bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Institutional arrangements to make public spending responsive to the poor: When intent meets political economy realities
Authors: Mogues Tewodaj , Erman Alvina 
Published: October 2018

AbstractMotivationResearchers and practitioners increasingly appreciate that accounting for the needs of ordinary citizens in developing countries supports the process of pro‐poor public resource allocation.PurposeWe examine the existing evidence with regard to four institutional arrangements that endeavour to make public spending responsive to the needs of the poor by moving decision‐making procedures closer to the population. We term these “responsive institutional arrangements” (RIAs).ApproachWe scrutinize the evidence in the literature on the functioning of each RIA against a framework that considers how countries’ broader governance environment shape governments’ incentives.FindingsThe article concludes that RIAs can channel resources based on the preferences of the poor, but mainly if citizens have political space, and governments the incentives, to allocate resources in a pro‐poor fashion. Otherwise, RIAs often become tools of control for elites. However, the evidence suggests that higher inequality has an eroding effect on the functionality of RIAs. We argue that past optimism toward RIAs should be replaced by a more refined understanding.Policy implicationsPolicy implications include that RIAs can especially be fostered where there is a pre‐existing strong civil society, and political accountability. Achievable RIA improvement targets incentivize local government leaders to be responsive to ordinary individuals.
Temperature, discharge and development shape the larval diets of threatened green sturgeon in a highly managed section of the Sacramento River
Authors: Zarri Liam J. , Palkovacs Eric P. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractFeeding at early fish life stages is a key determinant of survival to recruitment. To understand the environmental and developmental determinants of early life stage feeding in ESA‐threatened green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris), we performed a diet study in a highly managed section of California's Sacramento River, where temperature and discharge are controlled by dam releases. Utilising field collections from 2012 to 2016, we assessed the impacts of temperature, discharge and morphological development on the composition and number of prey items in larval green sturgeon diets. Results show that there are more empty stomachs at colder temperatures. Higher discharge conditions decreased prey taxon richness and counts, especially the abundance of cyclopoid copepods in diets. Fish smaller than 30 mm had teeth on the oral jaws and showed a strong reliance on zooplankton prey. The developmental loss of teeth in fish greater than 30 mm was associated with decreased zooplankton consumption and increased richness of benthic macroinvertebrates in diets. Our results show that river management through dam releases has the potential to impact the earliest life stage of green sturgeon by reducing the prevalence of favoured zooplankton prey in diets.
Introduction of integrated dental training jaw models and rubric criteria
Authors: Tenkumo Taichi , Fuji Takeshi , Ikawa Motohide , Shoji Shigeru , Sasazaki Hiromi , Iwamatsu‐Kobayashi Yoko , Okuyama Yayoi , Matsui Hiroyuki , Shiraishi Naru , Furuuchi Toshi , Higuchi Keisuke , Hashimoto Wataru , Takeuchi Yasuhisa , Simauchi Hidetoshi , Sasaki Keiichi 
Published: October 2018

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of introducing integrated jaw models, rubric criteria and homework tasks to a total clinical simulation training course to improve the clinical competence of preclinical dental students.MethodsA total simulation training course, which involved six clinical dentistry departments, was held for 110 preclinical students in 2014 and 2015. We prepared integrated jaw models having several morbidities along with corresponding medical information and homework tasks. The students formulated diagnoses and devised treatment plans before performing dental treatment on the mannequin under the direction of instructors from the respective clinical departments. Their performance was assessed by both students and instructors using the rubric criteria.ResultsBased on quantitative evaluations, the introduction of integrated jaw models appeared to improve the students' ability to formulate diagnoses and devise dental treatment plans and to understand the respective clinical dentistry disciplines. The rubric criteria provided immediate feedback for the students. Based on a comparison of rubric scores, students tended to significantly underestimate their own performance compared with instructors. Moreover, the introduction of homework tasks improved student seriousness.ConclusionIntroducing integrated jaw models, rubric criteria and homework tasks to a total simulation training course may be a good approach for improving student performance in terms of dental diagnoses and treatment.
Medial thalamus in the territory of oculomotor basal ganglia represents stable object value
Authors: Yasuda Masaharu , Hikosaka Okihide 
Published: October 2018

AbstractMany visual objects are attached with values which were created by our long rewarding history. Such stable object values attract gaze. We previously found that the output pathway of basal ganglia from caudal‐dorsal‐lateral portion of substantia nigra pars reticulata (cdlSNr) to superior colliculus (SC) carries robust stable value signal to execute the automatic choice of valuable objects. An important question here is whether stable value signal in basal ganglia can influence on other inner processing such as perception, attention, emotion, or arousal than motor execution. The key brain circuit is another output path of basal ganglia: the pathway from SNr to temporal and frontal lobes through thalamus. To examine the existence of stable value signal in this pathway, we explored thalamus in a wide range. We found that many neurons in the medial thalamus represented stable value. Histological examination showed that the recorded sites of those neurons included ventral anterior nucleus, pars magnocellularis (VAmc) which is the main target of nigrothalamic projection. Consistent with the SNr GABArgic projection, the latency of value signal in the medial thalamus was later than cdlSNr, and the sign of value coding in the medial thalamus was opposite to cdlSNr. As is the case with cdlSNr neurons, the medial thalamus neurons showed no sensitivity to frequently updated value (flexible value). These results suggest that the pathway from cdlSNr to the medial thalamus influences on various aspects of cognitive processing by propagating stable value signal to the wide cortical area.
Prelimbic cortex is a common brain area activated during cue‐induced reinstatement of cocaine and heroin seeking in a polydrug self‐administration rat model
Authors: Rubio Francisco J. , Quintana‐Feliciano Richard , Warren Brandon L. , Li Xuan , Witonsky Kailyn F. R. , Valle Frank Soto del , Selvam Pooja V. , Caprioli Daniele , Venniro Marco , Bossert Jennifer M. , Shaham Yavin , Hope Bruce T. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractMany preclinical studies examined cue‐induced relapse to heroin and cocaine seeking in animal models, but most of these studies examined only one drug at a time. In human addicts, however, polydrug use of cocaine and heroin is common. We used a polydrug self‐administration relapse model in rats to determine similarities and differences in brain areas activated during cue‐induced reinstatement of heroin and cocaine seeking. We trained rats to lever press for cocaine (1.0 mg/kg per infusion, 3‐hr/day, 18 day) or heroin (0.03 mg/kg per infusion) on alternating days (9 day for each drug); drug infusions were paired with either intermittent or continuous light cue. Next, the rats underwent extinction training followed by tests for cue‐induced reinstatement where they were exposed to either heroin‐ or cocaine‐associated cues. We observed cue‐selective reinstatement of drug seeking: the heroin cue selectively reinstated heroin seeking and the cocaine cue selectively reinstated cocaine seeking. We used Fos immunohistochemistry to assess cue‐induced neuronal activation in different subregions of the medial prefrontal cortex, dorsal striatum, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala. Fos expression results indicated that only the prelimbic cortex (PL) was activated by both heroin and cocaine cues; in contrast, no significant cue‐induced neuronal activation was observed in other brain areas. RNA in situ hybridization indicated that the proportion of glutamatergic and GABAergic markers in PL Fos‐expressing cells was similar for the heroin and cocaine cue‐activated neurons. Overall, the results indicate that PL may be a common brain area involved in both heroin and cocaine seeking during polydrug use.
Distributed representation of vocalization pitch in marmoset primary auditory cortex
Authors: Zhu Shuyu , Allitt Ben , Samuel Anil , Lui Leo , Rosa Marcello G. P. , Rajan Ramesh 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe pitch of vocalizations is a key communication feature aiding recognition of individuals and separating sound sources in complex acoustic environments. The neural representation of the pitch of periodic sounds is well defined. However, many natural sounds, like complex vocalizations, contain rich, aperiodic or not strictly periodic frequency content and/or include high‐frequency components, but still evoke a strong sense of pitch. Indeed, such sounds are the rule, not the exception but the cortical mechanisms for encoding pitch of such sounds are unknown. We investigated how neurons in the high‐frequency representation of primary auditory cortex (A1) of marmosets encoded changes in pitch of four natural vocalizations, two centred around a dominant frequency similar to the neuron's best sensitivity and two around a much lower dominant frequency. Pitch was varied over a fine range that can be used by marmosets to differentiate individuals. The responses of most high‐frequency A1 neurons were sensitive to pitch changes in all four vocalizations, with a smaller proportion of the neurons showing pitch‐insensitive responses. Classically defined excitatory drive, from the neuron's monaural frequency response area, predicted responses to changes in vocalization pitch in <30% of neurons suggesting most pitch tuning observed is not simple frequency‐level response. Moreover, 39% of A1 neurons showed call‐invariant tuning of pitch. These results suggest that distributed activity across A1 can represent the pitch of natural sounds over a fine, functionally relevant range, and exhibits pitch tuning for vocalizations within and outside the classical neural tuning area.
Characterization of synthetic porous media using non‐Newtonian fluids: experimental evidence
Authors: Atallah N. M. , Abou Najm M. R. 
Published: October 2018

SummaryThe characterization of pore structures is required for a broad range of applications, from modelling flow dynamics to understanding petroleum reservoir performance. This research was based on a theoretical framework proposed by Abou Najm and Atallah for improved characterization of pore structures using Newtonian and non‐Newtonian fluids. Here, we report the first experimental evidence of the ability of non‐Newtonian shear‐thinning fluids to predict the pore structure of three synthetic porous media using only saturated infiltration experiments of water and guar gum solutions at different concentrations. The method predicted multiple distinct representative pore sizes, depending on the number of guar gum solutions used, optimized to mimic the functional behaviour of porous media in terms of flow and porosity. Statistical analysis revealed satisfactory agreement between the predicted and real pore structures in the three synthetic porous media.Highlights
Experimental evidence of the ability of non‐Newtonian fluids to infer the pore structure of porous media
Experiments enabled extraction of multi‐flow regimes mimicking functional flow and porosity behaviour
Experiments with different guar gum concentrations on three synthetic porous media regenerated known pore structures
Promising results for an inexpensive and safe new method for pore structure characterization
Early thrombosis prophylaxis with enoxaparin is not associated with hematoma expansion in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Ianosi B. , Gaasch M. , Rass V. , Huber L. , Hackl W. , Kofler M. , Schiefecker A. J. , Addis A. , Beer R. , Rhomberg P. , Pfausler B. , Thomé C. , Ammenwerth E. , Helbok R. 
Published: October 2018

Background and purposeEarly pharmacological deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis is recommended by guidelines, but rarely started within 48 h. We aimed to analyze the effect of early (within 48 h) versus late (>48 h) DVT prophylaxis on hematoma expansion (HE) and outcome in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).MethodsWe analyzed 134 consecutive patients admitted to a tertiary neurointensive care unit with diagnosed spontaneous ICH, without previous anticoagulation, severe coagulopathy, hematoma evacuation, early withdrawal of therapy or ineligibility for DVT prophylaxis according to our institutional protocol. Significant late HE was defined as ≥6 mL increase of hematoma volume between neuroimaging within 48 h and day 3–6. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for late HE, poor 3‐month outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 4) and mortality.ResultsPatients had a median Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14 [interquartile range (IQR), 10–15], ICH volume of 11 (IQR, 5–24) mL and were 71 (IQR, 61–76) years old. A total of 56% (n = 76) received early DVT prophylaxis, 37% (n = 50) received late DVT prophylaxis and 8 (6%) had unknown bleeding onset. Patients with early DVT prophylaxis had smaller ICH volume [9.5 (IQR, 4–18.5) vs. 17.5 (IQR, 8–29) mL, P = 0.038] and were more often comatose (26% vs. 10%, P = 0.025). Significant late HE [n = 5/134 (3.7%)] was associated with larger initial ICH volume (P = 0.02) and lower thrombocyte count (P = 0.03) but not with early DVT prophylaxis (P = 0.36). Early DVT prophylaxis was not associated with worse outcome.ConclusionSignificant late HE is uncommon and DVT prophylaxis within 48 h of symptom onset may be safe in selected patients with ICH.
Increased IL‐17‐expressing γδ T cells in seborrhoeic dermatitis‐like lesions of the Mpzl3 knockout mice
Authors: Wikramanayake Tongyu C. , Hirt Penelope , Almastadi Maram , Mitchell Hunter , Tomic‐Canic Marjana , Romero Laura , Garcia Denisse , Strbo Natasa 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSeborrhoeic Dermatitis (SD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder, but its molecular pathogenesis remains elusive. Previously, we have established the Mpzl3 knockout (−/−) mice as a model for SD. In this study, we focused on early phases of skin inflammation and determined the cytokine profiles and identified immune cell types in the lesional skin in the Mpzl3 −/− mice. Using flow cytometry, we detected a significant increase of CD45+ leucocytes, CD3+ T lymphocytes and especially γδ T cells but not αβ T cells in the lesional skin compared to control. We also detected high levels of IL‐17 and determined that the γδ T cells were a major contributing source. CD3+ and γδ T cell localization in the skin was verified by indirect immunofluorescent staining. Since neither γδ T cells nor IL‐17 had been implicated in SD, our study provides novel insights into the role of MPZL3 in the pathogenesis of SD‐like skin inflammation.
Sequential cyclic changes of hair roots revealed by dermoscopy demonstrate a progressive mechanism of diffuse alopecia areata over time
Authors: Zhang Xingqi , Ye Yanting , Zhu Zhaohui , Yang Yuqing , Cao Hui , McElwee Kevin J. , Ling Yunxia 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundDiffuse alopecia areata (DAA) often leads to a complete hair shedding within a few months.ObjectiveTo explore features and mechanisms underlying DAA.Materials and MethodsScalp and hair root dermoscopy were conducted on 23 DAA patients throughout the disease process, 20 patchy Alopecia areata patients, 23 acute telogen effluvium (ATE) patients and 10 normal controls. Histopathology was also evaluated.ResultsWe found almost all hair roots were anagen in early stage DAA in 18 patients (18/23, 78.3%) within the first 4‐8 weeks after hair loss onset. Anagen effluvium (~4 weeks) was followed by catagen (~4 weeks) and then telogen/exogen (~8 weeks) effluvium with overlap. Hair root and proximal hair shaft depigmentation was more prominent in later DAA disease stages. Black dots, exclamation mark hairs and inconsistent thickness of hair shafts were found more often in early than later DAA (Ps < 0.01). Early DAA histopathology revealed more prominent inflammation and hair follicle regression than that observed in the later stages. Patchy alopecia areata patients showed mixed anagen, catagen and telogen hair roots while ATE patients showed increased exogen and mildly decreased hair root pigmentation.ConclusionSequential cyclic staging of shed hairs in DAA indicates the insult may be hair‐cycle specific. We suggest that DAA is initially an anagen effluvium disease involving an intense inflammatory insult, later progressing to a brief catagen effluvium, and then to telogen effluvium with premature exogen, in later stages of DAA.
Benefits of Child Behavior Interventions for Parent Well‐Being
Authors: Tømmerås Truls , Kjøbli John , Forgatch Marion 
Published: October 2018

ObjectiveTo explore the direct and indirect associations among GenerationPMTO (i.e., the “Oregon model” of a parent management training program), child behavior problems, and parent outcomes.BackgroundThe behavioral parent training program GenerationPMTO is designed to improve child behavior outcomes. Although parent well‐being is not targeted, previous studies have found collateral benefits on parental well‐being for GenerationPMTO in preventive low‐risk samples and high‐risk samples.MethodBootstrapped structured equation models were used to analyze 2 randomized trials that evaluate parent well‐being (mental health, somatic health, and vitality) in 2 versions of GenerationPMTO: Brief Parent Training (BPT) for a preventive sample (N = 216) and GenerationPMTO, which was higher‐risk and a mix of a clinical and a preventive sample (N = 137). We examined direct and indirect effects of treatment condition for parent well‐being via change in children's behavior problems, change in parenting practices, and level of parenting self‐efficacy.ResultsSix months after treatment, results revealed positive effects on targeted child and parent outcomes in both samples, whereas only the BPT intervention had direct effects on parent well‐being.ConclusionCollateral benefits in the low‐risk BPT sample suggest that helping children and their families at earlier stages of negative development may increase the potential for immediate collateral benefits.ImplicationsThe results highlight the preventive potential of a brief behavioral parent training intervention based on the social interaction learning model.
Attitudes towards people with dementia: a cross‐sectional study comparing dental hygiene students with registered dental hygienists
Authors: Isobe Ayaka , Izumi Maya , Akifusa Sumio 
Published: October 2018

AbstractObjectiveIn order to adequately care for patients with dementia, it is necessary for dental hygienists to develop unprejudiced attitudes towards and obtain sufficient knowledge of dementia. The aim of this study was to assess attitudes towards and knowledge of dementia among Japanese dental hygiene students and identify related factors to the attitude and the knowledge. We compared the attitude and the knowledge between dental hygiene students and practising dental hygienists.BackgroundDental hygienists are required to care for patients with dementia by developing appropriate attitudes towards dementia and gaining knowledge of dementia.Material and methodsBetween May 2016 and July 2016, 191 third‐grade dental hygiene students and 64 registered dental hygienists were surveyed. We modified questionnaires to assess attitudes towards and knowledge of dementia. Ageism was assessed using the Fraboni Ageism scale. To determine potential dementia awareness factors, information regarding participants’ experiences with dementia was collected.ResultsFactor analysis revealed four factors in the attitude scale (Cronbach's α, 0.652‐0.820). All item‐total correlation coefficients for the knowledge scale were above 0.3, and Cronbach's α was 0.827. All awareness factors for dementia were significantly different between students and registered dental hygienists. Total scores of attitude and knowledge were higher among registered dental hygienists, indicating better attitude and knowledge, but total scores of ageism were lower among registered dental hygienists, indicating worse ageism. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the attitudes towards dementia correlated with years of experience, ageism, interest in dementia and desire to work with patients with dementia.ConclusionRegistered dental hygienists had more positive and more knowledge compared to dental hygiene students. Attitudes towards dementia, but not knowledge of dementia, were significantly positively correlated with ageism.
Clinicopathological significance of RCAN2 production in gastric carcinoma
Authors: Hattori Yui , Sentani Kazuhiro , Shinmei Shunsuke , Oo Htoo Zarni , Hattori Takuya , Imai Takeharu , Sekino Yohei , Sakamoto Naoya , Oue Naohide , Niitsu Hiroaki , Hinoi Takao , Ohdan Hideki , Yasui Wataru 
Published: October 2018

AimsGastric cancer (GC) is one of the leading causes of cancer‐related death worldwide. Genes expressed only in cancer tissue may be useful biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and therapeutics. The aims of the present study were to analyse regulator of calcineurin 2 (RCAN2) in a large number of GCs, and to investigate how these expression patterns correlate with clinicopathological parameters and various markers.Methods and resultsAn immunohistochemical analysis of RCAN2 in 207 GC tissue samples showed that 110 (53%) GCs were positive for RCAN2. RCAN2‐positive GCs were more advanced in terms of TNM classification and tumour stage than RCAN2‐negative GCs. Furthermore, RCAN2 was an independent prognostic classifier for GC patients. The cell growth and invasiveness of RCAN2 small interfering RNA (siRNA)‐transfected GC cell lines were less than those of the negative control siRNA‐transfected cell lines, whereas those of RCAN2‐transfected cells were significantly increased as compared with those of empty vector‐transfected cells. RCAN2 siRNA inhibits the phosphorylation of AKT and p44/p42 (ERK1/2). RCAN2 was colocalised with EGFR, nuclear β‐catenin, MMP7, laminin‐γ2, VEGF‐A, and VEGF‐C.ConclusionThese results suggest that RCAN2 is involved in tumour progression and is an independent prognostic classifier in patients with GC.