bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dietary effect of lemon verbena extract on selected blood parameters and on plasma oxidative profile in Avelignese horses
Authors: Palazzo Marisa , Vizzarri Francesco , Cinone Mario , D'Alessandro Angela Gabriella , Martemucci Giovanni , Casamassima Donato 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe effect of Lippia citriodora extract on selected blood parameters and on plasma oxidative markers in Avelignese horses was evaluated. Twenty‐four horses were divided into three groups, consisting of eight animals each. Results of two experimental groups, 0.5 mg of verbascoside per kg of metabolic body weight (bw0.75) in the low‐dose group (LVB) and 1.0 mg of verbascoside per kg of metabolic body weight (bw0.75) in the high‐dose group (HVB), were compared to the control group (CON). Groups fed L. citriodora extract (HVB and LVB) showed a significant decrease in triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (p < .01), bilirubin, and transaminases (p < .05), and an increase in HDL cholesterol (p < .01) compared to the CON group. Oxidative status was improved due to significant decrease in plasma concentration of ROMs and TBARS (p < .01) and increase in levels of vitamin A and vitamin E (p < .01). Based on obtained results, it is assumed that dietary supplementation with L. citriodora extract might find a useful application in horse feeding, with positive impact observed in blood parameters and plasma oxidative markers, with beneficial effects on the physiological welfare of livestock animals.
Effect of posttransportation grazing on the physiological condition and meat quality traits of Black Bengal goats
Authors: Salahuddin Md. , Azad Md. Abul Kalam , Das Shonkor Kumar , Hossain Mohammad Mujaffar , Hasan Md. Nazmul , Hiramatsu Kohzy 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThis study was designed to reveal the role of posttransportation grazing on the physiological condition and meat quality traits of Black Bengal goats. Twenty‐four castrated male Black Bengal goats were divided into a control (untransported) group and three treated groups: Walking and Transportation with Human Interference group (WTHI) (30 min walking before 6 hr transport and then 30 min walking with human interference), posttransportation grazing for 48 hr (PTG1), and posttransportation grazing for 72 hr (PTG2). The WTHI and PTG1 groups had a significant reduction in their blood concentrations of tri‐iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), and a significantly higher neutrophil and lymphocyte (N:L) ratio compared with those of the control group. Blood concentrations of T3 and T4 and the N:L ratio of PTG2 returned to the control level after 72 hr of grazing. The final pH and water‐holding capacity values of meat were significantly higher in the WTHI group than in the control group, but those in the PTG2 group returned to the control level after 72 hr of grazing. These results demonstrate that posttransportation grazing for 72 hr is effective for recovering from damage induced by transportation stress.
Effects of isonitrogenous and isocaloric total mixed ration composed of forages with different quality on milk fatty acid composition and gene expression of mammary lipogenic enzymes in mid‐lactating dairy cows
Authors: Zhang Hang , Ao Changjin , Khas‐Erdene  , Dan Ni 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing different qualities of forages and concentrate content on milk fat composition and genes that encode mammary lipogenic enzymes in dairy cows. A total of 20 Holstein cows were assigned to 1 of 2 treatment diets composed of either mixed forages (MF, starch : 21.50%) or corn stover forage (CS, starch : 25.39%). Mammary tissue biopsies were performed to analyze the mRNA expression of lipogenic enzymes. Dry matter intake, body weight, milk protein, and lactose were not affected by treatments. The milk yield, fat content and saturated fatty acid (SFA) and short‐ and medium‐chain fatty acid (SMFA) contents in milk were lower in the CS diet than in the MF diet, but the unsaturated FA and long‐chain FA contents were higher. Genes involved in de novo FA synthesis, FA uptake and transport, and Δ9‐desaturation were lower in the CS treatment than in the MF treatment. No effects on the nuclear transcription factors were observed between the two treatments. The data indicated that corn stover diet reduced the milk yield, fat content, SMFA, and SFA contents in milk, as well as the gene expression of mammary lipogenic enzymes in dairy cows.
Long‐term efficacy of Metacognitive Training for Depression (D‐MCT): A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Jelinek Lena , Faissner Mirjam , Moritz Steffen , Kriston Levente 
Published: December 2018

ObjectivesThe availability of treatment for depression needs to be improved. Among the barriers are the dearth of group programmes and the high demand of many programmes with regard to staff expertise. The Metacognitive Training for Depression (D‐MCT) is a new, easy‐to‐administer, cognitive behaviour‐based group intervention. In a previous 6‐month trial, D‐MCT was highly accepted by patients and efficacious compared to a control treatment. The aim of the current study was to examine whether the effects of the D‐MCT can be sustained over 3.5 years.DesignLong‐term follow‐up of a randomized controlled trial.MethodsA total of 84 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of unipolar depressive disorder were enrolled in a randomized, controlled, assessor‐blind, parallel group trial comparing two interventions added to usual care: D‐MCT and general health training (HT). Patients were reassessed 3.5 years after the interventions were terminated. Primary outcome was the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Self‐assessed depressive symptom severity (BDI), dysfunctional cognitive (DAS) and metacognitive (MCQ) beliefs, self‐esteem (RSE), and quality of life (WHOQOL‐BREF) served as secondary outcomes.ResultsPrimary intention‐to‐treat analyses using analysis of covariance showed negative results, and only secondary post‐hoc analyses utilizing latent growth modelling demonstrated superiority of D‐MCT over HT with regard to the long‐term course of depressive symptom severity and cognitive and metacognitive outcomes as well as physical and psychological quality of life.ConclusionsFindings suggest that D‐MCT may be a promising add‐on treatment for unipolar depression that should be investigated in large multi‐centre studies. Independent replications are needed.Practitioner points
Clinical implications:

The current study shows tentative evidence that positive effects of the D‐MCT reported at the 6‐month follow‐up assessment were sustained over 3.5 years.

Potential positive effects regard severity of depression, dysfunctional cognitive, and metacognitive beliefs as well as quality of life.

If positive results are replicated with less trained therapists, D‐MCT offers the possibility of providing a simple and easy‐to‐administer CBT‐based group treatment for depression with long lasting effects.

Limitations:

Sample size was small; a large‐scale multi‐centre trial would be desirable to gain high statistical power with an adequate sample size and to allow the investigation of possible allegiance effects.

D‐MCT was delivered as an add‐on intervention and not as a stand‐alone intervention.
‘I Am Worthless and Kind’; the specificity of positive and negative self‐evaluation in adolescent depression
Authors: Orchard Faith , Pass Laura , Reynolds Shirley 
Published: December 2018

ObjectivesAdolescence represents a critical phase when the concept of self is developed and consolidated. Depressed adolescents globally endorse more negative and fewer positive self‐descriptive words compared with non‐depressed adolescents. Yet, the methods used have not allowed for more detailed exploration of the specific content of these self‐endorsements.MethodsAdolescents, aged 12–18 years, were recruited from the community (n = 204) and from a child and adolescent mental health service in the UK (n = 87). Participants completed measures of depression and a self‐description questionnaire which included 12 positive and 12 negative self‐descriptive adjectives.ResultsAs expected, we replicated previous findings that depressive symptoms are associated with global positive and negative self‐endorsements. The difference between mean scores was examined for each adjective. Depressed adolescents endorsed all negative adjectives more highly relative to community adolescents; ratings of ‘worthless’ and ‘useless’ had the biggest difference between community and depressed adolescents. Surprisingly, a group of positive prosocial self‐descriptors were endorsed equally by depressed and community adolescents and were not associated with severity of depressive symptoms.ConclusionsAlthough depressed adolescents endorsed more negative descriptions of themselves than community adolescents, positive self‐endorsements related to their relationships with other people were not impaired.Practitioner points

Most highly endorsed self‐descriptive negative words by depressed adolescents were ‘worthless’ and ‘useless’

Positive prosocial self‐descriptive adjectives (i.e., trustworthy, friendly, and kind) were highly endorsed by all young people and were not associated with depression

Assessment and treatment should consider the content of adolescent self‐evaluation

The present study is unable to identify whether young people would produce the same themes of positive and negative words in a free response measure

Diagnostic information was only available on the clinical group
The Patient Patient: The Performance of Traditional versus Open‐Access Scheduling Policies
Authors: Cho David , Cattani Kyle 
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACTWe compare traditional and open‐access scheduling policies for outpatient medical practices in terms of the number of patients served and financial performance. Under a traditional scheduling policy, a patient schedules an appointment in advance and there is a significant possibility of patient no‐shows. In response, doctors overbook patients to reduce the idle time created by no‐shows. Under an open‐access scheduling policy, all appointments are scheduled the day of the appointment, thereby eliminating patient no‐shows but creating more randomness in the daily number of appointments. In contrast to earlier works, we consider the optimal average number of patients served and find that the open‐access policy may lead doctors to serve a greater number of patients but that the traditional policy may be more profitable by providing doctors more control over their schedule and ability to limit overtime.
Auditory and speech function after cochlear implantation in prelingually deaf children with white matter lesions
Authors: Zhang Xueyuan , Weng Yinlun , Liang Maojin , Liu Jiahao , Chen Yuebo , Zheng Yiqing 
Published: December 2018

AimTo explore how auditory and speech function developed post‐cochlear implantation (pCI) in prelingually deaf children with white matter lesions (WML).MethodPatients (41 males, 29 females; mean age at implantation 2y 11mo [SD 7.5mo], range 1y 8mo–5y) were divided into the following groups according to preoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging evaluation: mild WML, moderate WML, severe WML, and control. We assessed auditory and speech performance at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months pCI. As well as auditory event‐related potentials, topographic maps and electroencephalography source imaging were recorded and analysed at 24 months pCI.ResultsFor children with WML (any level), postoperative auditory or speech performance at 6 months was significantly below that of control participants. After stratification, auditory and speech performance was highly related to WML grading. Auditory or speech performance in mild WML or control groups was comparatively better than the moderate WML and severe WML groups. The recovery rate of speech performance fell behind that of the auditory perception. With the increasing severity of WML, N1 amplitude was significantly smaller with a consistent presentation in the topographic map, which was similar in the mild WML and control group. The dominant auditory centre was activated in the control or mild WML groups, but not in the moderate WML and severe WML groups.InterpretationWML gradually affect auditory and speech development, and electrophysiological performance pCI in prelingually deaf children.What this paper adds

Auditory and speech performance in prelingually deaf children with white matter lesions (WML) was significantly worse than those without WML.

Postoperative auditory and speech performance in children with WML was highly related to WML grading.

Grand N1 amplitude in auditory event‐related potentials was negatively related to the severity of WML.

Non‐dominant areas close to the auditory cortex were potentially activated in severe WML.
A new era in the management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Korinthenberg Rudolf 
Published: December 2018

The management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has changed considerably over the last few decades. Standards of care have recently been updated, based on systematic reviews of the literature and structured, case‐based consensus discussions of experts. Besides addressing muscular function, these recommendations cover most areas of organ involvement and psychosocial issues. Studies employing animal models investigating basic disease mechanisms have increased considerably. Development of valid functional outcome measures enabled high‐evidence, clinical trials in males with DMD. Stop codon readthrough with ataluren has revealed some effect in patients with moderate disability and has been approved for males with suitable mutations who are still ambulant. Exon 51 skipping with eteplirsen demonstrated a structural and functional effect in a small group of patients and received restricted approval in the USA. Further trials investigating a broad range of mechanisms are underway. However, much more work is needed to develop more active treatments that stop disease progression. Likewise, the distribution of complex and expensive therapies to underprivileged patients and those in poorer regions must be improved.What this paper adds

Updated standards of care covering most clinical aspects of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are available.

Adequately controlled clinical trials have allowed initial approval of disease‐modifying drugs for small groups of patients.

Scientific, economic, and political efforts are needed to make effective therapies available more quickly.

Effective therapies should be made available more quickly to patients in low‐income regions.
Africa's clientelist budget policies revisited: public expenditure and employment in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, 1960–2010
Authors: Simson Rebecca 
Published: December 2018

AbstractWhat can be learned about policy prioritization in Africa by examining long‐run trends in public expenditure and employment? Many have contended that Africa's post‐colonial leaders pursued economically unproductive budget policies that prioritized the growth of their patronage networks over socially beneficial spending, resulting in bloated payrolls, persistent deficits, and a large rent‐seeking public service. Using a purpose‐built dataset of annual public expenditure and employment series from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda for 1960–2010 against which to test these assumptions, this article questions whether there was anything exceptional about the growth or composition of East Africa's post‐independence expenditure. All three states grew and contracted in roughly the same periods as other regions of the world, although their contraction after 1980 was particularly marked. Industrial policy and capital investments influenced budget priorities in the early independence era, while military expenditure and debt service payments escalated in the late 1970s. The government wage bill, meanwhile, fell as a proportion of total spending over the same period. To finance employment growth while the wage bill contracted, governments allowed real wages to plummet in the 1970s–90s. In light of these external constraints and legacies, this article questions whether a budget unencumbered by patronage would have looked very different.
Canadian response to need for transformation of youth mental health services: ACCESS Open Minds (Esprits ouverts)
Authors: Malla Ashok , Iyer Srividya , Shah Jai , Joober Ridha , Boksa Patricia , Lal Shalini , Fuhrer Rebecca , Andersson Neil , Abdel‐Baki Amal , Hutt‐MacLeod Daphne , Beaton Ann , Reaume‐Zimmer Paula , Chisholm‐Nelson Jessica , Rousseau Cécile , Chandrasena Ranjith , Bourque Jimmy , Aubin Diane , Levasseur Mary Anne , Winkelmann Ina , Etter Meghan , Kelland Jill , Tait Caroline , Torrie Jill , Vallianatos Helen ,   the ACCESS Open Minds Youth Mental Health Network
Published: December 2018

AimYouth mental health is of paramount significance to society globally. Given early onset of mental disorders and the inadequate access to appropriate services, a meaningful service transformation, based on globally recognized principles, is necessary. The aim of this paper is to describe a national Canadian project designed to achieve transformation of mental health services and to evaluate the impact of such transformation on individual and system related outcomes.MethodWe describe a model for transformation of services for youth with mental health and substance abuse problems across 14 geographically, linguistically and culturally diverse sites, including large and small urban, rural, First Nations and Inuit communities as well as homeless youth and a post‐secondary educational setting. The principles guiding service transformation and objectives are identical across all sites but the method to achieve them varies depending on prevailing resources, culture, geography and the population to be served and how each community can best utilize the extra resources for transformation.ResultsEach site is engaged in community mapping of services followed by training, active stakeholder engagement with youth and families, early case identification initiatives, providing rapid access (within 72 hours) to an assessment of the presenting problems, facilitating connection to an appropriate service within 30 days (if required) with no transition based on age within the 11 to 25 age group and a structured evaluation to track outcomes over the period of the study.ConclusionsService transformation that is likely to achieve substantial change involves very detailed and carefully orchestrated processes guided by a set of values, principles, clear objectives, training and evaluation. The evidence gathered from this project can form the basis for scaling up youth mental health services in Canada across a variety of environments.
No evidence of bovine papillomavirus type 1 or 2 infection in healthy equids
Authors: Pratscher B. , Hainisch E. K. , Sykora S. , Brandt S. , Jindra C. 
Published: December 2018

SummaryBackgroundThere is a large body of evidence supporting bovine papillomavirus types 1 and 2 (BPV1; BPV2) as aetiological agents of equine sarcoids. However, there is conflicting data regarding BPV1/2 infection in sarcoid‐free equids.ObjectivesData obtained between 2007 and 2017 by BPV1/2 screening of sarcoids and nonsarcoid tumours vs. samples from healthy equids are presented to help clarify this issue.Study designCross‐sectional study.MethodsTumour material obtained from horses, donkeys and mules with confirmed sarcoids (n = 130), suspected sarcoids (n = 120), or nonsarcoid lesions (n = 70), skin biopsies from 102 tumour‐free horses and dandruff/hair roots from 35 tumour‐free donkeys and mules were screened for BPV1/2 infection. Sample DNA was extracted and validated by equine β‐actin PCR. BPV1/2 screening was performed by BPV1/2 E5‐specific PCR allowing for the detection of less than 10 viral DNA molecules. Twenty‐six amplicons were bidirectionally sequenced and compared to known E5 variants using BLAST program.ResultsBPV1/2 E5 PCR scored positive for 130/130 diagnosed sarcoids, 63/120 suspected sarcoids and 13/70 nonsarcoid lesions, whereas 137/137 DNA aliquots derived from tumour‐free equids tested negative. On predicted E5 protein level, six different BPV1 E5 variants were identified.Main limitationsThe diagnosis of equine sarcoid was not confirmed in 120 lesions.ConclusionsLack of BPV1/2 E5 DNA in tumour‐free equids and the prevalence of sarcoid disease in young adult individuals suggest that the time span between initial infection and sarcoid development is short. This contrasts with the long phase of virus latency characterising infection of humans by carcinogenic papillomaviruses. Presence of BPV1/2 DNA in several cases of poor wound healing/hypergranulation and dermatitis points to these skin disorders being possibly co‐induced by BPV1/2. PCR screening of tumour tissue/scrapings for BPV1/2 DNA represents a reliable tool for the rapid validation of a clinical diagnosis of equine sarcoid.
Nitrogen addition stimulated compensatory growth responses to clipping defoliation in a Northern Tibetan alpine meadow
Authors: Zong Ning , Shi Peili 
Published: December 2018

AbstractGrazing and clipping defoliation are the most important human disturbances in natural grasslands. Compensatory growth is a common response to clipping defoliation, which is of great significance for forage production and livestock husbandry development. However, how clipping intensity affects plant compensatory growth and how nitrogen (N) addition regulates this response in alpine ecosystems are still unclear. A manipulative experiment including two clipping intensities (light and heavy) crossed with N addition was conducted in an alpine meadow ecosystem to examine the effects of how N addition regulated plant compensatory growth induced by clipping defoliation. Selective clipping was used to simulate animal feeding, that is, only grasses and sedges were clipped. Under the N addition treatment, the relative growth rate of grasses and total biomass after clipping were significantly higher than those under the no N addition treatment. The total community biomass showed over‐compensatory growth in light clipping under N addition treatment, while it showed equal‐compensatory growth under the other treatments. The over‐compensatory growth in light clipping under the N addition treatments mainly resulted from the stimulated growth of grasses. Regression analysis showed that the relative growth rate and biomass of grasses were positively correlated with soil inorganic N content, but increasing N availability was not conducive to the growth of sedges and other forbs. Divergent responses of different plant functional groups to clipping and N addition would lead to changes in community structure and functioning. Both community biomass and compensatory growth tended to increase first and then reach a stable state with the increase in soil N availability. Our results show that although light clipping could largely stimulate forage production under N addition, excessive clipping cannot lead to a continuous increase in compensatory growth of plant biomass, even under N addition conditions, in this semiarid alpine meadow ecosystem.