bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Offshore renewable energy: ecological implications of generating electricity in the coastal zone
Authors: GILL ANDREW B. 
Published: August 2005

Summary

Global‐scale environmental degradation and its links with non‐renewable fossil fuels have led to an increasing interest in generating electricity from renewable energy resources. Much of this interest centres on offshore renewable energy developments (ORED). The large scale of proposed ORED will add to the existing human pressures on coastal ecosystems, therefore any ecological costs and benefits must be determined.
The current pressures on coastal ecology set the context within which the potential impacts (both positive and negative) of offshore renewable energy generation are discussed.
The number of published peer‐review articles relating to renewable energy has increased dramatically since 1991. Significantly, only a small proportion of these articles relate to environmental impacts and none considers coastal ecology.
Actual or potential environmental impact can occur during construction, operation and/or decommissioning of ORED.
Construction and decommissioning are likely to cause significant physical disturbance to the local environment. There are both short‐ and long‐term implications for the local biological communities. The significance of any effects is likely to depend on the natural disturbance regime and the stability and resilience of the communities.
During day‐to‐day operation, underwater noise, emission of electromagnetic fields and collision or avoidance with the energy structures represent further potential impacts on coastal species, particularly large predators. The wider ecological implications of any direct and indirect effects are discussed.
Synthesis and applications. This review demonstrates that offshore renewable energy developments will have direct and, potentially, indirect consequences for coastal ecology, with these effects occurring at different scales. Ecologists should be involved throughout all the phases of an ORED to ensure that appropriate assessments of the interaction of single and multiple developments with the coastal environment are undertaken.
Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents and the sudden infant death syndrome
Authors: Alex Nishi , Thompson John MD , Becroft David MO , Mitchell Ed A 
Published: August 2005

Objective: To determine ante‐mortem and post‐mortem risk factors for the finding of gastric contents in pulmonary airways (aspiration of gastric contents) at post‐mortem examination in the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Methods: There were 217 post‐neonatal deaths in the Auckland region of the New Zealand Cot Death Study. No deaths were certified as due to aspiration of gastric contents. There were 138 SIDS cases. The parents of 110 (80%) of these cases were interviewed. Histological sections from the periphery of the lungs in 99 of the 110 cases were reviewed for evidence of aspiration of gastric contents. A wide range of variables were analysed in SIDS cases with and without aspiration to determine risk factors. Results: Aspiration of gastric contents was identified in 37 (37%) of SIDS cases. Aspiration was of mild‐to‐moderate degree and in no case was severe and a potential cause of death. Finding infants on their backs at death (P = 0.024) and conducting the post‐mortem on the day after the death or subsequently (P = 0.033) were statistically significant variables linked to identification of aspiration. Position placed to sleep, symptoms of gastro‐oesophageal reflux and other variables were not related to aspiration. Conclusions: The only determinants for aspiration of gastric contents identified were agonal or post‐mortem events, supporting the contention that aspiration has limited relevance to the mechanism of SIDS.
Inpatient care of children with cerebral palsy as perceived by their parents
Authors: Phua Vanessa , Reid Sue M , Walstab Janet E , Reddihough Dinah S 
Published: August 2005

Objectives: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have special health care needs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the inpatient care of children with CP, as perceived by their parents. Methods: Forty parents of children with CP and 90 parents of able‐bodied children completed a questionnaire designed to evaluate their perception of their child's hospital admission, including the care provided. The parents also completed the Perceived Stress Scale. Results: Overall, parents of able‐bodied children were more satisfied with the hospitalization than parents of children with CP (P < 0.0001). Significant differences were found in four of the five areas assessed: the admissions process (P = 0.0002); the care that their child received (P < 0.0001); their communication and confidence in doctors and nurses (P < 0.0001); and their personal experience of the hospital (P = 0.0076). Parents of disabled children displayed a much higher mean score on the Perceived Stress Scale, but no correlation was found between this scale and the satisfaction questionnaire for either group. Conclusion: The results of this study show that parents of children with CP were, as a group, less satisfied than parents of able‐bodied children with their inpatient experience. Although these children have complex needs and often require more care than able‐bodied children, it is imperative that their needs are met and that parents are satisfied with all aspects of the care they receive in hospital.
Diagnosing symptomatic urinary tract infections in infants by catheter urine culture
Authors: Cheng Yan‐Wah , Wong Sik‐Nin 
Published: August 2005

Background: Diagnosing infantile urinary tract infection (UTI) is difficult due to contamination during urine collection. Catheterization is convenient but diagnostic criteria (colony‐forming units per millilitre (CFU/mL)) is controversial, especially in uncircumcised males. Objectives: To study the value of catheter urine cultures in terms of likelihood ratios (LRs), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of different CFU/mL in uncircumcised boys and girls. Methods: Infants aged 1–18 months who had catheter urine cultures from July 1999 to June 2002 were reviewed to decide if they had symptomatic UTI (group A) or not (group B). Urinary tract infection was confirmed if patients had a positive urine culture plus acute fever, pyuria, positive leucocyte esterase and nitrite tests and good response to antibiotics, with pyelonephritic evidence on early dimercaptosuccinc acid (DMSA) scans in doubtful cases. Group B included infants with negative urine culture results, and those with positive results but were asymptomatic and admitted for micturiting cystourethrogram. Results: Nine hundred and fifty‐two patients were studied (492 boys, 460 girls; 212 in group A, 740 in group B). No single cut‐off CFU/mL has high sensitivity and specificity to simultaneously diagnose and exclude UTI. The CFU counts of 100–103, 103–104, 104–105 and >105 were associated with LRs of 0.11, 0.45, 1.52 and 20.5, respectively in uncircumcised boys, and with LRs of 1.39, 2.49, 8.95 and 18.8, respectively in girls. The LR for mixed growths was 0.21. Conclusion: Unlike suprapubic tap urine, catheter urine culture has to be interpreted against the clinical context or pretest probability and in terms of probability. In the scenario of a febrile infant where the pretest probability of UTI was about 5%, UTI was highly likely if counts exceeded 105/mL, and unlikely if counts were below 104/mL in uncircumcised boys. In female infants, UTI was highly likely if counts were >104 CFU/mL, but lower counts could not exclude UTI.
Developmental assessment of children: A survey of Australian and New Zealand paediatricians
Authors: Beggs Sean , Sewell Jill , Efron Daryl , Orkin Carl 
Published: August 2005

Objectives: To determine the current practice for developmental assessment of children by Australian and New Zealand paediatricians. To determine factors associated with higher levels of self‐reported confidence and expertise in developmental paediatrics and factors associated with better practice. Methods: A cross‐sectional postal survey of Australian and New Zealand paediatricians conducted in 2003, enquiring about their training in developmental paediatrics and their practice for evaluating development. Results: Of 811 questionnaires sent, 590 (73%) were returned. Ninety‐one respondents indicated that they did not see children with developmental issues leaving 499 surveys for analysis. The overwhelming majority of paediatricians felt that more training was required in developmental paediatrics (88%) and that there was a need to be taught a formal developmental assessment tool (83%). Higher self‐ratings of confidence and expertise in developmental paediatrics were associated with a period of formal developmental training (OR (95% CI) 2.7 (1.6–4.4), 3.4 (2.0–5.8), respectively), and being taught a formal developmental assessment tool (OR (95% CI) 2.0 (1.2–3.2), 2.2 (1.3–3.7), respectively). Predictors of paediatricians performing a formal developmental assessment included formal developmental training (OR (95% CI) 2.0 (1.1–3.8)) being taught an assessment tool (OR (95% CI) 2.8 (1.5–5.2)) and mandatory training (OR (95% CI) 2.4 (1.4–4.1)). Conclusions: Developmental paediatrics is a significant and important part of paediatric practice. This survey suggests, however, that paediatric training and continuing education should have not reflected this practice. The overall method and content of developmental training including whether formal assessment tools should be taught needs to be reviewed and revised.
Symptomatic infant characteristics of congenital cytomegalovirus disease in Australia
Authors: Munro Sian C , Trincado Daniel , Hall Beverley , Rawlinson William D 
Published: August 2005

Background: Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of viral intrauterine infection. In utero transmission can occur during primary maternal infection, reactivation or reinfection of seropositive mothers. Objective: To describe the aetiology and clinical features of infants diagnosed with congenital CMV and to document maternal factors that were presented. Methods: Active national surveillance was initiated in 1999 in collaboration with the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit. Results: Monthly notifications resulted in 70 cases of congenital CMV being identified between 1999 and 2003. Nearly all of the cases were symptomatic with the most common clinical sequelae reported in infected infants being jaundice, thrombocytopaenia, hepatomegaly, petechiae, purpura and splenomegaly. Almost half (43.5%) of the infants had central nervous system (CNS) complications, such as microcephaly, chorioretinitis, sensorineural hearing loss, intracranial calcifications, developmental delay or seizures, with over half presenting two or more CNS abnormalities. Maternal febrile illness was noted in 54.8% of the cases. The majority of mothers were primiparous (46.4%) or secundiparous (39.3%), indicating two different population groups at risk of primary CMV infection. Conclusion: This study documents symptomatic congenital CMV cases in Australia.
Diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders in Queensland: Variations in practice
Authors: Skellern Catherine , McDowell Michael , Schluter Philip 
Published: August 2005

Objective: For both paediatricians and child psychiatrists, referrals to assess possible autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) are increasing. This study examines current practices of medical specialists in the assessment of these disorders. Methods: An anonymous, self‐report questionnaire was sent to all Queensland paediatricians and child psychiatrists. The survey elicited frequencies of consultation for ASD, diagnostic method, advice provided and perceived adequacy of training for this work. Results: Responses were received from 79 (85%) eligible paediatricians and 26 (58%) eligible child psychiatrists. For one‐third of all clinicians, new consultations for possible ASD occurred as often as 2–3 times per week. Most specialists approached the clinical diagnosis of ASD by considering history from different sources and professional assessments. Paediatricians (86%) were more likely than child psychiatrists (62%) to request genetic studies for children with severe autism (P = 0.01). Both general paediatricians and developmental paediatricians perceived level of training for possible ASD consultations was significantly worse than child psychiatrists (P < 0.001 and P = 0.02, respectively), but no difference was found between paediatric groups (P = 0.27). Perceived adequacy of specialist training was not associated with length of experience in clinical practice. Conclusion: Medical practice in Queensland around diagnosis of ASD is characterized by considerable variability. There is still a long way to go if we are to achieve consistency around medical issues of organic diagnosis and practices impacting on health as well as consideration of differential developmental diagnoses. The finding that recently trained paediatricians felt just as unprepared for this work as their older colleagues suggests that the graduate training response to this ‘new morbidity’ has not been adequate.
In the light of stomatal opening: new insights into ‘the Watergate’
Authors: Roelfsema M. Rob G. , Hedrich Rainer 
Published: August 2005

SummaryStomata can be regarded as hydraulically driven valves in the leaf surface, which open to allow CO2uptake and close to prevent excessive loss of water. Movement of these ‘Watergates’ is regulated by environmental conditions, such as light, CO2and humidity. Guard cells can sense environmental conditions and function as motor cells within the stomatal complex. Stomatal movement results from the transport of K+salts across the guard cell membranes. In this review, we discuss the biophysical principles and mechanisms of stomatal movement and relate these to ion transport at the plasma membrane and vacuolar membrane. Studies with isolated guard cells, combined with recordings on single guard cells in intact plants, revealed that light stimulates stomatal opening via blue light‐specific and photosynthetic‐active radiation‐dependent pathways. In addition, guard cells sense changes in air humidity and the water status of distant tissues via the stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA). Guard cells thus provide an excellent system to study cross‐talk, as multiple signaling pathways induce both short‐ and long‐term responses in these sensory cells.ContentsSummary665I.Introduction665II.The hydrodynamic valve666III.Regulation of ion transport in guard cells678IV.Interaction between guard cell signaling pathways682V.Outlook684Acknowledgements685References685
The morphogenesis of lobed plant cells in the mesophyll and epidermis: organization and distinct roles of cortical microtubules and actin filaments
Authors: Panteris Emmanuel , Galatis Basil 
Published: August 2005

SummaryThe morphogenesis of lobed plant cells has been considered to be controlled by microtubule (MT) and/or actin filament (AF) organization. In this article, a comprehensive mechanism is proposed, in which distinct roles are played by these cytoskeletal components. First, cortical MT bundles and, in the case of pavement cells, radial MT arrays combined with MT bundles determine the deposition of local cell wall thickenings, the cellulose microfibrils of which copy the orientation of underlying MTs. Cell growth is thus locally prevented and, consequently, lobes and constrictions are formed. Arch‐like tangential expansion is locally imposed at the external periclinal wall of pavement cells by the radial arrangement of cellulose microfibrils at every wall thickening. Whenever further elongation of the original cell lobes occurs, AF patches assemble at the tips of growing lobes. Intercellular space formation is promoted or prevented by the opposite or alternate, respectively, arrangement of cortical MT arrays between neighboring cells. The genes that are possibly involved in the molecular regulation of the above morphogenetic procedure by MT and AF array organization are reviewed.
Microtubules guide root hair tip growth
Authors: Sieberer Björn J. , Ketelaar Tijs , Esseling John J. , Emons Anne Mie C. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryThe ability to establish cell polarity is crucial to form and function of an individual cell. Polarity underlies critical processes during cell development, such as cell growth, cell division, cell differentiation and cell signalling. Interphase cytoplasmic microtubules in tip‐growing fission yeast cells have been shown to play a particularly important role in regulating cell polarity. By placing proteins that serve as spatial cues in the cell cortex of the expanding tip, microtubules determine the site where excocytosis, and therefore growth, takes place. Transport and the targeting of exocytotic vesicles to the very tip depend on the actin cytoskeleton. Recently, endoplasmic microtubules have been identified in tip‐growing root hairs, which are an experimental system for plant cell growth. Here, we review the data that demonstrate involvement of microtubules in hair elongation and polarity of the model plants Medicago truncatula and Arabidopsis thaliana. Differences and similarities between the microtubule organization and function in these two species are discussed and we compare the observations in root hairs with the microtubule‐based polarity mechanism in fission yeast.

Contents

Summary
711

I.
Introduction
711

II.
Root hair tip growth
712

III.
Microtubule organization and dynamics in elongating root hairs
713

IV.
Microtubules and their role in root hair cell polarity
714

V.
Microtubules and their putative role in targeting polarity markers to the very tip of elongating root hairs: what we might learn from Schizosaccharomyces pombe
716

VI.
Conclusion
717

References
717
Erosive disease associated with higher bone resorption and lower bone density in women with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: SURYANA Bagus P. P. , WILL Robert K. , LIM Annie , BREIDAHL Bill 
Published: August 2005

AbstractObjective:  To evaluate the bone density and bone metabolism in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), focusing on disease activity, joint erosion, and RA‐epitope.Methods:  Disease activity was assessed using erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C‐reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, Ritchie articular index (RAI), and disease activity score (DAS). The presence of joint erosion was assessed using wrist‐hand and feet X‐ray, and wrist‐hand magnetc resonance imaging. A fasting metabolic bone study was done including serum calcium, phosphate, 25(OH) vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin, and urine deoxypyridinoline/creatinine (DPD/Cr) ratio. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at hip, spine, distal forearm, hand, and total body using dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) machine. HLA‐DRB1 genes were examined using DNA sequencing based typing.Results:  Seventy‐six women with RA according to 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria with clinical onset equal to or less than 5 years were examined. Mean (SD) of age was 55.4 (13.7) years, disease duration 34.9 (36.4) months, and 96% with ACR functional criteria class I and II. HLA typing demonstrated that 61.4% of them have the RA shared‐epitope (QRRAA or QKRAA or RRRAA) in their HLA‐DRB1 alleles. Most of them had been receiving disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs and glucocorticoid. Erosive disease was significantly correlated with intertrochanter BMD (P = 0.044), serum calcium (P = 0.005), and urine DPD/Cr ratio (P < 0.001). Patients with erosive disease had higher DAS (P = 0.017), lower serum calcium (P = 0.006), and higher urine DPD/Cr ratio (P < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in serum ALP, osteocalcin, 25(OH) vitamin D, and PTH. Patients with erosive disease had lower BMD at all sites including hip, forearm, hand, lumbar spine, and total body, though only statistically significant at intertrochanter (P = 0.042). Bivariate correlation demonstrated that at all sites BMD, except femoral neck and hand BMD, negatively correlated with urine DPD/Cr ratio. Logistic regression model showed that erosive disease was a significant factor for low bone density (T‐score < −1) at intertrochanter (OR = 6.0; 95% CI = 1.3–27.3; P = 0.020), total hip (OR = 5.5; 95% CI = 1.1–26.8; P = 0.035), and distal radius‐ulna (OR = 3.9; 95% CI = 1.1–14.0; P = 0.041).Conclusion:  Patients with erosive disease demonstrated lower BMD, lower serum calcium level, and higher bone resorption. Erosive disease was a significant factor for osteopenia or osteoporosis.
Prevalence, outcome and risk for falling in 155 ambulatory patients with rheumatic disease
Authors: BRAND Caroline , AW Juan , LOWE Adrian , MORTON Catherine 
Published: August 2005

AbstractAim:  Older people are at greater risk of falls and fall‐related adverse outcomes. Risk for falls is multifactorial, and relative importance of risk factors (RF) may vary according to the population studied. Although several population studies identify musculoskeletal factors as one of many RFs, there have been few studies of falls in populations with rheumatic disease. In this study we aim to assess the incidence of falls, prevalence of falls RFs and outcomes of falls in an ambulatory population with rheumatic disease.Methods:  Using a retrospective cohort study design, consecutive patients attending rheumatology outpatient clinics completed a self‐administered falls questionnaire that investigated falls within the previous 12 months, risk for falling and fear of falling.Results:  One hundred and fifty‐five patients, with a mean age of 59.7 years (SD 15.0) completed the survey. Seventy‐six patients (49%) reported one or more falls in the previous 12 months. Fifty‐eight (76.3%) reported an adverse outcome which included fracture in 12 (15.8%) and hospital attendance or admission in 20 (26.7%). Fear of falling was also common, being reported in 81 (52.3%) patients. Moderately or severe fear of falling was reported in 26 (16.8%) among the whole group and in 10% of the 78 patients who had not yet experienced a fall.Conclusions:  The findings of this study highlight the high incidence of falls and fear of falling in patients with rheumatic disease and identify groups likely to be at higher risk. These patients should be considered for falls prevention programs that have been shown to reduce falls risk and improve self‐efficacy.