bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Screening for coeliac disease in children
Authors: Kivelä Laura , Kurppa Kalle 
Published: June 2018

AbstractAimCoeliac disease is a common but markedly under‐diagnosed condition, which may lead to serious long‐term complications if untreated. Both the diagnostic yield and true incidence have significantly increased during the last few decades and it is now one of the most common chronic gastrointestinal conditions in children. The aim of this review was to summarise the current concepts on screening for coeliac disease in children and adolescents.MethodWe conducted a non‐systematic literature review of papers published about coeliac disease screening since the year 2000.ResultsOur review showed that the diagnostic yield could be significantly improved by screening for at‐risk groups, or even the whole population, but these approaches remain controversial. Evidence suggests that screening for certain high‐risk groups could be beneficial, but untargeted mass screening is not currently recommended. However, whether the benefits of an early diagnosis would overcome the challenges of lifelong dietary treatment, especially in asymptomatic individuals who consider themselves healthy, are unclear.ConclusionThere is moderate evidence that screening certain at‐risk groups for coeliac disease could be beneficial, but more studies in different settings are needed before large‐scale population screening can be recommended.
Hydrological regime and climate interactively shape riparian vegetation composition along the Colorado River, Grand Canyon
Authors: Butterfield Bradley J. , Palmquist Emily , Ralston Barbara 
Published: June 2018

AbstractQuestionsHow closely do riparian plant communities track hydrological and climatic variation in space, and how do interactions among hydrological and climatic filters influence success of flow management strategies?LocationGrand Canyon, Arizona, USA.MethodsMulti‐year vegetation surveys were conducted across three hydrological zones—active channel, active flood‐plain and inactive flood‐plain—within each of 42 sandbars that vary geographically in temperature and precipitation along a 400‐km river segment. Ecological niche models were used to estimate locally optimal conditions of maximum inundation duration, elevation above daily peak flow, mean annual precipitation and mean maximum and minimum temperature for 16 of the most abundant woody and 58 of the most abundant herbaceous plant species. These estimates were used to calculate CWM environmental preferences, which were used to determine how closely vegetation preferences tracked local variation in environmental factors, and to assess interactive responses of species and communities to variation in hydrology and climate.ResultsCommunities closely tracked hydrological variation across zones, but less so within zones. Communities tracked variation in minimum temperature more closely than maximum temperature or precipitation. At the species level, woody plants that were more abundant in wetter hydrological conditions were also more abundant in wetter climatic conditions, and vice versa. This relationship was even stronger at the community level, where there were significant negative relationships between CWM preferences of inundation duration and temperature for both woody and herbaceous vegetation.ConclusionsThe climate–hydrology linkages found in this system suggest that increasing temperatures and drought are likely to reduce the inundation tolerance of riparian vegetation within the Grand Canyon. Increasing the duration of high‐flow events would likely reduce the abundance of encroaching woody vegetation but could also reduce the resilience of remaining vegetation to heatwaves and drought. The reinforcing effects of climatic and hydrological filters are likely to generally result in greater sensitivity of species composition to environmental change than if those environmental filters acted independently. These results have implications for predicting resource responses to environmental change, as well as prescriptions for direct vegetation management to enhance resilience.
Revegetation of subtropical soil slopes: Groundcover performance and the implications of urban development and slope features on plant community
Authors: Chau Ngai Lung , Chu Lee Man 
Published: June 2018

AbstractQuestionsIs revegetation of soil slopes with the currently used plant groundcovers effective in promoting dense vegetation and ecological values of landscapes? Does the degree of urban development influence the abundance of groundcovers? Is there any relationship between slope features and the plant community of soil slopes?LocationHong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.MethodsWe conducted a vegetation study focusing on groundcovers on 35 revegetated soil slopes in urban and suburban areas of Hong Kong and determined differences in plant cover, diversity and community composition among areas under various degrees of development. We also assessed slope features, including presence of erosion control mats, canopy openness, slopes angle, area, elevation and substrate properties, such as soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and nutrient status, to examine their relationships to the plant community composition.ResultsPlant cover was generally about 30%, with ferns having the highest cover. The initially planted groundcover species were replaced by native graminoids and ferns, or an invasive climbing herb, Wedelia trilobata. Soil slopes covered by erosion control mats had significantly lower plant cover than those without. Contrasting plant community composition of groundcovers was found among areas with different degrees of urban development and between slopes with and without erosion control mats. Slope angle, canopy openness, sandy soil texture and soil EC were closely associated with the plant communities of soil slopes.ConclusionsThe current planted groundcovers used for revegetating soil slopes led to unsatisfactory plant cover but allowed colonization of other native groundcovers. Planting strategy using more adaptable native groundcovers, but not invasive species, is a feasible approach to ecologically restore soil slopes. The degree of development and certain slope features influence the plant community and should be considered in the revegetation of soil slopes.
Selective logging intensity in an East African rain forest predicts reductions in ant diversity
Authors: Ross Samuel R. P.‐J. , Garcia Francisco Hita , Fischer Georg , Peters Marcell K. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractAs natural forest ecosystems increasingly face pressure from deforestation, it is ever more important to understand the impacts of habitat fragmentation and degradation on biodiversity. Most studies of anthropogenic change in the tropics come from Southeast Asia and South America, and impacts of habitat modification are often taxon‐specific. Here we empirically assessed the impact of habitat fragmentation and recent (within 25 yr) and historic (>25 yr ago) selective logging on the diversity of ants in the Kakamega rain forest in western Kenya, and asked whether these forms of degradation interact as multiple stressors. We found that the severity of recent selective logging was negatively related to overall species richness and abundance as well as the richness and abundance of forest specialists, but found no detrimental effect of past selective logging or habitat fragmentation on ant diversity, although habitat fragment size was correlated with estimated species richness. There was also no effect of any form of habitat degradation on the richness or abundance of open habitat specialists, even though these species often exploit niches created in disturbed environments. Ultimately, this study reveals the detrimental impact of even moderate forms of habitat degradation on insect biodiversity in the understudied African rain forests.
Larvicidal study of tetrahydropyrimidine scaffolds against Anopheles arabiensis and structural insight by single crystal X‐ray studies
Authors: Bairagi Keshab M. , Venugopala Katharigatta N. , Mondal Pradip Kumar , Gleiser Raquel M. , Chopra Deepak , García Daniel , Odhav Bharti , Nayak Susanta K. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractA series of methyl or ethyl 4‐(substitutedphenyl/pyridyl)‐6‐methyl‐2‐oxo/thioxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidine‐5‐carboxylate (HPM) analogues 4a–g were synthesized and evaluated for larvicidal activity against Anopheles arabiensis. These newly synthesized compounds were characterized by spectral studies such as FT‐IR, NMR (1H and 13C), LC‐MS, and elemental analysis. The conformational features and supramolecular assembly of molecules 4a, 4b, and 4e were further analyzed from single crystal X‐ray study. The larvicidal activity of these tetrahydropyrimidine pharmacophore series was analyzed based on their relative substituents. Among the synthesized HPM analogous from the series, compounds 4d and 4e both having electron withdrawing chlorine group on phenyl ring at the fourth position of the tetrahydropyrimidine pharmacophore exhibited the most promising larvicidal activity.
Referral and treatment pathways for pseudomyxoma peritonei of appendiceal origin within a national treatment programme
Authors: Fish R. , Renehan A. G. , Punnett G. , Aziz O. , Fulford P. , Selvasekar C. , Wilson M. , Halstead R. , O'Dwyer S. T. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractAimPseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare neoplasm of the appendix, which if untreated disseminates throughout the abdominal cavity and generates considerable morbidity. Since 2002 in the UK, patients with PMP have been managed via two nationally commissioned centres. We evaluated referrals and treatment pathways over time at the Manchester centre.MethodData from all patients referred with suspected PMP were prospectively collected (2002–2015). Definitive treatment was cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Disease burden was quantified using the Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) (score 0–39) and complete cytoreduction (CC) defined by scores of 0/1. Novel treatment algorithms were developed for patients with low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) localized to the peri‐appendiceal tissue.ResultsIn all, 817 patients with confirmed PMP were referred increasing from 11 in 2002 to 103 in 2015. Disease burden was high with a mean PCI of 31 in the first quartile (Q1), levelling off to 15, 15, 17 thereafter (P = 0.002). The proportion of CC0/1 increased from 67% in Q1 to 77% Q2 and 74% Q3/4. Where complete cytoreduction was achieved, 5‐ and 10‐year overall survival was 77% and 66%. The proportion of patients referred with localized LAMN increased over time reaching 25% each year since 2010 (Ptrend < 0.0001). Two‐thirds of localized LAMN now undergo laparoscopically assisted risk‐reducing CRS.ConclusionThe establishment of a national treatment centre was associated with an initial presentation of patients with advanced disease. The programme has demonstrated a clear trend over time towards earlier referral and adoption of minimally invasive techniques for localized disease.
Smokers’ risk perceptions and misperceptions of cigarettes, e‐cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapies
Authors: King Bill , Ndoen Enjelita , Borland Ron 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIntroduction and AimsTo identify the range and coherence of smokers and recent ex‐smokers’ general beliefs about the harms associated with smoking and the implications of these beliefs for their assessments of the relative harms and addictiveness of various nicotine containing products.Design and MethodsThe study consisted of 18 single participant interviews with current smokers or vapers (13 M, 5 F) and three focus groups (15 M, 14 F) with current smokers/vapers and recent quitters. Both individual interviews and focus groups included semi‐structured discussions of how nicotine and cigarette smoke cause disease and addiction, and a structured task involving rating the relative harmfulness and addictiveness of 17 nicotine products against a reference, popular, cigarette.ResultsMost participants were able to give adequate accounts of what makes cigarette smoking harmful and addictive but this general knowledge was not consistently applied to making harmfulness and addictiveness judgements about specific products. Many participants applied simple affect‐based heuristics to harmfulness and addictiveness judgments, even when they had apparently demonstrated more sophisticated knowledge earlier. Most used binary safe/dangerous thinking, with addictiveness and harmfulness strongly linked and a decoupling of satisfaction and addictiveness.Discussion and ConclusionsMany smokers appear to have reasonable general knowledge of the risks of smoking but cannot reliably apply this knowledge to practical risk judgements. We need to rethink how we communicate with the public about the risks of smoking, and using other nicotine products, in ways that allow them to make more informed decisions about their smoking.
Good government and the vocation of citizenship: A Lutheran perspective
Authors: Kleinhans Kathryn A. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractMartin Luther considered governmental authority to be one of the structures through which God exercises providential care of the created world. Consequently, government and civil society are dimensions of life in which one lives out the divine calling to serve one's neighbors. This theological perspective offers a distinct contribution to discussions of the appropriate role of religion in the public square. God's desire for justice for all is the criterion by which to evaluate specific governments, policies, and officials. The goal of justice provides a common framework within which Christians can work for the common good with those of other faiths and no faith.
A qualitative analysis of students’ perceptions of videos to support learning in a psychomotor skills course
Authors: Botelho M. G. , Gao X. , Jagannathan N. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIntroductionThis qualitative study analysed students’ experiences and perceptions about different types of videos in a psychomotor skills course, relating to clinical knowledge and skills and how they benefited learners in and out of the classroom.MethodsSubjects were recruited from 4th and 5th year dental undergraduate programme. The recruitment was terminated after 24 students participated since data saturation was reached. A semi‐structured interview was conducted with each participating student, digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis was performed using an inductive approach to identify key themes.ResultsFour key domains were identified from thematic analysis: functionality and access; learning and understanding; clinical skills preparation and performance and supplementary learning resources. Students perceived videos to be an important and vital learning tool relating to its on‐demand access, control of functionality and use for particular needs that is not possible from textbooks or lectures. Video learning materials allows students to clarify knowledge, improve cognitive thinking and enhance revision of theoretical concepts and clinical skills. Two types of video were regarded as particularly useful as students reported being actively and cognitively engaged in the learning content and broadened their clinical experience. In addition, students reported mental preparation of clinical psychomotor skills using their own mental visualisation which enabled them to prepare for the clinical care of their patients.ConclusionThis qualitative research supports the benefits of learning from videos in relation to convenience of access and functionality of the videos. In addition, it shows novel aspects to learning from videos that are more cognitively engaging and in mental preparation of clinical skills prior to patient care.
Primary tissue for cellular brain repair in Parkinson's disease: Promise, problems and the potential of biomaterials
Authors: Moriarty Niamh , Parish Clare L. , Dowd Eilís 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe dopamine precursor, levodopa, remains the “gold standard” treatment for Parkinson's disease, and, although it provides superlative efficacy in the early stages of the disease, its long‐term use is limited by the development of severe motor side effects and a significant abating of therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, there remains a major unmet clinical need for the development of effective neuroprotective, neurorestorative or neuroreparatory therapies for this condition. The relatively selective loss of dopaminergic neurons from the nigrostriatal pathway makes Parkinson's disease an ideal candidate for reparative cell therapies, wherein the dopaminergic neurons that are lost in the condition are replaced through direct cell transplantation into the brain. To date, this approach has been developed, validated and clinically assessed using dopamine neuron‐rich foetal ventral mesencephalon grafts which have been shown to survive and reinnervate the denervated brain after transplantation, and to restore motor function. However, despite long‐term symptomatic relief in some patients, significant limitations, including poor graft survival and the impact this has on the number of foetal donors required, have prevented this therapy being more widely adopted as a restorative approach for Parkinson's disease. Injectable biomaterial scaffolds have the potential to improve the delivery, engraftment and survival of these grafts in the brain through provision of a supportive microenvironment for cell adhesion, growth and immune shielding. This article will briefly review the development of primary cell therapies for brain repair in Parkinson's disease and will consider the emerging literature which highlights the potential of using injectable biomaterial hydrogels in this context.
Ravens adjust their antipredatory responses to con‐ and hetero‐specific alarms to the perceived threat
Authors: Nácarová Jana , Veselý Petr , Bugnyar Thomas 
Published: June 2018

AbstractHeterospecific alarm calls are typically found in situations where multiple species have a common predator. In birds, they are particularly common in mixed mixed‐species flocks. In species with highly developed social and cognitive abilities like corvids, there is the potential for differential responses to heterospecific vs. conspecific calls according to the riskiness of the habitat. We tested the responses of free‐ranging ravens (Corvus corax) to conspecific alarm calls and compared them to heterospecific alarm calls of jackdaws (Corvus monedula). We observed the proportion of ravens leaving the feeding site after the con‐ or hetero‐specific playback was presented in a situation of low threat (wild boar—Sus scrofa enclosure) and high threat of predation (wolf—Canis lupus enclosure). We show that ravens responded to conspecific calls more intensively at the wolves than at the wild boar, but the response to conspecific calls was in both enclosures stronger than to the control (great tit—Parus major song). The response to the heterospecific alarm was also stronger in the wolves’ enclosure, but it did not differ from control in the wild boar enclosure. These findings suggest that ravens are aware of the meaning of the jackdaw alarm calls, but they respond to it only in a situation of high predatory threat (wolves are present). In the wild boar enclosure, the ravens probably consider jackdaws warning against some other predator, very probably harmless to ravens. This interpretation requires further testing, as both enclosures differ also in respect to other parameters like food quality and shelter availability.
Sustainability of Chinese airlines: A modified slack‐based measure model for CO2 emissions
Authors: Hadi‐Vencheh Abdollah , Wanke Peter , Jamshidi Ali , Chen Zhongfei 
Published: June 2018

AbstractSustainable airline operations have become an increasingly important issue in recent years. With this respect, several initiatives for reducing pollutant emissions—such as carbon dioxide (CO2)—in the airline industry are now under consideration by regulators, policymakers, and companies. The impact of these initiatives upon efficiency levels of airline operations is still being analysed by different authors. This article is focused on the efficiency assessment of 13 major Chinese airlines from 2008 to 2015, applying a modified slack‐based measure model to account for CO2 emissions. The impact of contextual variables related to the airline's age, fleet mix, stock market governance, ownership type, network span, and whether or not it has undergone a previous merger and acquisition process is tested by means of a stochastic non‐linear robust regression approach. Findings suggest that sustainability in Chinese airline operations is dependent upon a number of economic factors such as learning curve, economies of scale, technology type, and network management. Policy implications are derived for Chinese airlines.
Crucial role of protein oligomerization in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases
Authors: Choi Minee L. , Gandhi Sonia 
Published: June 2018

Misfolding and aggregation of the proteins amyloid‐β, tau and alpha‐synuclein is the predominant pathology underlying the neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. While end stage insoluble products of aggregation have been well characterised in human and animal models of disease, accumulating evidence from biophysical, cellular and in vivo studies has shown that soluble intermediates of aggregation, or oligomers, may be the key species that mediate toxicity and underlie seeding and spreading in disease. Here, we review the process of protein misfolding, and the intrinsic and extrinsic processes that cause the native states of the key aggregating proteins to undergo conformational change to form oligomers and ultimately fibrils. We discuss the structural features of the key toxic intermediate, and describe the putative mechanisms by which oligomers may cause cell toxicity. Finally, we explore the potential therapeutic approaches raised by the oligomer hypothesis in neurodegenerative disease.
Effect of initial microstructure on surface relief and fatigue crack initiation in AISI 410 ferritic‐martensitic steel
Authors: Batista M.N. , Marinelli M.C. , Alvarez‐Armas I. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThis work is focused on the effect of the initial tempered‐lath microstructure on the surface relief and nucleation of microstructurally short fatigue cracks developed during low‐cycle fatigue tests of the ferritic‐martensitic AISI 410 steel. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy as well as electron back‐scattered diffraction were used to study the surface‐damage evolution in smooth, cylindrical, notched specimens. Results from the electron back‐scattered diffraction analysis broaden the understanding of the processes of nucleation of microstructurally short fatigue cracks in the initial tempered‐lath microstructure of AISI 410 ferritic‐martensitic steels. Results prove that during fatigue, microcracks nucleate mainly at high‐angle boundaries represented by block subunit interfaces formed in this tempered microstructure. Besides, the progress of fatigue cycling causes the reorientation of the {112} <111> systems to a direction more favourable to slip, giving rise to the formation of extrusions within the blocks and consequently the formation of microcracks.