mediated by Flowering Locus C (FLC). Moreover, the expression profile of the known FCA transcripts, which result from alternative polyadenylation, was altered in the pcfs4 mutants, suggesting the role of PCFS4 in FCA alternative polyadenylation and control of flowering time. In agreement with these observations, using yeast two‐hybrid assays and TAP‐tagged protein pull‐down analyses, we also revealed that PCFS4 forms a complex in vivo with FY and other polyadenylation factors. The PCFS4 promoter activity assay indicated that the transcription of PCFS4 is temporally and spatially regulated, suggesting its non‐essential nature in plant growth and development.
Sequential cell wall transformations in response to the induction of a pedicel abscission event in Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia)
Authors: Lee YeonKyeong , Derbyshire Paul , Knox J. Paul , Hvoslef‐Eide Anne Kathrine 
Published: February 2008

SummaryAlterations in the detection of cell wall polysaccharides during an induced abscission event in the pedicel of Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia) have been determined using monoclonal antibodies and Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) microspectroscopy. Concurrent with the appearance of a morphologically distinct abscission zone (AZ) on day 5 after induction, a reduction in the detection of the LM5 (1→4)‐β‐d‐galactan and LM6 (1→5)‐α‐l‐arabinan epitopes in AZ cell walls was observed. Prior to AZ activation, a loss of the (1→4)‐β‐d‐galactan and (1→5)‐α‐l‐arabinan epitopes was detected in cell walls distal to the AZ, i.e. in the to‐be‐shed organ. The earliest detected change, on day 2 after induction, was a specific loss of the LM5 (1→4)‐β‐d‐galactan epitope from epidermal cells distal to the region where the AZ would form. Such alteration in the cell walls was an early, pre‐AZ activation event. An AZ‐associated de‐esterification of homogalacturonan (HG) was detected in the AZ and distal area on day 7 after induction. The FT‐IR analysis indicated that lignin and xylan were abundant in the AZ and that lower levels of cellulose, arabinose and pectin were present. Xylan and xyloglucan epitopes were detected in the cell walls of both the AZ and also the primary cell walls of the distal region at a late stage of the abscission process, on day 7 after induction. These observations indicate that the induction of an abscission event results in a temporal sequence of cell wall modifications involving the spatially regulated loss, appearance and/or remodelling of distinct sets of cell wall polymers.
Autophagic‐lysosomal perturbation enhances tau aggregation in transfectants with induced wild‐type tau expression
Authors: Hamano Tadanori , Gendron Tania F. , Causevic Ena , Yen Shu‐Hui , Lin Wen‐Lang , Isidoro Ciro , DeTure Michael , Ko Li‐wen 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe intracellular assembly of tau aggregates is a pathological hallmark shared by Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders known collectively as tauopathies. To model how tau fibrillogenesis evolves in tauopathies, we previously established transfectant M1C cultures from human neuroblastoma BE(2)‐M17D cells that inducibly express human tau. In the present study, these cells were used to determine the role of the autophagic‐lysosomal system in the degradation and aggregation of wild‐type tau. Tau induction for 5 days led to the accumulation of tau with nominal assembly of tau aggregates within cells. When the lysosomotropic agent, chloroquine (CQ), was added following the termination of tau induction, tau clearance was delayed. Decreased tau truncation and increased levels of intact tau were observed. When present during tau induction, CQ led to tau accumulation and promoted the formation of sarkosyl‐insoluble aggregates containing both truncated and full‐length tau. CQ treatment significantly decreased the activities of cathepsins D, B and L, and the inhibition of cathepsins B and L mimicked the effect of CQ and increased tau levels in cells. Additionally, exposure of cells to the autophagy inhibitor, 3‐methyladenine, led to tau accumulation and aggregation. These results suggest that the autophagic‐lysosomal system plays a role in the clearance of tau, and that dysfunction of this system results in the formation of tau oligomers and insoluble aggregates.
THE CENTRALITY OF INCARNATION
Authors: Pederson Ann Milliken 
Published: February 2008

Abstract.What we urgently need at the beginning of the twenty‐first century is a christological vision that can shape and inform a new and powerful way of helping humankind to interpret their place within the universe. A christological vision that is unintelligible and uninteresting can have a profoundly deleterious soteriological implication: the orbit of God's saving grace will not be wide enough to encompass the universal place of humankind. Arthur Peacocke's move is clear and to the point: Only when the foundations and universal scope of God's grace are fully established for all of creation, only then can the importance of God's specific work in Jesus the Christ be established.
ARTHUR PEACOCKE'S NATURALISTIC CHRISTIAN FAITH FOR THE TWENTY‐FIRST CENTURY: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Authors: Murphy Nancey 
Published: February 2008

Abstract.This article is a brief overview and positive assessment of Arthur Peacocke's essay “A Naturalistic Christian Faith for the Twenty‐First Century.” Here Peacocke further develops his panentheist account of God and provides significant reinterpretations of a number of Christian doctrines using the concept of emergent levels of complex reality with downward efficacy on their constituents.
DIVINING “DIVINE ACTION” IN THEOLOGY‐AND‐SCIENCE: A REVIEW ESSAY
Authors: Yong Amos 
Published: February 2008

Abstract.The topic of divine action has been central to the theology‐and‐science discussion over the last twenty years. Some tentative conclusions are currently being drawn in light of research initiatives that have been engaged on this topic. I review three recent books that have responded in some way to the ongoing discussion. These responses show that, notwithstanding the advances made in the conversation, much work remains to be done before a plausible theory of divine action emerges at the interface of theology and science.
TAKING SCIENCE SERIOUSLY WITHOUT SCIENTISM: A RESPONSE TO TAEDE SMEDES
Authors: Barbour Ian G. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract.In responding to Taede Smedes, I first examine his thesis that the recent dialogue between science and religion has been dominated by scientism and does not take theology seriously. I then consider his views on divine action, free will and determinism, and process philosophy. Finally I use the fourfold typology of Conflict, Independence, Dialogue, and Integration to discuss his proposal for the future of science and religion.
TAKING THEOLOGY AND SCIENCE SERIOUSLY WITHOUT CATEGORY MISTAKES: A RESPONSE TO IAN BARBOUR
Authors: Smedes Taede A. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract.In my response to Ian Barbour's criticisms, I first argue for the anthropological dimensions and contextuality of any theology. Next I examine and criticize Barbour's thesis that I am an in‐compatibilist about divine action. Finally I illustrate the fact that I see genuine opportunities for a dialogue between theologians and scientists without apologetics, category mistakes, or relegating theology to the fringes of science, by pointing to evolutionary explanations of religion.
Estimating Low Pay Transition Probabilities Accounting for Endogenous Selection Mechanisms
Authors: Cappellari Lorenzo , Jenkins Stephen P. 
Published: February 2008

Summary
We propose a model of transitions into and out of low paid employment that accounts for non-ignorable panel dropout, employment retention and base year low pay status (‘initial conditions’). The model is fitted to data for men from the British Household Panel Survey. Initial conditions and employment retention are found to be non-ignorable selection processes. Whether panel dropout is found to be ignorable depends on how item non-response on pay is treated. Notwithstanding these results, we also find that models incorporating a simpler approach to accounting for non-ignorable selections provide estimates of covariate effects that differ very little from the estimates from the general model.
Modelling Mercury Deposition Through Latent Space–Time Processes
Authors: Rappold Ana G. , Gelfand Alan E. , Holland David M. 
Published: February 2008

Summary
The paper provides a space–time process model for total wet mercury deposition. Key methodological features that are introduced include direct modelling of deposition rather than of expected deposition, the utilization of precipitation information (there is no deposition without precipitation) without having to construct a precipitation model and the handling of point masses at 0 in the distributions of both precipitation and deposition. The result is a specification that enables spatial interpolation and temporal prediction of deposition as well as aggregation in space or time to see patterns and trends in deposition. We use weekly deposition monitoring data from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program–Mercury Deposition Network for 2003 restricted to the eastern USA and Canada. Our spatiotemporal hierarchical model allows us to interpolate to arbitrary locations and, hence, to an arbitrary grid, enabling weekly deposition surfaces (with associated uncertainties) for this region. It also allows us to aggregate weekly depositions at coarser, quarterly and annual, temporal levels.
Modelling Stochastic Order in the Analysis of Receiver Operating Characteristic Data: Bayesian Non-Parametric Approaches
Authors: Hanson Timothy E. , Kottas Athanasios , Branscum Adam J. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryThe evaluation of the performance of a continuous diagnostic measure is a commonly encountered task in medical research. We develop Bayesian non-parametric models that use Dirichlet process mixtures and mixtures of Polya trees for the analysis of continuous serologic data. The modelling approach differs from traditional approaches to the analysis of receiver operating characteristic curve data in that it incorporates a stochastic ordering constraint for the distributions of serologic values for the infected and non-infected populations. Biologically such a constraint is virtually always feasible because serologic values from infected individuals tend to be higher than those for non-infected individuals. The models proposed provide data-driven inferences for the infected and non-infected population distributions, and for the receiver operating characteristic curve and corresponding area under the curve. We illustrate and compare the predictive performance of the Dirichlet process mixture and mixture of Polya trees approaches by using serologic data for Johne's disease in dairy cattle.
MAPKAP kinase 2‐deficiency prevents neurons from cell death by reducing neuroinflammation – relevance in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Thomas Tobias , Timmer Marco , Cesnulevicius Konstantin , Hitti Edward , Kotlyarov Alexey , Gaestel Matthias 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe inflammatory response in the brain is closely associated with the pathogenesis of degenerative neurological disorders. A role for the p38 stress‐activated protein kinase/MAPK‐activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) axis in inflammation and apoptosis is well documented. Here, we provide evidence that neurodegeneration can be prevented by eliminating MK2. In primary mesencephalic neuron‐glia co‐cultures dopaminergic neurons from MK2‐deficient (MK2−/−) mice were significantly more resistant to lipopolysaccharide‐induced neurotoxicity compared with cells from wild‐type mice. This neuroprotection in MK2‐deficient cultures was associated with a reduced inflammatory response, especially with reduced production of the inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor alpha, keratinocyte‐derived chemokine, interleukin‐6, and nitric oxide (NO). Interestingly, in primary neuron‐enriched cell cultures p38 MAPK, but not MK2, also participates in NO‐mediated neuronal cell death. In the MPTP mouse model for Parkinson’s disease, MK2‐deficient mice show a reduced neuroinflammation and less degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra after MPTP lesion compared with wild‐type mice. In conclusion, our results reveal that MK2 does not directly participate in neuronal cell death, but indirectly contributes to neurodegeneration by the production of neurotoxic substances, such as NO or tumor necrosis factor alpha, from activated glia cells.
Electronic remote blood issue: a combination of remote blood issue with a system for end‐to‐end electronic control of transfusion to provide a “total solution” for a safe and timely hospital blood transfusion service
Authors: Staves Julie , Davies Amanda , Kay Jonathan , Pearson Oliver , Johnson Tony , Murphy Michael F. 
Published: February 2008

BACKGROUND: The rapid provision of red cell (RBC) units to patients needing blood urgently is an issue of major importance in transfusion medicine. The development of electronic issue (sometimes termed “electronic crossmatch”) has facilitated rapid provision of RBC units by avoidance of the serologic crossmatch in eligible patients. A further development is the issue of blood under electronic control at blood refrigerators remote from the blood bank.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study evaluated a system for electronic remote blood issue (ERBI) developed as an enhancement of a system for end‐to‐end electronic control of hospital transfusion. Practice was evaluated before and after its introduction in cardiac surgery.RESULTS: Before the implementation of ERBI, the median time to deliver urgently required RBC units to the patient was 24 minutes. After its implementation, RBC units were obtained from the nearby blood refrigerator in a median time of 59 seconds (range, 30 sec to 2 min). The study also found that unused requests were reduced significantly from 42 to 20 percent, the number of RBC units issued reduced by 52 percent, the number of issued units that were transfused increased from 40 to 62 percent, and there was a significant reduction in the workload of both blood bank and clinical staff.CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluated a combination of remote blood issue with an end‐to‐end electronically controlled hospital transfusion process, ERBI. ERBI reduced the time to make blood available for surgical patients and improved the efficiency of hospital transfusion.