bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reporting guidelines and journal quality in otolaryngology
Authors: Henderson A.H. , Upile T. , Pilavakis Y. , Patel N.N.
Published: September 2015

Objectives

Journals increasingly use reporting guidelines to standardise research papers, partly to improve quality. Although defining journal quality is difficult, various calculated metrics are used. This study investigates guideline adoption by otolaryngology journals and whether a relationship exists between this and journal quality.

Design, Setting, Participants

Retrospective MEDLINE database review for English language, Index Medicus, journals of interest to otolaryngologists (October 2013).

Main Outcome Measures

The resulting journals were examined for the number of guidelines endorsed and then tabulated against surrogate measures of journal quality (Impact factor, Eigenfactor, SCImago, Source‐Normalised rank).

The primary outcome measure was the number of recognised reporting guidelines endorsed per journal. This was then correlated against journal quality scores. For comparison, a further small sample correlation was performed with 6 randomly selected and 6 high‐profile clinical non‐otolaryngology journals.

Results

37 otolaryngology journals were identified. Number of guidelines used and quality scores were not normally distributed. Mean guideline usage was 1.0 for otolaryngology journals, 1.5 for randomly selected, and 5.5 for the high‐profile journals. Only 18/37 (49%) otolaryngology journals endorsed any guidelines, compared with 11/12 non‐otolaryngology journals. Within otolaryngology, Eigenfactor positively correlated with guideline use (r = 0.4, n = 44, p < 0.01) otherwise no correlation was found between guideline endorsement and journal quality.

Conclusions

Reporting guideline endorsement within otolaryngology journals is low. Although it might be expected that use of reporting guidelines improved quality, this is not reflected in the derived quality scores in otolaryngology. This may reflect low levels of use/enforcement, that quality indicators are inherently flawed, or that generalised guidelines are not always appropriate or valued by editors.
Government Finance and the Demand for Money—The Relation between Taxation and the Acceptability of Fiat Money
Authors: Ott Mack , Tatom John A.
Published: September 2015

Requiring taxes to be paid in domestic money provides a valuable characteristic for a state's money. In the case of a state's fiat money, it is the foundation for money demand and hence to the development of a financial system built around state money. Except for relatively highly taxed countries, where taxes may encourage tax avoidance and holding bank deposits, the level of taxation is a positive factor boosting financial development. Granger causality tests for 65 countries over the past half‐century examine the relationship between money and government finance. Except for the low‐income countries, where there are only five with adequate data, the causal relationship between taxation and money demand is generally supported in the 60 countries making up the three higher income groups.
Fracture resistance of simulated immature tooth roots reinforced with MTA or restorative materials
Authors: Karapinar‐Kazandag Meric , Basrani Bettina , Tom‐Kun Yamagishi Valerie , Azarpazhooh Amir , Friedman Shimon
Published: September 2015

Background/Aim

Immature endodontically treated teeth may require reinforcing to reduce the risk of root fracture. This study assessed the fracture resistance of simulated immature tooth roots reinforced with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or two composite resin (CR) materials.

Material and methods

One hundred extracted roots of mature human maxillary incisors were decoronated and sectioned 9 mm further apically from the decoronation line and randomly divided into five groups (n = 20). In Group 1 (negative control), roots received no treatment. In groups 2–5, canals were enlarged to 2.1 mm diameter to simulate immature roots, dressed with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and incubated for 7 days. After removal of Ca(OH)2, canals in Group 2 (positive control) were left unfilled. Canals in groups 3, 4 and 5 were filled with MTA, BisFil 2B flowable CR or BisFil II posterior CR, respectively. After further incubation for 30 days, specimens were embedded in acrylic cylinders and horizontally loaded in a universal testing machine at cross head speed of 5 mm min−1 until fracture occurred. Load (N) at and pattern of fracture were recorded.

Results

Load at fracture was significantly lower (t‐test, P = 0.003) in Group 2 (630 ± 199.12) than in Group 1 (896.98 ± 311.79). It did not differ significantly among groups 1, 3, 4 and 5 (anova, P > 0.07). Pattern of fracture did not differ among the groups either.

Conclusion

Within the limitations of this study, root canal filling with MTA and two CR materials affected reinforcement of simulated immature roots to levels comparable with intact roots.
The effect of oppositional parietal transcranial direct current stimulation on lateralized brain functions
Authors: Li Lucia M. , Leech Rob , Scott Gregory , Malhotra Paresh , Seemungal Barry , Sharp David J.
Published: September 2015

Cognitive functions such as numerical processing and spatial attention show varying degrees of lateralization. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can be used to investigate how modulating cortical excitability affects performance of these tasks. This study investigated the effect of bi‐parietal tDCS on numerical processing, spatial and sustained attention. It was hypothesized that tDCS would have distinct effects on these tasks because of varying lateralization (numerical processing left, spatial attention right) and that these effects are partly mediated by modulation of sustained attention. A single‐blinded, crossover, sham‐controlled study was performed. Eighteen healthy right‐handed participants performed cognitive tasks during three sessions of oppositional parietal tDCS stimulation: sham; right anodal with left cathodal (RA/LC); and right cathodal with left anodal (RC/LA). Participants performed a number comparison task, a modified Posner task, a choice reaction task (CRT) and the rapid visual processing task (RVP). RA/LC tDCS impaired number comparison performance compared with sham, with slower responses to numerically close numbers pairs. RA/LC and RC/LA tDCS had distinct effects on CRT performance, specifically affecting vigilance level during the final block of the task. No effect of stimulation on the Posner task or RVP was found. It was demonstrated that oppositional parietal tDCS affected both numerical performance and vigilance level in a polarity‐dependent manner. The effect of tDCS on numerical processing may partly be due to attentional effects. The behavioural effects of tDCS were specifically observed under high task demands, demonstrating the consequences of an interaction between stimulation type and cognitive load.
Habitat specificity of butterflies along urban environmental gradients in Tama City, Tokyo
Authors: Matsumoto Kazuma
Published: September 2015

Butterfly assemblages were monitored by transect counts in a riverine area along Tamagawa River (RIV), a residential area on the plain (RES1), a residential area on the hill (RES2), the core area of the city (COR), the Tama Experimental Station of Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (TES) and Tokyo Metropolitan Sakuragaoka Park (MSP) in Tama City, Tokyo, in 2005. The butterfly assemblages in forest‐dominated TES and MSP were more species‐rich than those in the other areas. The assemblage in the grassland‐dominated RIV was characterized by the highest abundance of individuals. Species richness and abundance were lowest in COR. Ordination of the areas by detrended correspondence analysis placed RIV, MSP and TES in increasing order of scores along axis 1, and RES1, RES2 and COR had higher scores along axis 2 than RIV, TES and MSP. In axis 1, grassland species had low scores and forest species high scores; the two groups were generally separated, coinciding with Tanaka's classification. However, the scores for two “forest species”, Papilio xuthus and Ypthima argus, were low and those for two “grassland species”, Potanthus flavus and Anthocharis scolymus, were high, challenging the validity of the classification. Most species recorded in this study were “seminatural type”, with relatively few “natural type” species, according to Sunose's classification. Most “urban type” species occurred in several different habitats and were not specific to highly human‐dominated RES1, RES2 and COR.
Towards an enhanced understanding of ethnic group geographies using measures of clustering and unevenness
Authors: Catney Gemma
Published: September 2015

This paper considers how the increased ethnic diversity of England and Wales has been accompanied by changes in the geography of ethnic group distributions, towards increased or decreased segregation. Drawing on data from the 2001 and 2011 Censuses, the paper has two aims: first, to understand changes to ethnic residential segregation better, through an approach to considering unevenness and clustering concurrently and thus, second, to add to methodological understandings of both the national picture and local geographies of ethnicity, and their evolution over time. The analysis combines spatial with non‐spatial information, looking both at the spread of ethnic groups across England and Wales (measured by the Index of Dissimilarity) and how similar the prevalence of an ethnic group is between neighbouring small areas (census output areas; measured by the Moran's I spatial autocorrelation coefficient). Change in segregation over the period is characterised by three major trends: increased ethnic group spread across neighbourhoods and increased spatial similarity between neighbouring small areas (all minority ethnic groups except White Irish and Caribbean); decreased unevenness across neighbourhoods and decreased spatial similarity between neighbouring areas (White Irish and Caribbean); and increased unevenness and increased spatial similarity (White British). The combined measurement of clustering and evenness, in contrast to the use of indices of single dimensions alone, provides a distinction between local concentrations and national‐level differences, which captures key characteristics of the geography of ethnic groups and the ways in which they have changed.
Managing International Branch Campuses: What Do We Know?
Authors: Healey Nigel
Published: September 2015

Over the last decade, the growth of the international branch campus (IBC) has been one of the most striking developments in the internationalisation of higher education. There are now over 200 IBCs across the world, mostly in the Middle East and East and South‐east Asia. Despite the growing numbers of IBCs and the considerable financial and reputational risk they pose to their home universities, relatively little is known about the challenges of managing these foreign outposts. This paper reviews the growing, but still fragmented, literature in this increasingly important sector of higher education. It finds that managers of IBCs are faced with a range of challenges, which primarily stem from dealing with key stakeholder groups: students, staff, home and host country quality regulators, the home university and the host government, as well as the IBC's local joint venture partners. It concludes that further work is required to better understand the factors which influence and constrain IBC managers in balancing the competing interests of stakeholders.
Do consumer voices in health‐care citizens’ juries matter?
Authors: Krinks Rachael , Kendall Elizabeth , Whitty Jennifer A. , Scuffham Paul A.
Published: September 2015

Background

There is widespread agreement that the public should be engaged in health‐care decision making. One method of engagement that is gaining prominence is the citizens’ jury, which places citizens at the centre of the deliberative process. However, little is known about how the jury process works in a health‐care context. There is even less clarity about how consumer perspectives are heard within citizens’ juries and with what consequences.

Objectives

This paper focuses on what is known about the role of consumer voices within health‐care citizens’ juries, how these voices are heard by jurors and whether and in what ways the inclusion or exclusion of such voices may matter.

Results

Consumer voices are not always included in health‐care citizens’ juries. There is a dearth of research on the conditions under which consumer voices emerge (or not), from which sources and why. As a result, little is known about what stories are voiced or silenced, and how such stories are heard by jurors, with what consequences for jurors, deliberation, decision‐makers, policy and practice.

Discussion and Conclusion

The potential role of consumer voices in influencing deliberations and recommendations of citizens’ juries requires greater attention. Much needed knowledge about the nuances of deliberative processes will contribute to an assessment of the usefulness of citizens’ juries as a public engagement mechanism.
Permian back‐arc extension in central Inner Mongolia, NE China: Elemental and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf–O isotopic constraints from the Linxi high‐MgO diabase dikes
Authors: Li Jingyan , Guo Feng , Li Chaowen , Zhao Liang , Huang Miwei
Published: September 2015

Early Permian (272 ± 2 Ma) diabase dikes from the Linxi area in central Inner Mongolia of NE China have high MgO (10.4 – 12.3 wt%), Cr (301 – 448 ppm) and Ni (167 – 233 ppm) concentrations, and show enrichments in large ion lithophile element (LILE) and light rare earth elements (REE) but depletions in high field strength element (HFSE, e.g., Nb and Ta), with depleted mantle‐type Sr [87Sr/86Sr (i) = 0.70315 – 0.70362], Nd [εNd (t) = +6.8 – +7.4], Pb [206Pb/204Pb (i) = 18.10 – 18.16] and zircon Hf [εHf (t) = +14.7 – +19.1] isotopic compositions, but slightly higher zircon δ18O (5.2 – 6.0 ‰ with an average of 5.7 ‰) than normal mantle. The combined geochemical data indicate their derivation from a depleted mantle metasomatized by recycled crustal component. Elemental and isotopic modeling results suggest that the primary magma was produced through 5 % to 10 % melting of a depleted mantle, which contained approximately 1 % sediment fluid released from the subducted paleo‐Asian Ocean. Considering the widespread distribution of contemporaneous mafic rocks across the central Inner Mongolia, which show REE patterns from E‐MORBs to normal MORBs, we propose a petrogenetic link between the Early Permian mafic magmatism and a back‐arc extension in response to northward subduction of the paleo‐Asian Ocean. The Permian mafic magmatism and the new age constraints from the metamorphic and sedimentary records in this area tend to indicate the ultimate closure of the paleo‐Asian Ocean by the end of Paleozoic.
Effect of polysaccharide stabilizers on the rate of growth of ice
Authors: MUHR A. H. , BLANSHARD J. M. V.
Published: September 2015

Measurements of the linear rate of advance of ice into undercooled aqueous solutions and gels have been made. The solutes consisted of sucrose with smaller quantities of other substances, mostly polysaccharides. The linear crystallization velocity in sucrose solutions is mainly governed by the rate of diffusion of sucrose molecules, and the addition of soluble polysaccharides causes only a small extra retardation. However, the growth of ice into undercooled sucrose solutions is drastically retarded and altered in morphology by the presence of a gel network. This effect is discussed qualitatively in terms of the interaction of the ice front with the gel fibres, which reduces the equilibrium freezing point and may lead to rupture of the fibres.
Mussel protein recovery—batch dissolved air flotation studies
Authors: HOLLAND C. R. , McCOMISKEY P.
Published: September 2015

Batch dissolved air flotation is employed as the solid/liquid separation technique in the recovery of flocculated mussel protein solutions. Maximum flocculated suspended solids recoveries are obtained in all cases at an air/solids ratio of 0.02. Results show that the performances of the flocculating agents used, sulphuric acid, ligninsulphonic acid, Calgon and chitosan, are pH and dosage dependent with chitosan, having a protein recovery of 80%, being the superior material.
Can the outside‐view approach improve planning decisions in software development projects?
Authors: Shmueli Ofira , Pliskin Nava , Fink Lior
Published: September 2015

This study empirically tackles the question of whether taking an outside‐view approach, recommended for reducing the irrational behaviours associated with the planning fallacy, can also reduce the time underestimation, scope overload and over‐requirement problems plaguing planning decisions in software development. Drawing on descriptive behavioural decision theory, this study examines whether the planning fallacy, a cognitive bias referring to the tendency of people to underestimate costs and overestimate benefits in evaluating a task to be performed, can provide a theoretical platform for mitigating irrational behaviours in the planning of software development projects. In particular, we argue that taking an outside‐view approach in planning decisions for software development may have the same mitigating effects on time underestimation, scope overload and over‐requirement it has been shown to have on cost underestimation and benefit overestimation. In an experiment investigating this argument, participants were randomly assigned to four groups by manipulating two outside‐view mechanisms: reference information about past completion times (present/absent) and role perspective (developer/consultant). After being presented with a to‐be‐developed software project, they were requested to estimate development times of various software features and to recommend which features to include within project scope given a fixed duration for the entire project. The results confirm that the three problems of time underestimation, scope overload and over‐requirement are manifested in planning decisions for fixed‐schedule software development projects. Moreover, the results show that these problems are mitigated, yet not eliminated, by presenting reference information about past completion times and by having a consultant role.
Appraisal of cooperation with a palliative care case manager by general practitioners and community nurses: a cross‐sectional questionnaire study
Authors: van der Plas Annicka G.M. , Onwuteaka‐Philipsen Bregje D. , Vissers Kris C. , Deliens Luc , Jansen Wim J.J. , Francke Anneke L.
Published: September 2015

Aims

To investigate how general practitioners and community nurses value the support that they receive from a nurse case manager with expertise in palliative care, whether they think the case manager is helpful in realizing appropriate care and what characteristics of the patient and case management are associated with this view.

Background

For sustainable palliative care in an ageing society, basic palliative care is provided by generalists and specialist palliative care is reserved for complex situations. Acceptance of and cooperation with specialist palliative care providers by the general practitioner and community nurse is pivotal.

Design

Cross‐sectional questionnaire study.

Methods

Questionnaire data from 168 general practitioners and 125 community nurses were analysed using chi‐square tests, univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Data were gathered between March 2011–December 2013.

Results

Of general practitioners, 46% rated the case manager as helpful in realizing care that is appropriate for the patient; for community nurses this was 49%. The case manager did not hinder the process of care and had added value for patients, according to the general practitioners and community nurses. The tasks of the case manager were associated with whether or not the case manager was helpful in realizing appropriate care, whereas patient characteristics and the number of contacts with the case manager were not.

Conclusion

General practitioners and community nurses are moderately positive about the support from the case manager. To improve cooperation further, case managers should invest in contact with general practitioners and community nurses.
Biogeographical signature of river capture events in Amazonian lowlands
Authors: Tagliacollo Victor A. , Roxo Fábio Fernandes , Duke‐Sylvester Scott M. , Oliveira Claudio , Albert James S.
Published: September 2015

Aim

To investigate the effects of river capture on the biogeographical history of South American freshwater fishes.

Location

Western Amazon and La Plata basins, and adjacent river drainages.

Methods

We used a species‐dense time‐calibrated phylogeny of long‐whiskered catfishes (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) to calculate likelihoods for 16 biogeographical scenarios of river capture, each differing in details of (1) landscape evolution and/or (2) models of species range evolution. We designed eight alternative landscape evolution models (LEMs) to represent distinct palaeogeographical river capture histories between the Western Amazon and La Plata drainages during the formation of the Central Andean (Bolivian) orocline (43.0–15.0 Ma). TheLEMs differed only in patterns of area‐connectivity constraints through time, and otherwise had the same geographical areas, time durations and dispersal probabilities. We used theDECandDECj models of species range evolution under these eightLEMconstraints to calculate likelihood values for ancestral area estimates.

Results

Divergence time estimates indicated that crown‐group pimelodids emerged during the Late Cretaceous or Palaeogene (c. 72.9 ± 20 Ma) and model‐selection recovered a best‐fit palaeogeographical scenario with (1) aLEMwith three river capture events, and (2) aDECj model of species range evolution. These results were quantitatively replicated usingLagrangeand BayArea‐like methods.

Main conclusions

The taxon–area chronogram of pimelodids exhibits the characteristic biogeographical signature of river capture; i.e. several non‐monophyletic regional (basin‐wide) species assemblages coupled with the presence of many species inhabiting more than one basin. These phylogenetic and biogeographical patterns are consistent with the effects of three large‐scale river capture events during the formation of the Bolivian orocline.
Spatial autocorrelation analysis and ecological niche modelling allows inference of range dynamics driving the population genetic structure of a Neotropical savanna tree
Authors: Diniz‐Filho José Alexandre F. , Barbosa Ana Clara O. F. , Collevatti Rosane G. , Chaves Lázaro J. , Terribile Levi Carina , Lima‐Ribeiro Matheus S. , Telles Mariana P. C.
Published: September 2015

Aim

Spatial autocorrelation analysis of genetic diversity was combined with ecological niche modelling (ENM) to better infer how ecological and evolutionary processes underlie population structure in Eugenia dysenterica, a widely distributed tree in the ‘Cerrado’ region of Central Brazil.

Location

‘Cerrado’ region, Central Brazil.

Methods

Data were derived from 11 microsatellite loci in 23 populations of E. dysenterica, totalling 249 allele frequencies. The expected heterozygosity (He) within populations and the first principal coordinates extracted from pairwise FST and from the difference between RST and FST among populations were correlated with shifts in suitability from ENM. Frequencies were then analysed using a spatial autocorrelation analysis based on Moran's I and Mantel tests to contrast population differentiation for mean allele frequencies, allele size and shifts in suitability since the Last Glacial Maximum inferred from ENM.

Results

Spatial correlograms based on Moran's I and Mantel tests showed a linear decrease in autocorrelation with distance, which revealed north‐west–south‐east gradients in allele frequencies, genetic diversity and differences between RST and FST. These spatial patterns varied among loci and alleles, and the strongest spatial patterns were found for more common alleles with higher levels of differentiation among populations and for those correlated with shifts in ENM suitability.

Main conclusions

Current genetic diversity and population structure in E. dysenterica can be explained by geographical range shifts associated with Quaternary climate dynamics, thus demonstrating the value of applying spatial analyses to study the ecological and evolutionary processes underlying differentiation even within populations possessing a continuous distribution.
The Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation and Conduction Abnormalities in Chagas’ Disease: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: CARDOSO RHANDERSON , GARCIA DANIEL , FERNANDES GILSON , HE LI , LICHTENBERGER PAOLA , VILES‐GONZALEZ JUAN , COFFEY JAMES O. , MITRANI RAUL D.
Published: September 2015

ECG Findings in Chagas’ Disease

Background/Objectives

Chagas’ disease (CD) has been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and electrocardiographic (ECG) conduction defects. However, prior studies have shown conflicting results. We performed a meta‐analysis comparing the prevalence of AF and conduction abnormalities between CD and non‐CD patients.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, and Latin American databases were searched for studies that directly compared the prevalence of AF and conduction defects in CD and non‐CD patients. Odds ratios (OR) were computed using random‐effects model due to anticipated heterogeneity. We further performed subanalyses limited to studies that included only patients with cardiomyopathy.

Results

A total of 17,238 patients from 30 studies were included, of whom 6,840 (40%) had a positive serology for CD. In the pooled data, AF was significantly more prevalent in the CD group (OR 1.62; 95%CI 1.21–2.15; P = 0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between groups when the analysis included only patients with cardiomyopathy (OR 1.21; 95%CI 0.97–1.50; P = 0.08) or heart failure (OR 1.09; 95%CI 0.81–1.47; P = 0.55). The combination of right bundle branch block (RBBB) and left anterior fascicular block (LAFB) had the highest OR for increased prevalence in patients with Chagas’ cardiomyopathy compared to non‐CD etiologies (OR 5.31; 95%CI 1.23–22.86; P = 0.03).

Conclusions

Our meta‐analysis suggests that the prevalence of AF in patients with Chagas’ cardiomyopathy is not significantly different from non‐CD cardiomyopathies. The pattern of RBBB and LAFB in patients with cardiomyopathy of unknown etiology and epidemiologic risk factors should raise the possibility of CD and prompt specific diagnostic testing.
Extending the ‘cross‐disorder’ relevance of executive functions to dimensional neuropsychiatric traits in youth
Authors: McGrath Lauren M. , Braaten Ellen B. , Doty Nathan D. , Willoughby Brian L. , Wilson H. Kent , O'Donnell Ellen H. , Colvin Mary K. , Ditmars Hillary L. , Blais Jessica E. , Hill Erin N. , Metzger Aaron , Perlis Roy H. , Willcutt Erik G. , Smoller Jordan W. , Waldman Irwin D. , Faraone Stephen V. , Seidman Larry J. , Doyle Alysa E.
Published: September 2015

Background

Evidence that different neuropsychiatric conditions share genetic liability has increased interest in phenotypes with ‘cross‐disorder’ relevance, as they may contribute to revised models of psychopathology. Cognition is a promising construct for study; yet, evidence that the same cognitive functions are impaired across different forms of psychopathology comes primarily from separate studies of individual categorical diagnoses versus controls. Given growing support for dimensional models that cut across traditional diagnostic boundaries, we aimed to determine, within a single cohort, whether performance on measures of executive functions (EFs) predicted dimensions of different psychopathological conditions known to share genetic liability.

Methods

Data are from 393 participants, ages 8–17, consecutively enrolled in the Longitudinal Study of Genetic Influences on Cognition (LOGIC). This project is conducting deep phenotyping and genomic analyses in youth referred for neuropsychiatric evaluation. Using structural equation modeling, we examined whether EFs predicted variation in core dimensions of the autism spectrum disorder, bipolar illness, and schizophrenia (including social responsiveness, mania/emotion regulation, and positive symptoms of psychosis, respectively).

Results

We modeled three cognitive factors (working memory, shifting, and executive processing speed) that loaded on a second‐order EF factor. The EF factor predicted variation in our three target traits, but not in a negative control (somatization). Moreover, this EF factor was primarily associated with the overlapping (rather than unique) variance across the three outcome measures, suggesting that it related to a general increase in psychopathology symptoms across those dimensions.

Conclusions

Findings extend support for the relevance of cognition to neuropsychiatric conditions that share underlying genetic risk. They suggest that higher‐order cognition, including EFs, relates to the dimensional spectrum of each of these disorders and not just the clinical diagnoses. Moreover, results have implications for bottom‐up models linking genes, cognition, and a general psychopathology liability.
Links between within‐person fluctuations in hyperactivity/attention problems and subsequent conduct problems
Authors: Arnett Anne B. , Pennington Bruce F. , Young Jami F. , Hankin Benjamin L.
Published: September 2015

Background

The onset of hyperactivity/impulsivity and attention problems (HAP) is typically younger than that of conduct problems (CP), and some research supports a directional relation wherein HAP precedes CP. Studies have tested this theory using between‐person and between‐group comparisons, with conflicting results. In contrast, prior research has not examined the effects of within‐person fluctuations in HAP on CP.

Method

This study tested the hypothesis that within‐person variation in HAP would positively predict subsequent within‐person variation in CP, in two population samples of youth (N = 620) who participated in identical methods of assessment over the course of 30 months. Three‐level, hierarchical models were used to test for within‐person, longitudinal associations between HAP and CP, as well as moderating effects of between‐person and between‐family demographics.

Results

We found a small but significant association in the expected direction for older youth, but the opposite effect in younger and non‐Caucasian youth. These results were replicated across both samples.

Conclusions

The process by which early HAP relates to later CP may vary by age and racial identity.
Annual Research Review: Sleep problems in childhood psychiatric disorders – a review of the latest science
Authors: Gregory Alice M. , Sadeh Avi
Published: September 2015

Background

Hippocrates flagged the value of sleep for good health. Nonetheless, historically, researchers with an interest in developmental psychopathology have largely ignored a possible role for atypical sleep. Recently, however, there has been a surge of interest in this area, perhaps reflecting increased evidence that disturbed or insufficient sleep can result in poor functioning in numerous domains. This review outlines what is known about sleep in the psychiatric diagnoses most relevant to children and for which associations with sleep are beginning to be understood. While based on a comprehensive survey of the literature, the focus of the current review is on the latest science (largely from 2010). There is a description of both concurrent and longitudinal links as well as possible mechanisms underlying associations. Preliminary treatment research is also considered which suggests that treating sleep difficulties may result in improvements in behavioural areas beyond sleep quality.

Findings

To maximise progress in this field, there now needs to be: (a) greater attention to the assessment of sleep in children; (b) sleep research on a wider range of psychiatric disorders; (c) a greater focus on and examination of mechanisms underlying associations; (d) a clearer consideration ofdevelopmental questions and (e) large‐scale well‐designed treatment studies.

Conclusions

While sleep problems may sometimes be missed by parents and healthcare providers; hence constituting a hidden risk for other psychopathologies – knowing about these difficulties creates unique opportunities. The current excitement in this field from experts in diverse areas including developmental psychology, clinical psychology, genetics and neuropsychology should make these opportunities a reality.
Differential Gene Expression and Protein Localization of Cryptosporidium parvum Fatty Acyl‐CoA Synthetase Isoforms
Authors: Guo Fengguang , Zhang Haili , Payne Harold Ross , Zhu Guan
Published: September 2015

Cryptosporidium parvum is unable to synthesize fatty acids de novo, but possesses three long‐chain fatty acyl‐CoA synthetase (CpACS) isoforms for activating fatty acids. We have recently shown that these enzymes could be targeted to kill the parasite in vitro and in vivo. Here, we demonstrated that the CpACS genes were differentially expressed during the parasite life cycle, and their proteins were localized to different subcellular structures by immunofluorescence and immuno‐electron microscopies. Among them, CpACS1 displayed as an apical protein in sporozoites and merozoites, but no or little presence during the intracellular merogony until the release of merozoites, suggesting that CpACS1 probably functioned mainly during the parasite invasion and/or early stage of intracellular development. Both CpACS2 and CpACS3 proteins were present in all parasite life cycle stages, in which CpACS2 was present in the parasite and the parasitophorous vacuole membranes (PVM), whereas CpACS3 was mainly present in the parasite plasma membranes with little presence in the PVM. These observations suggest that CpACS2 and CpACS3 may participate in scavenging and transport of fatty acids across the PVM and the parasite cytoplasmic membranes, respectively.
Extended Validation of Dynamic Irreversible Thermoporation: A Novel Thermal Process for Microbial Inactivation
Authors: Cammalleri Marco , Pipitone Emiliano , Rubino Teresa , Geraci Daniela Maria , Bonura Floriana , Mammina Caterina
Published: September 2015

A novel thermal treatment for microorganism inactivation, characterized by a very rapid temperature increase (up to 30°C/s) and a low final temperature (up to 65°C) maintained for a relatively short holding time, has been recently presented and tested by the authors, showing microbial load reduction greater than 5 log units against several common bacteria and yeasts. With the aim of extending the possible use of the new thermal treatment to a wider microorganisms class, in this work the dynamic irreversible thermoporation (DIT) treatment was further tested on a well‐known thermoresistant strain, the Enterococcus hirae: The results of these new experimental tests confirmed the reliability of the process, which allowed to reach the 5 log microbial reduction once the adequate holding time was employed.

The comparison with simple immersion in a thermostatic bath, where the very slow heating process with 0.3°C/s has been performed, confirmed the crucial role of the thermal shock for the success of the treatment. The inactivation kinetics of E. hirae in isothermal conditions immediately after the application of thermal shock has also been studied. Finally, the morphological analysis performed by using a scanning electron microscope clearly revealed the rupture of the cell membrane, leading to identification of the process called dynamic irreversible thermoporation (DIT).

Practical Applications

The main features of the dynamic irreversible thermoporation (DIT) process produce two major advantages with respect to the traditional heat treatments commonly employed for beverages: one perfectly agrees with production economics principles, while the other concerns the quality of the product. First, the DIT process can be implemented directly on bottled products because its low maximum temperature of 65°C is compatible with the plastic materials usually employed for sealed beverages: Its online application in the filling process could hence be conveniently considered, thus avoiding both the use of an expensive aseptic environment and the risk of post‐processing contamination. Second, by using such a low final temperature, the thermal degradation of the food components is avoided, with consequent preservation of the sensory and nutritional quality of the fresh‐like food products.
Effect of Formulation and Dough Hydration Level on Extrusion, Physical and Cooked Qualities of Nontraditional Spaghetti
Authors: de la Peña Elena , Manthey Frank A.
Published: September 2015

The effects of formulation and dough hydration on extrusion, physical and cooking qualities of nontraditional spaghetti were determined. The formulations used for this experiment were semolina 100%, whole wheat 100%, semolina–whole wheat (49:51), semolina–flaxseed (90:10), whole wheat–flaxseed (90:10) and semolina–whole wheat–flaxseed (39:51:10). Flaxseed was incorporated as fine and coarse particles. Formulations were hydrated to 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34% before extrusion. Semolina required less pressure and mechanical energy during extrusion, had the brightest color, but had the poorest cooking quality when hydrated to 34% than to 30%. Inclusion of flaxseed flour in the formulation facilitated the extrusion process but decreased the flexibility, brightness, yellowness and cooked quality of the spaghetti. Better cooked quality was obtained for whole wheat spaghetti containing 49% semolina than for 100% whole wheat spaghetti. If both whole wheat and flaxseed flour are desired, then semolina–whole wheat–flaxseed (39:51:10) hydrated to 30–32% was the best formulation‐hydration combination.

Practical Applications

This study provides useful information for those pasta manufacturers that want to include nontraditional ingredients in their pasta products.
Quantitative Analysis of Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Shrimp Derived from Industrial Processing
Authors: Yingkajorn Mingkwan , Sermwittayawong Nutthawan , Khamhaeng Natchaya , Nishibuchi Mitsuaki , Vuddhakul Varaporn
Published: September 2015

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an important seafood‐borne pathogen. V. parahaemolyticus carrying either tdh or trh or both genes is considered a pathogenic strain. The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence and concentration of V. parahaemolyticus in shrimp processed in a factory using most probable number (MPN) combined with either polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) techniques. The pathogenic group (pathogenic Vp) is composed of strains carrying tdh (tdh+ Vp) and/or trh (trh+ Vp) and nonpathogenic group (total Vp) is consisted of both pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains. There was no difference in the total Vp detection by PCR and LAMP techniques. However, combined MPN with LAMP techniques, an increase in detection of pathogenic Vp in samples was identified and the concentrations of pathogenic Vp in shrimp from the first five processing steps were 3.2, 3.0, 3.1, 3.5 and 4.3 MPN/g and were below the detection level (<3 MPN/g) in shrimp from the last three steps. LAMP technique estimated significantly higher positive samples and MPN values for pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus than PCR technique.

Practical Applications

Loop‐mediated isothermal amplification technique is more sensitive than polymerase chain reaction at determining low numbers of pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood. Decreased temperature in the peeling step as well as frequent change in dipping water in the grazing step will reduce the total numbers of V. parahaemolyticus contaminated in shrimp.
The prognostic factors and trajectory of HRQOL in patients with pancreatic cancer who received psychiatric intervention
Authors: Sugimoto Hiroyuki , Kawashima Hiroki , Ohno Eizaburo , Hayashi Daijuro , Kuwahara Takamichi , Morishima Tomomasa , Kawai Manabu , Suhara Hiroki , Takeyama Tomoaki , Yamamura Takeshi , Funasaka Kohei , Nakamura Masanao , Miyahara Ryoji , Watanabe Osamu , Ishigami Masatoshi , Suzuki Miho , Kimura Hiroyuki , Ozaki Norio , Hashimoto Senju , Goto Hidemi , Hirooka Yoshiki
Published: September 2015

Background and Aim

Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer have severe pain, anxiety, and depression, and these symptoms deteriorate quality of life (QOL). Previous study reported that early psychiatric intervention for advanced cancer patients may improve QOL. We evaluated the trajectory of health‐related QOL (HRQOL) in patients with pancreatic cancer after an early psychiatric intervention.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was performed in 108 pancreatic cancer patients who received consultation liaison psychiatry from November, 2011 to October, 2014 at Nagoya University Hospital. Longitudinal changes in HRQOL and the association between aspects of HRQOL and survival were evaluated using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire core 30 before treatment and every month after the start of treatment.

Results

Physical functioning significantly decreased after 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment compared with baseline, but global health status (GHS), role functioning, emotional functioning, and social functioning showed a tendency to improve. Severe impairment of GHS, fatigue, and appetite loss were apparent at 3 months prior to death. In multivariate analysis, pain was a significant prognostic factor for survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.109; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.021–1.204; P = 0.013), in addition to poor performance status (HR, 5.473; 95%CI, 2.338–12.816; P < .0001) and distant metastases at diagnosis (HR, 3.274; 95%CI, 1.872–5.725; P < .0001).

Conclusions

Early psychiatric intervention in patients with pancreatic cancer may maintain HRQOL. More effective pain management and reduction of psychological distress are important for patients with pancreatic cancer.
Early events in hepatitis B virus infection: From the cell surface to the nucleus
Authors: Hayes C Nelson , Zhang Yizhou , Makokha Grace Naswa , Hasan Md Zobaer , Omokoko Magot D , Chayama Kazuaki
Published: September 2015

While most adults are able to clear acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, chronic HBV infection is recalcitrant to current therapy because of the persistence of covalently closed circular DNA in the nucleus. Complete clearance of the virus in these patients is rare, and long‐term therapy with interferon and/or nucleoside analogues may be required in an attempt to suppress viral replication and prevent progressive liver damage. The difficulty of establishing HBV infection in cell culture and experimental organisms has hindered efforts to elucidate details of the HBV life cycle, but it has also revealed the importance of the cellular microenvironment required for HBV binding and entry. Recent studies have demonstrated an essential role of sodium–taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide as a functional receptor in HBV infection, which has facilitated the development of novel infection systems and opened the way for more detailed understanding of the early steps of HBV infection as well as a potential new therapeutic target. However, many gaps remain in understanding of how HBV recognizes and attaches to hepatocytes prior to binding to sodium–taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide, as well as events that are triggered after binding, including entry into the cell, intracellular transport, and passage through the nuclear pore complex. This review summarizes current knowledge of the initial stages of HBV infection leading to the establishment of covalently closed circular DNA in the nucleus.
Effect of selective CCK1 receptor antagonism on accommodation and tolerance of intestinal gas in functional gut disorders
Authors: Lobo Beatriz , Serra Jordi , D'Amato Massimo , Rovati Lucio , Malagelada Juan‐R. , Santos Javier , Azpiroz Fernando
Published: September 2015

Background:

Participants with functional gut disorders develop gas retention and symptoms in response to intestinal gas loads that are well tolerated by healthy subjects. To determine the role of cholecystokinin (CCK1) receptors on gas transit and tolerance in women with functional gut disorders.

Methods:

In 12 healthy women, and 24 women with functional gut disorders (12 dyspepsia and 12 constipation‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome) gas was infused into the jejunum at 12 mL/min for 3 h with simultaneous duodenal lipid infusion (intralipid 1 kcal/min), while measuring anal gas evacuation and abdominal symptoms on a 0–6 score scale. Triple‐blind paired studies during iv infusion of dexloxiglumide (2.5 mg/kg bolus plus 5 mg/kg h continuous infusion), a selective CCK1 inhibitor, or saline (control) were performed in random order.

Results:

During saline infusion participants with functional gut disorders developed significantly greater gas retention and abdominal symptoms than healthy subjects (394 ± 40 mL vs 265 ± 35 mL and 2.8 ± 0.3 vs 1.9 ± 0.4 highest abdominal symptom score, respectively; P < 0.05 for both). Dexloxiglumide increased gas retention in both groups (514 ± 35 mL and 439 ± 60 mL, respectively; P = 0.033 vs saline for both); however, despite the larger retention, dexloxiglumide reduced abdominal symptoms (2.3 ± 0.2 score and 0.8 ± 0.3 score, respectively; P = 0.05 vs saline for both). Post‐hoc analysis showed that, the decrease in abdominal symptoms was more pronounced in those participants with functional gut disorders with higher basal abdominal symptoms than in the rest (P = 0.037).

Conclusion:

Inhibition of CCK1 receptors by dexloxiglumide increases intestinal gas retention and reduces abdominal symptoms in response to by intestinal gas loads. European Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT 2005‐003338‐16).
Radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: Mono or multipolar?
Authors: Cartier Victoire , Boursier Jérôme , Lebigot Jérôme , Oberti Frédéric , Fouchard‐Hubert Isabelle , Aubé Christophe
Published: September 2015

Background and Aims

Thermo‐ablation by radiofrequency is recognized as a curative treatment for early‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma. However, local recurrence may occur because of incomplete peripheral tumor destruction. Multipolar radiofrequency has been developed to increase the size of the maximal ablation zone. We aimed to compare the efficacy of monopolar and multipolar radiofrequency for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and determine factors predicting failure.

Methods

A total of 171 consecutive patients with 214 hepatocellular carcinomas were retrospectively included. One hundred fifty‐eight tumors were treated with an expandable monopolar electrode and 56 with a multipolar technique using several linear bipolar electrodes. Imaging studies at 6 weeks after treatment, then every 3 months, assessed local effectiveness. Radiofrequency failure was defined as persistent residual tumor after two sessions (primary radiofrequency failure) or local tumor recurrence during follow‐up.

This study received institutional review board approval (number 2014/77).

Results

Imaging showed complete tumor ablation in 207 of 214 lesions after the first session of radiofrequency. After a second session, only two cases of residual viable tumor were observed. During follow‐up, there were 46 local tumor recurrences. Thus, radiofrequency failure occurred in 48/214 (22.4%) cases. By multivariate analysis, technique (P < 0.001) and tumor size (P = 0.023) were independent predictors of radiofrequency failure. Failure rate was lower with the multipolar technique for tumors < 25 mm (P = 0.023) and for tumors between 25 and 45 mm (P = 0.082). There was no difference for tumors ≥ 45 mm (P = 0.552).

Conclusions

Compared to monopolar radiofrequency, multipolar radiofrequency improves tumor ablation with a subsequent lower rate of local tumor recurrence.