bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Where is the evidence that rural exposure increases uptake of rural medical practice?
Authors: Ranmuthugala Geetha , Humphreys John , Solarsh Barbara , Walters Lucie , Worley Paul , Wakerman John , Dunbar James A. , Solarsh Geoff 
Published: September 2007

Abstract Australian Government initiatives to address medical workforce shortages in rural Australia include increasing the intake of students of rural background and increasing exposure to rural medicine during training. Rural‐orientated medical training programs in the USA that selectively admit students from rural backgrounds and who intend to practise as family practitioners have demonstrated success in increasing uptake of practice in rural/underserved areas. However, in examining the specific contribution of rural exposure towards increasing uptake of rural practice, the evidence is inconclusive, largely due to the failure to adjust for these critical independent predictors of rural practice. This paper identifies this evidence gap, examines the concept of rural exposure, and highlights the need to identify which aspects of rural exposure contribute to a positive attitude towards rural practice, thereby influencing students to return to rural areas. The cost of rural exposure through student placements is not insignificant, and there is a need to identify which aspects are most effective in increasing the uptake of rural practice, thereby helping to address the medical workforce shortage experienced in rural Australia.
Supporting an emerging workforce: Characteristics of rural and remote therapy assistants in Western Australia
Authors: Lin Ivan , Goodale Belinda , Villanueva Karen , Spitz Suzanne 
Published: September 2007

AbstractObjective:  Multidisciplinary therapy assistants (TAs) are an emerging but poorly understood rural and remote allied health workforce. As an aid to planning and support of TA programs in rural and remote Western Australia (WA), the number, locality and a range of practice variables of rural and remote TAs in WA were determined. Design:  Survey questionnaire. Setting:  Rural and remote regions of WA. Participants:  Allied health professionals, TAs, TA coordinators and managers of allied health in country regions of WA. Main outcome measures:  Information was gathered on TA location, qualifications, employing organisation, allied health disciplines TAs work with, supervision practices, role and work scenarios. Results:  Ninety‐eight TAs were identified in rural and remote WA with a further 23 vacant TA positions. Most TAs work across multiple allied health disciplines, half are located at a distance to their supervisors, and very few have a recognised qualification for their TA work. Conclusion:  A substantial rural and remote TA workforce was found. A range of TA characteristics were identified that have considerable relevance to the future planning of TA initiatives in rural and remote WA.
Proposal of Pseudochattonella verruculosa gen. nov., comb. nov. (Dictyochophyceae) for a formar raphidophycean alga Chattonella verruculosa, based on 18S rDNA phylogeny and ultrastructural characteristics
Authors: Hosoi‐Tanabe Shoko , Honda Daiske , Fukaya Sachiko , Otake Isamu , Inagaki Yuji , Sako Yoshihiko 
Published: September 2007

SUMMARY Chattonella verruculosa Y. Hara et Chihara was re‐examined by molecular methods and microscopic examination. The 18S rDNA phylogenetic analysis clearly indicated that C. verruculosa is a member of the Dictyochophyceae, with a specific affinity to Florenciella parvula. The morphological features in C. verruculosa– namely the proximal helix with two gyres and many scattered DNA‐containing areas in the chloroplasts – display the evolutionary link to the Dictyochophyceae, instead of the Raphidophyceae. Similarly, unique pyrenoid morphologies are shared between C. verruculosa and the dictyochophycean algae. Combining the molecular data and morphological characteristics, C. verruculosa is transferred to Pseudochattonella gen. nov. of the class Dictyochophyceae as Pseudochattonella verruculosa (Y. Hara et Chihara) Hosoi‐Tanabe, Honda, Fukaya, Inagaki et Sako comb. nov.
Cladosiphon umezakiisp. nov. (Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae) from Japan
Authors: Ajisaka Tetsuro , Kim Sung‐Ho , Uwai Shinya , Kawai Hiroshi 
Published: September 2007

SUMMARYThe new speciesCladosiphon umezakiiAjisaka (Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae) is described from Japan based on morphology and DNA sequences. The species resemblesCladosiphon okamuranusTokida in its gross morphology; somewhat slimy, cylindrical, multiaxial and sympodial erect thallus, arising from a small disc‐shaped holdfast, and branching once to twice. However,C. umezakiihas considerably longer assimilatory filaments (up to 840 μm long, composed of up to 90 cells) than any known taxa of the genus. The species is a winter to spring annual, growing on lower intertidal to subtidal rocks of more or less exposed sites on the north‐eastern coast of Kyushu and on both the Pacific and the Sea of Japan coasts of Honshu. Specimens from the Sea of Japan coast had both unilocular and plurilocular zoidangia, whereas those from Kyushu and from the Pacific had only unilocular zoidangia. Unilocular zoidangia were formed on the basal part of assimilatory filaments, and plurilocular ones were transformed from the distal part of assimilatory filaments. DNA sequences of the Rubisco‐spacer (rbc‐spacer) region and the nuclear rDNA ITS region (ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2) supported the distinctness of the species.
Re‐examination of ultrastructures of the stellate chloroplast organization in brown algae: Structure and development of pyrenoids
Authors: Tanaka Atsuko , Nagasato Chikako , Uwai Shinya , Motomura Taizo , Kawai Hiroshi 
Published: September 2007

SUMMARYSome taxa of brown algae have a so‐called ‘stellate’ chloroplast arrangement composed of multiple chloroplasts arranged in a stellate configuration, or else a single chloroplast with radiating lobes. The fine structures of chloroplasts and pyrenoids have been studied, but the details of their membrane configurations as well as pyrenoid ontogeny have not been well understood. The ultrastructure of the single stellate chloroplast in Splachnidium rugosum and Scytothamnus australis were re‐examined in the present study, as well as the stellate arrangement of chloroplasts in Asteronema ferruginea and Asterocladon interjectum, using freeze‐substitution fixation. It was confirmed that the chloroplast envelope invaginated into the pyrenoid in Splachnidium rugosum, Scytothamnus australis and Asteronema ferruginea, but chloroplast endoplasmic reticulum (CER) remained on the surface of the chloroplast. The space between the invaginated chloroplast envelope and CER was filled with electron‐dense material. In Asteronema ferruginea, CER surrounding each pyrenoid was closely appressed to the neighboring CER over the pyrenoids, so that the chloroplasts formed a stellate configuration; however, in the apical cells chloroplasts formed two or more loose groups, or were completely dispersed. The pyrenoids of Asterocladon interjectum did not have any invagination of the chloroplast envelope, but a unique membranous sac surrounded the pyrenoid complex and occasionally other organelles (e.g. mitochondria). Immunolocalization of β‐1,3‐glucans showed that the membranous sac in Asterocladon interjectum did not contain photosynthetic products such as chrysolaminaran. Observations in the dividing cells of Splachnidium rugosum and Scytothamnus australis indicated that the pyrenoid in the center of the chloroplast enlarged and divided into two before or during chloroplast division.
Variation in metal concentrations in the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida in Osaka Bay, Japan
Authors: Yamada Mika , Yamamoto Koshi , Ushihara Yasuhiro , Kawai Hiroshi 
Published: September 2007

SUMMARYIn order to evaluate the usefulness of a biomonitoring system using seaweeds for assessing the geographic distribution of metal ions in coastal seawaters, the metal concentrations in the sporophytes of an annual kelp, Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar, were collected at 15 localities in Osaka Bay, Japan and compared. About 160 cm2 of the blade was cut out from the central part of clean sporophytes, rinsed in filtered seawater using an ultrasonic cleaning bath, and freeze‐dried. After digestion with 12% HNO3 in a microwave apparatus, metal concentrations in the samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The concentrations (dry weight basis) of most examined elements were in the parts per million range; Cr, 0.48–3.18; Ni, 0.77–5.94; Cu, 3.20–43.8; Zn, 11.3–86.8; Pb, 0.14–3.53. Comparisons of metal compositions of the U. pinnatifida samples from the northeastern area of the bay, which has a large urban population and highly developed industries inland, showed high concentrations of Cd, Pb and Cu compared with the samples from the southwestern area of the bay where the population and industries are much smaller. This suggests that U. pinnatifida metal loads can be used as a marker to track the geographic distributions of the metal concentrations in coastal seawaters, reflecting inland human activities such as shipbuilding and repairing in port areas, and can be used as a useful biomonitoring system of coastal environments for long‐term trend.
Cochlodinium fulvescens sp. nov. (Gymnodiniales, Dinophyceae), a new chain‐forming unarmored dinoflagellate from Asian coasts
Authors: Iwataki Mitsunori , Kawami Hisae , Matsuoka Kazumi 
Published: September 2007

SUMMARYCellular morphology and the phylogenetic position of a new unarmored photosynthetic dinoflagellate Cochlodinium fulvescens Iwataki, Kawami et Matsuoka sp. nov. were examined by light microscopy and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on partial large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) and small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequences. The cells of C. fulvescens closely resemble C. polykrikoides, one of the most harmful red tide forming dinoflagellates, due to it possessing a cingulum encircling the cell approximately twice, a spherical nucleus positioned in the anterior part of the cell and an eyespot‐like orange pigmented body located in the dorsal side of the epicone, as well as formation of cell‐chains. However, this species is clearly distinguished from C. polykrikoides based on several morphological characteristics, namely, cell size, shape of chloroplasts and the position of narrow sulcus situated in the cell surface. The sulcus of C. fulvescens is located at the intermediate position of the cingulum in the dorsal side, whereas that of C. polykrikoides is situated immediately beneath the cingulum. LSU rDNA phylogenies indicated that C. fulvescens is clearly distinct from, but closely related to C. polykrikoides among dinoflagellates.
Halichrysis corallinarius sp. nov. (Rhodymeniaceae, Rhodophyta) from Puerto Rico, Caribbean Sea
Authors: Ballantine David L. , Saunders Gary W. , Ruiz Hector 
Published: September 2007

SUMMARYA new species, Halichrysis corallinarius sp. nov. is described from coral reef habitats in southwest Puerto Rico as well as from Grand Cayman Island. The new species produces strap‐shaped thalli supported above the substrata by abundant peg‐like stipes. The lobed branches are frequently anastomosed with colonies measuring to 4.0 cm broad with individual axes measuring to 7.0 mm across. Algae possess up to five layers of medullary cells with frequent open spaces in the medulla. Tetrasporangia, measure to 19 × 25 μm, and are borne in sori limited to ventral surfaces. Gametophytes are monoecious and hemispherical carposporophytes are produced dorsally, measuring to 900 μm in diameter and 600 μm high.
Role of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway in epithelial‐mesenchymal transition of human prostate cancer induced by hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α
Authors: Jiang Yong‐Guang , Luo Yong , He Da‐lin , Li Xiang , Zhang Lin‐lin , Peng Tao , Li Ming‐Chuan , Lin Yun‐Hua 
Published: September 2007

Objectives:  Epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important process in tumor development, and several studies suggest that the Wnt/β‐catenin signal pathway may play an important role in EMT. However, there is no direct evidence showing that the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway actually determines the EMT induced by an exogenous signal. Our previous research has successfully proved that overexpression of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) could induce EMT in LNCaP cells, but not in PC‐3. The present study aims to determine whether the signal of HIF‐1α for inducing prostate cancer cells to undergo EMT might possibly pass through the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway.Methods:  Epithelial‐mesenchymal transition associated proteins were detected in several human prostate carcinoma cell lines by Western blot, and then we distinguished the EMT positive cell lines from the EMT negative cell lines. Furthermore, we evaluated the possible correlation between potency of invasiveness and proliferation among these cell lines with different characteristics of EMT using Matrigel transwell and thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Finally, the different expression of some critical proteins and genes in Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway were analyzed by Western blot and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) in these cells with different characteristics of EMT.Results:  Among several prostate cancer cell lines, PC‐3, LNCaP and PC‐3/HIF‐1α are EMT negative cell lines, whereas LNCaP/HIF‐1α and IA8 have undergone the EMT process. EMT positive cells (LNCaP/HIF‐1α and IA8) exhibit much stronger potency of invasiveness and proliferation than those of PC‐3 and LNCaP, which belong to EMT negative cells. Interestingly, although PC‐3/HIF‐1α had not completed the EMT process, it still displayed stronger potency of invasion and proliferation, resembling EMT positive cells. The protein expression level of total glycogensynthase kinase 3β (GSK‐3β) and phospho‐GSK‐3β in LNCaP/HIF‐1α, IA8 and PC‐3/HIF‐1α cells significantly decreased; however, the relative ratios of p‐GSK3β/t‐GSK3β in LNCaP/HIF‐1α, IA8 and PC‐3/HIF‐1α cells were significantly higher than PC‐3 and LNCaP. Consistently, β‐catenin protein expression increased in LNCaP/HIF‐1α and IA8 cells, but not in PC‐3/HIF‐1α; RT‐PCR confirmed these results, except for the enhanced transcription activity of β‐catenin mRNA in PC‐3/HIF‐1α.Conclusion:  Our data suggests that activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway correlates with the characteristic of EMT and potency of invasiveness and proliferation. This may be the critical factor that directly controls the process of EMT induced by HIF‐1α in prostate cancer cells.
Insulin‐sensitizing antihyperglycaemic medications are associated with better outcome in patients with diabetes undergoing cardiac stress testing
Authors: Kapinya K. , Nijjar P. S. , Stanek M. , Amanullah A. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractBackground:  There are several treatment modalities available for diabetes; however, the effects of the different medications on coronary artery disease are less understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of insulin‐sensitizing therapy with the outcome of stress myocardial perfusion testing and to compare it with conventional therapy.Methods:  Of 417 patients referred to stress testing for evaluation of chest pain, 222 were identified as being treated with conventional therapy only (insulin and insulin secretagogues) and 195 as being treated with insulin sensitizers (metformin and thiazolidinediones (TZD)). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to correct for confounding factors and to determine the independent relation between treatment type and stress‐test outcome.Results:  Ischaemia, infarction and the composite outcome were less frequent in the insulin‐sensitizer group than in the conventional therapy group (odds ratio (OR) = 0.39, P = 0.025; OR = 0.32, P = 0.021 and OR = 0.38, P = 0.009, respectively). The subgroup analysis showed that treatment with metformin (n = 125) compared with conventional therapy was associated with less infarction or the composite outcome of ischaemia and/or ischaemia (OR = 0.18 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05–0.66), P = 0.010; OR = 0.34 (95%CI: 0.15–0.80), P = 0.014, respectively). Treatment with TZD (n = 43) was associated with a trend to less frequent ischaemia (OR = 0.18 (95%CI: 0.03–1.01), P = 0.051).Conclusion:  The addition of insulin‐sensitizing medications to the conventional diabetes therapy or their sole use was associated with decreased coronary artery disease or its severity in patients with diabetes as determined by stress myocardial perfusion study. Randomized prospective trials will be necessary to prove this benefit.
Endothelial dysfunction in Turkish patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Senturk O. , Kocaman O. , Hulagu S. , Sahin T. , Aygun C. , Konduk T. , Celebi A. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractBackground:  The components of the metabolic syndrome are closely related with endothelial dysfunction, which is a pathophysiological issue of cardiovascular diseases. Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered as one of the components of the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the endothelial‐dependent dilatation (EDD) and endothelial‐independent dilatation (EID) of the brachial artery in NAFLD.Methods:  Fifteen non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), 17 patients with simple steatosis and 16 healthy subjects formed the study group. Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease group was composed of patients admitted to the gastroenterology outpatient clinic because of increased liver enzymes. Endothelial functions of the brachial artery were evaluated by vascular ultrasound. EDD was assessed by establishing reactive hyperaemia, and EID was determined by using sublingual nitrate.Results:  No statistical difference for the basal diameter of brachial artery was found between the groups (P = 0.49). The values for EDD and EID were significantly different across all three groups (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). EDD and EID were significantly lower in NASH compared with simple steatosis (P = 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). However, there was no statistical significance for EDD and EID in simple steatosis groups compared with controls (P = 0.58 and P = 0.98, respectively).Conclusions:  Our study showed that patients with NASH had significantly worse endothelial dysfunction compared with patients with simple steatosis and healthy subjects. The treatment strategies with ameliorative effects for endothelial dysfunction might be effective for delaying the development of cardiovascular complications in NAFLD.
Surveillance following treatment for colorectal cancer in Australia. Has best practice been adopted by medical oncologists?
Authors: Kosmider S. , Field K. , Jefford M. , Jennens R. , Gibbs P. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractBackground:  Intensive follow up after surgery for colorectal cancer is associated with a significant survival advantage and is endorsed by expert panels, but are physicians convinced of the benefit?Methods:  A questionnaire was mailed to all members of the Medical Oncology Group of Australia, assessing surveillance practices after completion of adjuvant treatments.Results:  Responses were obtained from 141 (55%) medical oncologists of which 121 were considered evaluable. Thirteen per cent (n = 16) routinely did not carry out follow‐up investigations. Of those carrying out surveillance, 47% (n = 51) nominated identifying potentially resectable metastatic disease as prime consideration. Many (44%) were motivated by patient reassurance and expectation. Carcinoembryonic antigen levels were commonly monitored 3 monthly in years 1 (77%, n = 85) and 2 (57%, n = 63) and 6 monthly thereafter (67%, n = 74). Eighty per cent (n = 88) carried out computed tomography (CT) surveillance 1 year after surgery, 69% (n = 76) at year 2 and 55% (n = 60) at year 3. Twenty‐six per cent (n = 29) continued scanning annually up to 5 years. Inclusion of CT chest was routine for 33% (n = 36) and never carried out by 11% (n = 12).Conclusion:  A significant minority (13%) of oncologists carry out no follow‐up investigations, despite level I evidence of a survival advantage similar to standard adjuvant therapies. Further education and study of physician attitudes and reservations to routine surveillance are required.
Estimating fatigue sensitivity to polycrystalline Ni‐base superalloy microstructures using a computational approach
Authors: SHENOY M. , ZHANG J. , McDOWELL D.L. 
Published: September 2007

ABSTRACTA computational study is conducted to determine the influence of microstructure attributes and properties on driving forces for fatigue crack formation and microstructurally small crack growth in a polycrystalline Ni‐base superalloy, IN100, a turbine disk alloy. A principal objective is to obtain quantitative estimates of the effect of variability of microstructure features on scatter in fatigue life or fatigue strength for a given life. Understanding is sought regarding sensitivity of driving forces to various microstructure attributes that may guide selection of the process route to tailor microstructure to achieve fatigue resistance. A microstructure‐sensitive crystal plasticity model is used to explicitly model individual grains and polycrystals, which is then used to explore effects of: (a) grain size distribution and (b) secondary and tertiary coherent γ′ precipitate size distributions and volume fractions on the cyclic inelastic strain distribution. Multiple statistical volume elements (SVEs) are subjected to random periodic boundary conditions to build up statistically significant measures of distributions of cyclic microplasticity. Multiaxial fatigue criteria with critical plane approaches are used to estimate the crack initiation life. Methods are developed for assessing crack formation and microstructurally small crack growth as a function of microstructure attributes.
GABAergic pathways in the rat subcortical visual system: a comparative study in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Born Gesche , Schmidt Matthias 
Published: September 2007

AbstractInhibitory pathways project from the pretectal nuclear complex to the ipsilateral superior colliculus (SC) and dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN). Both pathways arise from GABAergic neurones that are located in the dorsal pretectal nuclear complex. In the present experiments, we compared the anatomy and physiology of these two pathways with the objective of determining whether they have similar functions. First, we injected retrograde axonal tracers that fluoresce at different wavelengths in the dLGN and SC of single animals to determine if individual GABAergic neurones in the pretectum project to both structures. The results showed that the dLGN and SC receive input from different cell groups. Next, morphological reconstructions of cells labelled after in‐vitro whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings demonstrated that the pretectal‐recipient cells in the dLGN are GABAergic interneurones, whereas those in the SC are projection cells. Finally, with in‐vitro whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings we showed that inhibitory currents generated by both pathways are mediated by GABAA receptors. Taken together, these results suggest that these inhibitory projections may function to facilitate the relay of information from the dLGN to the visual cortex by suppressing the activity of dLGN interneurones, and to reduce the level of activity leaving the SC by inhibiting the projection neurones. These hypotheses will be discussed in the context of the known functions of the pretectal complex.