bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implementation of model for improvement (PDCA‐cycle) in dairy laboratories
Authors: Kholif Abdelkader M. , Abou El Hassan Dina S. , Khorshid Mohamed A. , Elsherpieny Elsayed A. , Olafadehan Olurotimi A. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to implement Plan‐Do‐Check‐Act (PDCA cycle) as a method for the continuous quality improvement in the dairy laboratories. This method was used to identify and analyze the critical problems that occur in the preanalytical stage of ultra‐high‐temperature (UHT) milk samples, to find the root causes of their occurrence and proffer solutions. Results showed a reduction in the number of the contaminated UHT milk samples from initial 368 to 85. Moreover, the capability index (CP) increased from 0.52 to 1.07. These reductions in the number of contaminated milk samples and increase in CP increased the efficiency from 68.02% to 74.06% and the effectiveness from 88.95% to 96.85%. Thus, PDCA methodology can be successfully applied in the dairy laboratory to reduce the occurrence of errors and increase the processes capability to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of dairy laboratory.Practical applicationsContinuous quality improvement (CQI) is used in process improvement in medicine laboratories for patient's fulfillment, where the implementation of process improvement project in medicine laboratories resulted in a positive influence with more effective and simplicity workflow. Also, CQI in dairy laboratories is considered an essential issue, as the analytical quality assurance plays a fundamental role in the precision of laboratories results. Furthermore, future laboratory accreditation, which is considered a fundamental tool for the dairy manufacture to increase confidence in laboratories outcomes, can be obtained on the basis of quality assurance and improvement precepts. To the best of our knowledge, this current research introduces a method for CQI in the dairy laboratories (PDCA approach) which has not been discussed in previous related work.
Association of AlkB homolog 3 expression with tumor recurrence and unfavorable prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Qian , Wang Gang , Wang Yi , Liu Chaoxu , He Xianli 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackground and AimThe mammalian AlkB homolog protein family has been reported to promote tumor cell invasion and metastasis of human cancer. However, the expression status and clinical significance of AlkB homolog 3 (ALKBH3) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been reported yet.MethodsIn the present study, we investigated the protein expression of ALKBH3 by immunohistochemistry assay and evaluated its association with tumor progression, recurrence, and prognosis in 272 patients with HCC. In addition, we explored ALKBH3 function via gene overexpression and knockdown of ALKBH3.ResultsAlkB homolog 3 was overexpressed in HCC compared with adjacent non‐tumorous specimens. Moreover, ALKBH3 expression was closely related to tumor differentiation and tumor–node–metastasis stage. Interestingly, the ALKBH3 high expression in tumor tissues of HCC patients had more poor disease‐free survival and overall survival than low‐expression patients. Consistently, we found that knockdown of ALKBH3 inhibits HCC cell proliferation in vitro and xenograft tumor formation in vivo and overexpressing ALKBH3 showed the opposite results. ALKBH3 knockdown may inhibit cell proliferation, presumably through p21/p27‐mediated cell‐cycle arrest at G1 phase in human HCC. ALKBH3 may also play some role on chemosensitivity to certain genotoxic reagents, such as cisplatin (CDDP) and epirubicin.ConclusionsThese findings reveal an important role of ALKBH3 in HCC, indicating that ALKBH3 could be used as a new therapeutic target in future.
A novel role of the corticotrophin‐releasing hormone regulating peptide, teneurin C‐terminal associated peptide 1, on glucose uptake into the brain
Authors: Hogg D. W. , Chen Y. , D'Aquila A. L. , Xu M. , Husić M. , Tan L. A. , Bull C. , Lovejoy D. A. 
Published: February 2018

Teneurin C‐terminal associated peptide (TCAP) is an ancient paracrine signalling agent that evolved via lateral gene transfer from prokaryotes into an early metazoan ancestor. Although it bears structural similarity to corticotrophin‐releasing hormone (CRH), it inhibits the in vivo actions of CRH. The TCAPs are highly expressed in neurones, where they induce rapid cytoskeletal rearrangement and are neuroprotective. Because these processes are highly energy‐dependent, this suggests that TCAP has the potential to regulate glucose uptake because glucose is the primary energy substrate in brain, and neurones require a steady supply to meet the high metabolic demands of neuronal communication. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to assess the effect of TCAP‐mediated glucose uptake in the brain and in neuronal cell models. TCAP‐mediated 18F‐deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake into brain tissue was assessed in male wild‐type Wistar rats by functional positron emission tomography. TCAP‐1 increased FDG uptake by over 40% into cortical regions of the brain, demonstrating that TCAP‐1 can significantly enhance glucose supply. Importantly, a single nanomolar injection of TCAP‐1 increased brain glucose after 3 days and decreased blood glucose after 1 week. This is corroborated by a decreased serum concentration of insulin and an increased serum concentration of glucagon. In immortalised hypothalamic neurones, TCAP‐1 increased ATP production and enhanced glucose uptake by increasing glucose transporter recruitment to the plasma membrane likely via AKT and mitogen‐activated protein kinase/ERK phosphorylation events. Taken together, these data demonstrate that TCAP‐1 increases glucose metabolism in neurones, and may represent a peptide signalling agent that regulated glucose uptake before insulin and related peptides.
The Anatomical Society's core anatomy syllabus for undergraduate nursing
Authors: Connolly S. A. , Gillingwater T. H. , Chandler C. , Grant A. W. , Greig J. , Meskell M. , Ross M. T. , Smith C. F. , Wood A. F. , Finn G. M. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe Anatomical Society has developed a series of learning outcomes in consultation with nursing educators delivering anatomical content to undergraduate (preregistration) nursing students. A Delphi panel methodology was adopted to select experts within the field that would recommend core anatomical content in undergraduate nursing programmes throughout the UK. Using the Anatomical Society's Core Gross Anatomy Syllabus for Medical Students as a foundation, a modified Delphi technique was used to develop discipline‐specific outcomes to nursing graduates. The Delphi panel consisted of 48 individuals (n = 48) with a minimum of 3 years' experience teaching anatomy to nursing students, representing a broad spectrum of UK Higher Education Institutions. The output from this study was 64 nursing specific learning outcomes in anatomy that are applicable to all undergraduate (preregistration) programmes in the UK. The new core anatomy syllabus for Undergraduate Nursing offers a basic anatomical framework upon which nurse educators, clinical mentors and nursing students can underpin their clinical practice and knowledge. The learning outcomes presented may be used to develop anatomy teaching within an integrated nursing curriculum.
Randomized investigator‐blinded comparative study of moisturizer containing 4‐t‐butylcyclohexanol and licochalcone A versus 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in facial dermatitis
Authors: Boonchai Waranya , Varothai Supenya , Winayanuwattikun Waranaree , Phaitoonvatanakij Sutasinee , Chaweekulrat Pichanee , Kasemsarn Pranee 
Published: February 2018

SummaryBackgroundFacial dermatitis can result from various conditions, some of which are of a chronic and relapsing nature. The use of topical corticosteroid therapy may lead to additional adverse effects.ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of moisturizer containing 4‐t‐butylcyclohexanol, which acts as a sensitivity regulator, and licochalcone A, an anti‐inflammatory agent from the licorice plant Glycyrrhiza inflata, with that of 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for the treatment of facial dermatitis.MethodsThis was a randomized, prospective, investigator‐blinded study. Eighty participants with mild to moderate facial dermatitis were randomly treated with either the test facial moisturizer or 0.02% TA twice daily for the first 2 weeks. For the subsequent 2 weeks, all patients used only the test moisturizer. Clinical assessment by investigators, bioengineering measurements, patients' subjective evaluation, and clinical photography were performed at baseline, week 2, and week 4.ResultsBoth treatments showed a statistically significant improvement with regard to physician clinical assessment, skin hydration, transepidermal water loss, and patient‐assessed visual analog scale after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment compared with baseline. The test facial moisturizer produced better skin hydration than TCS. The improvement in TEWL after 4 weeks of using the test moisturizer was comparable with 2‐week treatment with 0.02% TA cream. However, subjective evaluation by patients indicated that TA more rapidly improved sensation sensitivity.ConclusionThe test facial moisturizer was slower than 0.02% TA in improving facial dermatitis, but showed greater benefit in erythema control and skin hydration.
Effects of controlled dehydration on sleep quality and quantity: A polysomnographic study in healthy young adults
Authors: Aristotelous Panagiotis , Aphamis George , Sakkas Giorgos K. , Andreou Eleni , Pantzaris Marios , Kyprianou Theodoros , Hadjigeorgiou Georgios M. , Manconi Mauro , Giannaki Christoforos D. 
Published: February 2018

SummaryDehydration is associated with several alternations in body homeostasis involving both physiological and mental aspects. In addition some studies have reported a negative effect of dehydration on subjectively assessed sleep‐related parameters. The aim of the current study was to examine for the first time the effect of controlled dehydration on sleep quality and quantity using the gold‐standard method of polysomnography. Twelve healthy male volunteers participated in this study (23.4 ± 0.8 years). Participants performed an in‐house full polysomnographic assessment in two different occasions taking place in random order: (i) in a dehydrated state; and (ii) in a euhydrated state. In the dehydration scenario, the participants were allowed to consume only 1.25 L of non‐caffeinated fluids, while during the euhydrated state participants had to drink at least 3 L of non‐caffeinated fluids during the last 24 hr before the polysomnographic study. Urine specific gravity was assessed by refractrometry on collection day in order to assess hydration status. Participants who did not fulfil the hydration criteria were rescheduled. All participants successfully completed the two polysomnographic studies without any complaints or adverse effects reported. No significant differences were found in any of the examined indices of sleep quality and quantity between the dehydration and euhydration scenarios (p > .05). This is the first study to show that controlled mild dehydration does not seem to affect sleep quality and quantity in young healthy adults. More research is necessary to further verify these conclusions and assess whether other parameters are involved in the manifestation of sleep disturbances.
Effects of a 24‐hr‐shift‐related short‐term sleep deprivation on cardiac function: A cardiac magnetic resonance‐based study
Authors: Kuetting Daniel L. R. , Feisst Andreas , Sprinkart Alois M. , Homsi Rami , Luetkens Julian , Thomas Daniel , Schild Hans H. , Dabir Darius 
Published: February 2018

SummaryFatigue and sleep deprivation are common phenomena, especially among medical professionals and shift workers. Studies have proven that short episodes of sleep deprivation can lead to sympathetic hyperactivity with an elevation in blood pressure, heart rate, and an increased secretion of stress hormones (e.g. cortisol, noradrenaline, thyroid hormones). In this study investigating cardiac strain in 20 healthy subjects undergoing short‐term sleep deprivation, it could be shown for the first time that 24‐hr‐shift‐related short‐term sleep deprivation leads to a significant increase in cardiac contractility, blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormone secretion. These findings may help better understand how workload and shift duration affect public health, and lay the foundation for further investigations.
Interactions between abiotic gradients determine functional and phylogenetic diversity patterns in Mediterranean‐type climate mountains in the Andes
Authors: López‐Angulo Jesús , Swenson Nathan G. , Cavieres Lohengrin A. , Escudero Adrián 
Published: February 2018

AbstractQuestionsHow do phylogenetic and functional trait dispersions respond to multiple abiotic gradients? Are functional trait and phylogenetic dispersions coupled across different spatial scales? Does phylogenetic signal on functional trait data help to elucidate the degree to which phylogenetic information is providing novel information?LocationThree massifs in mediterranean‐type climate zone of the high Andes, central Chile.MethodsWe sampled plant species composition in 20 alpine sites above the tree line at three different spatial scales: plot (20 m × 20 m), subplot (2.4 m × 2.4 m) and cell (30 cm × 30 cm). Functional and phylogenetic mean pair‐wise distances (MPD) calculated using data on six functional traits (maximum plant height, plant size, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content and leaf thickness) and a molecular phylogeny (rbcL and matK) were compared to the patterns expected under a null model to characterize the functional and phylogenetic dispersion along interacting elevation and potential solar radiation gradients.ResultsOur results show that functional and phylogenetic dispersion were related and influenced by potential solar radiation, but the effect of this factor varied with elevation. Overdispersion was found in the most stressful sites, while clustering was observed where the conditions were milder, suggesting a relevant role of facilitation and competitive interactions, respectively. While Blomberg's K statistic indicated no phylogenetic signal for the studied plant traits, Pagel's λ indicated phylogenetic signal, but not of strong intensity (<1), suggesting that the correlation between the functional and phylogenetic diversities was low and that additional unmeasured traits with phylogenetic signal were likely to be important in determining the structure of the studied communities.ConclusionsOur results support the hypothesis that biotic interactions modulated by environmental conditions are important for alpine plant community assembly. Moreover, they reinforce the notion that multiple processes shape community structure, and this can be elucidated by examining interacting environmental gradients, such as elevation and potential solar radiation, and taking into account multiple spatial scales. Our results reinforce the use of both functional and phylogenetic diversities simultaneously and discourage the use of phylogenetic diversity as a surrogate of functional structure.
Court evaluations of young children's testimony in child sexual abuse cases
Authors: Ernberg Emelie , Magnusson Mikaela , Landström Sara , Tidefors Inga 
Published: February 2018

PurposeProsecutors working with child sexual abuse (CSA) cases involving young children have raised concerns that reliability criteria from the Supreme Court of Sweden are holding children's testimony to impossible standards (e.g., expecting the child's testimony to be long, rich in detail and spontaneous). This study aimed to address these concerns by investigating how District Courts and Courts of Appeal employ said criteria in their testimonial assessments of young child complainants.MethodsCourt documents from District Courts (n = 100) and Courts of Appeal (n = 45) in CSA cases involving 100 children age 7 years and under were analysed with respect to the courts’ testimonial assessments.ResultsTestimonial assessments were more frequently referenced in acquitting verdicts and in cases with evidence of low corroborative value. Richness in detail was the most frequently used reliability criterion, followed by spontaneity. Most criteria were used in favour of the children's testimony. However, the length criterion was typically used against the reliability of the children's testimony.ConclusionsOur findings confirm prosecutors’ concerns that criteria from the Supreme Court are frequently used in evaluations of young children's testimony. This is troublesome, as some criteria do not correspond to current research on young children's witness abilities. For example, compared to testimony given by older children or adults, testimony provided by a young child is typically not long or rich in detail. We encourage prosecutors to extend their own knowledge on young children's capability as witnesses and present this to the court.
Examining the Impact and School‐Level Predictors of Impact Variability of an 8th Grade Reading Intervention on At‐Risk Students’ Reading Achievement
Authors: Fien Hank , Anderson Daniel , Nelson Nancy J. , Kennedy Patrick , Baker Scott K. , Stoolmiller Michael 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe purpose of the present article is to report on a large‐scale investigation of six school districts’ implementation of an initiative aimed at reducing dropout rates by improving reading achievement in the middle grades. Data for the Middle School Intervention Project (MSIP) were collected in 25 middle schools across the state of Oregon. We examined (a) the degree to which the schools improved reading achievement for struggling readers in 8th grade, and (b) whether we could account for school differences in the treatment effect through measured explicit and intensive intervention factors. At the end of 8th grade there was no evidence of significant or positive effects on the two primary reading outcome measures.
Do the shallow‐water habitats of a hypersaline tropical estuary act as nursery grounds for fishes?
Authors: Sales Natalice dos Santos , Baeta Alexandra Sofia Baptista Vicente , de Lima Lidiane Gomes , Pessanha André Luiz Machado 
Published: February 2018

AbstractFish assemblages were studied in a hypersaline tropical estuary in Northeastern Brazil. A total of 104 species were collected by beach seine during the dry and rainy seasons of 2012. Two families, Atherinopsidae and Gerreidae, were numerically dominant in all zones of the estuary; juveniles of Atherinella brasiliensis, Eucinostomus argenteus, Lile piquitinga, Ulaema lefroyi, Lutjanus analis and Sphoeroides greeleyi contributed 77% of the total catch. The factors that best explained the fish abundance pattern were salinity and depth, which were related to spatial segregation. Species richness was lowest in the upper zone, an area with high salinity and shallow depth. The distinct roles of structurally different habitats (submerged macrophyte beds and mangrove prop‐roots) and the influence of physicochemical conditions in the middle zone of the estuary may influence taxonomic diversity. The middle zone of the estuary is the one most attractive to juveniles of reef species (Lutjanidae and Serranidae). The fish assemblages are clearly dominated by marine estuarine dependent species, highlighting the importance of the ecosystem as a nursery ground for marine species of the Brazilian coast.
A unified approach to systemic risk measures via acceptance sets
Authors: Biagini Francesca , Fouque Jean‐Pierre , Frittelli Marco , Meyer‐Brandis Thilo 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWe specify a general methodological framework for systemic risk measures via multidimensional acceptance sets and aggregation functions. Existing systemic risk measures can usually be interpreted as the minimal amount of cash needed to secure the system after aggregating individual risks. In contrast, our approach also includes systemic risk measures that can be interpreted as the minimal amount of cash that secures the aggregated system by allocating capital to the single institutions before aggregating the individual risks. An important feature of our approach is the possibility of allocating cash according to the future state of the system (scenario‐dependent allocation). We also provide conditions that ensure monotonicity, convexity, or quasi‐convexity of our systemic risk measures.
Influence of immunogenetics, sex and body condition on the cutaneous microbial communities of two giant salamanders
Authors: Hernández‐Gómez Obed , Briggler Jeffrey T. , Williams Rod N. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe complex association between hosts and microbial symbionts requires the implementation of multiple approaches to evaluate variation in host physiology. Within amphibians, heterogeneity in immunogenetic traits and cutaneous microbiota is associated with variation in disease resistance. Ozark (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) and eastern hellbenders (C. a. alleganiensis) provide a model system to assess variation in host traits and microbial communities. Ozark hellbenders have experienced declines throughout their range, are federally endangered and experience wound retardation that is absent in the eastern subspecies. Previous microbial investigations indicate differentiation in the composition of the skin microbiota of both hellbender subspecies, but it is not clear whether these patterns are concurrent with diversity in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. We characterized the MHC IIB and the skin microbiota of hellbenders in Missouri, where both subspecies co‐occur though not sympatric. We compared the microbiota composition and MHC diversity between both subspecies and investigated whether individual‐level MHC diversity, sex and body condition were associated with microbiota composition. Overall, MHC IIB diversity was lower in Ozark hellbenders compared to the eastern subspecies. Multivariate statistical comparisons identified microbiota differentiation between Ozark and eastern hellbenders. MHC IIB allele presence/absence, allele divergence, body composition and sex defined grouping of hellbender microbiotas within populations. Differentiation of the cutaneous microbiotas and MHC IIB genes between eastern and Ozark hellbenders suggests that differences exist in immunity between the two subspecies. This study demonstrates how simultaneous assessments of host genetic traits and microbiotas can inform patterns of microbial community structure in natural systems.