bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of behavioural skills training on the knowledge, skills and well‐being of front line staff in the intellectual disability sector: a clustered randomised control trial
Authors: Gormley L. , Healy O. , O'Sullivan B. , O'Regan D. , Grey I. , Bracken M. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundStaff with varying backgrounds and educational qualifications can be effectively trained to implement procedures in line with evidence‐based practice. Behavioural skills training (BST) is a competency‐based training model used to effectively educate a broad selection of professionals, including front line staff, in a range of work‐related skills. However, BST has yet to be evaluated in a large group‐based experiment.MethodsThis study involved a parallel cluster randomised control trial. Six service sites, with a total of 54 participants, were randomised to the intervention condition using the ‘coin toss’ method. The intervention condition used BST to coach intellectual disability staff in reinforcement, systematic prompting, functional communication training and task analysis. Six service sites, with a total of 50 participants, were also randomised to a control condition in which generalised training in behavioural interventions was restricted.Recruited service sites were randomly assigned to the intervention condition (N = 6, n = 54) or the control condition (N = 6, n = 50) at one point in time, immediately after recruitment and before baseline testing took place. Allocations were stratified by service type (residential or day) and geographical region. One member of the research team allocated service sites using the ‘coin toss’ method, and another member, blind to the allocations, decided which experimental arm would receive the intervention and which would be designated as control. It was not possible to mask the intervention from participants, but they were recruited prior to randomisation.ResultsParticipants in the intervention condition demonstrated statistically significant improvements in their knowledge scores over the study period. Participants in the control condition showed no change or a statistically significant decrease in their knowledge scores. No statistically significant changes to well‐being were observed for either group. There was clear evidence of knowledge maintenance, as well as skill acquisition and subsequent generalisation to the workplace environment, among participants in the intervention condition. Participants also evaluated the BST intervention positively.ConclusionsResults support BST as a method for disseminating evidence‐based practice to front line staff working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Sex differences in the brain expression of steroidogenic molecules under basal conditions and after gonadectomy
Authors: Giatti Silvia , Diviccaro Silvia , Garcia‐Segura Luis Miguel , Melcangi Roberto Cosimo 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe brain is a steroidogenic tissue. It expresses key molecules involved in the synthesis and metabolism of neuroactive steroids, such as steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO), cytochrome P450 cholesterol side‐chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (3β‐HSD), 5α‐reductases (5α‐R) and 3α‐hydroxysteroid oxidoreductases (3α‐HSOR). Previous studies have shown that the levels of brain steroids are different in male and female rats under basal conditions and after gonadectomy. In the present study, we assessed gene expression of key neurosteroidogenic molecules in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of gonadally intact and gonadectomised adult male and female rats. In the cerebellum, the basal mRNA levels of StAR and 3α‐HSOR were significantly higher in females than in males. By contrast, the mRNA levels of TSPO and 5α‐R were significantly higher in males. In the cerebral cortex, all neurosteroidogenic molecules analysed showed similar mRNA levels in males and females. Gonadectomy increased the expression of 5α‐R in the brain of both sexes, although it affected the brain expression of StAR, TSPO, P450scc and 3α‐HSOR in females only and with regional differences. Although protein levels were not investigated in the present study, our findings indicate that mRNA expression of steroidogenic molecules in the adult rat brain is sexually dimorphic and presents regional specificity, both under basal conditions and after gonadectomy. Thus, local steroidogenesis may contribute to the reported sex and regional differences in the levels of brain neuroactive steroids and may be involved in the generation of sex differences in the adult brain function.
Combined treatment of recalcitrant papulopustular rosacea involving pulsed dye laser and fractional microneedling radiofrequency with low‐dose isotretinoin
Authors: Kwon Hyuck Hoon , Jung Jae Yoon , Lee Won‐Yong , Bae Youin , Park Gyeong‐Hun 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundWhile a considerable number of cases with papulopustular rosacea (PPR) are resistant to conventional medications, therapeutic regimens are not currently established. Pulsed dye laser (PDL) and fractional microneedling radiofrequency (FMR) have previously demonstrated satisfactory results for anti‐angiogenesis, anti‐inflammation, and dermal remodeling.AimsTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of novel combination regimen with low‐dose oral isotretinoin, PDL, and FMR in the treatment of recalcitrant PPR.Patients and methodsA retrospective study was undertaken for recalcitrant PPR patients to evaluate the clinical course of novel combination regimen. Twenty‐five PPR patients who had failed in previous first‐line therapies were enrolled. They were treated with three sessions of PDL and FMR consecutively at 4‐week intervals, maintaining daily oral administration of 10 mg isotretinoin for 8 weeks. Objective assessments, erythema index measurement, and patients’ subjective satisfaction were evaluated at each visit and 16 weeks after the final treatment.ResultsAt the final follow‐up visit, the number of papules and pustules decreased by 71%, and erythema index by 54% compared with baseline (P < 0.05 for both). Physician’s global assessment based on rosacea severity score and patients’ subjective assessments paralleled with these results. No serious side effect was observed during whole study periods.ConclusionThis novel combination regimen demonstrated satisfactory efficacy with reasonable safety profiles for the treatment of recalcitrant PPR.
Brain Diffusion Imaging Findings May Predict Clinical Outcome after Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Oren Nisa Cem , Chang Edwina , Yang Carina Wei‐Yee , Lee Seon‐Kyu 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEWe aim to correlate the patterns of brain diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map in post cardiac arrest (PCA) patients with clinical outcomes.METHODSThirty‐eight adult patients with PCA (mean age, 52.8 years; range 18–87 years) whose DWI obtained within 5 days of PCA were retrospectively reviewed. The visual DWI/ADC map categories include: Group 1: Normal; Group 2a: Mild [restricted diffusion (RD) < 1/3 cortical involvement (CI)]); Group 2b: Moderate (RD 1/3 > and < 2/3 CI); Group 2c: Severe (RD > 2/3 CI); and Group 3: Embolic (scattered, discrete foci of RD). Clinical outcomes were categorized according to cerebral performance categories (CPC) and modified Rankin scale (mRS).RESULTSThe most common DWI/ADC map pattern was Group 1 (28.9%, n = 11). The incidence of other DWI patterns such as Group 2a, 2b, 2c, and 3 were 21% (n = 8), 10.5% (n = 4), 21% (n = 8), and 18.4% (n = 7), respectively. Twenty‐seven patients (71%) were CPC‐5/mRS‐6 and died or were category CPC‐4/mRS‐5, and 4 patients were CPC‐1/mRS 0–1 (10.5%). Interobserver agreement for visual classification of DWI/ADC map patterns was excellent (kappa = .8795). There was moderate positive correlation between clinical outcomes and visual DWI classification (r = .461, P = .00358). The positive predictive value of this qualitative classification on DWI/ADC in predicting a poor clinical outcome (CPC‐4/mRS‐5 and CPC‐5/mRS‐6) was 81.4 % in the presence of restricted diffusion.CONCLUSIONSimple visual categorization system using DWI/ADC map may be helpful and practical in estimating the clinical outcome of PCA patients.
Gallium‐68 DOTATATE PET in the Evaluation of Intracranial Meningiomas
Authors: Ivanidze Jana , Roytman Michelle , Lin Eaton , Magge Rajiv S. , Pisapia David J. , Liechty Benjamin , Karakatsanis Nicolas , Ramakrishna Rohan , Knisely Jonathan , Schwartz Theodore H. , Osborne Joseph R. , Pannullo Susan C. 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEMeningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors, typically treated with surgery and adjuvant radiation in cases of subtotal resection and/or higher histopathologic grade. Contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard for postoperative assessment and adjuvant treatment planning. However, MRI can have limited accuracy particularly in the presence of posttreatment change. [68Ga]‐DOTATATE is a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radiotracer targeting somatostatin receptor 2A (SSTR2A). SSTR2A is a reliable biomarker of meningiomas. We report a consecutive case series of 20 patients evaluated with [68Ga]‐DOTATATE PET/MRI, propose a novel approach to quantitative analysis, and discuss clinical implications.METHODSWe present a consecutive case series of 20 patients with clinically suspected or pathology‐proven meningioma evaluated between July 2018 and February 2019. [68Ga]‐DOTATATE PET/MRI was obtained in order to confirm the diagnosis or determine tumor recurrence/progression to help guide surgical and/or radiation therapy management in cases in which MRI findings were indeterminate or equivocal.RESULTSSeventeen (85%) patients had undergone prior surgery and 11 (55%) underwent adjuvant radiation therapy. In 17 patients [68Ga]‐DOTATATE confirmed the presence of recurrent meningioma. A total of 49 meningiomas were identified (median: 2 meningiomas/patient, range 0‐14). There was excellent differentiation between meningioma and posttreatment change based on our approach of target lesion/superior sagittal sinus maximum standardized uptake values ratio (16.6 vs. 1.6, P < .0001).CONCLUSIONS[68Ga]‐DOTATATE PET/MRI is a promising tool in the assessment of both treatment naïve and resected/irradiated meningiomas, allowing improved diagnosis and extent of disease evaluation. Future prospective studies are needed to determine utility of [68Ga]‐DOTATATE PET/MRI in treatment response assessment.
Pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic relationship of marbofloxacin for Escherichia coli and Pasturella multocida following repeated intramuscular administration in goats
Authors: Bhardwaj Pallavi , Sidhu Pritam K. , Saini Simrat Pal Singh , M.B. Dinesh , Rampal Satyavan 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of marbofloxacin (MBF) were determined in six healthy female goats of age 1.00–1.25 years after repeated administration of MBF. The MBF was administered intramuscularly (IM) at 2 mg kg−1 day−1 for 5 days. Plasma concentrations of MBF were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography, and PK parameters were obtained using noncompartmental analysis. The MBF concentrations peaked at 1 hr, and peak concentration (Cmax) was 1.760 µg/ml on day 1 and 1.817 µg/ml on day 5. Repeated dosing of MBF caused no significant change in PK parameters except area under curve (AUC) between day 1 (AUC0–∞D1 = 7.67 ± 0.719 µg × hr/ml) and day 5 (AUC0‐∞D5 = 8.70 ± 0.857 µg × hr/ml). A slight difference in mean residence time between 1st and 5th day of administration and accumulation index (AI = 1.13 ± 0.017) suggested lack of drug accumulation following repeated IM administration up to 5 days. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) demonstrated that Escherichia coli (MIC = 0.04 µg/ml) and Pasturella multocida (MIC = 0.05 µg/ml) were highly sensitive to MBF. Time‐kill kinetics demonstrated rapid and concentration‐dependent activity of MBF against these pathogens. PK/PD integration of data for E. coli and P. multocida, using efficacy indices: Cmax/MIC and AUC0–24hr/MIC, suggested that IM administration of MBF at a dose of 2 mg kg−1 day−1 is appropriate to treat infections caused by E. coli. However, a dose of 5 mg kg−1 day−1 is recommended to treat pneumonia caused by P. multocida in goats. The study indicated that MBF can be used repeatedly at dosage of 2 mg/kg in goats without risk of drug accumulation up to 5 days.
Bacteriological water quality of recirculating aquatic systems for maintenance of yellowtail amberjack Seriola lalandi
Authors: Garcia‐Mendoza Miriam Esther , Cáceres‐Martínez Jorge , Vásquez‐Yeomans Rebeca , Cruz‐Flores Roberto 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe bacteriological water quality associated with marine fish farming systems can be a determining factor in the development of disease, and understanding this quality is fundamental for the prevention and control of possible disease outbreaks. In the present study, the bacteriological water quality of a yellowtail amberjack Seriola lalandi broodstock maintenance system, composed of two units of a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS 1 and RAS 2), was determined. From February 2016 to January 2017, monthly samples of surface water were taken at six points in the two RAS systems: (a) from the water reception tank and (b) from filter 1 and (c) tank 1 (in RAS 1) and (d) filter 2 and (e) tank 2 (in RAS 2) and from a joint (f) discharge point. The bacteriological quality was determined by counting total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) and by molecular identification (16S rRNA gene). The number of THB showed a tendency to decrease in filters 1 and 2, to increase in tanks 1 and 2, and again increase in the discharge. The fluctuation of THB, in general, was from 1.0 × 103 to 2.9 × 105 CFU/mL. In total, 102 colonies were isolated, corresponding to nine orders and 52 species, and Vibrionales and Alteromonadales were the most abundant orders. The bacterium Vibrio harveyi, a pathogen of S. lalandi, was identified, as were other bacterial species that are known pathogens; however, no signs of disease or mortality events were recorded during the study. These results suggest that the bacterial community contributed to the maintenance of a balance in the RAS, which prevented the development of infectious diseases. Furthermore, the physicochemical parameters (temperature, oxygen, nitrogen compounds, and alkalinity) were maintained within the optimum range required by S. lalandi. Some zoonotic bacteria were found, as well as bacteria with probiotic and industrial uses. These results represent the first report on bacteriological quality in RAS for S. lalandi.
Patterns of morphological divergence in fruit fly: response to nutritional variations through changes in allometric relationships and trait sizes
Authors: Bhumika  , Singh A. K. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe morphological structures of organisms may be subject to divergence when exposed to varied nutritive conditions, due to the occurrence of developmental plasticity and its fixation due to the process of genetic accommodation. The allometric relationship of traits with respect to each other and to the whole body defines the shape of an individual. Developmental plasticity in different nutritional regimes affects the absolute value of traits and its relative scaling with respect to body size. We investigated the diversification in wing dimensions and body size in Drosophila ananassae by utilizing isofemale lines of Bilaspur and karyotypically characterized stocks of Varanasi, by rearing flies in nutritional regimes having differences in protein and carbohydrate compositions. The effect of dietary protein variations on plasticity of absolute size of body and wing dimensions was found to be highly genotype‐dependent as compared to sucrose, in both the sexes and in both the populations. This suggests that variation in proteins in natural environment may induce greater selective pressure on traits and may lead to diversification in morphological structures due to the process of genetic accommodation. We found highly significant genetic variation in plasticity for allometric relationship in Bilaspur population for variations in protein as well as carbohydrate in dietary media. However, constraints in plasticity of allometric slopes for wing dimensions in karyotypic stocks of Varanasi were found in response to both the nutritional variations. The analysis of reaction norms also suggested that there is involvement of alpha inversion present in 2L chromosome of Varanasi population, in adapting to different nutritional environmental conditions due to changes in static allometry of different wing dimensions. Overall, this study reveals that the nutritional ecology and evolutionary allometry govern the morphological divergence of traits size and shape in a genotypic‐dependent manner, thereby resulting in morphological evolutions.
Biases with the Generalized Euclidean Distance measure in disparity analyses with high levels of missing data
Authors: Lehmann Oscar E. R. , Ezcurra Martín D. , Butler Richard J. , Lloyd Graeme T. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe Generalized Euclidean Distance (GED) measure has been extensively used to conduct morphological disparity analyses based on palaeontological matrices of discrete characters. This is in part because some implementations allow the use of morphological matrices with high percentages of missing data without needing to prune taxa for a subsequent ordination of the data set. Previous studies have suggested that this way of using the GED may generate a bias in the resulting morphospace, but a detailed study of this possible effect has been lacking. Here, we test whether the percentage of missing data for a taxon artificially influences its position in the morphospace, and if missing data affects pre‐ and post‐ordination disparity measures. We find that this use of the GED creates a systematic bias, whereby taxa with higher percentages of missing data are placed closer to the centre of the morphospace than those with more complete scorings. This bias extends into pre‐ and post‐ordination calculations of disparity measures and can lead to erroneous interpretations of disparity patterns, especially if specimens present in a particular time interval or clade have distinct proportions of missing information. We suggest that this implementation of the GED should be used with caution, especially in cases with high percentages of missing data. Results recovered using an alternative distance measure, Maximum Observed Rescaled Distance (MORD), are more robust to missing data. As a consequence, we suggest that MORD is a more appropriate distance measure than GED when analysing data sets with high amounts of missing data.
Minimal amount of tissue‐based pH measurement to improve quality control in neuropsychiatric post‐mortem brain studies
Authors: Ono Chiaki T. , Yu Zhiqian , Kikuchi Yoshie , Kunii Yasuto , Hino Mizuki , Matsumoto Junya , Nagaoka Atsuko , Ito Junko , Iwasaki Yasushi , Hagihara Hideo , Miyakawa Tsuyoshi , Yoshida Mari , Saito Yuko , Niwa Shin‐ichi , Yabe Hirooki , Kakita Akiyoshi , Tomita Hiroaki 
Published: May 2019

AimTissue pH and RNA integrity are crucial quality‐control indicators of human post‐mortem brain tissues in the identification of the pathogeneses of neuropsychiatric disorders, but pH has not been measured as often due to limitations in the amount of tissue available. This study was designed to develop and validate a protocol for tissue pH evaluation using a minimal amount of human post‐mortem tissues.MethodsA procedure that included a proper ratio of brain tissue weight to water for homogenization and the duration of homogenization was designed based on preliminary experiments using mouse brain tissues. The minimal (10 mg) and typical (100 mg) amounts of post‐mortem brain tissue from 52 subjects were homogenized in 5 volumes (50 μL/10 mg tissue) and 10 volumes (1000 μL/100 mg tissue) of nuclease‐free water and subjected to pH measurements using an InLab Ultra micro pH electrode.ResultsThe pH values based on the new protocol using a minimal amount of tissue significantly correlated with measurements of the standard protocol (r2 = 0.86). The correlation coefficients of the pH values between gray and white matter of the same brain region, and the values between different brain regions were 0.73 and 0.54, respectively.ConclusionThe proposed protocol used one‐tenth of the tissue amount of current standard protocol and enabled us to evaluate the exact quality of post‐mortem brain tissue subjected to subsequent analyses. The application of this protocol may improve the detection of biological phenomena of interest in post‐mortem brain studies by diminishing confounding factors.
Reliability and validity of the Japan Ijime Scale and estimated prevalence of bullying among fourth through ninth graders: A large‐scale school‐based survey
Authors: Osuka Yuko , Nishimura Tomoko , Wakuta Manabu , Takei Nori , Tsuchiya Kenji J. 
Published: May 2019

AimThe present study aimed at developing a novel scale, the Japan Ijime Scale (JaIS), to measure bullying in Japan with substantial reliability and validity, with which we estimated the prevalence of bullying among children and adolescents of school age.MethodsThe JaIS is a self‐report questionnaire and consists of three parts: subscales measuring victimization and witnessing, and an item measuring perpetration. To test the reliability and validity of the two subscales, the authors analyzed responses to the JaIS from 2334 school students (Grades 4–9) in six elementary and three junior high schools in a middle‐sized industrial city in central Japan, using exploratory factor analysis, item response theory, and examination of the external validity of the items. The prevalence of bullying victimization, witnessing, and perpetration was estimated.ResultsItem response theory models revealed that both the Victimization and Witness subscales have sufficient discrimination power and measurement precision, and the external validity of each scale has been confirmed. Using the JaIS, we found that 35.8% of students had been victims of bullying every 2–3 months (27.6% were solely victims and 8.3% were bully/victims), 32.8% had witnessed some type of bullying act, and 11.8% had perpetrated some type of bullying (3.5% as perpetrators, and 8.3% as bully/victims).ConclusionThe JaIS is a reliable and valid measure. Using this scale, we found a high prevalence of bullying victimization in Japanese schools.
Signal Classification for the Integrative Analysis of Multiple Sequences of Large-Scale Multiple Tests
Authors: Xiang Dongdong , Zhao Sihai Dave , Tony Cai T. 
Published: May 2019

SummaryThe integrative analysis of multiple data sets is becoming increasingly important in many fields of research. When the same features are studied in several independent experiments, it can often be useful to analyse jointly the multiple sequences of multiple tests that result. It is frequently necessary to classify each feature into one of several categories, depending on the null and non-null configuration of its corresponding test statistics. The paper studies this signal classification problem, motivated by a range of applications in large-scale genomics. Two new types of misclassification rate are introduced, and two oracle procedures are developed to control each type while also achieving the largest expected number of correct classifications. Corresponding data-driven procedures are also proposed, proved to be asymptotically valid and optimal under certain conditions and shown in numerical experiments to be nearly as powerful as the oracle procedures. In an application to psychiatric genetics, the procedures proposed are used to discover genetic variants that may affect both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, as well as variants that may help to distinguish between these conditions.