bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human Parvovirus B19 VP2 Empty Capsids Bind to Human Villous Trophoblast Cells in vitro Via the Globoside Receptor
Authors: Wegner Carole C. , Jordan Jeanne A. 
Published: November 2004

Background: Pregnant women acutely infected with human parvovirus B19 (B19) may transmit the virus to the developing fetus. The mechanism whereby the virus interacts with the placenta is unknown. It is known that
globoside receptor is required for successful infection of the target cells, which are the highly undifferentiated, actively dividing colony and burst‐form units of the erythroid series. Globoside is present on trophoblast cells which have intimate contact with maternal blood, and may therefore serve as a potential route for B19 transmission into the fetal compartment.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether B19 VP2 capsids could bind to villous trophoblast cells in vitro and whether globoside was involved.Methods: Binding of B19 VP2 empty capsid to first‐trimester villous trophoblast cells was assessed by multiple approaches, including ICC using either biotinylated B19 VP2 empty capsid or unlabeled B19 VP2 empty capsid. Quantification of viral binding involved I125
‐labeled B19 VP2 empty capsid. Competition studies included excess unlabeled empty capsids or pretreatment with globoside‐specific IgM antibody.Results: Linear binding of B19 VP2 capsid to purified villous trophoblast cells in vitro was clearly demonstrated
(R2 = 0.9524). Competition studies revealed specificity of I125
‐labeled B19 VP2 capsid binding to villous trophoblast cells when pretreatment with either 60‐fold excess unlabeled B19 capsid or globoside‐specific IgM antibody took place. The results illustrated B19′s ability to bind in a specific manner to globoside‐containing
villous trophoblast cells.Conclusion: We speculate that the globoside present on trophoblast cells may play a role in viral binding in vivo, which may facilitate B19 transmission across the maternal–fetal interface.
Verbal deficits in Down's syndrome and specific language impairment: a comparison
Authors: Laws Glynis , Bishop Dorothy V. M. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBackground: Down's syndrome is a chromosome disorder characterized by a range of physical and psychological conditions, including language impairment. The severity of impairment is variable, and some components of the language system appear to be more affected than others. This description could also be applied to typically developing children diagnosed with specific language impairment.Aims: To compare findings from the largely separate research literatures on these conditions, and to address the questions about whether the language pathology associated with Down's syndrome could be the same as that described as specific language impairment in typical development, and whether the two conditions could have similar causes.Main Contribution: Research studies suggest similar patterns of language impairment in the two populations, and some similarities in underlying processing deficits.Conclusions: Future research should consider whether similarities in the language behaviours associated with Down's syndrome and specific language impairment could be related to similarities at other levels of analysis, including neurological development and genetics.
Reflections on speech—language therapists' talk: implications for clinical practice and education
Authors: Ferguson Alison , Armstrong Elizabeth 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBackground: Research into the practices of speech–language therapists in clinical sessions is beginning to identify the way communication in clinical interactions both facilitates and potentially impedes the achievement of therapy goals.Aims: This target article aims to raise the issues that arise from critical reflections on the communication of speech–language therapists for both clinical practice and clinical education of future speech–language therapists.Methods & Procedures: The paper reviews the past and current literature into the communication of speech–language therapists with their clients and provide examples drawn from the authors' own empirical research.Outcomes & Results: It is argued that one cannot assume that the current rhetoric regarding collaborative practice matches what is currently done in clinical work.Conclusions: This paper calls attention to the need to evaluate critically the processes and nature of acculturation that occurs during the first stages of professional development as a student speech–language therapist through to the ongoing development of professional practice.
Time Spent on Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: A New Method of Measuring Pediatric Morbidity?
Authors: Holm Elisabeth A. , Jemec G. B. E. 
Published: November 2004

Abstract:  Our purpose was to examine if the time spent on treatment (TSOT) is a relevant surrogate measure of pediatric disease severity. The TSOT (min/day) was studied in a group of 42 children with atopic dermatitis (AD) (16 girls and 26 boys; mean age 7.07 years). The TSOT included time spent on all types of topical treatment, on extra cleaning, and on visits to doctors. Objective Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) assessment was performed at each visit. A significant correlation was found between TSOT and SCORAD scores for all visits (p < 0.0001). There was no correlation between TSOT and age or sex or between TSOT/SCORAD and age (p < 0.08). For the 65 visits (by 42 children), TSOT/SCORAD ranged from 0.08 min/point to 28.67 min/point. Older children (10–15 years of age) had a lower TSOT/SCORAD ratio compared to younger children (1–5 years of age). Our data suggest that TSOT in itself may be a useful measure of morbidity among pediatric AD patients. It is speculated that patients with a very high TSOT/SCORAD rate or a very low rate have coping problems and would therefore be suitable candidates for intensified efforts in programs such as “eczema schools.”
Effects of Soil Carbon Amendment on Nitrogen Availability and Plant Growth in an Experimental Tallgrass Prairie Restoration
Authors: Averett Jack M. , Klips Robert A. , Nave Lucas E. , Frey Serita D. , Curtis Peter S. 
Published: November 2004

Abstract Restoration of tallgrass prairie on former agricultural land is often impeded by failure to establish a diverse native species assemblage and by difficulties with nonprairie, exotic species. High levels of available soil nitrogen (N) on such sites may favor fast‐growing exotics at the expense of more slowly growing prairie species characteristic of low‐N soils. We tested whether reducing N availability through soil carbon (C) amendments could be a useful tool in facilitating successful tallgrass prairie restoration. We added 6 kg/m2 hardwood sawdust to experimental plots on an abandoned agricultural field in the Sandusky Plains of central Ohio, United States, increasing soil C by 67% in the upper 15 cm. This C amendment caused a 94% reduction in annual net N mineralization and a 27% increase in soil moisture but had no effect on total N or pH. Overall, plant mass after one growing season was reduced by 64% on amended compared with unamended soil, but this effect was less for prairie forbs (−34%) than for prairie grasses (−67%) or exotics (−62%). After the second growing season, only exotics responded significantly to the soil C amendment, with a 40% reduction in mass. The N concentration of green‐leaf tissue and of senescent leaf litter was also reduced by the soil C treatment in most cases. We conclude that soil C amendment imparts several immediate benefits for tallgrass prairie restoration––notably reduced N availability, slower plant growth, and lower competition from exotic species.
On the Use of Shallow Basins to Restore Cutover Peatlands: Plant Establishment
Authors: Campeau Suzanne , Rochefort Line , Price Jonathan S. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractSince the early 1990s, restoration techniques have been developed for milled and cutover peatlands in eastern Canada. These techniques are based on the active reintroduction of peatland plant diaspores, blocking drainage, and the use of straw mulch to improve surface conditions. This study examines the effectiveness of using shallow (20 cm deep) basins of various widths to improve the success of current peatland restoration techniques. It comprises three different experiments, each spanning three or four growing seasons and combining both small‐scale manual and large‐scale mechanized plant reintroductions. Cover data recorded in two of the experiments were regressed against a series of environmental factors to determine howSphagnumestablishment success was related to abiotic variables such as moisture, water ponding, surface roughness, and mulch cover. Results of these experiments demonstrate that shallow basins were generally effective at promotingSphagnumestablishment and that this effect extends beyond the positive impact that basins have on hydrological conditions. Basins of various widths were equally successful. Soil‐moisture content (linear positive effect) and duration and severity of flooding events (quadratic effect) were shown to be determinant of plant recovery. Other factors such as the density of straw cover (positive effect) and surface roughness (negative effect) were also instrumental in explaining local variation inSphagnumcover. Plant cover after three and four growing seasons averaged 20–25% in mechanical reintroductions and 40–60% in manual reintroductions, demonstrating the overall effectiveness of the restoration techniques used.
Seed Bank Viability in Disturbed Longleaf Pine Sites
Authors: Cohen Susan , Braham Richard , Sanchez Felipe 
Published: November 2004

Abstract Some of the most species‐rich areas and highest concentrations of threatened and endangered species in the southeastern United States are found in wet savanna and flatwood longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) communities. Where intensive forestry practices have eliminated much of the natural understory of the longleaf ecosystem, the potential for reestablishment through a seed bank may present a valuable restoration opportunity. Longleaf pine sites converted to loblolly pine plantations and non‐disturbed longleaf sites on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina were examined for seed bank presence and diversity. Conducting vegetation surveys and examining the seed bank using the seedling emergence technique allowed for verification of the seed bank presence, as well as evaluation of the quality of the seed bank on disturbed longleaf pine sites. Forty‐three species and over 1,000 individuals germinated, and the seed banks of both the disturbed and non‐disturbed stand types contained species not noted in the vegetation survey. Although many of these species were considered weedy and typical of disturbance, numerous taxa were indicative of stable longleaf pine communities. This study confirms both the presence and quality of seed banks in highly disturbed former longleaf pine sites, suggesting that the seed bank may be an important tool in restoration efforts.
A Model to Assess Restoration of Abandoned Pasture in Costa Rica Based on Soil Hydrologic Features and Forest Structure
Authors: Cristina Peñuela M. , Drew Allan P. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAn ecological functional assessment (EFA) was used on 10 southwest Costa Rica sites representing a chronosequence of formerly pastured lands to undisturbed tropical wet forest. Ecological functional assessment is a tool designed to assess wetland functions in the United States that was adapted to upland forests. Models to indicate characteristic soil hydrologic features and soil structure and aboveground spatial structure of habitat were used to examine the degree to which selected sites within the chronosequence approach the undisturbed condition of the natural forest. An index of the functional model for the maintenance of characteristic soil hydrologic features (such as infiltration, bulk density, etc.) showed that the 20‐year‐old secondary forest was at approximately 60% of the condition of the undisturbed sites, whereas active pasture was evaluated at approximately 20% of the reference undisturbed forest; 4‐ and 10‐year‐old sites were intermediate. The spatial structure of habitat model showed that 20‐year‐old secondary forest was approximately 50% of reference forest, whereas active pasture was approximately 10% of the condition of undisturbed forest; 4‐year‐old sites were evaluated at approximately 20% and 10‐year‐old sites at approximately 60% of the reference state. Overall the functional assessment process indicated that degraded tropical wet forest sites have recovered almost 60% of their functional qualities 10 years following pasture abandonment. These results indicate that EFA can be a useful technique for monitoring restoration programs in the tropics.
Ant Community Development on Rehabilitated Ash Dams in the South African Highveld
Authors: Van Hamburg Huib , Andersen Alan N. , Meyer Wimpie J. , Robertson Hamish G. 
Published: November 2004

Abstract Ant communities have been widely used as indicators of minesite rehabilitation in Australia and are beginning to play a similar role in other parts of the world. Here we examine ant communities on rehabilitated ash dams associated with a coal‐fired power station on the highveld of South Africa, to improve our understanding of ecosystem development on these substrates. Ants were sampled using pitfall traps at 11 ash‐dam sites, ranging from unrehabilitated to 9‐year‐old rehabilitated sites, as well as two adjacent natural grassland sites. Sampling was conducted on 12 occasions from March 1997 to January 1999. Forty‐nine ant species from 19 genera were recorded during the study. Site species richness was positively correlated with rehabilitation age, ranging from 10 to 25 at ash‐dam sites, compared with 28 and 34 at the two natural grassland sites. There was a humped relationship between total ant abundance and rehabilitation age, with abundance peaking after 5–7 years at levels far higher than those at natural sites. Ordination analysis showed clear separation between ash‐dam and natural sites along the first axis. The unrehabilitated ash‐dam site was also separated from rehabilitated sites along the first axis. Sites of different rehabilitation age were separated along the second axis. Individual ant species showed clear successional patterns across the rehabilitation gradient. Although there was a clear successional trend for the development of ant communities on rehabilitated ash dams, this trend was not toward natural grassland. The lack of convergence toward ant communities of natural grasslands reflects the markedly different substrate and plant composition on ash dams and supports the widely held view that restoration of natural grassland communities is not a realistic goal of ash‐dam rehabilitation. However, the development of species‐rich ant communities, containing at least some late‐successional species, indicates the potential for rehabilitated ash dams to support diverse and complex ecosystems.
Oral health of aged inpatients
Authors: Kruger Estie , Tennant Marc , Badrian Babak , Gorgy Shiva , Bruce David 
Published: November 2004

Objectives:  The proportion of the population aged 65 years and over in Australia is expected to increase substantially, and more people in this age group are retaining their teeth and will require dental care. The objective of this study was to assess the oral health status of inpatients over the age of 65. Methods:  Dental examinations were performed on inpatients at Fremantle Hospital. Standardised assessment forms were used to investigate factors related to medical history, hospital admission and oral health needs. Results:  A total of 104 persons were examined, 56% were dentate. The dentate participants had an average decayed, missing and filled (DMF)‐index of 21.6 (SD 7.1). All edentulous participants had dentures and the estimated average age of their dentures was 18.1 years. Although the majority of participants (70.2%) were satisfied with their oral health status, 76.6% were professionally assessed to be in need of immediate dental care. Among the edentulous participants, 47.1% needed new dentures. Among all the participants, 75.3% also needed improved oral hygiene. Conclusion:  There is a need to fully assess availability, appropriateness and effectiveness of models of oral health care delivery among the older population. This study clearly indicates a current problem and high levels of unmet need. With an increasing ageing population and higher retention levels of natural dentitions, this will result in higher levels of oral disease and need for prevention and care.
Assessing resident satisfaction and its relationship to staff satisfaction in residential aged care
Authors: Boldy Duncan P , Chou Shu‐Chiung , Lee Andy H 
Published: November 2004

Objective:  To describe a method for assessing the views of residents in aged care facilities and present the results of modelling the relationships between resident satisfaction and factors related to the staff, the residents and the facilities. Methods:  The first stage involved focus groups and interviews with over 400 residents, with staff and management, and consultations with relevant groups. The self‐complete resident satisfaction instrument developed was then administered, in conjunction with other instruments, in a total of 70 aged care facilities. Results:  Whilst satisfaction with staff care was found to have a significant positive impact on all aspects of resident satisfaction, staff satisfaction was found to have more influence on resident satisfaction than actual care hours provided, adjusting for resident dependency. Conclusion:  Increasing the satisfaction of residents in aged care facilities appears to be particularly related to attending to the factors which influence staff satisfaction, such as status and pay.
Cardiovascular Effects of Acupuncture in Anesthetized Dogs
Authors: Lee Do Chil , Lee Myung O. , Clifford Donald H. 
Published: November 2004

Spontaneous sinus arrhythmia (two dogs), pulsus alternans (three dogs), and pulsus alternans followed by sinus arrhythmia (one dog) were corrected by digital pressure or acupuncture at Yang Hsi (LI-5) locus while these animals were under halothane (MAC I) anesthesia. This locus which is used to treat cardiac arrhythmias is located on the medial side of the carpus. EKG, aortic flow, exhausted CO 2, aortic pressure and stroke volume were recorded continuously prior to, during, and following digital pressure or acupuncture. Cardiac arrest was produced by exposing two dogs to 1% halothane anesthesia in 6% oxygen, 10% carbon dioxide and 83% nitrogen. The animals recovered from cardiac arrest following acupuncture at the left Jen Ying (St-9) locus and changing from 1% halothane in the hypoxic mixture to 1% halothane in room air. Acupuncture without change from the hypoxic mixture to room air (two dogs) did not result in recovery. The Jen Ying (St-9) locus is found at the bifurcation of the carotid artery. Seven loci, Jen Chung (Go-26), Jen Ying (St-9), Tsu San Li (St-36), Chü Ch'ih (LI-11), Nei Kuan (EH-6), Yung Ch'üan (Ki-1), Yang Hsi (LI-5) were examined for sympathomimetic cardiovascular responses to acupuncture in twelve halothane (MAC I) anesthetized dogs. A good response (+++) was recorded at the Jen Chung (Go-26) locus, a moderate response (++) at the Jen Ying (St-9) locus, poor response (+) at Tsu San Li (St-36), Chü Ch'ih (LI-11) and Yung Ch'üan (Ki-1) loci and no response (-) at the remaining two loci, Nei Kuan (EH-6) and Yang Hsi (LI-5).
On Acupuncture Analgeisa and the Mechanism of Pain
Authors: Anderson S. A , Holmgren E. 
Published: November 2004

The effect on the experimental tooth pain threshold of conditioning electrical stimulation via needles or surface electrodes applied to the hands and cheeks was studied in 34 dental students. Conditioning stimulation with 2/sec. gave a slowly increasing pain threshold followed by a slow return to the control level in the post-conditioning period. In each individual the amplitude of the threshold increase was reproduceable. It was concluded that these effects are not due to motivational but to more basic neurophysiological mechanisms. The pain threshold was increased mainly by segmental conditioning stimulation; segmentally unrelated stimulation gave usually only small effects. Conditioning stimulation with 100/sec. produced only a strict segmental short-lasting effect. Effects with characteristics of both 2/sec. and 100/sec. were obtained by conditioning at 10/sec. It suggested that the transmission of impulses from the pain afferents to ascending pathways is controlled at the segmental level by (a) presynaptic inhibition within the group of afferents giving rise to the flexion reflex of which the pain afferents are assumed to be a part; (b) postsynaptic inhibition between alternate pathways excited by flexion reflex afferents; and (c) descending control from supraspinal systems which may utilize similar mechanisms as the primary afferents.
A Contribution to Our Knowledge of Ginseng
Authors: Hu Shiu-Ying 
Published: November 2004

The Chinese people discovered ginseng and used it as a revitalizing agent since time immemorial. They are still the world's major consumers of this plant drug. The commerical product of ginseng comes from two species of the genus Panax in the family Araliaceae. These species are P. ginseng C. A. Meyer which is the source plant of the Chinese, Korean and Japanese brands of ginseng, and P. quinquefolius L., which is the source of American ginseng. Phytogeographically, ginseng demonstrates the classical bicentric pattern of plant distribution, with closely related species in eastern Asia and in eastern North America. Ecologically, ginseng is an undergrowth of hardwood mixed deciduous forest. It prefers the northern or the northeastern slope of a hill. Species of the genus Tilia are good indicators of the proper environmental condition for the growth of ginseng. Morphologically, ginseng is a perennial herb with fleshy root, a single annual stem bearing a whorl of palmately compound leaves, and a terminal simple umbel of small 5-merous flowers. The flowers are soon followed by pea-sized fruits developed from inferior ovaries. The fruits are red when ripe. Ginseng is propagated by seed. The commercial products of ginseng consist primarily of roots 2-20 years old. Within this age range, the older the root the higher the market value, provided they are grown in proper conditions. The methods of curing the roots change the color and shape of the products. Chinese ginseng is prepared from roots bleached, boiled, steamed, sugared in curing. The cultural background for the uses of ginseng by the Chinese people is explained. Ginseng may be used alone in the form of tea, powder, or as a masticatory. It is also used in combination with other drugs of animal, mineral, or plant origin. Forty-two recipes are selected from Pen-ts'ao kang-mu and translated into English for the first time to show the various ways by which ginseng is used in traditional Chinese medicine. A systematic summary of the comparison plant drugs of ginseng is presented in the form of a table, showing the distribution of the species in the plant kingdom. The scientific names of the species are given in full.