bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human Disease/Clinical Medical Sciences in Dentistry: Current state and future directions of undergraduate teaching in the UK and Ireland
Authors: Atkin P. A. , Thomas S. , Cook R. J. , Greenwood M. , Bennett J. H. , Willis A. , Donachie C. , Ni Riordain R. , Galvin S. , Crighton A. , Mighell A. J. , Bakri I. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn March 2017, a group of teachers of human disease/clinical medical science (HD/CMSD) representing the majority of schools from around the UK and Republic of Ireland met to discuss the current state of teaching of human disease and also to discuss how the delivery of this theme might evolve to inform improved healthcare. This study outlines how the original teaching in medicine and surgery to dental undergraduate students has developed into the theme of HD/CMSD reflecting changing needs as well as guidance from the regulators, and how different dental schools have developed their approaches to reach their current state. Each school was also asked to share a strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis of their programme and to outline how they thought their HD/CMSD programme may develop. The school representatives who coordinate the delivery and assessment of HD/CMSD in the undergraduate curriculum have extensive insight in this area and are well‐placed to shape the HD/CMSD development for the future.
Heterotrophic nitrification is responsible for large rates of N2O emission from subtropical acid forest soil in China
Authors: Zhang Y. , Zhao W. , Cai Z. , Müller C. , Zhang J. 
Published: April 2018

SummarySubtropical acidic forest soil is an important source of global nitrous oxide (N2O). However, the rates of autotrophic nitrification and denitrification in such soil are less than in temperate forest soil. We hypothesized that this difference is related to different N2O production pathways. We carried out paired 15N‐labelling experiments under aerobic conditions (60% water‐holding capacity) in the laboratory to compare N2O production pathways between subtropical and temperate forest soils to determine the differences in N2O production based on controlling factors. Our results showed that the contributions of NH4+ oxidation to NO3− to total N2O production (CNH4) were small in all soils studied (21–30%). Contributions of denitrification to total N2O production (CNO3) in subtropical forest soil (34%) were significantly less than those in temperate forest soil (54%). However, rates of N2O emission from denitrification (N2Od) were similar between subtropical and temperate forest soils, indicating that denitrification was probably not the predominant process causing the difference between the rates of N2O production in these soils. The average contribution of heterotrophic nitrification to total N2O production (CON) was significantly larger in subtropical forest soil (45%) than in temperate forest soil (15%). Soil pH and the C:N ratio were identified as key factors, with CON negatively correlated with soil pH (r = −0.60, P < 0.05) and positively correlated with soil C:N ratio (r = 0.78, P < 0.01), although the significance was probably weakened when forest types were taken into consideration. The rate of N2O production by heterotrophic nitrification (N2Oh) (average, 3.0 μg N kg−1 day−1) was also significantly larger in subtropical forest soil than in temperate forest soil (average, 0.7 μg N kg−1 day−1). Therefore, based on this study, the heterotrophic N2O pathway seems responsible for the larger N2O production in subtropical acid forest soil than in temperate forest soil. This study is among the first to elucidate in detail contributions to the processes of N2O production and to account for its large rates of production in subtropical acidic forest soil in China, which has implications for the prediction of N2O production in forest soil using ecosystem modelling.HighlightsExamined N2O production pathways in subtropical and temperate forest soils.
Rate of N2O emission in subtropical forest soil was larger than temperate forest soil.
Heterotrophic nitrification was responsible for large N2O production in subtropical soil.
Soil pH and C:N ratio were identified as key factors affecting the N2O production pathway.
Syndrome and outcome of antibody‐negative limbic encephalitis
Authors: Graus F. , Escudero D. , Oleaga L. , Bruna J. , Villarejo‐Galende A. , Ballabriga J. , Barceló M. I. , Gilo F. , Popkirov S. , Stourac P. , Dalmau J. 
Published: April 2018

Background and purposeThe aim was to report the clinical characteristics of 12 patients with limbic encephalitis (LE) who were antibody‐negative after a comprehensive immunological study.MethodsThe clinical records of 163 patients with LE were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry on rat brain, cultured neurons and cell‐based assays were used to identify neuronal autoantibodies. Patients were included if (i) there was adequate clinical, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and magnetic resonance imaging information to classify the syndrome as LE, (ii) magnetic resonance images were accessible for central review and (iii) serum and CSF were available and were confirmed negative for neuronal antibodies.ResultsTwelve (7%) of 163 LE patients [median age 62 years; range 40–79; 9 (75%) male] without neuronal autoantibodies were identified. The most frequent initial complaints were deficits in short‐term memory leading to hospital admission in a few weeks (median time 2 weeks; range 0.5–12). In four patients the short‐term memory dysfunction remained as an isolated symptom during the entire course of the disease. Seizures, drowsiness and psychiatric problems were unusual. Four patients had solid tumors (one lung, one esophagus, two metastatic cervical adenopathies of unknown primary tumor) and one chronic lymphocytic leukemia. CSF showed pleocytosis in seven (58%) with a median of 13 white blood cells/mm3 (range 9–25). Immunotherapy included corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins and combinations of both drugs or with rituximab. Clinical improvement occurred in six (54%) of 11 assessable patients.ConclusionsDespite the discovery of new antibodies, 7% of LE patients remain seronegative. Antibody‐negative LE is more frequent in older males and usually develops with predominant or isolated short‐term memory loss. Despite the absence of antibodies, patients may have an underlying cancer and respond to immunotherapy.
Effects of dams decrease zooplankton functional β‐diversity in river‐associated lakes
Authors: Braghin Louizi de Souza Magalhães , Almeida Bia de Arruda , Amaral Diogo Castanho , Canella Tassia Felício , Gimenez Barbara Carolina Garcia , Bonecker Claudia Costa 
Published: April 2018

Abstract

In river–floodplain systems, the construction of dams causes environmental changes in the natural dynamics of rivers and the associated wetlands, which can affect both the taxonomic and functional composition of communities, and, consequently, ecosystem functioning.

We evaluated zooplankton taxonomic and functional β‐diversity in sets of lakes associated with a preserved and a dammed river in a Neotropical floodplain. We expected that both β‐diversity measures would be lower in lakes associated with a dammed river than in lakes associated with a preserved river. β‐Diversity was partitioned into turnover and nestedness components, through multiple‐site dissimilarity measures, and compared with expected null models. We expected that nestedness would be more important for both the β‐diversity measures in lakes associated with the dammed river, whereas species and trait turnover would be more important in lakes associated with the preserved river.

Functional β‐diversity was higher among lakes of the preserved river than of the dammed river, while taxonomic β‐diversity was not different between the rivers. Contributions of turnover and nestedness components were similar in the preserved river, whereas that of nestedness was higher in the dammed river, revealing the loss of extreme trait combinations from the functional space. Comparisons between observed and expected β‐diversity revealed a higher trait turnover than would be expected by species turnover in the preserved river, and no differences from the null models were observed in lakes associated with the dammed river.

Our results suggest that dissimilarity in trait composition is influenced more by environmental changes associated with river damming than by dissimilarity in species composition such that a functional homogenisation occurs without a change in taxonomic β‐diversity. We propose the maintenance of preserved tributaries in floodplains, which sustain environmental heterogeneity, primarily if the nearby environments are already dammed. Furthermore, we reinforce the necessity of a pluralistic approach, considering both taxonomic and functional aspects of biodiversity in ecosystem management.
Amazon soil charcoal: Pyrogenic carbon stock depends of ignition source distance and forest type in Roraima, Brazil
Authors: da Silva Carvalho Lidiany C. , Fearnside Philip M. , Nascimento Marcelo T. , Barbosa Reinaldo I. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractPyrogenic carbon (PyC) derived from charcoal particles (paleo + modern) deposited in the soil column has been little studied in the Amazon, and our understanding of the factors that control the spatial and vertical distribution of these materials in the region's forest soils is still unclear. The objective of this study was to test the effect of forest type and distance from the ignition source on the PyC stocks contained in macroscopic particles of soil charcoal (≥2 mm; 1 m depth) dispersed in ecotone forests of the northern Brazilian Amazon. Thirty permanent plots were set up near a site that had been occupied by pre‐Columbian and by modern populations until the late 1970s. The sampled plots represent seasonal and ombrophilous forests that occur under different hydro‐edaphic restrictions. Our results indicate that the largest PyC stock was spatially dependent on distance to the ignition source (<3 km), occurring mainly in flood‐free ombrophilous forests (3.46 ± 5.22 Mg PyC/ha). The vertical distribution of PyC in the deeper layers of the soil (> 50 cm) in seasonal forests was limited by hydro‐edaphic impediments that restricted the occurrence of charcoal. These results suggest that PyC stocks derived from macroscopic charcoal particles in the soil of this Brazilian Amazon ecotone region are controlled by the distance from the ignition source of the fire, and that forest types with higher hydro‐edaphic restrictions can inhibit formation and accumulation of charcoal. Making use of these distinctions reduces uncertainty and improves our ability to understand the variability of PyC stocks in forests with a history of fire in the Amazon.
Dominance of bacterial ammonium oxidizers and fungal denitrifiers in the complex nitrogen cycle pathways related to nitrous oxide emission
Authors: Lourenço Késia S. , Dimitrov Maurício R. , Pijl Agata , Soares Johnny R. , do Carmo Janaína B. , van Veen Johannes A. , Cantarella Heitor , Kuramae Eiko E. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractOrganic compounds and mineral nitrogen (N) usually increase nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Vinasse, a by‐product of bio‐ethanol production that is rich in carbon, nitrogen, and potassium, is recycled in sugarcane fields as a bio‐fertilizer. Vinasse can contribute significantly to N2O emissions when applied with N in sugarcane plantations, a common practice. However, the biological processes involved in N2O emissions under this management practice are unknown. This study investigated the roles of nitrification and denitrification in N2O emissions from straw‐covered soils amended with different vinasses (CV: concentrated and V: nonconcentrated) before or at the same time as mineral fertilizers at different time points of the sugarcane cycle in two seasons. N2O emissions were evaluated for 90 days, the period that occurs most of the N2O emission from fertilizers; the microbial genes encoding enzymes involved in N2O production (archaeal and bacterial amoA, fungal and bacterial nirK, and bacterial nirS and nosZ), total bacteria, and total fungi were quantified by real‐time PCR. The application of CV and V in conjunction with mineral N resulted in higher N2O emissions than the application of N fertilizer alone. The strategy of vinasse application 30 days before mineral N reduced N2O emissions by 65% for CV, but not for V. Independent of rainy or dry season, the microbial processes were nitrification by ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea and denitrification by bacteria and fungi. The contributions of each process differed and depended on soil moisture, soil pH, and N sources. We concluded that amoA‐AOB was the most important gene related to N2O emissions, which indicates that nitrification by AOB is the main microbial‐driven process linked to N2O emissions in tropical soil. Interestingly, fungal nirK was also significantly correlated with N2O emissions, suggesting that denitrification by fungi contributes to N2O emission in soils receiving straw and vinasse application.
Phylogenetic uniqueness, not latitude, explains the diversity of avian blood parasite communities worldwide
Authors: Clark Nicholas J. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAimCharacterizing macroecological patterns in biodiversity is key to improve our understanding of community assembly. Global biodiversity for many taxa follows a latitudinal gradient, with increased diversity in tropical latitudes. Less is known about global parasite biodiversity, inhibiting our ability to predict how global change will impact parasitic disease emergence. Using distribution and phylogenetic data for 2,386 avian haemosporidian blood parasites (genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon), I assessed how contemporary and historical drivers influence the composition of parasite communities worldwide.LocationGlobal.Time periodCurrent.Major taxa studiedHaemosporidian blood parasites.MethodsParasite distribution and cytochrome b sequence data were accessed from an open‐source database. Bayesian phylogenetic tree distributions were constructed for each parasite genus using two substitution models to capture uncertainty. Hierarchical regressions assessed effects of environmental variation, latitude and phylogenetic β‐diversity (βdiv; a proxy for phylogenetic uniqueness) on the diversity and asymmetry of parasite communities around the globe.ResultsI uncovered biodiversity hotspots and identified broad variation in global diversity patterns among parasite genera. Community diversity increased with increasing phylogenetic uniqueness for all three parasite genera; however, these diverse and unique regions did not consistently occur in the tropics. I found no evidence of a latitudinal diversity gradient, and support for a latitudinal gradient in community phylogenetic asymmetry was weak.Main conclusionsGlobal variation in avian haemosporidian phylogenetic diversity does not reflect a latitudinal gradient. Instead, parasite biogeography may reflect fundamental differences in host‐switching tendencies or the timing of avian evolutionary radiations. Examining the interplay between shared evolutionary history and phylogenetic diversity can provide important insights into the drivers of parasite biodiversity at global scales.
The outlet patch: gastric heterotopia of the colorectum and anus
Authors: Mannan Abul A S R , Vieth Michael , Khararjian Armen , Khandakar Binny , Lam‐Himlin Dora , Heydt David , Bhaijee Feriyl , Venbrux Henry J , Byrnes Kathleen , Voltaggio Lysandra , Barker Norman , Yuan Songyang , Montgomery Elizabeth A 
Published: April 2018

AimsGastric heterotopia (GH) has been described throughout the gastrointestinal tract. However, the colorectal region is an extremely rare location for it. We describe the clinicopathological features of GH of the colon, rectum and anus.Methods and resultsWe identified 33 cases in 20 males and 13 females (median age = 54 years; range = 4 months–73 years). Sites included the rectum (n = 26), anus (n = 4), ileocaecal junction (n = 1), ascending colon (n = 1) and descending colon (n = 1). Presenting symptoms (n = 27) included haematochezia (41%) and altered bowel habits (4%); 15 patients (55%) were asymptomatic. On colonoscopy (n = 31), all appeared as solitary lesions (median size = 6.5 mm, range = 2–55 mm), either as polyps (61%), raised erythematous patches (23%), an ulcer (10%), within a rectal diverticulum (3%) or a haemorrhoid (3%). Patients were managed by polypectomy. One with an associated carcinoma in the area of GH underwent resection. No morbidity related to GH itself was reported following excision. Histologically, heterotopic gastric mucosa was oxyntic (85%), mixed oxyntic and non‐oxyntic (12%) and not specified (3%) types. In five patients a pyloric gland adenoma (PGA) arose from heterotopic gastric mucosa, two of which contained a focus of invasive adenocarcinoma. One case had associated surface foveolar‐type low‐grade dysplasia. Another had associated adenocarcinoma arising from the heterotopic mucosa. One example harboured Helicobacter pylori organisms.ConclusionsWe highlight the features of GH in the distal GIT – the ‘outlet patch’. Association with PGA, surface dysplasia and adenocarcinoma suggests that lower tract GH can undergo neoplastic transformation.
Variation in the TEK gene is not associated with asthma but with allergic conjunctivitis
Authors: Fodor L. E. , Gézsi A. , Gál Z. , Nagy A. , Kiss A. , Bikov A. , Szalai C. 
Published: April 2018

SummaryThe Tie2 receptor is an important player in angiogenesis. The Tie2 mRNA and protein are abundantly expressed in the lungs and the associated pathway also has an important role in the development and function of the eye. Tie2 is encoded by the TEK gene in humans. Recently, variations in the TEK gene have been found associated with asthma. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether variations in the TEK gene influenced the susceptibility to pediatric asthma and/or associated phenotypes like GINA status, viral‐ or exercise‐induced asthma, allergic asthma, indoor, outdoor, inhalative allergies, IgE and eosonophil levels, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, rs3780315, rs581724 and rs7876024) in the TEK gene were genotyped in 1189 unrelated individuals, out of which 435 were asthmatic children and 754 healthy controls. Different types of asthma, allergies and co‐morbidities were defined in 320 patients. Among the fully phenotyped 320 asthmatic patients 178 (55.6%) also had allergic rhinitis and 100 (31.3%) had conjunctivitis. Among the rhinitis patients 98 (55.1%) also had conjunctivitis. Two patients had conjunctivitis without rhinitis. The genotyped SNPs showed no association with asthma. However, SNP rs581724 was significantly associated with allergic conjunctivitis in a recessive way (p=0.007; OR=2.3 (1.3‐4.4)) within the asthmatic population. The risk remained significant when the whole population (asthmatics and healthy controls) was included in the calculation (p = 0.003; OR = 2.1 (1.3‐3.6)). The minor allele of the rs581724 SNP which is associated with the increased risk to conjunctivitis is also associated with reduced Tie2 expression. There was a significant association between SNP rs581724 and the occurrence of allergic conjunctivitis in asthmatic children. If additional studies can confirm the role of the Tie2 pathway in allergic conjunctivitis, it can be a potential novel therapeutic target in the disease.
Shoulder stiffness, back pain, and wrist pain: Are older primiparas more vulnerable?
Authors: Iwata Hiroko , Mori Emi , Maehara Kunie , Sakajo Akiko , Aoki Kyoko , Tamakoshi Koji 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAimTo describe changes in prevalence of shoulder stiffness, back pain, and wrist pain during the first 6 months postpartum, and to examine the association of these symptoms with maternal age and parity.MethodsParticipants were recruited from 13 Japanese hospitals between 2012 and 2013. A total of 2709 (response rate 71.9%) women provided longitudinal data, using self‐report questionnaires at 5 time points: during their hospital stay, and at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months postpartum. Shoulder stiffness, back pain, and wrist pain were measured, using checklists with yes‐no responses. The effects of age and parity were assessed in 4 groups of younger (<35 years) and older (≥35 years) mothers: 983 younger primiparas, 481 older primiparas, 649 younger multiparas, and 596 older multiparas. Chi‐square tests and Cochran's Q tests were used to assess effects of group and time.ResultsPrevalence of shoulder stiffness, back pain, and wrist pain during the hospital stay significantly increased up to 1 month postpartum for older primiparas, who were also the most vulnerable to back pain and wrist pain at 1 month postpartum.ConclusionSpecial attention should be given to older primiparas in assessing and providing nursing care for physical symptoms, especially during the first month postpartum.
Predatory publishing and cybercrime targeting academics
Authors: Umlauf Mary Grace , Mochizuki Yuki 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe purpose of this report is to inform and warn academics about practices used by cybercriminals who seek to profit from unwary scholars and undermine the industry of science. This report describes the signs, symptoms, characteristics, and consequences of predatory publishing and related forms of consumer fraud. Methods to curb these cybercrimes include educating scholars and students about tactics used by predatory publishers; institutional changes in how faculty are evaluated using publications; soliciting cooperation from the industries that support academic publishing and indexing to curb incorporation of illegitimate journals; and taking an offensive position by reporting these consumer fraud crimes to the authorities. Over and above the problem of publishing good science in fraudulent journals, disseminating and citing poor‐quality research threaten the credibility of science and of nursing.
Refugees and Elections: The Effects of Syrians on Voting Behavior in Turkey
Authors: Fisunoğlu Ali , Sert Deniz Ş. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn the wake of the Syrian civil war, more than three million people have fled to Turkey, which now hosts the largest refugee population on earth. Making up 4.42 per cent of the total population in Turkey as of February 2018, Syrian refugees are nevertheless spread unevenly within its borders. The ratio of refugees to the local population ranges from as high as 99per cent in the city of Kilis to as low as 0.05per cent in Sinop. This article presents findings from the empirical study of the effect of this geographical variation on election outcomes in Turkey, after the arrival of major refugee populations in 2012. Drawing on a unique subnational dataset and ordinary least squares (OLS), generalized least squares (GLS), and difference‐in‐differences (DiD) regressions, the study compares cities hosting few refugees (control group) with cities with large refugee populations (treatment group) to determine whether significant differences in voting patterns emerged. Our findings show a negative, but insignificant, impact on the incumbent party. The findings have policy implications for Turkey as well as any country that experiences a considerable flow of refugees.