bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Albendazole solid dispersions against alveolar echinococcosis: a pharmacotechnical strategy to improve the efficacy of the drug
Authors: Fabbri Julia , Pensel Patricia Eugenia , Albani Clara María , Lopez Lurdes Milagros , Simonazzi Analia , Bermudez José María , Palma Santiago Daniel , Elissondo María Celina 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAlveolar echinococcosis is a neglected parasitic zoonosis caused by Echinococcus multilocularis. The pharmacological treatment is based on albendazole (ABZ). However, the low water solubility of the drug produces a limited dissolution rate, with the consequent failure in the treatment of the disease. Solid dispersions are a successful pharmacotechnical strategy to improve the dissolution profile of poorly water-soluble drugs. The aim of this work was to determine the in vivo efficacy of ABZ solid dispersions using poloxamer 407 as a carrier (ABZ:P407 solid dispersions (SDs)) in the murine intraperitoneal infection model for secondary alveolar echinococcosis. In the chemoprophylactic efficacy study, the ABZ suspension, the ABZ:P407 SDs and the physical mixture of ABZ and poloxamer 407 showed a tendency to decrease the development of murine cysts, causing damage to the germinal layer. In the clinical efficacy study, the ABZ:P407 SDs produced a significant decrease in the weight of murine cysts. In addition, the SDs produced extensive damage to the germinal layer. The increase in the efficacy of ABZ could be due to the improvement of water solubility and wettability of the drug due to the surfactant nature of poloxamer 407. In conclusion, this study is the basis for further research. This pharmacotechnical strategy might in the future offer novel treatment alternatives for human alveolar echinococcosis.
Social isolation, rather than loneliness, is associated with cognitive decline in older adults: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
Authors: Yu Bin , Steptoe Andrew , Chen Yongjie , Jia Xiaohua 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundSocial isolation and loneliness have each been associated with cognitive decline, but most previous research is limited to Western populations. This study examined the relationships of social isolation and loneliness on cognitive function among Chinese older adults.MethodsThis study used two waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and analyses were restricted to those respondents aged 50 and older. Social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function were measured at baseline. Follow-up measures on cognitive function were obtained for 7761 participants (mean age = 60.97, s.d. = 7.31; male, 50.8%). Lagged dependent variable models adjusted for confounding factors were used to evaluate the association between baseline isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function at follow-up.ResultsLoneliness was significantly associated with the cognitive decline at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.03, p < 0.01; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) in the partially adjusted models. These associations became insignificant after additional confounding variables (chronic diseases, health behaviors, disabilities, and depressive symptoms) were taken into account (all p > 0.05). By contrast, social isolation was significantly associated with decreases in all cognitive function measures at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.05, p < 0.001; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) even after controlling for loneliness and all confounding variables.ConclusionsSocial isolation is associated with cognitive decline in Chinese older adults, and the relationships are independent of loneliness. These findings expand our knowledge about the links between social relationships and the cognitive function in non-Western populations.
Brain functional correlates of formal thought disorder in schizophrenia: examining the frontal/dysexecutive hypothesis
Authors: Fuentes-Claramonte P. , López-Araquistain L. , Sarró S. , Sans-Sansa B. , Ortiz-Gil J. , Maristany T. , Salvador R. , McKenna P.J. , Pomarol-Clotet E. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundOne hypothesis proposed to underlie formal thought disorder (FTD), the incoherent speech is seen in some patients with schizophrenia, is that it reflects impairment in frontal/executive function. While this proposal has received support in neuropsychological studies, it has been relatively little tested using functional imaging. This study aimed to examine brain activations associated with FTD, and its two main factor-analytically derived subsyndromes, during the performance of a working memory task.MethodsSeventy patients with schizophrenia showing a full range of FTD scores and 70 matched healthy controls underwent fMRI during the performance of the 2-back version of the n-back task. Whole-brain corrected, voxel-based correlations with FTD scores were examined in the patient group.ResultsDuring 2-back performance the patients showed clusters of significant inverse correlation with FTD scores in the inferior frontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex bilaterally, the left temporal cortex and subcortically in the basal ganglia and thalamus. Further analysis revealed that these correlations reflected an association only with ‘alogia’ (poverty of speech, poverty of content of speech and perseveration) and not with the ‘fluent disorganization’ component of FTD.ConclusionsThis study provides functional imaging support for the view that FTD in schizophrenia may involve impaired executive/frontal function. However, the relationship appears to be exclusively with alogia and not with the variables contributing to fluent disorganization.
Future outlook of people living alone with early-stage dementia and their non-resident relatives and friends who support them
Authors: Heaton Janet , Martyr Anthony , Nelis Sharon M. , Marková Ivana S. , Morris Robin G. , Roth Ilona , Woods Robert T. , Clare Linda 
Published: April 2020

AbstractLittle is known about the experiences of people living alone with dementia in the community and their non-resident relatives and friends who support them. In this paper, we explore their respective attitudes and approaches to the future, particularly regarding the future care and living arrangements of those living with dementia. The study is based on a qualitative secondary analysis of interviews with 24 people living alone with early-stage dementia in North Wales, United Kingdom, and one of their relatives or friends who supported them. All but four of the dyads were interviewed twice over 12 months (a total of 88 interviews). In the analysis, it was observed that several people with dementia expressed the desire to continue living at home for ‘as long as possible’. A framework approach was used to investigate this theme in more depth, drawing on concepts from the existing studies of people living with dementia and across disciplines. Similarities and differences in the future outlook and temporal orientation of the participants were identified. The results support previous research suggesting that the future outlook of people living with early-stage dementia can be interpreted in part as a response to their situation and a way of coping with the threats that it is perceived to present, and not just an impaired view of time. Priorities for future research are highlighted in the discussion.
Work-integrated learning in university popular music programmes: localised approaches to vocational curricula in Melbourne, Australia and Wellington, Aotearoa/New Zealand
Authors: Hoad Catherine , Wilson Oli , Brunt Shelley , Shill Gene , Howe Ben 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis article investigates the possibilities of a vocational pedagogy for undergraduate popular music education which is grounded in site and city. The value of work-integrated curricula in tertiary music environments is well established; however, often absent from such discussions is consideration of how geospatial contexts mediate the opportunities and resources available to universities. In response, we provide a critical comparison of how work-integrated learning (WIL) has been developed in two undergraduate popular music degrees in Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand. Through comparison, we consider how the geographic locations of both programmes have shaped WIL, as well as identifying the specific economic, cultural and political tensions that emerge.
‘Pouring everything that you are’: musicians’ experiences of optimal performances
Authors: Ford Jessica L. , Vosloo Justine , Arvinen-Barrow Monna 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to document the lived experiences of flow during an optimal music performance. Fifteen undergraduate musicians (Mage= 19, 53% male) participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews, where they were asked to describe an optimal performance experience. Results from an inductive qualitative analysis revealed three main themes: environmental context, emotional connectedness and interpersonal relationships, which synthesised the optimal performance experience. The results also suggest that flow among musicians appears to be a common emotional state and similar to that conceptualised in sport. The ways a musician experiences flow are important, as these can help music educators gain a better understanding of the conceptualisation of flow within music performance. However, given the nuanced differences in the sociocultural environment of a flow experience typical in a sport or music performance, additional research into the divergences of domains may be warranted.
Using shared knowledge to determine ironic intent; a conversational response paradigm
Authors: ZAJĄCZKOWSKA Maria , ABBOT-SMITH Kirsten , KIM Christina S. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractMentalising has long been suggested to play an important role in irony interpretation. We hypothesised that another important cognitive underpinning of irony interpretation is likely to be children's capacity for mental set switching – the ability to switch flexibly between different approaches to the same task. We experimentally manipulated mentalising and set switching to investigate their effects on the ability of 7-year-olds to determine if an utterance is intended ironically or literally. The component of mentalising examined was whether the speaker and listener shared requisite knowledge.We developed a paradigm in which children had to select how a listener might reply, depending on whether the listener shared knowledge needed to interpret the utterance as ironic. Our manipulation of requisite set switching found null results. However, we are the first to show experimentally that children as young as seven years use mentalising to determine whether an utterance is intended ironically or literally.
Stakeholder Engagement in Practice Change: Enabling Person-Centred Mealtime Experiences in Residential Care Homes
Authors: Caspar Sienna , Davis Erin , Berg Kelsey , Slaughter Susan E , Keller Heather , Kellett Peter 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTPerson-centred care is recognized as best practice in dementia care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a stakeholder engagement practice change initiative aimed at increasing the provision of person-centred mealtimes in a residential care home (RCH). A single-group, time series design was used to assess the impact of the practice change initiative on mealtime environment across four time periods (pre-intervention, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up). Statistically significant improvements were noted in all mealtime environment scales by 6 months, including the physical environment (z = -3.06, p = 0.013), social environment (z = -3.69, p = 0.001), relationship and person-centred scale (z = -3.51, p = 0.003), and overall environment scale (z = -3.60, p = 0.002). This practice change initiative, which focused on enhancing stakeholder engagement, provided a feasible method for increasing the practice of person-centred care during mealtimes in an RCH through the application of supportive leadership, collaborative decision making, and staff engagement.
L'humeur et le ralentissement chez l'adolescent déprimé: Étude comparative avec une population de déprimés adultes
Authors: Braconnier A. , Bouvard M.P. , Jouvent R. 
Published: April 2020

RésuméLes travaux sur la dépression de l’adolescent restent encore peu nombreux, malgré la fréquence et la gravité de ce trouble à cette période d’âge. Aux études classiques qui évaluaient, chez l’adulte, la dépression dans son ensemble se sont récemment substitués des travaux qui analysent la symptomatologie dépressive sur un mode dimensionnel.Nous avons tenté dans ce travail de comparer le ralentissement dépressif et les différentes dimensions de l’humeur dépressive, entre une population d’adultes et une population d’adolescents déprimes.Nous avons pour cela utilisé l’échelle de ralentissement dépressif et une échelle expérimentale de mesure de l’humeur dépressive (Jouvent et coll.) chez 24 adultes et 15 adolescents présentant les critères DSM III d’épisode dépressif majeur.Les résultats montrent que les scores évalués globalement par ces deux échelles sont identiques dans les deux populations. Mais l’analyse dimensionnelle met en évidence des différences nettes (figures 1, 2 et 3) entre adultes et adolescents, avec une dimension de déficit émotionnel plus marquée chez les adultes, et une dimension de tristesse plus importante chez les adolescents.Ces résultats nous amènent à penser que c’est peut-être par l’expression quantitativement différente de dimensions cliniques identiques que 1’adolescent trouve sa spécificité par rapport à l’adulte. D’autres études doivent être menées pour étayer cette hypothèse, et pour tenter de valider chez les adolescents des instruments d’évaluation clinique plus précis.
Construction et validation d'une nouvvelle échelle biaxiale d'évaluation des états maniaques
Authors: Hardy M.C. , Lancrenon S. , Lecrubier Y. 
Published: April 2020

RésuméLes nombreuses études consacrées récemment au trouble maniaque et la diversité des essais thérapeutiques proposés dans cette pathologie témoignent du regain d’intérêt qu'elle suscite et impose de revoir les instruments permettant de l’évaluer. Une brève revue est faite des échelles de manie actuellement validées. Aucune n’apparaît réellement satisfaisante.Une nouvelle échelle d’évaluation de la symptomatologie maniaque est proposée. La sélection des items de cette échelle n’a pas été faite a priori mais après une analyse réalisée à partir d’une liste de 67 items. Ces 67 items couvraient l’ensemble des symptômes attribués classiquement à la manie. Les données d’une première analyse factorielle, effectuée sur ces 67 items, testés chez 37 maniaques, a permis la sélection de 25 items. Cette deuxième liste de 25 items a été testée chez 24 maniaques inclus dans un protocole de traitement de 2 semaines par la clonidine. Une analyse en composantes principales sur ces 25 items permet de dégager 3 facteurs expliquant respectivement 27.4 %, 11 % et 9 % de la variance (tableau 1).Le ler facteur pouvait être interprété comme un facteur d’intensité du tableau maniaque. Le 2ème facteur pouvait être interprété comme un facteur évaluant la composante délirante du tableau.L’échelle proposée est une échelle biaxiale.- le ler axe peut être considéré comme une échelle d’intensité de la manie (sous-échelle EIM).Nous avons retenu pour la constituer les 10 items les mieux corrélés au ler facteur (après rotation Varimax).- Le 2ème axe constitue une sous-échelle de délire. L’activité délirante est évaluée indépendamment de l’intensité du tableau maniaque.L’EIM (Échelle d’Intensité Maniaque) présente une bonne homogénéité, la corrélation des items au score global à J0, appréciée par le coefficient de corrélations de Pearson est significative (p < 0.01)(tableau 2). La fidélité inter-cotateurs est très satisfaisante, la concordance sur la note globale, appréciée par le coefficient de Spearman et celui de Fisher est proche de l (tableau 3). La validaté, appréciée en utilisant un critère de validité externe (comparaison avec l’échelle de Bech et Rafaelsen) est bonne : les coefficients de corrélation entre les scores de l’échelle de Bech et l’échelle d’intensité de l’état maniaque varient, aux différents temps du protocole de traitement, entre 0.82 et 0.94 (tableau 4). La sensibilité du changement sous traitement est globalement équivalente à celle de l’échelle de Bech et Rafaelsen. Cependant, notre échelle semble plus performante pour évaluer la pathologie légère et pour apprécier finement les différents degrés de l’amélioration (tableau 5).Des analyses plus détaillées (notamment de la composition du 3ème axe) sont prévues lorsqu’un plus grand nombre de cas aura été évalué. Il faut enfin relever que les tableaux de validation présentés ici portent sur le nombre de cas le plus éléve de la littérature.
A mathematical model for HIV prevention and control among men who have sex with men in China
Authors: Lu Z. , Wang L. , Wang L. P. , Xing H. , Fu G. , Yan H. , Wang L. , Li Z. , Xu J. , Wang N. , Wang K. , Peng Z. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
In recent years, men who have sex with men (MSM) constitute a major group of HIV transmission in China. High primary drug-resistance (PDR) rate in MSM also represents a serious challenge for the Chinese antiretroviral therapy (ART) program. To assess the efficiency of ART in controlling HIV/AIDS infection among MSM, we developed a compartmental model for the annually reported HIV/AIDS MSM from 2007 to 2019 in the Zhejiang Province of China. R0 was 2.3946 (95% CI (2.2961–2.4881)). We predict that 90% of diagnosed HIV/AIDS individuals will have received treatment till 2020, while the proportion of the diagnosed remains as low as 40%. Even when the proportion of the diagnosed reaches 90%, R0 is still larger than the level of AIDS epidemic elimination. ART can effectively control the spread of HIV, even in the presence of drug resistance. The 90-90-90 strategy alone may not eliminate the HIV epidemic in Chinese MSM. Behavioural and biologic interventions are the most effective interventions to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic among MSM.
Review of trial reintroductions of the long-lived, cooperative breeding Southern Ground-hornbill
Authors: KEMP LUCY V. , KOTZE ANTOINETTE , JANSEN RAYMOND , DALTON DESIRÉ L. , GROBLER PAUL , LITTLE ROB M. 
Published: April 2020

SummaryReintroduction to, or reinforcement of, threatened wild populations are commonly used conservation strategies. Reintroductions of the Southern Ground-hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri have been tested as a potential conservation tool for this vulnerable species since 1995. Forty-two individuals have been reintroduced under varying management strategies. We analysed the outcomes of these attempts to assess which factors contributed most to success or failure. The species exhibits complex social learning and hierarchy, and is long-lived, with delayed sexual maturity. Immediate survival was significantly affected by the season in which the release was done and by the quality of the released birds. The best-quality release birds were reared with wild behavioural characteristics and were well-socialised to captive conspecifics prior to being placed into managed groups (‘bush schools’), where social learning was led by an experienced, wild alpha male. Once reintroduced birds had survived their first year after release, continued wild experience and wild mentorship significantly affected their survival. Since sample sizes limited the rigour of some statistical analyses, other factors were considered that may also determine success. These quasi-experimental reintroductions revealed novel threats to the species, such as the importance of a nest to group cohesion, that harvested second-hatched chicks provide viable release birds, which essentially doubles wild productivity, and that reintroductions generate valuable civil society awareness of the plight of the species.
Grazing pressure and the interaction dynamics of the endemic Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax and its recently colonising congener the Sardinian Warbler S. melanocephala
Authors: HELLICAR MARTIN A. , KIRSCHEL ALEXANDER N.G. 
Published: April 2020

SummaryThe recent classification of the endemic Cyprus Warbler to a Species of European Conservation Concern by BirdLife International has renewed interest in its interaction with the Sardinian Warbler, a widespread Sylvia that was first confirmed as breeding in Cyprus in the 1990s and has since expanded in numbers and range. In areas where the Sardinian Warbler has become established, there has been a reduction in the abundance of the Cyprus Warbler, leading some researchers to suggest the recently arrived species is outcompeting its endemic congener. However, clear evidence of competition between the two species has not been found, and more recent research has suggested the closely related warbler species show preferences for subtly different scrub habitats, which might be influenced by the extent of grazing. We carried out line transect surveys during the breeding season at 48 scrub and open woodland sites across Cyprus in 2012, 2014 and 2016, recording Cyprus Warblers and Sardinian Warblers in order to estimate their densities. In addition, we recorded vegetation characteristics and estimated grazing pressure at these 48 sites. Our analysis showed that the Sardinian Warbler continues to increase in abundance over time and its higher abundances were associated with lower Cyprus Warbler abundances. Sardinian Warbler however was negatively associated with all but very low grazing pressure, whereas the Cyprus Warbler was more tolerant of grazing. Our findings suggest continued grazing of scrub sites is important for the maintenance of suitable habitat for the endemic warbler, which will help improve its conservation status.
From Chimera's Womb: The Manchukuo Bureaucracy and Its Legacy in East Asia
Authors: Siverson Rolf I. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWithin the Japanese Empire, the Manchukuo bureaucracy was unique for its high level of centralization and standardization. This study argues that Manchukuo's bureaucratic recruitment and training processes molded civil officials into a paramilitary force, dedicated to developmentalism and a radical belief in the transformative power of the state. It approaches the institutional and cultural development of the Manchukuo bureaucracy as an evolutionary process. As pan-Asian radicals, military officials, and reform bureaucrats competed for control of Japan's imperial project, their ideas and agendas merged into a hybrid system of bureaucratic management that served as a model for the wartime empire. Looking past the temporal juncture of August 1945, this study also foregrounds the legacy of the Manchukuo bureaucracy on postwar East Asia. Manchukuo's government institutions recruited and indoctrinated not just Japanese but Korean, Taiwanese, and other imperial subjects in the name of ethnic harmony. Back in their homelands, these men adapted to their experience and training into the foundations of developmental nationalism and authoritarian state structures during the Cold War.