bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased Frequency of Encopresis in a Child Diagnosed With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Encopresis After Atomoxetine Use: A Case Report
Authors: Yektaş Çiğdem , Cansiz Mehmet Akif , Tufan Ali Evren
Published: June 2016

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most frequently reported coexisting psychiatric conditions in children with encopresis. Some case reports state that atomoxetine—a selective presynaptic norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor—approved for treatment of ADHD is also effective in the treatment of coexisting encopresis. Contrasting those reports, here we present a case diagnosed with ADHD and secondary encopresis without constipation whose encopretic symptoms increased after atomoxetine treatment and discuss possible mechanisms.
Effects of Noise Level and Cognitive Function on Speech Perception in Normal Elderly and Elderly with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Lee Soo Jung , Park Kyung Won , Kim Lee-Suk , Kim HyangHee
Published: June 2016

Objective and Background:

Along with auditory function, cognitive function contributes to speech perception in the presence of background noise. Older adults with cognitive impairment might, therefore, have more difficulty perceiving speech-in-noise than their peers who have normal cognitive function. We compared the effects of noise level and cognitive function on speech perception in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), cognitively normal older adults, and cognitively normal younger adults.

Methods:

We studied 14 patients with aMCI and 14 age-, education-, and hearing threshold-matched cognitively intact older adults as experimental groups, and 14 younger adults as a control group. We assessed speech perception with monosyllabic word and sentence recognition tests at four noise levels: quiet condition and signal-to-noise ratio +5 dB, 0 dB, and −5 dB. We also evaluated the aMCI group with a neuropsychological assessment.

Results:

Controlling for hearing thresholds, we found that the aMCI group scored significantly lower than both the older adults and the younger adults only when the noise level was high (signal-to-noise ratio −5 dB). At signal-to-noise ratio −5 dB, both older groups had significantly lower scores than the younger adults on the sentence recognition test. The aMCI group’s sentence recognition performance was related to their executive function scores.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that patients with aMCI have more problems communicating in noisy situations in daily life than do their cognitively healthy peers and that older listeners with more difficulties understanding speech in noise should be considered for testing of neuropsychological function as well as hearing.
Association of Depression, Anxiety, and Type D Personality with Cognitive Function in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Burkauskas Julius , Brozaitiene Julija , Bunevicius Adomas , Neverauskas Julius , Zaliunaite Violeta , Bunevicius Robertas
Published: June 2016

Background and Objective:

Cognitive impairment predicts poor outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but much remains to be learned about these patients’ cognitive function. We investigated how depression, anxiety, and Type D personality relate to cognitive function in patients with CAD, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and clinical markers of CAD severity.

Methods:

We evaluated 510 consecutive patients with CAD (364 men, 146 women; mean age 58±9 years) but no history of coronary artery bypass graft surgery or cognitive impairment who were attending a cardiac rehabilitation program. We assessed the patients’ cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination, Digit Span Test, Digit Symbol Test, and Trail Making Test Part A), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), Type D personality (14-item Type D Scale), and clinical markers of CAD severity.

Results:

After adjusting for sex, age, education, New York Heart Association functional class, and left ventricular ejection fraction, we found that higher depression symptom scores correlated with longer Digit Symbol Test completion time (β=0.158, P<0.004). Higher state anxiety scores correlated with worse Digit Span Test backward recall (β=−0.117, P<0.008) and Trail Making Test Part A scores (β=0.182, P<0.004). Type D personality correlated with lower Mini-Mental State Examination scores (β=−0.148, P=0.001).

Conclusions:

For patients with CAD undergoing a cardiac rehabilitation program, depression, anxiety, and Type D personality were associated with worse cognitive performance independent of clinical CAD severity and sociodemographic characteristics.
A Systematic Review of the Safety of Electroconvulsive Therapy Use During the First Trimester of Pregnancy
Authors: Calaway Katherine , Coshal Shana , Jones Kristin , Coverdale John , Livingston Robin
Published: June 2016

Objectives

Because of the lack of focus on the safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) during the first trimester of pregnancy in current literature, we set out to assess the safety of ECT use during this vital period of fetal development.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted, and a case where ECT was employed during the first trimester was presented. Cochrane Library, Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and PubMed were independently searched by 2 authors using the following search terms: “ECT,” “electroconvulsive therapy,” “electroshock” combined with “pregnancy,” “first trimester of pregnancy,” and “teratogenicity.”

Results

Of the 97 articles reviewed, 13 met inclusion criteria. We identified 32 first-trimester patients as cases or case series. Adverse outcomes, including miscarriage with previous vaginal bleeding, vaginal bleeding, self-limited abdominal pain, and self-limited fetal spasms, were observed. We added 1 case of a pregnant patient at approximately 9 weeks gestation who experienced a threatened abortion after the administration of ECT.

Conclusions

Although the data are limited, they suggest that ECT is relatively safe when administered during the first trimester of pregnancy. The possible adverse consequences of ECT during the first trimester of pregnancy should be carefully weighed against the potential benefits of ECT on untreated mental illness.
Coalescent inferences in conservation genetics: should the exception become the rule?
Authors: Montano Valeria
Published: June 2016

Genetic estimates of effective population size (
N
e
) are an established means to develop informed conservation policies. Another key goal to pursue the conservation of endangered species is keeping the connectivity across fragmented environments, to which genetic inferences of gene flow and dispersal greatly contribute. Most current statistical tools for estimating such population demographic parameters are based on Kingman's coalescent (KC). However, KC is inappropriate for taxa displaying skewed reproductive variance, a property widely observed in natural species. Coalescent models that consider skewed reproductive success—called multiple merger coalescents (MMCs)—have been shown to substantially improve estimates of
N
e
when the distribution of offspring
per capita
is highly skewed. MMCs predictions of standard population genetic parameters, including the rate of loss of genetic variation and the fixation probability of strongly selected alleles, substantially depart from KC predictions. These extended models also allow studying gene genealogies in a spatial continuum, providing a novel theoretical framework to investigate spatial connectivity. Therefore, development of statistical tools based on MMCs should substantially improve estimates of population demographic parameters with major conservation implications.
The changing role of mammal life histories in Late Quaternary extinction vulnerability on continents and islands
Authors: Lyons S. Kathleen , Miller Joshua H. , Fraser Danielle , Smith Felisa A. , Boyer Alison , Lindsey Emily , Mychajliw Alexis M.
Published: June 2016

Understanding extinction drivers in a human-dominated world is necessary to preserve biodiversity. We provide an overview of Quaternary extinctions and compare mammalian extinction events on continents and islands after human arrival in system-specific prehistoric and historic contexts. We highlight the role of body size and life-history traits in these extinctions. We find a significant size-bias except for extinctions on small islands in historic times. Using phylogenetic regression and classification trees, we find that while life-history traits are poor predictors of historic extinctions, those associated with difficulty in responding quickly to perturbations, such as small litter size, are good predictors of prehistoric extinctions. Our results are consistent with the idea that prehistoric and historic extinctions form a single continuing event with the same likely primary driver, humans, but the diversity of impacts and affected faunas is much greater in historic extinctions.
Development of an open technology sensor suite for assisted living: a student-led research project
Authors: Manton James D. , Hughes Josephine A. E. , Bonner Oliver , Amjad Omar A. , Mair Philip , Miele Isabella , Wang Tiesheng , Levdik Vitaly , Hall Richard D. , Baekelandt Géraldine , Vasconcellos Fernando da Cruz , Hadeler Oliver , Hutter Tanya , Kaminski Clemens F.
Published: June 2016

Many countries have a rapidly ageing population, placing strain on health services and creating a growing market for assistive technology for older people. We have, through a student-led, 12-week project for 10 students from a variety of science and engineering backgrounds, developed an integrated sensor system to enable older people, or those at risk, to live independently in their own homes for longer, while providing reassurance for their family and carers. We provide details on the design procedure and performance of our sensor system and the management and execution of a short-term, student-led research project. Detailed information on the design and use of our devices, including a door sensor, power monitor, fall detector, general in-house sensor unit and easy-to-use location-aware communications device, is given, with our open designs being contrasted with closed proprietary systems. A case study is presented for the use of our devices in a real-world context, along with a comparison with commercially available systems. We discuss how the system could lead to improvements in the quality of life of older users and increase the effectiveness of their associated care network. We reflect on how recent developments in open source technology and rapid prototyping increase the scope and potential for the development of powerful sensor systems and, finally, conclude with a student perspective on this team effort and highlight learning outcomes, arguing that open technologies will revolutionize the way in which technology will be deployed in academic research in the future.
Detailed temporal structure of communication networks in groups of songbirds
Authors: Stowell Dan , Gill Lisa , Clayton David
Published: June 2016

Animals in groups often exchange calls, in patterns whose temporal structure may be influenced by contextual factors such as physical location and the social network structure of the group. We introduce a model-based analysis for temporal patterns of animal call timing, originally developed for networks of firing neurons. This has advantages over cross-correlation analysis in that it can correctly handle common-cause confounds and provides a generative model of call patterns with explicit parameters for the influences between individuals. It also has advantages over standard Markovian analysis in that it incorporates detailed temporal interactions which affect timing as well as sequencing of calls. Further, a fitted model can be used to generate novel synthetic call sequences. We apply the method to calls recorded from groups of domesticated zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) individuals. We find that the communication network in these groups has stable structure that persists from one day to the next, and that ‘kernels’ reflecting the temporal range of influence have a characteristic structure for a calling individual's effect on itself, its partner and on others in the group. We further find characteristic patterns of influences by call type as well as by individual.
Impact of lexical and sentiment factors on the popularity of scientific papers
Authors: Sienkiewicz Julian , Altmann Eduardo G.
Published: June 2016

We investigate how textual properties of scientific papers relate to the number of citations they receive. Our main finding is that correlations are nonlinear and affect differently the most cited and typical papers. For instance, we find that, in most journals, short titles correlate positively with citations only for the most cited papers, whereas for typical papers, the correlation is usually negative. Our analysis of six different factors, calculated both at the title and abstract level of 4.3 million papers in over 1500 journals, reveals the number of authors, and the length and complexity of the abstract, as having the strongest (positive) influence on the number of citations.
Delayed recognition of fatal invasive meningococcal disease in adults
Authors: Nagel Frederick W. , Ezeoke Ifeoma , Antwi Mike , Del Rosso Paula E. , Dorsinville Marie , Isaac Beth M. , Hayden Althea , Hoffman Robert S. , Weingart Scott D. , Weiss Don
Published: June 2016

Introduction:

Invasive meningococcal disease can be difficult to detect early in its course when patients may appear well and the severity of their illness is obscured by non-specific complaints.

Case presentation:

We report five cases of meningococcal sepsis in adult patients who presented to an emergency department early in the course of their disease, but whose severity of illness was not recognized.

Conclusion:

Suspicion of meningococcal sepsis should be heightened in the setting of hypotension, tachycardia, elevated shock index, leukopaenia with left shift, thrombocytopaenia and hypokalaemia, prompting early sepsis care.
PASP — a whole-transcriptome poly(A) tail length determination assay for the Illumina platform
Authors: Sipos Botond , Stütz Adrian M , Slodkowicz Greg , Massingham Tim , Korbel Jan , Goldman Nick
Published: June 2016

The poly(A) tail, co-transcriptionally added to most eukaryotic RNAs, plays an important role in post-transcriptional regulation through modulating mRNA stability and translational efficiency. The length of the poly(A) tail is dynamic, decreasing or increasing in response to various stimuli through the action of enzymatic complexes, and changes in tail length are exploited in regulatory pathways implicated in various biological processes.

To date, assessment of poly(A) tail length has mostly relied on protocols targeting only a few transcripts. We present PASP (‘poly(A) tailsequencingprotocol’), a whole-transcriptome approach to measure tail lengths — including a computational pipeline implementing all necessary analyses. PASP uses direct Illumina sequencing of cDNA fragments obtained through G-tailing of poly(A)-selected mRNA followed by fragmentation and reverse transcription.

Analysis of reads corresponding to spike-in poly(A) tracts of known length indicated that mean tail lengths can be confidently measured, given sufficient coverage. We further explored the utility of our approach by comparing tail lengths estimated from wild type and Δccr4-1/pan2mutant yeasts. The yeast whole-transcriptome tail length distributions showed high consistency between biological replicates, and the expected upward shift in tail lengths in the mutant samples was detected. This suggests that PASP is suitable for the assessment of global polyadenylation status in yeast.

The correlation of per-transcript mean tail lengths between biological and technical replicates was low (higher between mutant samples). Both, however, reached high values after filtering for transcripts with greater coverage. We also compare our results with those of other methods. We identify a number of improvements that could be used in future PASP experiments and, based on our results, believe that direct sequencing of poly(A) tails can become the method of choice for studying polyadenylation using the Illumina platform
Mechanistic Modeling and Analysis of the Mammalian Unfolded Protein Response
Authors: Chakrabarti Anirikh , Aboulmouna Lina , Varner Jeffrey
Published: June 2016

Cells monitor protein folding by an inbuilt quality-control system in which incorrectly or misfolded folded proteins are tagged for degradation or sent back through a refolding cycle. However, continued accumulation of incorrectly folded proteins triggers the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), which attempts to re-establish folding homeostasis or commits the cell to apoptosis. In this study, we developed a family of mechanistic models of the mammalian UPR system. An ensemble of models parameters was estimated by minimizing the difference between simulations and experimental measurements using multiobjective optimization. The ensemble of model parameters was validated using cross-validation. Analysis of the model ensemble suggested the three branches of UPR fired simultaneously. However, the importance of each brach was ranked ordered in time; PERK and IRE1 were more important early, while ATF6 was important later in the response. The activity of all three branches as coordinated by the molecular chaperone BiP. Model analysis suggested that BiP feedback was critical to the overall robustness of the system. Removal of any one branch of BiP feedback, destabilized the other branches. On the other hand, removal of all nodes of BiP feedback increased the overall robustness of the system. Thus, while BiP feedback is crucial to allowing the cell to adapt to small perturbations, it also makes the system fragile and susceptible to manipulation.
Perceptual integration without conscious access
Authors: Fahrenfort Johannes J. , van Leeuwen Jonathan , Olivers Christian N.L. , Hogendoorn Hinze
Published: June 2016

The visual system has the remarkable ability to integrate fragmentary visual input into a perceptually organized collection of surfaces and objects, a process we refer to as perceptual integration. Despite a long tradition of perception research, it is not known whether access to consciousness is required to complete perceptual integration. To investigate this question, we manipulated access to consciousness using the attentional blink. We show that behaviorally, the attentional blink impairs perceptual decisions about the presence of integrated surface structure from fragmented input. However, when applying a multivariate classifier to electroencephalogram (EEG) data, the ability to decode the presence of integrated percepts remains intact when conscious access is impaired. In contrast, when disrupting consciousness through masking, decisions about integrated percepts and decoding of integrated percepts are impaired in concert with each other, while leaving feedforward representations intact. Together, these data show a dissociation between access to consciousness and perceptual integration.

Significance statement

Our brain constantly selects salient and/or goal-relevant objects from the visual environment, so that it can operate on neural representations of these objects. But what is the fate of objects that are not selected? Are these discarded, so that the brain only has an impoverished non-perceptual representation of them? Or does the brain construct perceptually rich representations, even when objects are not consciously accessed by our cognitive system? Here we answer that question by manipulating the information that enters into awareness, while simultaneously measuring cortical activity using EEG. We show that objects that do not enter consciousness can nevertheless have a neural signature that is indistinguishable from perceptually rich representations that occur for objects that do enter into conscious awareness.
Meta-aligner: Long-read alignment based on genome statistics
Authors: Nashta-ali Damoun , Aliyari Ali , Edrisi Mohammad Amin , Ahmadian Moghadam Ahmad , Motahari Seyed Abolfazl , Khalaj Babak Hossein
Published: June 2016

Fast and accurate alignment of long-reads plays an important role in reducing the overall cost of long-read sequencing. In this paper, we propose Meta-aligner, an efficient and accurate long-read aligner that exploits the statistics of reference genome to improve performance in terms of reducing time complexity and achieving significantly higher recall for very noisy and long reads. The first step of algorithm adopts well-known short-read aligners in order to rapidly align a large fraction of reads through a progressive process of aligning read fragments to the reference genome. In the second phase, the remaining reads are handled by simultaneous alignment of all read fragments and a decision making process which exploits the overall information provided by the corresponding mapped fragments. By using this procedure, significant performance improvement is attained in comparison with traditional schemes in the case of PacBio long-reads.
Exogenous acetate ion reaches the type II copper centre in CueO through the water-excretion channel and potentially affects the enzymatic activity
Authors: Komori Hirofumi , Kataoka Kunishige , Tanaka Sakiko , Matsuda Nana , Higuchi Yoshiki , Sakurai Takeshi
Published: June 2016

The acetate-bound form of the type II copper was found in the X-ray structure of the multicopper oxidase CueO crystallized in acetate buffer in addition to the conventional OH−-bound form as the major resting form. The acetate ion was retained bound to the type II copper even after prolonged exposure of a CueO crystal to X-ray radiation, which led to the stepwise reduction of the Cu centres. However, in this study, when CueO was crystallized in citrate buffer the OH−-bound form was present exclusively. This fact shows that an exogenous acetate ion reaches the type II Cu centre through the water channel constructed between domains 1 and 3 in the CueO molecule. It was also found that the enzymatic activity of CueO is enhanced in the presence of acetate ions in the solvent water.
Persistent reduction of segment growth and photosynthesis in a widespread and important sub‐Arctic moss species after cessation of three years of experimental winter warming
Authors: Bjerke Jarle W. , Bokhorst Stef , Callaghan Terry V. , Phoenix Gareth K.
Published: June 2016

Winter is a period of dormancy for plants of cold environments. However, winter climate is changing, leading to an increasing frequency of stochastic warm periods (winter warming events) and concomitant reductions in snow cover. These conditions can break dormancy for some plants and expose them to freeze‐and‐thaw stress. Mosses are a major component of high‐latitude ecosystems, yet the longer‐term impacts of such winter warming events on mosses remain unknown.

In order to determine the longer‐term legacy effects of winter warming events on mosses, we undertook a simulation of these events over three consecutive winters in a sub‐Arctic dwarf shrub‐dominated open woodland. The mat‐forming feather moss,Hylocomium splendens(the most abundant cryptogam in this system), is one of the most widespread Arctic and boreal mosses and plays a key functional role in ecosystems. We studied the ecophysiological performance of this moss during the summers of the experimental period (2007–2009) and in the following years (2010–2013).

We show that the previously reported warming‐induced reduction in segment growth and photosynthesis during the experimental years was persistent. Four years after the last event, photosynthesis and segment growth were still 30 and 36% lower than control levels, which was only a slight improvement from 44 and 43% 4 years earlier. Winter warming did not affect segment symmetry. During the years after the last simulated event, in both warmed and control plots, chlorophyll fluorescence and segment growth, but not net photosynthesis, increased slightly. The increases were probably driven by increased summer rainfall over the study years, highlighting the sensitivity of this moss to rainfall change.

Overall, the legacy effects shown here demonstrate that this widespread and important moss is likely to be significantly disadvantaged in a future sub‐Arctic climate where frequent winter warming events may become the norm. Given the key importance of mosses for soil insulation, shelter and carbon sequestration in high‐latitude regions, such persistent impacts may ultimately affect important ecosystem functions.

ALay Summaryis available for this article.
Impact of a Pay‐for‐Performance Program on Care for Black Patients with Hypertension: Important Answers in the Era of the Affordable Care Act
Authors: Petersen Laura A. , Ramos Kate Simpson , Pietz Kenneth , Woodard LeChauncy D.
Published: June 2016

Objective

Evaluate the effect of a pay‐for‐performance intervention on the quality of hypertension care provided to black patients and determine whether it produced risk selection.

Data Source/Study Setting

Primary data collected between 2007 and 2009 from Veterans Affairs physicians and their primary care panels.

Study Design

Nested study within a cluster randomized controlled trial of three types of financial incentives and no incentives (control). We compared the proportion of physicians’ black patients meeting hypertension performance measures for baseline and final performance periods. We measured risk selection by comparing the proportion of patients who switched providers, patient visit frequency, and panel turnover. Due to limited power, we prespecified in the analysis plan combining the three incentive groups and oversampling black patients.

Data Collection/Extraction Method

Data collected electronically and by chart review.

Principal Findings

The proportion of black patients who achieved blood pressure control or received an appropriate response to uncontrolled blood pressure in the final period was 6.3 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 0.8–11.7 percent) greater for physicians who received an incentive than for controls. There was no difference between intervention and controls in the proportion of patients who switched providers, visit frequency, or panel turnover.

Conclusions and Relevance

A pay‐for‐performance intervention improved blood pressure control or appropriate response to uncontrolled blood pressure in black patients and did not produce risk selection.
Fatal Intoxications Due to Administration of Isosorbide Tablets Contaminated with Pyrimethamine
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Shafi Humera , Mahmood Zahid , Sarwar Mohammad , Usman Hafiz Faisal , Tahir Mohammad Ashraf , Ashiq Muhammad Zar
Published: June 2016

In January 2012, 664 cases of pyrimethamine toxicity and 151 deaths were reported among cardiac patients that had recently received free medicines from pharmacy of Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, Pakistan. These patients, ages ranged from 58 to 75 years, were prescribed simvastatin, clopidogrel, aspirin soluble, isosorbide mononitrate, and amlodipine. On examination of medications being given to them, it was found that a particular batch of isosorbide mononitrate tablets was contaminated with 50 mg pyrimethamine. Cardiac patients were taking isosorbide contaminated with pyrimethamine twice daily (100 mg pyrimethamine/day), whereas therapeutic dose of pyrimethamine for malaria is 25 mg/week. Postmortem urine, cardiac blood, and femoral blood specimens of three deceased males were submitted to author's laboratory for analysis. Postmortem toxicological analysis revealed that pyrimethamine concentration fell within the range of 1–10 μg/mL by liquid chromatography. Clinical, autopsy, histopathological, and toxicological findings strongly suggested toxicity due to pyrimethamine accumulation that resulted in deaths of these cardiac patients.
Flight performance of actively foraging honey bees is reduced by a common pathogen
Authors: Wells Trish , Wolf Stephan , Nicholls Elizabeth , Groll Helga , Lim Ka S. , Clark Suzanne J. , Swain Jennifer , Osborne Juliet L. , Haughton Alison J.
Published: June 2016

Sudden and severe declines in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony health in the US and Europe have been attributed, in part, to emergent microbial pathogens, however, the mechanisms behind the impact are unclear. Using roundabout flight mills, we measured the flight distance and duration of actively foraging, healthy‐looking honey bees sampled from standard colonies, before quantifying the level of infection by Nosema ceranae and Deformed Wing Virus complex (DWV) for each bee. Neither the presence nor the quantity of N. ceranae were at low, natural levels of infection had any effect on flight distance or duration, but presence of DWV reduced flight distance by two thirds and duration by one half. Quantity of DWV was shown to have a significant, but weakly positive relation with flight distance and duration, however, the low amount of variation that was accounted for suggests further investigation by dose‐response assays is required. We conclude that widespread, naturally occurring levels of infection by DWV weaken the flight ability of honey bees and high levels of within‐colony prevalence are likely to reduce efficiency and increase the cost of resource acquisition. Predictions of implications of pathogens on colony health and function should take account of sublethal effects on flight performance.
The safety assessment of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on sympathovagal balance and heart rate variability; a comparison with amiodarone
Authors: Joukar Siyavash , Dehesh Mohammad‐Moein
Published: June 2016

Dry stigmas of the Crocus sativus L. (Saffron) are well known in world as a popular flavouring and therapeutic agent. The anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant and antiarrhythmic effects of saffron suggest that it may affect the autonomic control of the heart.

This study assessed its safety on cardiac sympathovagal balance and heart rate variability in rat.

Experimental groups were control, Saf50, Saf100, Saf200 (received saffron at dosages of 50 and 100 and 200 mg/kg/d, orally, respectively) and Amio (received 30 mg/mL/kg/d of amiodarone, orally, for 7 days) groups. On day 8, the frequency domain and time domain indices of animals' electrocardiograms were calculated.

The heart rate decreased and RR interval increased in Saf200 and Amio groups (P<.05 vs other groups). Square root of the mean squared differences of successive RR intervals enhanced in all treated groups, however, was only significant in Amio group (P<.05). The SD1/SD2 ratio was higher in Saf200 and Amio groups. Both low‐frequency (LF) and high‐frequency (HF) parameters were higher, and the LF/HF ratio was non‐significantly lower in treated groups.

The findings suggest that saffron not only has no harmful effect on activity of cardiac autonomic nervous system, but it may improve the stability of heart sympathovagal balance in normal rat.
Nurses' perceptions of the impact of the aged care reform on services for residents in multi‐purpose services and residential aged care facilities in rural Australia
Authors: Henderson Julie , Willis Eileen , Xiao Lily , Toffoli Luisa , Verrall Claire
Published: June 2016

Aim

To understand nurses' perceptions of the impact of the aged care reform on care and services for residents in multi‐purpose services (MPS) and residential aged care facilities (RACF) in rural South Australia.

Methods

An interpretative study using semi‐structured interviews. Participants comprised registered and enrolled nurses working with aged care residents in rural South Australia. Eleven nurses were interviewed, of these seven worked in MPS and four in RACF.

Results

Data were analysed for similarities and differences in participants' experiences of care delivery between MPS and RACF. Common issues were identified relating to funding and resource shortfalls, staffing levels, skill mix and knowledge deficits. Funding and staffing shortfalls in MPS were related by participants to the lower priority given to aged care in allocating resources within MPS. Nurses in these services identified limited specialist knowledge of aged care and care deficits around basic nursing care. Nurses in RACF identified funding and staffing shortfalls arising from empty beds due to the introduction of the accommodation payment. Dependence upon care workers was associated with care deficits in complex care such as pain management, medication review and wound care.

Conclusion

Further research is needed into the impact of recent reforms on the capacity to deliver quality aged care in rural regions.
Population‐based study shows that resuscitating apparently stillborn extremely preterm babies is associated with poor outcomes
Authors: Haines Morgan , Wright Ian M. , Bajuk Barbara , Abdel‐Latif Mohamed E. , Hilder Lisa , Challis Daniel , Guaran Robert , Oei Ju Lee
Published: June 2016

Aim

This population‐based study determined the delivery room management and outcomes of extremely preterm infants born with Apgar scores of 0.

Methods

We linked birth, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and death records for babies who were born between 22 + 0 and 27 + 6 weeks of gestation with a one‐minute Apgar score of 0, in New South Wales, Australia, between 1998 and 2011.

Results

We classified 2173/2262 (96%) of infants with a one‐minute Apgar score of 0 as stillborn. Resuscitation was provided for 48/89 (54%) live births and 40/2173 (2%) stillbirths. Cardiac massage was given to 44 infants, including three 22‐week stillborn babies. Of the 13 live births admitted to an NICU, 11 survived to hospital discharge. Most (98%) of the 2212 deaths occurred on the first day of life. One baby who was classified as stillborn lived for 51 days. Resuscitation increased the mean (95% confidence interval) duration of survival from 1 (0–2) to 45 (0–104) hours (p < 0.001). No infant with a five‐minute Apgar score of 0 survived.

Conclusion

Clinicians resuscitated extremely preterm infants without a detectable heartbeat, even at 22 weeks of gestation. No infant survived without resuscitation or if their heartbeat was not regained by five minutes.
Gene polymorphism in DNA repair genes XRCC1 and XRCC6 and association with colorectal cancer in Swedish patients
Authors: Dimberg Jan , Skarstedt Marita , Slind Olsen Renate , Andersson Roland E. , Matussek Andreas
Published: June 2016

The DNA repair genes XRCC1 and XRCC6 have been proposed to participate in the pathological process of cancer by modulating the DNA repair capacity. This study evaluated the susceptibility of the single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) XRCC1 (rs25487, G > A) and XRCC6 (rs2267437, C > G) to colorectal cancer (CRC) and their association with clinical parameters in Swedish patients with CRC. Using the TaqMan system, these SNPs were screened in 452 patients and 464 controls. No significant difference in genotype distribution was found between the patients and controls, or any significant association with cancer‐specific or disease‐free survival in patients. However, we showed that the carriers of allele A in XRCC1 (rs25487, G > A) were connected with a higher risk of disseminated CRC (Odds Ratio = 1.64; 95% Confidence Interval = 1.12–2.41, p = 0.012).
Impact of high‐risk thrombophilia status on recurrence among children with a first non‐central‐venous‐catheter‐associated VTE: an observational multicentre cohort study
Authors: Limperger Verena , Kenet Gili , Goldenberg Neil A. , Heller Christine , Holzhauer Susanne , Junker Ralf , Klostermeier Ulrich C. , Knoefler Ralf , Kurnik Karin , Krümpel Anne , Mesters Rolf , Stach Michael , Young Guy , Nowak‐Göttl Ulrike
Published: June 2016

Deficiency of antithrombin (AT), protein C (PC) or protein S (PS) constitutes a major risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Individuals at high risk for recurrence who benefit from screening need to be identified. The primary study objective was to determine the individual recurrence risk among children with a first non‐central‐venous‐catheter‐associated VTE with respect to their thrombophilia status and to evaluate if the clinical presentation at first VTE onset differs between children with AT, PC or PS deficiency versus no thrombophilia. We calculated the absolute risk of VTE recurrence and event‐free‐survival adjusted for thrombophilia, age, sex and positive family VTE history in 161 consecutively enrolled paediatric VTE patients. The presence of a deficiency relative to no thrombophilia was evaluated as a potential predictor of recurrence. Predictors for recurrence were AT deficiency (hazard ratio/95% CI: 6·5/2·46–17·2) and female gender (2·6/1·1–6·35). The annual recurrence rates (95% CIs) were 5·4% (2·6–10) in AT‐deficient children, 1·3% (0·3–3·8) in patients with PC deficiency, 0·7% (0·08–2·4) in the PS‐deficient cohort and 0·9% (0·4–1·8) in patients with no thrombophilia. Positive family VTE history or combined thrombophilias did not predict recurrence. Given the overall annual incidence rate of recurrence of 1·5% we suggest screening for AT deficiency in children with VTE.
Attentional and interpretive bias towards illness‐related information in chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review
Authors: Hughes Alicia , Hirsch Colette , Chalder Trudie , Moss‐Morris Rona
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by severe and debilitating fatigue. Studies based on self‐report measures suggest negative illness representations, related symptom interpretations, and heightened symptom focusing are maintaining factors of fatigue. This study reviews studies which have investigated these cognitive biases using experimental methods, to (1) review the evidence for information processing biases in CFS; (2) determine the nature of these biases, that is the stages cognitive biases occur and for what type of stimuli; and (3) provide directions for future methodologies in this area.

Methods

Studies were included that measured attention and interpretation bias towards negative and illness‐related information in people with CFS and in a comparison group of healthy controls. PubMed, Ovid, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and EThOS were searched until December 2014.

Results

The evidence for cognitive biases was dependent on the methodology employed as well as the type and duration of the stimuli presented. Modified Stroop studies found weak evidence of an attentional bias in CFS populations, whereas visual‐probe studies consistently found an attentional bias in CFS groups for health‐threatening information presented for 500 ms or longer. Interpretative bias studies which required elaborative processing, as opposed to a spontaneous response, found an illness‐related interpretive bias in the CFS group compared to controls.

Conclusions

Some people with CFS have biases in the way they attend to and interpret somatic information. Such cognitive processing biases may maintain illness beliefs and symptoms in people with CFS. This review highlights methodological issues in experimental design and makes recommendations to aid future research to forge a consistent approach in cognitive processing research.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Studies based on self‐report measures suggest negative illness representations, related symptom interpretations, and heightened symptom focusing contribute to the maintenance of chronic fatigue.

Experimental studies in other clinical populations, such as patients with anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, have identified illness‐specific biases in how information is implicitly attended to and interpreted, which has a causal role in these conditions.

What does this study add?

This is the first review of implicit cognitive processes in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Sustained attention and negative interpretations of somatic information may reinforce negative illness beliefs.

Cognitive processes have a role to play in the cognitive behavioural model of CFS.
Intensive lifestyle intervention provides rapid reduction of serum fatty acid levels in women with severe obesity without lowering omega‐3 to unhealthy levels
Authors: Lin C. , Andersen J. R. , Våge V. , Rajalahti T. , Mjøs S. A. , Kvalheim O. M.
Published: June 2016

Serum fatty acid (FA) levels were monitored in women with severe obesity during intensive lifestyle intervention. At baseline, total FA levels and most individual FAs were elevated compared to a matching cohort of normal and overweight women (healthy controls). After 3 weeks of intensive lifestyle intervention, total level was only 11–12% higher than in the healthy controls and with almost all FAs being significantly lower than at baseline, but with levels of omega‐3 being similar to the healthy controls. This is contrary to observations for patients subjected to bariatric surgery where omega‐3 levels dropped to levels significantly lower than in the lifestyle patients and healthy controls. During the next 3 weeks of treatment, the FA levels in lifestyle patients were unchanged, while the weight loss continued at almost the same rate as in the first 3 weeks. Multivariate analysis revealed that weight loss and change of serum FA patterns were unrelated outcomes of the intervention for lifestyle patients. For bariatric patients, these processes were associated probably due to reduced dietary input and increased input from the patients’ own fat deposits, causing a higher rate of weight loss and simultaneous reduction of the ratio of serum eicosapentaenoic to arachidonic acid.
The Conservation Costs of Game Ranching
Authors: Pitman Ross T , Fattebert Julien , Williams Samual T , Williams Kathryn S , Hill Russell A , Hunter Luke T B , Slotow Rob , Balme Guy A
Published: June 2016

The devolution of user rights of wildlife in southern Africa has led to a widespread land‐use shift from livestock farming to game ranching. The economic advantages of game ranching over livestock farming are significant, but so too are the risks associated with breeding financially valuable game where free‐ranging wildlife pose a credible threat. Here, we assessed whether the conservation potential of game ranching, and a decentralized approach to conservation more generally, may be undermined by an increase in human–wildlife conflict. We demonstrate that game rancher tolerance towards free‐ranging wildlife has significantly decreased as the game ranching industry has evolved. Our findings reveal a conflict of interest between wealth and wildlife conservation resulting from local decision making in the absence of adequate centralized governance and evidence‐based best practice. As a fundamental pillar of devolution‐based natural resource management, game ranching proves an important mechanism for economic growth, albeit at a significant cost to conservation.
Insulin resistance and β‐cell function in smokers: results from the EGIR‐RISC European multicentre study
Authors: Gottsäter M. , Balkau B. , Hatunic M. , Gabriel R. , Anderwald C.‐H. , Dekker J. , Lalic N. , Nilsson P. M.
Published: June 2016

Aims

Tobacco smoking is known to increase the long‐term risk of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus, but the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. This observational, cross‐sectional study aims to compare measures of insulin sensitivity and β‐cell function in current, ex‐ and never‐smokers.

Methods

The study population included 1246 people without diabetes (mean age 44 years, 55% women) from the EGIR‐RISC population, a large European multicentre cohort. Insulin sensitivity was measured using a hyperinsulinaemic, euglycaemic clamp and the homeostatic model assessment – insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) index. Two β‐cell function parameters were derived from measures during an oral glucose tolerance test: the early insulin response index and β‐cell glucose sensitivity. Additionally, the areas under the curve during the oral glucose tolerance test were calculated for glucose, insulin and C‐peptide.

Results

According to smoking habits, there were differences in insulin sensitivity, which was lower in women who smoked, and in β‐cell glucose sensitivity, which was lower in men who smoked, but these associations lost significance after adjustment. However, after adjustment, the areas under the glucose and the C‐peptide curves during the oral glucose tolerance test were significantly higher in men who smoked.

Conclusions

Smoking habits were not independently associated with insulin sensitivity or β‐cell function in a healthy middle‐aged European population. Health‐selection bias, methodological shortcomings or a true lack of causal links between smoking and impaired insulin sensitivity/secretion are possible explanations. The mechanisms behind the observed increased glucose and C‐peptide areas under the curve during the oral glucose tolerance test in male smokers need to be further evaluated.
Morphology of the terminalia of the stick insect Dajaca napolovi from Vietnam (Insecta: Phasmatodea)
Authors: Vallotto Davide , Bresseel Joachim , Constant Jérôme , Gottardo Marco
Published: June 2016

Aschiphasmatinae is a small group of stick insects from the Oriental region whose genital morphology has been rarely described in detail. The subfamily is of particular interest, as phylogenetic studies have shown Aschiphasmatinae to be the sister group to the remaining Euphasmatodea. In this paper, the male and female terminalia are described for the first time in Dajaca napolovi Brock, a little known aschiphasmatine species from Vietnam. In the male, the transversally undivided abdominal sternum IX and gently incurved cerci with a conspicuous apical tooth represent apomorphies of Aschiphasmatinae. Thorn pads on the hind margin of abdominal tergum X consist of only a single row of 6–7 ventrally oriented teeth. The simple thorn pad structure of Aschiphasmatinae can represent an ancestral condition for Euphasmatodea. The vomer on venter X is well‐developed and features two unusually large basal apodemes and a strongly developed apical spine showing a specialized streaked surface micropattern. Female terminalia are characterized by an unkeeled abdominal sternum VIII covering the reduced primary ovipositor. Gonapophysis VIII does not extend beyond the tip of gonapophysis IX. An asymmetry concerning the size of the paired gonapophyses is reported for the first time in Phasmatodea.
Evolution of Functional Family Therapy as an Evidence‐Based Practice for Adolescents with Disruptive Behavior Problems
Authors: Robbins Michael S. , Alexander James F. , Turner Charles W. , Hollimon Amy
Published: June 2016

This article summarizes the evolution of functional family therapy (FFT) based upon four decades of clinical practice and scientific scrutiny through research evidence. FFT research has evolved from an initial focus upon clinical process research, which examined sequential exchanges between therapists and family members. A key element of this research has been an examination of the way in which clinicians acquire, consolidate, and maintain the skills needed to implement FFT effectively with youth and families. Many randomized efficacy and effectiveness studies have evaluated the impact of FFT across diverse clinical populations. Subsequent research investigated factors that influence the effectiveness of implementation across more than 300 clinical settings in which more than 2,500 trained clinicians have provided service to nearly 400,000 families. Another important set of investigations concerned the cost‐effectiveness of the interventions.