bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long non‐coding MEG3 is a marker for skeletal muscle development and meat production traits in pigs
Authors: Yu X. , Wang Z. , Sun H. , Yang Y. , Li K. , Tang Z. 
Published: October 2018

SummaryLong non‐coding RNAmaternally expressed gene 3 (lncRNAMEG3) plays an important role in mammalian muscle development. Our previous transcriptome study showed that lncRNAMEG3 is differentially expressed during postnatal skeletal muscle development in pigs. The objective of the present study was to analyse the role of lncRNAMEG3 in prenatal and postnatal skeletal muscle development and investigate the association of MEG3 with meat production traits in pigs. We investigated the sequence conservation and temporal‐spatial expression of lncRNAMEG3 and identified its core promoter and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Our results show that MEG3 is conserved among pig, human and mouse and is expressed in a tissue‐specific manner with high expression levels in kidney and leg and dorsal muscles. In addition, MEG3 is more abundant in prenatal muscle compared to postnatal muscle, and its expression peaks at gestational day 60. Notably, we observed almost no expression 40 days after birth. The core promoter of MEG3 is located upstream of the transcription initiation site between −447 and −40 bp. In our SNP linkage disequilibrium and association analyses, four of the 10 potential polymorphism sites were found to be associated with corrected back fat thickness and age to reach 100 kg (rs325797437, rs344501106, rs81286029 and rs318656749). In addition, three haplotypes were found to be associated with differences in corrected age to reach 100 kg (AAAT, AAAT/GGGC, GAAT/GGGC). Our results indicate that MEG3 regulates skeletal muscle development and is a candidate gene for improving meat production traits in pigs.
Modeling producer responses with dynamic programming: a case for adaptive crop management
Authors: Boussios David , Preckel Paul V. , Yigezu Yigezu A. , Dixit Prakash N. , Akroush Samia , M'hamed Hatem Cheikh , Annabi Mohamed , Aw‐Hassan Aden , Shakatreh Yahya , Abdel Hadi Omar , Al‐Abdallat Ayed , Abu El Enein Jamal , Ayad Jamal 
Published: October 2018

AbstractPast research found agricultural producers’ conditional responses during the growing season are important adaptations to weather and other stochastic events. Failing to recognize these responses overstates the risks confronting producers and understates their ability to respond to adverse circumstances. Dynamic programming (DP) provides a means for determining optimal long‐term crop management plans. However, most applications in the literature base their analysis on annual time steps with fixed strategies within the year, effectively ignoring conditional responses during the year. We suggest an alternative approach that captures the strategic responses within a cropping season to random weather variables as they unfold, reflecting farmers’ ability to adapt to weather realizations. We illustrate our approach by applying it to a typical cereal farm in Karak, Jordan. The results show that including conditional within‐year responses to weather reduces the frequency of fallowing by 23% and increases expected income by 9%.
Improving the oral health of older people in hospital
Authors: Gibney Jennifer M , Wright Frederick A , D'Souza Mario , Naganathan Vasi 
Published: October 2018

ObjectiveTo determine whether an oral health therapist daily oral hygiene intervention, compared with the same routine performed by nurses with some dental support, can improve the oral health of older inpatients.MethodsA prospective study was conducted at two tertiary referral hospitals with three phases: (i) pre‐intervention (PI) usual oral care; (ii) oral health therapist intervention (OHTI); and (iii) nurse‐led intervention (NI). Oral health was assessed with the Oral Health Assessment Tool.ResultsThree hundred and fifty nine patients participated across three phases (PI (n = 206); OHTI (n = 77); NI (n = 76)). In the intervention groups, there was a significant decrease in ‘unhealthy’ oral cleanliness at day 7, OHTI; 86 to 53% (P < 0.001), NI; 80 to 50% (P < 0.001) compared to PI; 78 to 72% (P > 0.14). Movement from ‘unhealthy’ oral cleanliness at day 1 to ‘healthy’ at day 7 was significantly higher in the OHTI (35%) and NI (37%) compared to PI (17%) (P < 0.001).ConclusionWith support, nurses can improve the oral health of older patients similarly to an oral health therapist.
Use of gastrografin in the management of faecal impaction in patients with severe chronic constipation: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Gu Lili , Ding Chao , Tian Hongliang , Yang Bo , Zhang Xuelei , Hua Yue , Gong Jianfeng , Li Ning 
Published: October 2018

Background/AimFaecal impaction (FI) is a common cause of lower gastrointestinal tract obstruction. Gastrografin is a water‐soluble radiologic contrast agent that may be orally or rectally administered, with proved therapeutic benefits in adhesive small bowel obstruction. Enemas have long been advocated as the best treatment for FI. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that enteral administration of gastrografin might be more effective than enema in FI treatment inducing intestinal obstruction.MethodsA double‐blinded, controlled and randomized trial was conducted. Participants received 100 mL of gastrografin (gastrografin group) through nasointestinal tube or enemas (enema group) once daily for six consecutive days. Successful faecal disimpaction, FI time to resolution, Bristol Stool Scale, constipation severity, symptom assessment and adverse events were evaluated.ResultsA total of 124 patients were eligible, but only 83 were enrolled to this trial (mean age: 44 ± 15.8 years). Forty‐two patients received enemas, and 41 patients received gastrografin, with six dropouts in each group. Successful disimpaction was achieved with enemas (69.44%) and gastrografin (88.57%; P = 0.034), mean duration of impaction was strikingly different between the two groups (67.13 versus 31.67, respectively; P < 0.01). Constipation severity and symptom assessment were significantly reduced in the gastrografin group.ConclusionGastrografin given through nasointestinal tube was more effective than enema in the treatment of FI inducing colon obstruction. Gastrografin might be taken into consideration as an effective and safe therapeutic option for FI.
Morbidity and mortality in cervical spine injuries in the elderly
Authors: Bokhari Ali R. , Sivakumar Brahman , Sefton Andrew , Lin Juin‐Lih , Smith Margaret M. , Gray Randolph , Hartin Nathan 
Published: October 2018

BackgroundThe aim of our study was to identify the demographics and complications in elderly cervical spine injuries and predictive factors for surgery, complications and mortality. We hypothesized younger healthier patients were more likely to undergo surgical intervention.MethodsA retrospective review of 225 consecutive patients aged 65 years and over with cervical spine injuries was carried out over a 3‐year period.ResultsThere were 113 males and 112 females with an average of 79.7 years (range 65–98). The most common fracture was C2 peg type (21.8%). Five patients had complete spinal cord injury (2.2%), 25 had incomplete spinal cord injury (11.1%) and 84% were neurologically intact. Fifty‐four patients were managed operatively (24%), while 171 patients were managed non‐operatively (76%). The operative group had higher rates of pneumonia (odds ratio (OR) 5.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.6–10.7, P < 0.01), cardiac arrhythmia (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.5–11.2, P < 0.01) and respiratory failure (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2–5.5, P < 0.05). There was no difference in mortality between the operative and non‐operative group (18.5% and 12.9%, P = 0.3). Patients with complete spinal cord injury had 100% mortality. Significant predictive factors for complications and death were neurological deficits, comorbidities and the presence of other injuries (P < 0.05). Surgery was not predictive for death and the operative group was younger than the non‐operative group (P < 0.05).ConclusionsIn the setting of a high complication rate, consideration should be given to palliation in elderly patients with complete spinal cord injury and there must be good rational for surgery.
Cardiac effects of 6 months' dietary nitrate and spironolactone in patients with hypertension and with/at risk of type 2 diabetes, in the factorial design, double‐blind, randomized controlled VaSera trial
Authors: Faconti Luca , Mills Charlotte Elizabeth , Govoni Virginia , Gu Haotian , Morant Steven , Jiang Benju , Cruickshank J. Kennedy , Webb Andrew James 
Published: October 2018

AimsThe aims of the present study were to explore whether a long‐term intervention with dietary nitrate [(NO3−), a potential tolerance‐free source of beneficial vasoactive nitric oxide] and spironolactone (to oppose aldosterone's potential deleterious cardiovascular effects) improve cardiac structure/function, independently of blood pressure (BP), in patients with/at risk of type 2 diabetes (a population at risk of heart failure).MethodsA subsample of participants in our double‐blind, randomized, factorial‐design intervention (VaSera) trial of active beetroot juice as a nitrate source (≤11.2 mmol) or placebo (nitrate depleted) beetroot juice, and either ≤50 mg spironolactone or ≤16 mg doxazosin (control), had transthoracic cardiac ultrasounds at baseline (n = 105), and at 3 months and 6 months (n = 87) after the start of the intervention. Analysis was by modified intent‐to‐treat.ResultsNitrate‐containing juice (n = 40) decreased left ventricular (LV) end‐diastolic volume {−6.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) –11.1, –1.6] ml} and end‐systolic volume [−3.2 (95% CI −5.9, –0.5) ml], and increased end‐diastolic mass/volume ratio [+0.04 (95% CI 0.00, 0.07)], relative to placebo juice (n = 47). Spironolactone (n = 44) reduced relative wall thickness compared with doxazosin (n = 43) [−0.01 (95% CI −0.02, –0.00)]. Although spironolactone reduced LV mass index relative to baseline [−1.48 (95% CI −2.08, –0.88) g m–2.7], there was no difference vs. doxazosin [−0.85 (95% CI −1.76, 0.05) g m–2.7]. Spironolactone also decreased the E/A ratio [−0.12 (95% CI −0.19, –0.04)] and increased S′ (a tissue‐Doppler systolic function index) by 0.52 (95% CI 0.05, 1.0) cm s–1. BP did not differ between the juices, or between the drugs.ConclusionsSix months' dietary nitrate decreased LV volumes ~5%, representing new, sustained, BP‐independent benefits on cardiac structure, extending mechanisms characterized in preclinical models of heart failure. Spironolactone's effects on cardiac remodelling and systolic–diastolic function, although confirmatory, were independent of BP.
Withdrawal from long‐term use of zopiclone, zolpidem and temazepam may improve perceived sleep and quality of life in older adults with primary insomnia
Authors: Lähteenmäki Ritva , Neuvonen Pertti J. , Puustinen Juha , Vahlberg Tero , Partinen Markku , Räihä Ismo , Kivelä Sirkka‐Liisa 
Published: October 2018

AbstractLong‐term use of benzodiazepines or benzodiazepine receptor agonists is widespread, although guidelines recommend short‐term use. Only few controlled studies have characterized the effect of discontinuation of their chronic use on sleep and quality of life. We studied perceived sleep and quality of life in 92 older (age 55‐91 years) outpatients with primary insomnia before and after withdrawal from long‐term use of zopiclone, zolpidem or temazepam (BZDA). BZDA was withdrawn during 1 month, during which the participants received psychosocial support and blindly melatonin or placebo. A questionnaire was used to study perceived sleep and quality of life before withdrawal, and 1 month and 6 months later. 89 participants completed the 6‐month follow‐up. As melatonin did not improve withdrawal, all participants were pooled and then separated based solely on the withdrawal results at 6 months (34 Withdrawers. 55 Nonwithdrawers) for this secondary analysis. At 6 months, the Withdrawers had significantly (P < 0.05) shorter sleep‐onset latency and less difficulty in initiating sleep than at baseline and when compared to Nonwithdrawers. Compared to baseline, both Withdrawers and Nonwithdrawers had at 6 months significantly (P < 0.05) less fatigue during the morning and daytime. Stress was alleviated more in Withdrawers than in Nonwithdrawers (P < 0.05). Satisfaction with life and expected health 1 year later improved (P < 0.05) in Withdrawers. In conclusion, sleep disturbances, daytime fatigue and impaired quality of life may resolve within 6 months of BZDA withdrawal. These results encourage withdrawal from chronic use of benzodiazepine‐type hypnotics, particularly in older subjects.
Cluster analysis with MOODS‐SR illustrates a potential bipolar disorder risk phenotype in young adults with remitted major depressive disorder
Authors: Kling Leah R , Bessette Katie L , DelDonno Sophie R , Ryan Kelly A , Drevets Wayne C , McInnis Melvin G , Phillips Mary L , Langenecker Scott A 
Published: October 2018

ObjectivesDelays in the diagnosis and detection of bipolar disorder can lead to adverse consequences, including improper treatment and increased suicide risk. The Mood Spectrum Self‐Report Measure (MOODS‐SR) was designed to capture the full spectrum of lifetime mood symptomology with factor scores for depression and mania symptom constellations. The utility of the MOODS‐SR as a tool to investigate homogeneous subgroups was examined, with particular focus on a possible bipolar risk subgroup. Moreover, potential patterns of differences in MOODS‐SR subtypes were probed using cognitive vulnerabilities, neuropsychological functioning, and ventral striatum connectivity.MethodsK‐mean cluster analysis based on factor scores of MOODS‐SR was used to determine homogeneous subgroupings within a healthy and remitted depressed young adult sample (N = 86). Between‐group comparisons (based on cluster subgroupings) were conducted on measures of cognitive vulnerabilities, neuropsychological functioning, and ventral striatum rs‐fMRI connectivity.ResultsThree groups of participants were identified: one with minimal symptomology, one with moderate primarily depressive symptomology, and one with more severe manic and depressive symptomology. Differences in impulsivity, neuroticism, conscientiousness, facial perception accuracy, and rs‐fMRI connectivity exist between moderate and severe groups.ConclusionsWithin a sample of people with and without depression histories, a severe subgroup was identified with potentially increased risk of developing bipolar disorder through use of the MOODS‐SR. This small subgroup had higher levels of lifetime depression and mania symptoms. Additionally, differences in traits, affective processing, and connectivity exist between those with a more prototypic unipolar subgrouping and those with potential risk for developing bipolar disorder.
The experience of maternity care for migrant women living with female genital mutilation: A qualitative synthesis
Authors: Scamell Mandie , Ghumman Aliyha 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundIncreasing numbers of childbearing women with a history of female genital mutilation (FGM) are accessing maternity services in high‐income countries across the world. For many of these women, their first contact with the health services in their host country is when they are pregnant. While the clinical consequences of certain categories of FGM are well documented, how high‐risk maternity services — designed to mitigate the obstetric consequences of FGM — impact upon women's experience of childbearing is less clear.MethodsUsing a meta‐synthesis approach, this paper synthesizes 12 qualitative research papers, conducted in 5 high‐income countries, to explore how migrant women with a history of FGM experience maternity care in their host countries.ResultsOne over‐arching theme and four discrete subthemes of migrant women's experience of the maternity services in their host country were identified: feelings of alienation; fatalism and divine providence, positive and negative feelings about maternity care, different understandings of the birthing process, and feelings about FGM.ConclusionsThe findings illustrate that migrant women with a history of FGM frequently encounter negative attitudes when accessing the maternity services in their host countries. Women's experiences suggest a concerning absence of sensitive and empathetic care; a more woman‐centered approach is recommended.
Developing digital pedagogy through learning design: An activity theory perspective
Authors: Lewin Cathy , Cranmer Sue , McNicol Sarah 
Published: October 2018

AbstractLearning design is growing in importance but is not yet widely adopted by teachers. This paper describes the development of a scenario‐led learning design process, divided into two stages, which was implemented with over 500 teachers altogether from 15 European countries. Activity theory is used to explore the contradictions that arose when such changes were introduced into the established activity system of lesson planning. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires from a small sample of participants including national coordinators (stage 1: n = 8; stage 2: n = 13) and teachers (stage 1: n = 13; stage 2: n = 23). These participants perceived that the scenario‐led learning design process, involving a wide range of stakeholders, was collaborative, supportive and innovative (compared to previous lesson planning practices). However, a number of contradictions were identifiable between: (1) the shift to collaborative learning design from teachers preparing their lessons alone; (2) the new tools and the existing rules of the national/regional education systems; (3) the time required to both understand and implement learning design, and the impact of competing demands. This paper discusses the challenges faced when attempting to scale‐up European school teachers’ development of digital pedagogy. The structured (yet flexible) approach was welcomed and the tools promoted teacher reflection but, as commonly noted, the complexity and time‐constraints were major issues.
Learning, prices and firm dynamics
Authors: Bastos Paulo , Dias Daniel A. , Timoshenko Olga A. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWe document new facts about the evolution of firm performance and prices in international markets and propose a theory of firm dynamics emphasizing the interaction between learning about demand and quality choice to explain the observed patterns. Using data from the Portuguese manufacturing sector, we find that: (1) firms with longer spells of activity in export destinations tend to ship larger quantities at lower prices; (2) older exporters tend to use more expensive inputs; (3) the volatility of output and input prices tends to decline with export experience; and (4) input prices and quantities tend to increase with revenue growth within firms. We develop a model of endogenous input and output quality choices in a learning environment that is able to account for these patterns. Counterfactual simulations reveal that minimum quality standards on traded goods reduce welfare by lowering entry in export markets and reallocating resources from old and large towards young and small firms.
Differential Effects of Salient Visual Events on Memory‐Guided Attention in Adults and Children
Authors: Nussenbaum Kate , Scerif Gaia , Nobre Anna C. 
Published: October 2018

Both salient visual events and scene‐based memories can influence attention, but it is unclear how they interact in children and adults. In Experiment 1, children (N = 27; ages 7–12) were faster to discriminate targets when they appeared at the same versus different location as they had previously learned or as a salient visual event. In contrast, adults (N = 30; ages 18–31) responded faster only when cued by visual events. While Experiment 2 confirmed that adults (N = 27) can use memories to orient attention, Experiment 3 showed that, even in the absence of visual events, the effects of memories on attention were larger in children (N = 27) versus adults (N = 28). These findings suggest that memories may be a robust source of influence on children's attention.
Modeling the Structure and Dynamics of Semantic Processing
Authors: Rotaru Armand S. , Vigliocco Gabriella , Frank Stefan L. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe contents and structure of semantic memory have been the focus of much recent research, with major advances in the development of distributional models, which use word co‐occurrence information as a window into the semantics of language. In parallel, connectionist modeling has extended our knowledge of the processes engaged in semantic activation. However, these two lines of investigation have rarely been brought together. Here, we describe a processing model based on distributional semantics in which activation spreads throughout a semantic network, as dictated by the patterns of semantic similarity between words. We show that the activation profile of the network, measured at various time points, can successfully account for response times in lexical and semantic decision tasks, as well as for subjective concreteness and imageability ratings. We also show that the dynamics of the network is predictive of performance in relational semantic tasks, such as similarity/relatedness rating. Our results indicate that bringing together distributional semantic networks and spreading of activation provides a good fit to both automatic lexical processing (as indexed by lexical and semantic decisions) as well as more deliberate processing (as indexed by ratings), above and beyond what has been reported for previous models that take into account only similarity resulting from network structure.
Protection of brain development by antenatal magnesium sulphate for infants born preterm
Authors: Chollat Clément , Sentilhes Loic , Marret Stéphane 
Published: October 2018

Cerebral palsy (CP) remains the most significant neurological disorder associated with preterm birth. It disrupts quality of life and places huge cost burdens on society. Antenatal magnesium sulphate administration to females before 32 weeks’ gestation has proven to be an effective intervention to reduce the rate ofCP. In models of hypoxia, hypoxia‐ischemia, inflammation, and excitotoxicity in various animal species, magnesium sulphate preconditioning decreased the resulting lesion sizes and inflammatory cytokine levels, prevented cell death, and improved long‐term cognitive and motor behaviours. In humans, meta‐analyses of five randomized controlled trials using magnesium sulphate as a neuroprotectant showed prevention ofCPat 2 years. The benefit remained consistent regardless of gestational age, cause of preterm birth, and total dose received. Antenatal magnesium sulphate treatment is now recommended by the World Health Organization and by many obstetric societies. Its cost‐effectiveness further justifies its widespread implementation.What this paper addsNeuroprotective effect of magnesium sulphate to reduce cerebral palsy in infants born preterm when administered to females at risk of imminent preterm birth.Neuroprotection regardless of gestational age, cause of preterm birth, and total dose.Antenatal magnesium sulphate treatment has good cost‐effectiveness.