bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of a 1800 MHz electromagnetic field emitted during embryogenesis on chick development and hatchability
Authors: Pawlak K. , Nieckarz Z. , Sechman A. , Wojtysiak D. , Bojarski B. , Tombarkiewicz B. 
Published: March 2018

SummaryThe level of artificial electromagnetic field (EMF) has steadily increased with the development of human civilization. The developing chicken embryo has been considered a good model to study the effects of EMF on living organisms. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a 1800 MHz electromagnetic field during embryogenesis on the frequency of chick embryo malformations, morphometric parameters of the heart and liver and concentration of corticosterone in blood plasma, lipid and glycogen content in the liver of newly hatched chicks. A 1800 MHz EMF was found to shorten the duration of embryogenesis (earlier pipping and hatching of chicks) while having no effect on the quantity and quality of chicks and on increasing the incidence of embryo malformations. Exposure of chick embryos to EMF caused decreases in relative heart weight and right ventricle wall thickness. The pipping and hatching of chicks can be accelerated by stressful impact of EMF, which is confirmed by a significant increase in plasma corticosterone concentrations and decrease in fat and glycogen in the liver of chicks exposed during embryogenesis on the electromagnetic field with a frequency of 1800 MHz.
An evaluation of the objective quality and perceived usefulness of maternity clinical practice guidelines at a tertiary maternity unit
Authors: Trollope Helena , Leung Joyce Pui Yee , Wise Michelle , Farquhar Cynthia , Sadler Lynn 
Published: March 2018

BackgroundCompliance with maternity clinical practice guidelines developed by National Women's Health has been found to be low at audit.ObjectiveTo explore the reasons for poor compliance with maternity guidelines by evaluating the quality of a sample of National Women's Health guidelines using a validated instrument and assessing local guideline users’ perceptions of and attitudes toward guidelines.DesignFive independent reviewers evaluated the quality of 10 purposively selected guidelines for adherence to the Appraisal of Guidelines Research & Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument standards. A self‐administered questionnaire for staff was undertaken regarding views of and barriers to guideline use.ResultsNone of the guidelines attained a score over 50% for the following domains: stakeholder involvement, rigour of development, applicability, editorial independence. The highest scoring domain was clarity of presentation (mean 69%). All guidelines scored the minimum possible for editorial independence. Survey respondents had positive attitudes toward guidelines, believed that their use could improve quality of care within the service, and felt that encouragement from senior staff members and peers would encourage their use. Accessibility was the most commonly cited of many barriers identified.ConclusionThe National Women's Health guidelines evaluated in this study cannot be considered to be high quality, and could be improved by reporting on methodology of the development process. Although poor guideline development may contribute to failure of the local maternity guidelines, it appears that accessibility is a major barrier to their use and implementation.
Mindfulness and Trauma: Some Striking Similarities
Authors: Ataria Yochai 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe traumatic experience and the meditative experience differ in many respects. For instance, it is possible to suggest that while a sense of helplessness is the most important feature of the traumatic experience, meditation does not involve a similar sense of helplessness. Furthermore, while trauma is shocking and horrifying, meditation is considered to be constructive and efficient in reducing stress and improving welfare. Yet, with this in mind, by comparing interviews with twelve senior meditators on the one hand and interviews with survivors of traumatic experiences from other qualitative studies of mine on the other, this paper suggests that essentially both phenomena are rooted in the same mechanism: the collapse of the intentional structure. More precisely, in both cases, the intentional structure collapses and, as a result, the gap between Me versus Not–Me diminishes: in that case, one loses the first‐personal bodily egocentric perceptive upon the world.
Correlation of retinal neurodegeneration with measures of peripheral autonomic neuropathy in type 1 diabetes
Authors: Pemp Berthold , Palkovits Stefan , Howorka Kinga , Pumprla Jiri , Sacu Stefan , Garhöfer Gerhard , Bayerle‐Eder Michaela , Schmetterer Leopold , Schmidt‐Erfurth Ursula 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the relationship of neuroretinal layer thickness with sensitive measures of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in diabetic patients with non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).MethodsTwenty‐seven eyes of 27 patients with type 1 diabetes presenting with mild‐to‐moderate NPDR were compared to 27 healthy control (HC) eyes matched for age and gender. The total macular volume (TMV) and the volumes of individual neurosensory layers in the macula were analysed from spectral domain optical coherence tomography using automated layer segmentation. Cardiovascular autonomic regulation was assessed by short‐term power spectrum analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) before, during and after an orthostatic challenge.ResultsThe patients had an age of 46 ± 12 years and diabetes since 28 ± 9 years. Diastolic and mean arterial pressure was lower in the patients compared to HCs. TMV (r = 0.58, p = 0.002), inner plexiform layer volume (IPLV; r = 0.39, p = 0.047) and inner nuclear layer volume (INLV; r = 0.60, p = 0.001) were associated with reduced recovery of low‐frequency (LF) spectral power of HRV after orthostatic load in diabetic patients but not in HCs. The response of LF spectral power during the orthostatic manoeuvre was blunted in patients compared to HCs (p = 0.02). Diabetes duration was negatively associated with TMV and INLV, whereas IPLV was significantly reduced in eyes with moderate NPDR compared to HCs.ConclusionThe results indicate a correlation between inner retinal tissue loss and diminished autonomic regulation in type 1 diabetic patients with mild‐to‐moderate NPDR. The observed changes can be interpreted as congruent early signs of retinal and systemic neuropathy in diabetes.
A Cross‐Sectional Study to Assess the Modulation of Wnt Inhibitors following Anti‐Epileptic Drug Therapy and their Correlation with Vitamin D and Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor κ B Ligand in Indian Women with Epilepsy
Authors: Parveen Bushra , Tripathi Manjari , Vohora Divya 
Published: March 2018

AbstractLong‐term anti‐epileptic drug (AED) therapy compromises bone health. Although vitamin D deficiency is proposed to be involved, it alone is not held responsible. This accounts for investigating other mechanisms in bone accrual. Recent studies have shown modulation of inhibitors of wnt pathway, sclerostin and dickkopf‐1 (DKK‐1), in glucocorticoids‐induced osteoporosis. We investigated whether AED monotherapy modulates wnt inhibitors in Indian women with epilepsy. Women of age > 20–40 years with the diagnosis of epilepsy and receiving AEDs (carbamazepine, valproate and levetiracetam) for at least a year were enrolled. The results were compared with age‐matched healthy controls with no evidence of metabolic bone disease. Women undergoing treatment with AEDs (mean duration: 50.59 ± 37.929 months) exhibited higher serum sclerostin and receptor activator of nuclear factor κ B ligand (RANKL) and lower vitamin D (25‐hydroxy vitamin D) and DKK‐1 levels when compared to age‐matched healthy controls. Sclerostin showed a positive correlation with RANKL, while DKK‐1 presented no such relationship. However, no association was evident after adjusting for age, duration of treatment and total daily dose. Although a correlation between wnt inhibitors and RANKL could not be obtained, AEDs displayed changes in serum levels of wnt inhibitors in persons with epilepsy and hence these drugs may compromise bone health through a disturbance in wnt signalling mechanisms.
Use of Dicloxacillin and Risk of Pregnancy among Users of Oral Contraceptives
Authors: Pottegård Anton , Broe Anne , Stage Tore B. , Brøsen Kim , Hallas Jesper , Damkier Per 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe antibiotic dicloxacillin has been shown to induce drug‐metabolizing CYP enzymes to a clinically relevant extent. In this study, we investigated whether the use of dicloxacillin confers an increased risk of unwanted pregnancy among oral contraceptive users. The study population comprised Danish women falling pregnant (1997–2015) during oral contraceptive use, defined as having filled a prescription for an oral contraceptive within 120 days both before and after the estimated date of conception. Data were analysed using a case‐crossover approach. For each woman, we assessed the use of dicloxacillin preceding the date of conception and during 10 previous control periods and estimated the odds ratio for such unintended pregnancies associated with the use of dicloxacillin. Among 364 women using dicloxacillin prior to conception, 40 (11%) were exposed to dicloxacillin at the time of conception, yielding an odds ratio (OR) associating use of dicloxacillin to unintended pregnancy of 1.18 (95% CI 0.84–1.65). Supplementary and sensitivity analyses generally returned similar estimates, except for a slightly increased risk among users of progestogen‐only oral contraceptives (OR 1.83, 95% CI 0.63–5.34). Analysis of other antibiotics as negative controls yielded results close to unity (ORs ranging from 0.83 to 1.13). In conclusion, our study found no evidence for an increased risk of oral contraceptive failure when using dicloxacillin. However, acknowledging study limitations, we suggest the use of supplementary barrier methods during treatment with dicloxacillin, until our findings are confirmed in further studies.
e‐Authentication for online assessment: A mixed‐method study
Authors: Okada Alexandra , Whitelock Denise , Holmes Wayne , Edwards Chris 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAuthenticating the students’ identity and authenticity of their work is increasingly important to reduce academic malpractices and for quality assurance purposes in Education. There is a growing body of research about technological innovations to combat cheating and plagiarism. However, the literature is very limited on the impact of e‐authentication systems across distinctive end‐users because it is not a widespread practice at the moment. A considerable gap is to understand whether the use of e‐authentication systems would increase trust on e‐assessment, and to extend, whether students’ acceptance would vary across gender, age and previous experiences. This study aims to shed light on this area by examining the attitudes and experiences of 328 students who used an authentication system known as adaptive trust‐based e‐assessment system for learning (TeSLA). Evidence from mixed‐method analysis suggests a broadly positive acceptance of these e‐authentication technologies by distance education students. However, significant differences in the students’ responses indicated, for instance, that men were less concerned about providing personal data than women; middle‐aged participants were more aware of the nuances of cheating and plagiarism; while younger students were more likely to reject e‐authentication, considerably due to data privacy and security and students with disabilities due to concerns about their special needs.
Teachers' beliefs and technology acceptance concerning smart mobile devices for SMART education in South Korea
Authors: Leem Junghoon , Sung Eunmo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTeachers' beliefs are a major factor in the effective use of new technology in teaching and learning. Recently, smart mobile devices (SMDs) such as smartphones, smart pads and tablet computers have been responsible for introducing broad innovations into the education field as Self‐directed, Motivated, Adaptive, Resources‐enriched, Technology embedded education in South Korea. Teachers' beliefs and technology acceptance concerning SMDs in South Korea can be either a facilitator or a barrier to the use of SMDs in the classroom. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors of teachers' beliefs concerning SMDs, and to examine teachers' technology acceptance of SMDs in their lessons. To address these goals, 378 primary and 390 secondary teachers participated in a survey with a 25‐item paired adjective questionnaire and a 12‐item technology acceptance questionnaire. A series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and multiple regressions were applied for the statistical analysis. The results indicate that teachers' beliefs were consistently revealed the five factors of immediacy, interest, interactivity, instability and inconvenience. Regarding the effect of the technology acceptance of SMDs on teachers' beliefs, the factors of instability, inconvenience and interactivity strongly related to the perceived usefulness and ease of use of SMDs. This finding indicates that teachers' beliefs that SMDs are unstable or uncomfortable can be the main barrier to the use of technology in the classroom.
Generation of novel neuroinvasive prions following intravenous challenge
Authors: Aguilar‐Calvo Patricia , Bett Cyrus , Sevillano Alejandro M. , Kurt Timothy D. , Lawrence Jessica , Soldau Katrin , Hammarström Per , Nilsson K. Peter R. , Sigurdson Christina J. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPrions typically spread into the central nervous system (CNS), likely via peripheral nerves. Yet prion conformers differ in their capacity to penetrate the CNS; certain fibrillar prions replicate persistently in lymphoid tissues with no CNS entry, leading to chronic silent carriers. Subclinical carriers of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob (vCJD) prions in the United Kingdom have been estimated at 1:2000, and vCJD prions have been transmitted through blood transfusion, however, the circulating prion conformers that neuroinvade remain unclear. Here we investigate how prion conformation impacts brain entry of transfused prions by challenging mice intravenously to subfibrillar and fibrillar strains. We show that most strains infiltrated the brain and caused terminal disease, however, the fibrillar prions showed reduced CNS entry in a strain‐dependent manner. Strikingly, the highly fibrillar mCWD prion strain replicated in the spleen and emerged in the brain as a novel strain, indicating that a new neuroinvasive prion had been generated from a previously non‐neuroinvasive strain. The new strain showed altered plaque morphology, brain regions targeted and biochemical properties and these properties were maintained upon intracerebral passage. Intracerebral passage of prion‐infected spleen re‐created the new strain. Splenic prions resembled the new strain biochemically and intracerebral passage of prion‐infected spleen re‐created the new strain, collectively suggesting splenic prion replication as a potential source. Taken together, these results indicate that intravenous exposure to prion‐contaminated blood or blood products may generate novel neuroinvasive prion conformers and disease phenotypes, potentially arising from prion replication in non‐neural tissues or from conformer selection.
The changing role of ornamental horticulture in alien plant invasions
Authors: van Kleunen Mark , Essl Franz , Pergl Jan , Brundu Giuseppe , Carboni Marta , Dullinger Stefan , Early Regan , González‐Moreno Pablo , Groom Quentin J. , Hulme Philip E. , Kueffer Christoph , Kühn Ingolf , Máguas Cristina , Maurel Noëlie , Novoa Ana , Parepa Madalin , Pyšek Petr , Seebens Hanno , Tanner Rob , Touza Julia , Verbrugge Laura , Weber Ewald , Dawson Wayne , Kreft Holger , Weigelt Patrick , Winter Marten , Klonner Günther , Talluto Lauren , Dehnen‐Schmutz Katharina 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTThe number of alien plants escaping from cultivation into native ecosystems is increasing steadily. We provide an overview of the historical, contemporary and potential future roles of ornamental horticulture in plant invasions. We show that currently at least 75% and 93% of the global naturalised alien flora is grown in domestic and botanical gardens, respectively. Species grown in gardens also have a larger naturalised range than those that are not. After the Middle Ages, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, a global trade network in plants emerged. Since then, cultivated alien species also started to appear in the wild more frequently than non‐cultivated aliens globally, particularly during the 19th century. Horticulture still plays a prominent role in current plant introduction, and the monetary value of live‐plant imports in different parts of the world is steadily increasing. Historically, botanical gardens – an important component of horticulture – played a major role in displaying, cultivating and distributing new plant discoveries. While the role of botanical gardens in the horticultural supply chain has declined, they are still a significant link, with one‐third of institutions involved in retail‐plant sales and horticultural research. However, botanical gardens have also become more dependent on commercial nurseries as plant sources, particularly in North America. Plants selected for ornamental purposes are not a random selection of the global flora, and some of the plant characteristics promoted through horticulture, such as fast growth, also promote invasion. Efforts to breed non‐invasive plant cultivars are still rare. Socio‐economical, technological, and environmental changes will lead to novel patterns of plant introductions and invasion opportunities for the species that are already cultivated. We describe the role that horticulture could play in mediating these changes. We identify current research challenges, and call for more research efforts on the past and current role of horticulture in plant invasions. This is required to develop science‐based regulatory frameworks to prevent further plant invasions.
Federal policy ideas and involvement in Canadian urban transit, 2002‐2017
Authors: Towns William , Henstra Daniel 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAlthough provincial and local governments bear primary responsibility for urban transit projects and operations in Canada, the Government of Canada engages intermittently in this policy field, mainly through research and short‐term funding programs. This article analyzes federal policy concerning urban transit over the period 2002‐2017, with a substantive focus on policy ideas—the cognitive and normative concepts that provide direction for, and shape the perceived legitimacy of, policy choices. Through a thematic content analysis of policy documents, this article explicates the paradigms, programmatic foci, frames and public sentiments that have underpinned federal urban transit policy over this 15‐year period.
The impact and role of officers of Parliament: Canada's conflict of interest and ethics commissioner
Authors: Bergman Gwyneth , Macfarlane Emmett 
Published: March 2018

AbstractOfficers of Parliament play a vital role in providing parliamentarians with access to critical information and resources that allow them to hold the government of the day to account. Critics have argued officers have exceeded their mandates and even threaten to supplant the opposition. Canada's Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner (CIEC) holds a unique mandate, given that her primary focus concerns the behaviour of public office holders. This article draws on a comprehensive examination of the commissioner's reports and recommendations, and a content analysis of committee appearances to analyze and understand the impact and role of the CIEC. In contrast to the portrayal of other officers in the extant literature, we find that the office of the CIEC is constrained in its mandate and its impact limited by the nature and extent of its relationship with Parliament.
Open data and its institutional ecosystems: A comparative cross‐jurisdictional analysis of open data platforms
Authors: Kassen Maxat 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis research note explores consistent patterns in the development of open data phenomena in various institutional contexts. The research is based on cross‐jurisdictional analysis of open data platforms promoted today in more than 30 countries at local, sub‐national, national and supranational levels. Key findings suggest that, institutionally, the instrumentation of the concept is a highly context‐dependable undertaking. Almost all observed cases tend to be affected by fundamental administrative frameworks within which they are promoted, which could generally be classified in accordance with three consistently repetitive institutional patterns. The research note offers a new research agenda to elaborate further on open data as institutional phenomena.
New Public Governance in health care: Health Technology Assessment for Canadian pharmaceuticals
Authors: Fierlbeck Katherine , Gardner William , Levy Adrian 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe New Public Governance (NPG) paradigm addresses problems of complex and fragmented policy‐making. Health care is an increasingly complex policy area, and Canada has one of the most fragmented health care systems in the world. The theoretical articulation of NPG is compelling, and seems well suited to Canadian health care. However, it is not clear how these concepts could be applied to health care. We use the case of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to evaluate the opportunities and limitations of NPG within a specific health care context. We argue that the kind of governance recommended by NPG has contributed to the development and integration of HTA in Canada. However, we note that this kind of governance structure may be limited to certain instances, and we describe the conditions under which horizontal governance structures in HTA were able to flourish.
Changes in glycaemic control, blood pressure and lipids 5 years following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding combined with medical care in patients with type 2 diabetes: a longitudinal analysis
Authors: Mistry P. , Currie V. , Super P. , le Roux C. W. , Tahrani A. A. , Singhal R. 
Published: March 2018

SummaryThe long‐term outcomes of weight loss maintenance induced by laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) followed by multidisciplinary medical care in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (beyond 3 years) are scarcely reported. Study aims were to determine the longer term metabolic outcomes following LAGB combined with medical care in patients with T2DM. This is a longitudinal analysis of 200 adults with T2DM who had LAGB between 2003 and 2008 and were followed up till 2013 at a single bariatric unit in a tertiary UK centre. A total of 200 patients (age 47 ± 9.7 years; body mass index [BMI] 52.8 ± 9.2 kg m−2; glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 7.9 ± 1.9% [62.8 mmol mol−1]; women, n = 123 [61.5%]; insulin treatment, n = 71 [35.5%]) were included. The mean follow‐up was 62.0 ± 13.0 months (range 18–84 months). There were significant reductions in body weight (−24.4 ± 12.3% [38 ± 22.7 kg]), HbA1c (−1.4 ± 2.0%), systolic blood pressure [BP] (−11.7 ± 23.5 mmHg), total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The proportion of patients requiring insulin reduced from 36.2% to 12.3%. The overall band complication rate was 21% (21 patients). LAGB when combined with multidisciplinary medical care significantly improved metabolic outcomes in patients with T2DM independent of diabetes duration, and baseline BMI over 5 years. Diabetes duration and baseline BMI did not predict changes in glycaemic control, BP or lipids following LAGB.