bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Radiation safety education and compliance with safety procedures—The Korea Nurses’ Health Study
Authors: Kim Oksoo , Kim Mi Sun , Jang Hee Jung , Lee Hyangkyu , Kang Younhee , Pang Yanghee , Jung Heeja 
Published: March 2018

Aims and objectivesTo examine the current state of radiation safety education and its influence on nurses’ compliance with safety procedures.BackgroundUse of radiation in therapy and diagnosis has prolonged and improved millions of lives, but it presents potential hazards for healthcare professionals.DesignA cross‐sectional design.MethodsParticipants included 1,672 female nurses of childbearing age who had recently been exposed to radiation‐emitting generators or radiation. Quantitative data were taken from the Korea Nurses’ Health Study, the Korean version of the Nurses’ Health Study conducted in the USA. Confounding variables included sociodemographic factors, duration of employment in a department where work involved radiation, hospital's geographical location, bed size and hospital safety climate. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation coefficients and multivariable ordinal logistic regression.ResultsHalf (50.3%) of nurses received no safety training, whereas the other half received some safety training as follows: only once (14.4%), irregularly (10.2%) and regularly (25.1%). Of the six radioactive safety compliance questionnaires, 29.4%, 20.2%, 30.7% and 19.7% complied to none, one, two and more than three, respectively. After controlling for confounding variables, relative to that observed with no safety education, irregular education that occurred more than twice (OR = 1.597, CI = 1.177–2.164) and regular education (OR = 2.223, CI = 1.770–2.792) increased the likelihood that nurses would comply with safety procedures.ConclusionsLow levels of safety education and adherence raise critical concerns regarding nurses’ well‐being. As routine safety education increases safety adherence, healthcare managers and policymakers should emphasise regular safety education.Relevance to clinical practiceRadiation safety education for nurses and their compliance with safety procedures have seldom been discussed in South Korea. However, as nurses’ safety is directly related to the quality of patient care, additional safety education should be provided for hospital nurses to minimise their occupational exposure to harmful radioactive substances in clinical settings.
Are leptin and adiponectin involved in recurrent pregnancy loss?
Authors: Serazin Valérie , Duval Fabien , Wainer Robert , Ravel Célia , Vialard François , Molina‐Gomes Denise , Dieudonne Marie‐Noëlle , Dos Santos Esther 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to investigate whether recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is associated with adipokine gene polymorphisms (namely the leptin −2548 (G/A), adiponectin 276 (G/T), and adiponectin 45 (T/G) polymorphisms) and/or adipokine serum levels.MethodsA total of 145 women participated in the study. For the analysis of serum adipokine levels, 19 healthy fertile women (control group) and 60 women suffering from RPL were included. For the polymorphism analysis, 126 women suffering from RPL were included. Serum adipokine levels were determined using a commercial radioimmunoassay kit. Adipokine polymorphisms were analyzed using an allele‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR).ResultsOur immunoassays revealed that serum leptin levels were similar in control and RPL groups (17.34 and 20.16 ng/mL, respectively). In contrast, serum adiponectin levels were significantly higher in women with RPL than in controls (9.83 and 6.89 μg/mL, respectively; P < 0.05). Unfortunately, our allele‐specific PCR experiments did not reveal any significant differences in allele frequency between women with RPL and NCBI allele frequencies.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that adiponectinemia is increased in patients suffering from RPL. However, association of adiponectin with adverse pregnancy outcomes remains to be elucidated.
BMI change during puberty and the risk of heart failure
Authors: Kindblom J. M. , Bygdell M. , Sondén A. , Célind J. , Rosengren A. , Ohlsson C. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimHospitalization for heart failure amongst younger men has increased. The reason for this is unknown but it coincides with the obesity epidemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between childhood BMI (Body Mass Index) and BMI change during puberty for risk of adult heart failure in men.MethodsUsing the BMI Epidemiology Study (BEST), a population‐based study in Gothenburg, Sweden, we collected information on childhood BMI at age 8 years and BMI change during puberty (BMI at age 20 – BMI at 8) for men born 1945–1961, followed until December 2013 (n = 37 670). BMI was collected from paediatric growth charts and mandatory military conscription tests. Information on heart failure was retrieved from high‐quality national registers (342 first hospitalizations for heart failure).ResultsBMI change during puberty was independently of childhood BMI associated with risk of heart failure in a nonlinear J‐shaped manner. Subjects in the upper quartile of BMI change during puberty (Q4) had more than twofold increased risk of heart failure compared with subjects in Q1 [HR (Hazard Ratio) = 2.29, 95% CI (Confidence Interval) 1.68–3.12]. Childhood BMI was not independently associated with risk of heart failure. Boys developing overweight during puberty (HR 3.14; 95% CI 2.25–4.38) but not boys with childhood overweight that normalized during puberty (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.63–2.00) had increased risk of heart failure compared with boys without childhood or young adult overweight.ConclusionBMI change during puberty is a novel risk factor for adult heart failure in men.
Defective glucose and lipid metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis is determined by chronic inflammation in metabolic tissues
Authors: Arias de la Rosa I. , Escudero‐Contreras A. , Rodríguez‐Cuenca S. , Ruiz‐Ponce M. , Jiménez‐Gómez Y. , Ruiz‐Limón P. , Pérez‐Sánchez C. , Ábalos‐Aguilera M. C. , Cecchi I. , Ortega R. , Calvo J. , Guzmán‐Ruiz R. , Malagón M. M. , Collantes‐Estevez E. , Vidal‐Puig A. , López‐Pedrera Ch. , Barbarroja N. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are at increased risk of insulin resistance (IR); however, the specific mechanisms mediating this association are currently unknown.ObjectiveTo investigate whether the inflammatory activity associated with RA accounts for the observed defective glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism in these patients.MethodsWe followed two main strategies: (i) extensive metabolic profiling of a RA cohort of 100 patients and 50 healthy control subjects and (ii) mechanistic studies carried out in both a collagen‐induced arthritis mouse model and 3T3‐L1 adipocytes treated with conditioned serum from RA patients.ResultsFollowing the exclusion of obese and diabetic subjects, data from RA patients demonstrated a strong link between the degree of systemic inflammation and the development of IR. These results were strengthened by the observation that induction of arthritis in mice resulted in a global inflammatory state characterized by defective carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in different tissues. Adipose tissue was most susceptible to the RA‐induced metabolic alterations. These metabolic effects were confirmed in adipocytes treated with serum from RA patients.ConclusionsOur results show that the metabolic disturbances associated with RA depend on the degree of inflammation and identify inflammation of adipose tissue as the initial target leading to IR and the associated molecular disorders of carbohydrate and lipid homeostasis. Thus, we anticipate that therapeutic strategies based on tighter control of inflammation and flares could provide promising approaches to normalize and/or prevent metabolic alterations associated with RA.
Strategic budgets in sequential elimination contests
Authors: Ghosh Gagan , Stong Steven 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe study a sequential elimination contest where contestants (e.g., campaigns) spend resources that are provided by strategic players called backers (e.g., donors). In the unique symmetric equilibrium, backers initially provide small budgets, increasing their contributions only if their contestant wins the preliminary round. If backers are only allowed to provide budgets at the start of the game, as opposed to before each round, spending is higher. When unspent resources are refunded to the backer, total spending is higher than when all resources are sunk costs. We also study an extension of the model with asymmetric players.
Survival Rate and Immunological Responses of Mirror Carp Selective Breeding Generations to CyHV‐3
Authors: Jia Zhiying , Wang Shihui , Bai Shanshan , Ge Yanlong , Li Chitao , Hu Xuesong , Shang Mei , Zhang Jinfeng , Li Bao , Shi Lianyu 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTo explore the effect of three selective generations of mirror carp, Cyprinus carpio L., resistant to Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV‐3), the mirror carp were infected with the virus, and differences of survival rate and immunity among generations were evaluated. These results demonstrated that there were significant survival rate differences between G1 and the other two generations, which implied that G2 has similar genetic resistance ability with G3. Acid phosphatase (ACP) in the spleen, glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidation capacity (T‐AOC) in the kidney, lysozyme (LZM) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) in the serum, and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) in the spleen and kidney also showed significant differences between G1 and G3 or G1 and G2/G3, while complement 3 (C3), C4, and superoxide dismutase showed no significant difference between G1 and G3. These results indicated that ACP, AKP, GSH, T‐AOC, LZM, and IgM were activated in response to infection of CyHV‐3 and helped to protect fish from virus damage. The increasing trends were concordant with the survival rate among the three generations except for the decline in the ACP activity. Therefore, these could be indicators for resistance of common carp to CyHV‐3, especially for AKP. The agreement of the significance between survival rate and immunity illustrates that G3 possesses strong resistance ability to CyHV‐3 virus and has little or no potency for further selective breeding.
Genetic Analysis for Absolute and Relative Growth of Body Weight and Main Morphological Traits in Chinese Mitten Crab, Eriocheir sinensis
Authors: Liu Xu , Zhao Jingli , Zheng Yan , Sun Na , Li Xiaodong , Yang Runqing 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTo estimate genetic parameters for main growth traits measured in different scales in Chinese mitten crab, a total of 1600 and 4857 individuals from 20 families were observed for body weight, body length, body width, and body depth at two measuring periods. With multivariate animal models for absolute growth, the heritabilities for these growth traits were estimated to be low and moderate at the sampling and harvesting periods, respectively, while pairwise ratios between body length, width, and depth indicated low inheritance. This suggested that the shape of the crabs can be genetically improved with family selection. Genetic correlations, which all exceeded 0.68, were consistently higher in the harvesting period than in the sampling period. A random regression model was constructed to genetically analyze multiple allometries that were used to define the relative growths of these growth traits. As a result, the heritabilities for the allometry scalings were estimated as 0.893, 0.909, and 0.488 of body length, depth, and width to body weight, respectively. Genetic correlations of the allometry scalings, which ranged from −0.975 to 0.097, considerably differed among three morphological traits. According to the genetic parameters of the allometry scalings of morphological traits to body weight, synchronous growth of body shape with body weight might be genetically regulated through selective breeding for their relative growths.
Mother‐to‐child transmission of hepatitis B: Examining viral cut‐offs, maternalHBsAg serology and infant testing
Authors: Thilakanathan Cynthuja , Wark Gabrielle , Maley Michael , Davison Scott , Lawler Joseph , Lee Aimei , Shackel Nicholas , Nguyen Vi , Jackson Kathy , Glass Anne , Locarnini Stephen A. , Levy Miriam T. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackground & AimsAntipartum antiviral therapy in the setting of high viral load is recommended to prevent mother‐to‐child transmission of hepatitis B although recommended viral load cut‐offs vary. QuantitativeHBsAg has been proposed as an alternative screening strategy to identify high viral load in this setting. Guidelines suggest testing all infants for vaccine response and infection. We set out to re‐examine viral load cut‐offs; the predictive value of quantitativeHBsAg and the need for follow‐up infant testing in our cohort.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of 469HBsAg positive mother‐baby pairs from 2 tertiary hospitals in Sydney was performed. Antiviral therapy (lamivudine or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) was offered to women with viral load ≥6 log10 IU/mL(high) from 32 weeks gestation. Transmission and vaccine response was analysed according to viral load. The utility of quantitativeHBsAg in identifying high viral load was examined.ResultsMother‐to‐child transmission only occurred in setting of high viral load, in 0.85% (1/117) of those who received antiviral therapy and in 8.66% (2/23) of those who chose not to. QuantitativeHBsAg did not accurately identify high‐risk mothers HBV DNA ≥6 log10 IU/mL. Successful infant vaccine response was 98.7% overall, and 99.4% when viral load was <6 log10 IU/mL.ConclusionAntiviral therapy initiated at 32 weeks when maternal viral load is ≥6 log10 IU/mLalmost completely abrogates transmission. QuantitativeHBsAg does not reliably predict high viral load. When maternal viral load is <6 log10 IU/mL, high vaccine efficacy and zero transmission suggests testing infants is of little value.
A microbial perspective on the life‐history evolution of marine invertebrate larvae: If, where and when to feed
Authors: Carrier Tyler J. , Macrander Jason , Reitzel Adam M. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe feeding environment for planktotrophic larvae has a major impact on development and progression towards competency for metamorphosis. High phytoplankton environments that promote growth and development also correlate with a greater abundance of environmental microbes and incidence of pathogenic microbes, making these habitats potentially risky for larvae. Trade‐offs between metabolic processes for growth and immune functionality have been described throughout the animal kingdom and may influence the life‐history evolution of marine invertebrate planktotrophic larvae. Specifically, larvae would be predicted to regulate time spent between these feeding environments to avoid potential incidences of microbial‐mediated mortality and/or dysbiosis. Using transcriptomic and microbiome data, we provide evidence for this trade‐off in larvae of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. When cultured in a well‐fed environment, larvae upregulate genes associated with metabolism while decreasing the expression of genes associated with immune function. At the same time, the associated bacterial community shifts towards a state of dysbiosis that is followed by mortality. To test whether the environmental microbiota is a selective force on if, where and when planktotrophic larvae should feed, we conclude by presenting a strategy for determining the specific interactions of larvae and microbes at a scale representative of their pelagic environment.
Deconvoluting measurement uncertainty from the meteor speed distribution
Authors: Moorhead Althea V. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDebiasing the velocity distribution of meteors observed by the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar (CMOR) yields a distribution with large numbers of slow meteors. The distribution also contains significant numbers of hyperbolic meteors, in conflict with the expectation that interstellar meteors should be rare. In Moorhead et al. (2017a), we noted that measurement uncertainties were possibly smoothing the speed distribution and redistributing meteors to the extreme ends of the speed distribution. In this report, we use techniques analogous to image sharpening to remove the blurring caused by measurement uncertainties. The deconvolved speed distribution appears to have no meteors slower than 14 km s−1 and none faster than 74 km s−1. The result is to substantially raise the characteristic velocity of incoming meteoroids from 12.9 to 20.0 km s−1.
In systemic sclerosis, microvascular and hands digital arteries damage correlates with serum levels of endostatin
Authors: Gigante Antonietta , Navarini Luca , Margiotta Domenico , Barbano Biagio , Afeltra Antonella , Rosato Edoardo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractObjectiveIn SSc, vascular injury leads to endothelial dysfunction with reduced capillary blood flow and tissue hypoxia. In SSc, the angiogenesis is impaired and implicated in the microvascular damage. In severe vascular damage, VEGF is reduced and endostatin is increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between endostatin serum levels and microvascular and digital arteries damage.MethodsSeventeen patients with SSc were enrolled in this study. Serum endostatin levels were determined. All patients underwent a NVC, CDUS, and LDPI.ResultsThe serum level of endostatin significantly (P < .05) increased with NVC progression damage. The mean perfusion significantly (P < .05) decreased with NVC progression damage. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant correlation between endostatin serum level and RI (r = .34, P < .05), PI (r = .60, P < .01), S/D ratio (r = .76, P < .0001), and mean perfusion (r = −.68, P < .001). Endostatin serum levels significantly (P < .05) increased with progression of CDUS damage.ConclusionsIncreased serum endostatin levels are associated with digital vascular damage. In patients with SSc, endostatin is a marker of skin perfusion and digital arteries damage of hands.
Anatomy and mechanical properties of the anal sphincter muscles in healthy senior volunteers
Authors: Brusa T. , Abler D. , Tutuian R. , Gingert C. , Heverhagen J. T. , Adamina M. , Brügger L. E. , Büchler P. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundA large proportion of age‐related fecal incontinence is attributed to weakness or degeneration of the muscles composing the anal continence organ. However, the individual role of these muscles and their functional interplay remain poorly understood.MethodsThis study employs a novel technique based on the combination of MR imaging and FLIP measurements (MR‐FLIP) to obtain anatomical and mechanical information simultaneously. Unlike previous methods used to assess the mechanics of the continence organ, MR‐FLIP allows inter‐individual comparisons and statistical analysis of the sphincter morpho‐mechanical parameters. The anatomy as well as voluntary and involuntary mechanical properties of the anal continence organ were characterized in 20 healthy senior volunteers.ResultsResults showed that the external anal sphincter (EAS) forms a funnel‐like shape with wall thickness increasing by a factor of 2.5 from distal (6 ± 0 mm) to proximal (15 ± 3 mm). Both voluntary and involuntary mechanical properties in this region correlate strongly with the thickness of the muscle. The positions of least compliance and maximal orifice closing were both located toward the proximal EAS end. In addition, maximal contraction during squeeze maneuvers was reached after 2 s, but high muscle fatigue was measured during a 7 s holding phase, corresponding to about 60% loss of the energy produced by the muscles during the contraction phase.ConclusionsThis work reports baseline parameters describing the morpho‐mechanical condition of the sphincter muscle of healthy elderly volunteers. New parameters were also proposed to quantify the active properties of the muscles based on the mechanical energy associated with muscle contraction and fatigue. This information could be used to assess patients suffering from AI or for the design of novel implants.
Sung melody enhances verbal learning and recall after stroke
Authors: Leo Vera , Sihvonen Aleksi J. , Linnavalli Tanja , Tervaniemi Mari , Laine Matti , Soinila Seppo , Särkämö Teppo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractCoupling novel verbal material with a musical melody can potentially aid in its learning and recall in healthy subjects, but this has never been systematically studied in stroke patients with cognitive deficits. In a counterbalanced design, we presented novel verbal material (short narrative stories) in both spoken and sung formats to stroke patients at the acute poststroke stage and 6 months poststroke. The task comprised three learning trials and a delayed recall trial. Memory performance on the spoken and sung tasks did not differ at the acute stage, whereas sung stories were learned and recalled significantly better compared with spoken stories at the 6 months poststroke stage. Interestingly, this pattern of results was evident especially in patients with mild aphasia, in whom the learning of sung versus spoken stories improved more from the acute to the 6‐month stages compared with nonaphasic patients. Overall, these findings suggest that singing could be used as a mnemonic aid in the learning of novel verbal material in later stages of recovery after stroke.
Re‐evaluation of the ontogeny and reproductive biology of the Triassic fish Saurichthys (Actinopterygii, Saurichthyidae)
Authors: Maxwell Erin E. , Argyriou Thodoris , Stockar Rudolf , Furrer Heinz 
Published: March 2018

AbstractViviparity has evolved independently at least 12 times in ray‐finned fishes. However, the fossil record of actinopterygian viviparity is poor, with only two documented occurrences. Both of these are from the non‐teleost actinopterygian Saurichthys, and include S. curionii and S. macrocephalus from the Middle Triassic Meride Limestone (Monte San Giorgio, Switzerland). Here, we present new data on the reproductive biology of these species, giving unprecedented insights into their life‐history. Based on positional and preservational criteria, six specimens were identified as unambiguously gravid. Embryos were positioned dorsal to the gastrointestinal tract, parallel to the axial skeleton and to each other, in the posterior two‐thirds of the abdominal region. A minimum of 16 embryos are preserved in the most fecund females and, based on the largest preserved embryos and smallest preserved neonates, birth must have occurred at 7–12% of maternal fork length. Embryonic crania and teeth are relatively well‐ossified, however ossification of the parietal region is delayed. In the postcranium, the median scale rows and lepidotrichia are ossified, but not the lateral scale rows. Ossified squamation and gradual allometric growth suggests that neonates did not undergo metamorphosis and were relatively precocial. When considered in a phylogenetic context, neither live birth nor internal fertilization appears to represent the primitive state for saurichthyid fishes.