bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The continuing relevance of casework ideas to long‐term child protection work
Authors: Searing Hilary 
Published: October 2003

ABSTRACTThis paper is a personal reflection on how casework ideas have informed my own practice. Traditional social work is under threat. Casework, which was once a core method of working in social work, is particularly vulnerable because it has become a private, personal activity that is often misunderstood. It still has its followers but it is hard to find any modern accounts of casework practice. This paper attempts to remedy this by describing the application of casework ideas to work with families following registration of a child on the child protection register. The casework approach is described and illustrated using two case examples. This shows that casework with involuntary clients remains an important method of working but there are inherent constraints within the statutory role which limit what social workers can achieve in terms of therapy or in tackling poverty and inequality. This is followed by a discussion of contemporary social work practice and ideas for ways forward.
Preferentially rejected children and their development in permanent family placements
Authors: Rushton Alan , Dance Cherilyn 
Published: October 2003

ABSTRACTSeveral studies of family placements have indicated poorer outcomes for children who are placed singly in new families. In an effort to understand why this may be so, this paper explores differential outcome among a group of children who were placed singly with adoptive or long‐term foster families during middle childhood. A small number of these children were ‘only children’ at the time of placement but most had siblings living elsewhere. Particular attention is paid to preferential rejection by birth parents in the children's backgrounds. Preferential rejection indicates that one child has been rejected while siblings are accepted. This was found to be associated with poorer progress in placement. The methodological and statistical detail of the analyses are to be found in another paper. We focus here on describing the patterns which emerged and the ways in which the findings may assist practitioners in making and supporting permanent placements.
CspB and CspL, thermostable cold‐shock proteins from Thermotoga maritima
Authors: Phadtare Sangita , Hwang Jihwan , Severinov Konstantin , Inouye Masayori 
Published: October 2003

AbstractBackground:  Cold‐shock proteins (Csps) are important for cellular adaptation to low temperature. Csps help cells adapt to low‐temperature growth through their RNA‐binding and nucleic acid melting abilities, which lead to anti‐termination of transcription.Results:  We studied the two most thermostable Csps known to date, TmCspB and TmCspL from Thermotoga maritima, a hyperthermophilic eubacterium for which no cold‐shock response has been demonstrated so far. For comparison, we used a well‐characterized Escherichia coli CspE protein. TmCspB and TmCspL are able to bind RNA at both low and high temperatures. They are also able to ‘melt’ nucleic acids secondary structures and as a result decrease E. coli RNA polymerase transcription termination in vivo and E. coli and T. maritima RNA polymerases transcription termination in vitro. Over‐expression of TmCsps allowed E. coli cold‐sensitive mutant cells to acclimate to the low temperatures of 15 °C.Conclusions:  TmCspB and TmCspL (i) are able to perform essential functions of E. coli Csps in vitro and in vivo, 50–65 °C below the temperature optimum of T. maritima and (ii) can anti‐terminate transcription by T. maritima RNA polymerase at 55 °C, the lower limit of temperature range for growth of T. maritima. We propose that the observed properties of TmCsps are physiologically relevant and that TmCsps are important for adaptation of T. maritima to physiologically low temperatures.
pH‐dependent translocation of α‐tocopherol transfer protein (α‐TTP) between hepatic cytosol and late endosomes
Authors: Horiguchi Masakuni , Arita Makoto , Kaempf‐Rotzoll Daisy E. , Tsujimoto Masafumi , Inoue Keizo , Arai Hiroyuki 
Published: October 2003

AbstractBackground:  α‐Tocopherol transfer protein (α‐TTP), a member of the Sec14 protein family, plays an important role in transporting α‐tocopherol, a major lipid‐soluble anti‐oxidant, in the cytosolic compartment of hepatocytes and is known as a product of the causative gene for familial isolated vitamin E deficiency. It has been shown that the secretion of hepatocyte α‐tocopherol taken up with plasma lipoproteins is facilitated by α‐TTP. To explore the mechanism of α‐TTP mediated α‐tocopherol secretion, we investigated drugs which may affect this secretion.Results:  We found that, in a hepatocyte cell culture system, intracellular α‐tocopherol transport is impaired by chloroquine, an agent known for its function of elevating the pH in acidic compartments. Under chloroquine treatment, the diffuse cytosolic distribution of α‐TTP changes to a punctate pattern. Double‐staining experiments with endocytosis markers revealed that α‐TTP accumulates transiently on the cytoplasmic surface of late endosomal membranes. This phenomenon is specific for hepatoma cell lines or primarily cultured hepatocytes. Other members of the Sec14 family, such as cellular retinaldehyde‐binding protein (CRALBP) and supernatant protein factor (SPF), do not show this accumulation. Furthermore, we elucidate that the obligatory amino acid sequence for this function is located between amino acids 21 and 50, upstream of the N‐terminal end of the lipid‐binding domain.Conclusion:  We hypothesize that a liver‐specific target molecule for α‐TTP exists on the late endosomal membrane surface. This transient binding may explain the mechanism of how α‐tocopherol is transferred from late endosomes to cytosolic α‐TTP.
Transcription elongation factor S‐II maintains transcriptional fidelity and confers oxidative stress resistance
Authors: Koyama Hiroshi , Ito Takahiro , Nakanishi Toshiyuki , Kawamura Nobuyuki , Sekimizu Kazuhisa 
Published: October 2003

AbstractBackground:  During transcription elongation, RNA polymerase II is arrested on the template when incorrect ribonucleotides are incorporated into the nascent transcripts. Transcription factor S‐II enhances the excision of these mis‐incorporated nucleotides by RNA polymerase II and stimulates transcription elongation in vitro. This mechanism is considered to be transcriptional proof‐reading, but its physiological relevance remains unknown.Results:  We report that S‐II contributes to the maintenance of transcriptional fidelity in vivo. We employed a genetic reporter assay utilizing a mutated lacZ gene from which active β‐galactosidase protein is expressed when mRNA proof‐reading is compromised. In S‐II‐disrupted mutant yeasts, β‐galactosidase activity was ninefold higher than that in wild‐type. The S‐II mutant exhibited sensitivity to oxidants, which was suppressed by introduction of the S‐II gene. The mutant S‐II proteins, which are unable to stimulate transcription by RNA polymerase II in vitro, did not suppress the sensitivity of the mutants to oxidative stress or maintain transcriptional fidelity.Conclusion:  These results suggest that S‐II confers oxidative stress resistance by providing an mRNA proof‐reading mechanism during transcription elongation.
Photosynthesis and carbon balance of a Sahelian fallow savanna
Authors: Hanan Niall P. , Kabat Pavel , Dolman A. Johannes , Elbers JaN. A. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractEddy‐covariance measurements of CO2 exchange above a Sahelian savanna consisting of small shrubs over a near‐continuous herb layer were made during the HAPEX‐Sahel experiment in Niger, West Africa. The measurements were made near‐continuously during an 8‐week period, covering the main part of the rainy season and three weeks at the beginning of the dry season. The measurements were corrected for in‐canopy storage of CO2 and the night‐time measurements used to derive respiration functions for the soil, roots and above‐ground plant material. Photosynthetic CO2 uptake was estimated and compared to simulations using a biochemical photosynthesis model in a simple, ‘big‐leaf’, implementation. The model satisfactorily reproduced the measurements (coefficient of determination 0.80) using parameters defined from the literature and based on soil nutrient concentrations. When the quantum yield (α) and rubisco capacity (Vmr) were fitted to the data with allowance for physiological changes through the season, an excellent agreement between model and measurements was obtained (coefficient of determination 0.93, RMS error 1.46 μmol m–2 s–1).The fitted photosynthesis and respiration model was used to estimate the carbon balance of the savanna site during the growing season of 1992 and for the complete calendar year. Harvest estimates of net plant biomass accumulation during the growing season and annual wood accumulation agreed well with modelled net photosynthesis and annual net carbon accumulation, respectively. Peak instantaneous ecosystem CO2 uptake was comparable to peak values observed in other biomes, but annual photosynthesis and carbon sequestration were considerably lower than observed elsewhere.
Potentially complex biosphere responses to transient global warming
Authors: Neilson Ronald P. , Drapek Raymond J. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractFeedback interactions between terrestrial vegetation and climate could alter predictions of the responses of both systems to a doubling of atmospheric CO2. Most previous analyses of biosphere responses to global warming have used output from equilibrium simulations of current and future climate, as compared to more recently available transient GCM simulations. We compared the vegetation responses to these two different classes of GCM simulation (equilibrium and transient) using an equilibrium vegetation distribution model, MAPSS. Average climatologies were extracted from the transient GCM simulations for current and doubled (2×) CO2 concentrations (taken to be 2070–2099) for use by the equilibrium vegetation model. However, the 2 × CO2 climates extracted from the transient GCM simulations were not in equilibrium, having attained only about 65% of their eventual 2 × CO2 equilibrium temperature change. Most of the differences in global vegetation response appeared to be related to a very different simulated change in the pole to tropic temperature gradient. Also, the transient scenarios produced much larger increases of precipitation in temperate latitudes, commensurate with a minimum in the latitudinal temperature change. Thus, the (equilibrium) global vegetation response, under the transient scenarios, tends more to a greening than a decline in vegetation density, as often previously simulated. It may be that much of the world could become greener during the early phases of global warming, only to reverse in later, more equilibrial stages. However, whether or not the world's vegetation experiences large drought‐induced declines or perhaps large vegetation expansions in early stages could be determined by the degree to which elevated CO2 will actually benefit natural vegetation, an issue still under debate. There may occur oscillations, perhaps on long timescales, between greener and drier phases, due to different frequency responses of the coupled ocean–atmosphere–biosphere interactions. Such oscillations would likely, of themselves, impart further reverberations to the coupled Earth System.
Human aquaporin adipose (AQPap) gene
Authors: Kondo Hidehiko , Shimomura Iichiro , Kishida Ken , Kuriyama Hiroshi , Makino Yasunaka , Nishizawa Hitoshi , Matsuda Morihiro , Maeda Norikazu , Nagaretani Hiroyuki , Kihara Shinji , Kurachi Yoshihisa , Nakamura Tadashi , Funahashi Tohru , Matsuzawa Yuji 
Published: October 2003

Aquaporin adipose (AQPap), which we identified from human adipose tissue, is a glycerol channel in adipocyte [Kishida et al. (2000) J. Biol. Chem.275, 20896–20902]. In the current study, we determined the genomic structure of the human AQPap gene, and identified three AQPap‐like genes that resembled (≈ 95%) AQPap, with little expression in human tissues. The AQPap promoter contained a putative peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE) at −46 to −62, and a putative insulin response element (IRE) at −542/−536. Deletion of the PPRE abolished the pioglitazone‐mediated induction of AQPap promoter activity in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes. Deletion and single base pair substitution analysis of the IRE abolished the insulin‐mediated suppression of the human AQPap gene. Analysis of AQPap sequence in human subjects revealed three missense mutations (R12C, V59L and G264V), and two silent mutations (A103A and G250G). The cRNA injection of the missense mutants into Xenopus oocytes revealed the absence of the activity to transport glycerol and water in the AQPap‐G264V protein. In the subject homozygous for AQPap‐G264V, exercise‐induced increase in plasma glycerol was not observed in spite of the increased plasma noradrenaline. We suggest that AQPap is responsible for the increase of plasma glycerol during exercise in humans.
The solution structure of reduced dimeric copper zinc superoxide dismutase
Authors: Banci Lucia , Bertini Ivano , Cramaro Fiorenza , Del Conte Rebecca , Viezzoli Maria Silvia 
Published: October 2003

The solution structure of homodimeric Cu2Zn2 superoxide dismutase (SOD) of 306 aminoacids was determined on a 13C, 15N and 70% 2H labeled sample. Two‐thousand eight‐hundred and five meaningful NOEs were used, of which 96 intersubunit, and 115 dihedral angles provided a family of 30 conformers with an rmsd from the average of 0.78 ± 0.11 and 1.15 ± 0.09 Å for the backbone and heavy atoms, respectively. When the rmsd is calculated for each subunit, the values drop to 0.65 ± 0.09 and 1.08 ± 0.11 Å for the backbone and heavy atoms, respectively.The two subunits are identical on the NMR time scale, at variance with the X‐ray structures that show structural differences between the two subunits as well as between different molecules in the unit cell. The elements of secondary structure, i.e. eight β sheets, are the same as in the X‐ray structures and are well defined. The odd loops (I, III and V) are well resolved as well as loop II located at the subunit interface. On the contrary, loops IV and VI show some disorder. The residues of the active cavity are well defined whereas within the various subunits of the X‐ray structure some are disordered or display different orientation in different X‐ray structure determinations. The copper(I) ion and its ligands are well defined. This structure thus represents a well defined model in solution relevant for structure–function analysis of the protein. The comparison between the solution structure of monomeric mutants and the present structure shows that the subunit–subunit interactions increase the order in loop II. This has the consequences of inducing the structural and dynamic properties that are optimal for the enzymatic function of the wild‐type enzyme. The regions 37–43 and 89–95, constituting loops III and V and the initial part of the β barrel and showing several mutations in familial amyotrophis lateral sclerosis (FALS)‐related proteins have a quite extensive network of H‐bonds that may account for their low mobility. Finally, the conformation of the key Arg143 residue is compared to that in the other dimeric and monomeric structures as well as in the recently reported structure of the CCS–superoxide dismutase (SOD) complex.
Development of species‐specific PCR primers on rDNA for the identification of European Armillaria species
Authors: Sicoli G. , Fatehi J. , Stenlid J. 
Published: October 2003

SummaryAttempts to design species‐specific PCR primers from six European Armillaria species in the ribosomal RNA genes are reported. Primers were developed on the basis of the nucleotide sequence variability of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and the intergenic spacer (IGS1) of the ribosomal DNA. Four sets of primers gave specific PCR products for Armillaria tabescens, Armillaria mellea and Armillaria ostoyae. However, due to the high sequence similarities between Armillaria borealis and Armillaria ostoyae and between Armillaria cepistipes and Armillaria gallica no species specific amplification was obtained for these taxa.
Responses of conifer species of the Great Lakes region of North America to inoculation with the pitch canker pathogen Fusarium circinatum
Authors: Enebak S. A. , Stanosz G. R. 
Published: October 2003

SummaryFive conifer species grown in the Great Lakes region of North America were examined for their susceptibility to Fusarium circinatum, (syns. Fusarium subglutinans f. sp. pini and F. moniliforme var. subglutinans), the causal agent of pitch canker. Three‐year‐old (3‐0) seedlings of red (Pinus resinosa), jack (P. banksiana) eastern white (P. strobus), Scots (P. sylvestris) and Austrian (P. nigra) pine were planted in 4 l pots in a greenhouse at Auburn University in November 1998. In April and June 1999, seedlings were inoculated by removing a needle fascicle approximately 5 cm from the terminal bud and placing a drop containing F. circinatum conidia on the wound. Resin production, canker length and seedling mortality were recorded 12 weeks later. Jack, Scots and eastern white pine were the most susceptible with Austrian and red pine more resistant to the fungus. F. circinatum was re‐isolated from 37% to 96% of inoculated seedlings. The susceptibility of jack, Scots and eastern white pine indicates a potential risk to these important species of the region if F. circinatum were to be introduced into the area.
Factors Consumers Identify as Important to Recovery from Schizophrenia
Authors: Tooth Barbara , Kalyanasundaram Vaidyanathan , Glover Helen , Momenzadah Sirous 
Published: October 2003

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to provide a consumer perspective on recovery from schizophrenia and to identify what consumers considered important in this journey, compare it to the literature and also to provide a consumer definition of recovery. Methods: A four-part qualitative process was developed following consultation with two consumer focus groups. Fifty-seven people who identified themselves as in recovery participated in the study. The interviews were tape-recorded and thematic analysis used to identify the common themes used by the participants. Results: The most frequently reported category related to an active sense of self, with the person's determination to get better, manage their illness and realising their need to help themselves the most common subcategories. Conclusions: The findings of the present study are discussed in relation to the literature on recovery from mental illness and their implications for the provision of services.
Histological study of fetal kidney with urethral obstruction and vesicoureteral reflux: A consideration on the etiology of congenital reflux nephropathy
Authors: SHIMADA KENJI , MATSUMOTO FUMI , TOHDA AKIRA , UEDA MASANAO 
Published: October 2003

AbstractPurpose: A recent subject of interest regarding reflux nephropathy is the presence of renal abnormalities in neonates and infants who have no history of urinary tract infections. Debates have centered on the etiology of this renal abnormality – congenital reflux nephropathy; regarding whether it is the result of abnormal ureteral budding or of back pressure effect from sterile reflux. We examined the renal pathology of fetuses with urethral obstruction and vesicoureteral reflux, and we suggest herein a possible etiology of congenital reflux nephropathy.Methods: The renal pathology of seven autopsied fetuses with vesicoureteral reflux was studied. Reflux was demonstrated at autopsy by slow injection of contrast medium into the bladder. Severe urethral obstruction, either atresia or urethral valves, was evident in six of the subjects.Results: In six subjects, abnormality of the urinary tracts was detected by prenatal ultrasonography. Of these six subjects, three revealed characteristics of prune belly syndrome. Reflux was graded as moderate in five subjects, and severe in two. In three subjects autopsied at 21 weeks gestation or earlier, the kidneys were well‐developed with normal corticomedullary configuration, and nephrogenesis was retained. In three cases autopsied at over 25 weeks of gestation, the kidneys were grossly cystic, and the nephrogenic zone was completely absent. Contrast medium was observed not only in the dilated ducts and tubules, but also in the subcapsular cysts. Extravasation of the contrast medium was seen in the peritubular space. In the last subject with normal lower urinary tract, abnormal segments among normal cortical structures were observed.Conclusion: Our findings of renal pathology in fetuses with reflux are quite similar to those seen in fetal hydronephrosis. Back pressure from reflux probably damages the developing kidney leading to a degeneration of the ampullae and a reduction in the number of nephrons. Both dilatation of the collecting ducts and tubules, and extravasation of the urine may result in interstitial fibrosis. We postulate that one of the important etiologies of congenital reflux nephropathy may be the result of back pressure from sterile reflux.
Analysis of serum α‐fetoprotein concentration in patients with viral hepatitis
Authors: SHE Wei Min , HU De Chang , YUAN He Jun , ZHAI Wei Rong , LIANG Yi , LIU Hou Yu 
Published: October 2003

OBJECTIVE: To investigate serum α‐fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations in patients with viral hepatitis.METHODS: Serum concentrations of total bilirubin (TB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino­transferase (AST), albumin, globulin, AFP and viral markers were determined in 310 patients with pathologically proven viral hepatitis. The relation between the concentration of AFP and clinical manifestation, pathology, family history of liver malignant disease and virus type was studied.RESULTS: Serum AFP concentrations were elevated in 115 of the 310 patients (37.1%). According to the pathological diagnosis, the lowest positive rate of AFP was in acute hepatitis (11.7%), the highest was in chronic severe hepatitis (66.7%), the second highest in liver cirrhosis (57.5%), and chronic hepatitis was intermediate (34.2%). If the diagnosis was based on the clinical manifestation, the highest positive rate was found in chronic severe hepatitis, the lowest in chronic hepatitis, and acute hepatitis was intermediate. The positive rate of serum AFP by virus type was 35.5% for hepatitis B (HBV), superinfected with HAV or with HEV was 62.8%, and with HCV was 27.3%. Only one in six patients with HCV infection and none with simple HAV or HEV infection were positive for AFP. In patients with a family history of liver cancer, the positive rate of AFP was higher than in those without such a history (57.9%vs38.2%;P = 0.75).CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that AFP positivity is not uncommon in patients with viral hepatitis and if the patient has an elevated concentration, it is highly likely to be HBV infection or HBV super­infected with HAV or HEV.