bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Loss of oral self‐care ability results in a higher risk of pneumonia in older inpatients: A prospective cohort study in a Japanese rural hospital
Authors: Fujiwara Aya , Minakuchi Hajime , Uehara Junji , Miki Haruna , Inoue‐Minakuchi Mami , Kimura‐Ono Aya , Nawachi Kumiko , Maekawa Kenji , Kuboki Takuo 
Published: March 2019

ObjectivesTo identify significant risk factors associated with incidence of mortality and pneumonia in whole‐community‐based older inpatients resident in Japanese rural region.MethodsPatients older than 65 years admitted between 1 April and 15 April 2010 to a core hospital located in a rural region were exhaustively recruited, and incidence of mortality and pneumonia during the 32‐month follow‐up period were evaluated. Independent variables at baseline measurement included age, gender, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, functional dependency, oral self‐care ability index, number of remaining teeth, hyposalivation and nutritional status. Dependent variables were incidence of mortality and pneumonia. Survival and non‐pneumonia curves were drawn using Kaplan‐Meier analysis. Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to identify the risk factors related to incidence of mortality and pneumonia.ResultsThe survival rate of 46 patients (male/female: 11/35; mean age: 83.8 ± 6.8 years) was 52.1%, and the incidence of pneumonia was 60.9%. Malnutrition and gender (male) were identified as significant risk factors for mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 8.18 and 4.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.77‐37.3 and 1.50‐16.0; P < 0.01 and <0.01, respectively). Loss of oral self‐care ability and gender (male) were identified as significant risk factors for incidence of pneumonia (OR: 8.97 and 4.58; 95% CI: 1.70‐47.4 and 1.50‐14.0; P = 0.01 and <0.01, respectively).ConclusionsMalnutrition and loss of oral self‐care ability were significant risk factors for incidence of mortality and pneumonia, respectively. In response, supplying nutrition with appropriate diet and personalised oral care might contribute to reduction in mortality and prevention of pneumonia.
The impact of severe asthma on patients’ autonomy: A qualitative study
Authors: Eassey Daniela , Reddel Helen K. , Ryan Kath , Smith Lorraine 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundPeople living with severe asthma may have ongoing debilitating symptoms despite high‐dose treatment. Clinical guidelines for severe asthma recommend concepts such as patient centeredness, shared decision making and self‐management, at the heart of which lies autonomy.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the role of autonomy in patients’ narratives about their experiences of living with and managing severe asthma.MethodsIn‐depth semi‐structured interviews were video‐ and/or audio‐recorded and transcribed. Data were categorized using a hybrid approach to analysis incorporating both inductive and deductive methods, informed by the self‐determination construct of autonomy. Analysis and comparison across and within categories were conducted to develop final themes.ResultsTwenty‐nine face‐to‐face interviews, lasting 1.5‐4 hours, were conducted across Australia. Patients’ autonomy was enacted or challenged in a range of situations, such as interacting with health‐care providers, maintaining employment, managing symptoms, and dealing with threats to self‐identity. Two main themes were discerned from the analysis: (a) the desire to live an “unconstrained” life; and (b) preservation of self‐identity.ConclusionOur findings suggest that autonomy is broader than conventional medical concepts such as decision making and information seeking. Future research should consider these findings when developing and implementing patient‐driven self‐management interventions for those living with severe asthma.
Effects of alpha‐lipoic acid therapy on experimentally induced apical periodontitis: a biochemical, histopathological and micro‐CT analysis
Authors: Aksoy U. , Savtekin G. , Şehirli A. Ö. , Kermeoğlu F. , Kalender A. , Özkayalar H. , Sayıner S. , Orhan K. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAimTo investigate the possible therapeutic effects of alpha‐lipoic acid (ALA) in a model of chronic apical periodontitis in rats by analysing biochemical, histopathological and micro‐CT parameters.MethodologyThe study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Near East University. Thirty‐two Wistar rats were divided into four groups of eight rats each: Control Group; ALA Group; AP Group; AP + ALA Group. In the AP and AP + ALA groups, the pulp chambers of the mandibular first molars were surgically exposed and were left open to the oral environment for 4‐weeks to allow the establishment of periapical lesions. The rats in the Control and AP groups were treated intraperitoneally with saline solution (with a daily dose of 100 mg kg−1, for 28 days after periapical lesion induction). The rats in the ALA and AP + ALA groups were treated intraperitoneally with ALA (with a daily dose of 100 mg kg−1, for 28 days after periapical lesion induction). After decapitation, the trunk blood was collected for the assessment of biochemical parameters. The mandibles were surgically removed and dissected for histopathologic analysis and further scanned with micro‐CT. Groups of data were compared with a two‐way analysis of variance (two‐way anova) followed by Sidak's multiple comparison tests. Values of P < 0.05 were regarded as significant.ResultsTNF‐α, IL‐1β, MMP‐1, MMP‐2 levels were significantly lower in AP + ALA group compared with AP group (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference between the AP and AP + ALA groups according to assessment of the inflammatory scores (P < 0.05). The periapical inflammatory infiltrates were significantly more severe (P < 0.05) in the AP group. The AP + ALA group exhibited lower values both in terms of surface area and volume of resorption cavities than the AP group and this difference was significant (P < 0.05).Conclusionalpha‐lipoic acid treatment provided therapeutic effects on the inhibition of periapical bone loss.
Financial capability and emergency savings among South Africans living above and below the poverty line
Authors: Reyers Michelle 
Published: March 2019

AbstractEmergency savings provide a buffer against financial shocks, particularly among low‐income households. Despite the importance of these funds in lessening financial hardship, many households have not set aside emergency funds. It has been suggested that financial capability may play a role in financial behaviour. Therefore, this study considers whether financial capability is associated with saving for emergencies and whether there are differences in factors that predict emergency savings behaviour among those living below and above the poverty line. Using data from a sample of South Africans, logistic regression is used to determine the predictors of emergency savings. The study finds that those with higher levels of financial capability, related to financial self‐efficacy and having access to a bank account, are more likely to have emergency savings compared with those with lower levels of financial capability. However, no evidence is found to suggest a relationship between objectively measured financial knowledge and emergency savings. Therefore, the findings suggest that self‐assessed financial ability, as measured by financial self‐efficacy, might be more important than objectively assessed ability in the context of individuals making responsible financial choices. Differences in the predictors of emergency savings for those living above and below the poverty line related to socioeconomic and demographic differences, whereas the same financial capability predictors were significant predictors in both samples. The study provides unique insights into the predictors of emergency savings in a developing market context and identifies the characteristics of those who are likely to be financially resilient to unexpected economic shocks. The importance of the broader financial capability construct in predicting emergency savings, for both those living above and below the poverty line, suggests that programmes aimed at encouraging emergency savings should focus on enhancing financial self‐efficacy and financial inclusion.
The Global North Goes to the Global North Minus? Intersections of the Integration of Highly Skilled, Non‐Jewish Female Partner and Spousal Migrants from the Global North in Israel
Authors: Kranz Dani 
Published: March 2019

AbstractUsing Global Northern, non‐Jewish, female, highly skilled partners and spouses of Israeli Jewish citizens in Israel as a case study, and depicting their interactions with bureaucracy, integration into the labour market, gendered aspects of integration and clashes between self‐perception and ascription this paper teases out that, despite its specificity, the case of Israel allows forming conclusions about the precariousness of a class of presumed privileged migrants. The central finding is that Global Northerners experience a status deprivation, which includes deskilling and social marginalization. This nexus was experienced as limiting personal agency, which allows for questioning their presumed status of privileged migrants; it concurrently underscores the importance of the analytically difficult and diffuse nexus of personality and agency. The ethnographic data demonstrates that individuals coped with the challenges differently, suggesting that specific personalities and intra‐ and interpersonal resourcefulness underpin individual resilience thresholds.
A Comparison of Methods for Poverty Estimation in Developing Countries
Authors: Das Sumonkanti , Haslett Stephen 
Published: March 2019

SummarySmall area estimation is a widely used indirect estimation technique for micro‐level geographic profiling. Three unit level small area estimation techniques—the ELL or World Bank method, empirical best prediction (EBP) and M‐quantile (MQ) — can estimate micro‐level Foster, Greer, & Thorbecke (FGT) indicators: poverty incidence, gap and severity using both unit level survey and census data. However, they use different assumptions. The effects of using model‐based unit level census data reconstructed from cross‐tabulations and having no cluster level contextual variables for models are discussed, as are effects of small area and cluster level heterogeneity. A simulation‐based comparison of ELL, EBP and MQ uses a model‐based reconstruction of 2000/2001 data from Bangladesh and compares bias and mean square error. A three‐level ELL method is applied for comparison with the standard two‐level ELL that lacks a small area level component. An important finding is that the larger number of small areas for which ELL has been able to produce sufficiently accurate estimates in comparison with EBP and MQ has been driven more by the type of census data available or utilised than by the model per se.
Effect of A‐site substitutions on energy storage properties of BaTiO3‐BiScO3 weakly coupled relaxor ferroelectrics
Authors: Nayak Sanjib , Venkateshwarlu Sarangi , Budisuharto Anthony Setiadi , Jørgensen Mads Ry Vogel , Borkiewicz Olaf , Beyer Kevin A. , Pramanick Abhijit 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWeakly coupled relaxors based on compositions (1‐x) BaTiO3‐xBiMeO3, where Me is a metal ion, have attracted attention as potential candidates for high‐temperature high‐energy density capacitors. However, the necessary Bi content is typically high with x = 0.3‐0.4. In order to reduce problems associated with compatibility for base metal electrodes and due to additional problems due to Bi volatility, it is desirable to lower the Bi content in the overall composition for these materials. Here, we have explored a possible way to reduce BiMeO3 content through additional A‐site substitutions viz. Ca and Sn. The relaxor nature and energy storage properties of Sn‐modified (Ba,Ca)(Ti)O3‐BiScO3 ceramics were determined from their dielectric and ferroelectric behaviors. The material showed attractive properties in terms of a frequency‐independent (200 Hz‐1 MHz) dielectric response from room temperature to 200°C, extremely low loss and high‐energy storage efficiency. The structural phenomena underlying the functional properties of Sn‐modified (Ba,Ca)TiO3‐BiScO3 are characterized from temperature‐dependent X‐ray diffraction and pair distribution function analysis. In broader terms, the study illustrates the potential for tailoring relaxor behavior in Pb‐free ferroelectrics by combining phenomena, such as quantum fluctuations and lone pair stereochemical effect associated with different solid‐solution substitutions.
Susceptibility of Cypriot Tuta absoluta populations to four targeted insecticides and control failure likelihood
Authors: Michaelides Georgios , Seraphides Nicos , Pitsillou Maria , Sfenthourakis Spyros 
Published: March 2019

AbstractTuta absoluta, known as the South American tomato pinworm, is one of the most disastrous pests of tomato cultivations, presently menacing tomato cultivations worldwide. In 2006, T. absoluta invaded Spain from South America. Since then, it was rapidly spread to most European, African and Asian countries. Such alien invasive species can minimize crop production, whereas the increasing use of insecticides raises various environmental concerns as well as on control costs, control failure and the toxicity to non‐target organisms. The S. American tomato pinworm is mostly controlled by chemical insecticides, and failure to control it is not a rare phenomenon. Resistance to numerous insecticides has been reported and is mainly due to the fact that farmers do not follow a sustainable resistance management scheme. Several examples have been reported from several countries where the tomato pinworm is present. In order to develop a successful insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategy for any major pest, one needs to identify the baseline toxicity to insecticides and then monitor susceptibility levels. In Cyprus, the current status of susceptibility levels to the main insecticides that are used to control T. absoluta has never been studied before. Herein, nine Cypriot populations of the pest were subjected to laboratory bioassays between 2016 and 2018 using the main insecticides applied against it. We found that the insecticides chlorantraniliprole and indoxacarb could not control the Cypriot T. absoluta populations anymore, with a resistance ratio (RR) >28 and 3–23, respectively. Furthermore, mortality achieved by those two insecticides was 20.6%–72% for chlorantraniliprole and 27.5%–78% for indoxacarb. However, the insecticides emamectin benzoate and spinosad are very effective, since mortality to both of them ranged between 99.5% and 100%.
Phenotype comparison among individuals with developmental delay/intellectual disability with or without genomic imbalances
Authors: de Souza L. C. , dos Santos A. P. , Sgardioli I. C. , Viguetti‐Campos N. L. , Marques Prota J. R. , de Oliveira‐Sobrinho R. P. , Vieira T. P. , Gil‐da‐Silva‐Lopes V. L. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) is recommended as a first‐tier test for individuals with developmental delay (DD)/intellectual disability (ID) and/or multiple congenital anomalies. However, owing to high costs, this technique is not widely performed for diagnostic purposes in several countries. The aim of this study was to identify clinical features that could favour the hypothesis of genomic imbalances (GIs) in individuals with DD/ID.MethodsThe sample consisted of 63 individuals, and all of them underwent a detailed evaluation by a clinical geneticist and were investigated by the CMA. They were divided into two groups. Group A composed of 20 individuals with pathogenic copy number variants (CNVs); and group B composed of 43 individuals with normal CMA results or variants of uncertain clinical significance (VUS).ResultsPathogenic GIs were found in 20 cases (32%), including 11 individuals with an abnormal karyotype, VUS was found in five individuals (8%) and the results were normal in 38 individuals (60%). Major anomalies were found in 15/20 (75%) individuals in group A against 35/43 (81%) in group B. Dysmorphisms (≥5) were found in 17/20 (85%) in group A and 41/43 (95%) in group B. The most frequent major anomalies detected in group A were congenital heart disease, epilepsy and renal malformation; and in group B, they were malformations of central nervous system, congenital heart disease, microcephaly, epilepsy and hearing impairment. There was no significant statistical difference among the frequencies in groups A and B.ConclusionsEvidences point that every individual with DD/ID, with no specific clinical suspicion, should have screening for GIs as a first‐tier test, regardless of the presence or absence of additional major anomalies or dysmorphisms. Future studies with a similar design would be helpful, especially in countries where the access to new technologies is still limited.
The effect of automated landmark identification on morphometric analyses
Authors: Percival Christopher J. , Devine Jay , Darwin Benjamin C. , Liu Wei , van Eede Matthijs , Henkelman R. Mark , Hallgrimsson Benedikt 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMorphometric analysis of anatomical landmarks allows researchers to identify specific morphological differences between natural populations or experimental groups, but manually identifying landmarks is time‐consuming. We compare manually and automatically generated adult mouse skull landmarks and subsequent morphometric analyses to elucidate how switching from manual to automated landmarking will impact morphometric analysis results for large mouse (Mus musculus) samples (n = 1205) that represent a wide range of ‘normal’ phenotypic variation (62 genotypes). Other studies have suggested that the use of automated landmarking methods is feasible, but this study is the first to compare the utility of current automated approaches to manual landmarking for a large dataset that allows the quantification of intra‐ and inter‐strain variation. With this unique sample, we investigated how switching to a non‐linear image registration‐based automated landmarking method impacts estimated differences in genotype mean shape and shape variance‐covariance structure. In addition, we tested whether an initial registration of specimen images to genotype‐specific averages improves automatic landmark identification accuracy. Our results indicated that automated landmark placement was significantly different than manual landmark placement but that estimated skull shape covariation was correlated across methods. The addition of a preliminary genotype‐specific registration step as part of a two‐level procedure did not substantially improve on the accuracy of one‐level automatic landmark placement. The landmarks with the lowest automatic landmark accuracy are found in locations with poor image registration alignment. The most serious outliers within morphometric analysis of automated landmarks displayed instances of stochastic image registration error that are likely representative of errors common when applying image registration methods to micro‐computed tomography datasets that were initially collected with manual landmarking in mind. Additional efforts during specimen preparation and image acquisition can help reduce the number of registration errors and improve registration results. A reduction in skull shape variance estimates were noted for automated landmarking methods compared with manual landmarking. This partially reflects an underestimation of more extreme genotype shapes and loss of biological signal, but largely represents the fact that automated methods do not suffer from intra‐observer landmarking error. For appropriate samples and research questions, our image registration‐based automated landmarking method can eliminate the time required for manual landmarking and have a similar power to identify shape differences between inbred mouse genotypes.
Posture‐related stiffness mapping of paraspinal muscles
Authors: Creze Maud , Bedretdinova Dina , Soubeyrand Marc , Rocher Laurence , Gennisson Jean‐Luc , Gagey Olivier , Maître Xavier , Bellin Marie‐France 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe paraspinal compartment acts as a bone–muscle composite beam of the spine. The elastic properties of the paraspinal muscles play a critical role in spine stabilization. These properties depend on the subjects’ posture, and they may be drastically altered by low back pain. Supersonic shear wave elastography can be used to provide quantitative stiffness maps (elastograms), which characterize the elastic properties of the probed tissue. The aim of this study was to challenge shear wave elastography sensitivity to postural stiffness changes in healthy paraspinal muscles. The stiffness of the main paraspinal muscles (longissimus, iliocostalis, multifidus) was measured by shear wave elastography at the lumbosacral level (L3 and S1) for six static postures performed by volunteers. Passive postures (rest, passive flexion, passive extension) were performed in a first shear wave elastography session, and active postures (upright, bending forward, bending backward) with rest posture for reference were performed in a second session. Measurements were repeated three times for each posture. Sixteen healthy young adults were enrolled in the study. Non‐parametric paired tests, multiple analyses of covariance, and intra‐class correlations were implemented for analysis. Shear wave elastography showed good to excellent reliability, except in the multifidus at S1, during bending forward, and in the multifidus at L3, during bending backward. Yet, during bending forward, only poor quality was recorded for nine volunteers in the longissimus. Significant intra‐ and inter‐muscular changes were observed with posture. Stiffness significantly increased for the upright position and bending forward with respect to the reference values recorded in passive postures. In conclusion, shear wave elastography allows reliable assessment of the stiffness of the paraspinal muscles except in the multifidus at S1 and longissimus, during bending forward, and in the multifidus at L3, during bending backward. It reveals a different biomechanical behaviour for the multifidus, the longissimus, and the iliocostalis.
Regulation of the expression of key signalling molecules in mTOR pathway of skeletal muscle satellite cells in neonatal chicks: Effects of leucine and glycine–leucine peptide
Authors: She Yue , Deng Huiling , Cai Huiyi , Liu Guohua 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis study was conducted to analyse the effects of leucine (Leu) and glycine (Gly)‐Leu peptide on expressions of key signalling molecules in mTOR pathway of skeletal muscle satellite cells in neonatal chicks. The 4‐day‐old male AA broilers with similar weight were selected to obtain the broiler skeletal muscle satellite cells with the two‐step method of collagenase‐I and trypsin digestion. The satellite cells were subjected to primary culture in vitro, and they were cultured in DMEM medium with the Leu concentration of 0.2 mM and 2 mM as well as with the Gly‐Leu peptide concentration of 0.2 mM and 2 mM. The experiment lasted for 5 days. The results showed that TOR, S6K1 and 4E‐BP1 mRNA expressions in the medium with Leu concentration of 2 mM were significantly higher than that in 0.2 mM group (p < 0.05). There was no difference between the medium with Gly‐Leu concentration of 2 mM and 0.2 mM on the TOR, S6K1 and 4E‐BP1 mRNA expressions (p > 0.05). In conclusion, Leu significantly increases TOR, S6K1 and 4E‐BP1 mRNA expressions of skeletal muscle satellite cells, but Gly‐Leu peptide has no effect on them.