bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Feasibility study for the use of self‐collected nasal swabs to identify pathogens among participants of a population‐based surveillance system for acute respiratory infections (GrippeWeb‐Plus)—Germany, 2016
Authors: Haussig Joana M. , Targosz Angelina , Engelhart Susanne , Herzhoff Michael , Prahm Kerstin , Buda Silke , Nitsche Andreas , Haas Walter , Buchholz Udo 
Published: March 2019

BackgroundInternet‐based participatory surveillance systems, such as the German GrippeWeb, monitor the frequency of acute respiratory illnesses on population level. In order to interpret syndromic information better, we devised a microbiological feasibility study (GrippeWeb‐Plus) to test whether self‐collection of anterior nasal swabs is operationally possible, acceptable for participants and can yield valid data.MethodsWe recruited 103 GrippeWeb participants (73 adults and 30 children) and provided them with a kit, instructions and a questionnaire for each sample. In the first half of 2016, participants took an anterior nasal swab and sent it to the Robert Koch Institute whenever an acute respiratory illness occurred. Reporting of illnesses through the GrippeWeb platform continued as usual. We analysed swabs for the presence of human c‐myc‐DNA and 22 viral and bacterial pathogens. After the study, we sent participants an evaluation questionnaire. We analysed timeliness, completeness, acceptability and validity.ResultsOne hundred and two participants submitted 225 analysable swabs. Ninety per cent of swabs were taken within 3 days of symptom onset. Eighty‐nine per cent of swabs had a corresponding reported illness in the GrippeWeb system. Ninety‐nine per cent of adults and 96% of children would be willing to participate in a self‐swabbing scheme for a longer period. All swabs contained c‐myc‐DNA. In 119 swabs, we identified any of 14 viruses but no bacteria. The positivity rate of influenza was similar to that in the German physician sentinel.ConclusionSelf‐collection of anterior nasal swabs proofed to be feasible, was well accepted by participants, gave valid results and was an informative adjunct to syndromic data.
Stage‐ and thermal‐specific genetic architecture for preadult viability in natural populations ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Petino Zappala María Alejandra , Satorre Ignacio , Fanara Juan José 
Published: March 2019

AbstractStudying the processes affecting variation for preadult viability is essential to understand the evolutionary trajectories followed by natural populations. This task requires focusing on the complex nature of the phenotype–genotype relationship by taking into account usually neglected aspects of the phenotype and recognizing the modularity between different ontogenetic stages. Here, we describe phenotypic variability for viability during the larval and pupal stages in lines derived from three natural populations ofDrosophila melanogaster, as well as the variability for phenotypic plasticity and canalization at two different rearing temperatures. The results indicate that the three populations present significant phenotypic differences for preadult viability. Furthermore, distinct aspects of the phenotype (means, plasticity, canalization, plasticity of canalization) are affected by different genetic bases underlying changes in viability in a stage‐ and environment‐specific manner. These findings explain the generalized maintenance of genetic variability for this fitness trait.
House prices and immovable property tax: Evidence from OECD countries
Authors: Oliviero Tommaso , Sacchi Agnese , Scognamiglio Annalisa , Zazzaro Alberto 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis paper studies the impact of changes in immovable property tax revenues on the growth rate of house prices by analysing a panel of 34 OECD countries over the period 1970–2014. Starting from the annual series of immovable property tax revenues, we isolate years of significant shifts in the property tax regime and study their impact on house prices. We find a strong negative relationship between increases in immovable property tax revenues and house prices. This relationship is robust to the inclusion of cyclical determinants of house prices, country and year fixed effects, and country‐specific linear trends. We also propose an instrumental variable strategy based on countries’ legal origins that confirms a statistically significant negative impact of such taxes in the short run.
Neonatal nurses’ knowledge and beliefs about kangaroo mother care in neonatal intensive care units: A descriptive, cross‐sectional study
Authors: Shattnawi Khulood Kayed , Al‐Ali Nahla , Alnuaimi Karimeh 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess Jordanian neonatal nurses' knowledge and beliefs toward the application of kangaroo mother care in the neonatal intensive care unit. A cross‐sectional, descriptive survey was performed using a convenience sample of 229 nurses. The findings revealed that the majority of the nurses agreed that kangaroo mother care was beneficial to both mothers and infants; however, 47.2% believed that it was not feasible for all preterm infants. The majority of nurses believed that kangaroo mother care should be restricted to infants on intravenous treatment, intubated, or with an umbilical catheter. The majority of the nurses correctly answered questions regarding kangaroo mother care. A significant relationship was found between the nurses' knowledge and their beliefs toward kangaroo mother care. The findings of this study provide insights into Jordanian nurses' knowledge and beliefs toward the kangaroo mother care approach. If addressed, these findings will help improve the practice and nursing care for preterm infants.
Functional trait evolution in Sphagnum peat mosses and its relationship to niche construction
Authors: Piatkowski Bryan T. , Shaw A. Jonathan 
Published: March 2019

Summary

Species in the genus Sphagnum create, maintain, and dominate boreal peatlands through ‘extended phenotypes’ that allow these organisms to engineer peatland ecosystems and thereby impact global biogeochemical cycles. One such phenotype is the production of peat, or incompletely decomposed biomass, that accumulates when rates of growth exceed decomposition. Interspecific variation in peat production is thought to be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of ecological gradients such as the microtopographic hummock‐hollow gradient, along which sympatric species sort within communities.

This study investigated the mode and tempo of functional trait evolution across 15 species of Sphagnum using data from the most extensive studies of Sphagnum functional traits to date and phylogenetic comparative methods.

We found evidence for phylogenetic conservatism of the niche descriptor height‐above‐water‐table and of traits related to growth, decay and litter quality. However, we failed to detect the influence of phylogeny on interspecific variation in other traits such as shoot density and suggest that environmental context can obscure phylogenetic signal. Trait correlations indicate possible adaptive syndromes that may relate to niche and its construction.

This study is the first to formally test the extent to which functional trait variation among Sphagnum species is a result of shared evolutionary history.
Deaths due to thermal injury from cigarette smoking in a 13‐year national cohort of nursing home residents
Authors: Holmes Alice L. , Bugeja Lyndal , Young Carmel , Ibrahim Joseph Elias 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObjectivesTo examine the nature and frequency of deaths due to thermal injuries from cigarette smoking reported to Australian coroners and to examine the decisions which surround these deaths.DesignRetrospective cohort study.Setting and participantsResidents dwelling in accredited nursing homes whose deaths were reported to coroners between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2013 and attributed to thermal injuries from cigarette smoking.MeasuresA descriptive analysis was undertaken to report socio‐demographic characteristics of the deceased, medical history, mobility, level of observation, safety equipment provided/used, nursing home location, decision to smoke, timing of incident, time from incident to death, incident findings, mechanism of death, formal reports attached and coroners’ recommendations.ResultsTen deaths of nursing home residents due to thermal injury from cigarette smoking were reported in Australia over a 13‐year period. The median age of residents was 78 years (IQR = 15.25); nine residents were female and one was male. Seven residents had impaired mobility with three residents being wheelchair bound and one resident bed bound. None of the residents were supervised by staff while they smoked, and none of the residents utilised any safety equipment to minimise harm. Burns/thermal injury was the mechanism of harm in most cases.ConclusionsThis national study confirms that thermal injuries caused by cigarette smoking in nursing homes result in fatalities, particularly in the absence of supervision. It also demonstrates the complex tension arising from balancing autonomy with safety.Implications for practiceNurses and aged care practitioners should endeavour to give effect to each resident’s wishes while mitigating the risk of harm. The supervision requirements for cigarette smoking residents should be tailored to the needs of individual residents and staff should try to ensure that residents who require supervision receive it.
The effects of wellness coaching on the wellness and health behaviors of early adolescents
Authors: Altunkurek Serife Zehra , Bebis Hatice 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObjectiveThis study evaluated the impact of a wellness coaching program on the health behaviors of eighth‐grade students.Design and SampleThe study population comprised 132 adolescents (Wellness Coaching Group n = 33, Health Education Group n = 33, Control Group n = 66).MethodsA pretest/posttest randomized controlled study was used. Students completed a demographic information form, the Five‐Factor Wellness Scale—Adolescent Form (5F‐Wellness‐AF) and the Adolescent Lifestyle Scale (ALPS). The wellness coaching program of group education, individual consulting, physical activity, and health education was provided for 12 weeks.ResultsThe data indicated a significant difference in the total 5F‐Wellness‐AF and ALPS scores after the program. No statistically significant difference was observed in the total scores of the two scales for the Health Education Group, while the Control Group's 5F‐Wellness‐AF mean score declined after the intervention. At the beginning of the study, 15.2% of students in the wellness coaching program were overweight; this percentage decreased to 9.1% at the end of the study.ConclusionsThis wellness coaching program significantly increased the wellness of adolescents and improved their healthy lifestyle behaviors. This program can be used together with health education provided by a public health nurse.
E‐participation Opportunities and the Ambiguous Role of Corruption: A Model of Municipal Responsiveness to Sociopolitical Factors
Authors: Ingrams Alex , Schachter Hindy Lauer 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMunicipalities ostensibly scale the ladder of e‐participation improvement to gain legitimacy. However, research has not yet addressed how e‐participation initiatives are affected by serious legitimacy concerns such as corruption. One municipal response to corruption is to use e‐participation offerings as a remedial effort to gain citizen trust, but window‐dressing strategies might also be used. In this article, the authors attempt to make sense of this ambiguity by hypothesizing that the effects of perceived corruption on e‐participation offerings depend on the type of e‐participation as well as the level of local social capital and local public accountability demand. Analysis of data from 104 municipal websites in South Africa between 2013 and 2017 reveals support for two moderation mechanisms: (1) a positive remedial response to corruption in the presence of strong social capital and (2) a negative avoidance response to corruption in the presence of high demand for accountability.
Membrane raft redox signalling contributes to endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodelling of thoracic aorta in angiotensin II‐infused rats
Authors: Wei Jian , Xu Lian , Du Ya‐Nan , Tang Xiao‐Feng , Ye Mao‐Qing , Wu Yong‐Jie , Han Wei‐Qing , Gao Ping‐Jin 
Published: March 2019

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Is the membrane raft redox signalling pathway involved in blood pressure increase, endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodelling in an angiotensin II‐induced hypertensive animal model?

What is the main finding and its importance?
The membrane raft redox signalling pathway was involved in endothelial dysfunction and medial remodelling in angiotensin II‐induced hypertension.

AbstractThe membrane raft (MR) redox pathway is characterized by NADPH oxidase activation via the clustering of its subunits through lysosome fusion and the activation of acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase). Our previous study shows that the MR redox signalling pathway is associated with angiontensin II (AngII)‐induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endothelial dysfunction in rat mesenteric arteries. In the present study, we hypothesized that this signalling pathway is involved in blood pressure increase, endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodelling in an AngII‐induced hypertensive animal model. Sixteen‐week‐old male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to AngII infusion for 2 weeks with or without treatment with the lysosome fusion inhibitor bafilomycin A1 and ASMase inhibitor amitriptyline. After treatments, aortas were harvested for further study. The results showed that the MR redox signalling pathway was activated as indicated by the increase of MR formation, ASMase activity and ROS production in aorta from AngII‐infused rats compared with that from control rats. MR formation and ROS production were significantly inhibited in thoracic aorta from AngII‐induced rats treated with bafilomycin A1 and amitriptyline. Both treatments significantly attenuated blood pressure increase, endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodelling including medial hypertrophy, and increased collagen and fibronectin deposition in thoracic aortas from AngII‐infused rats. Finally, both treatments significantly prevented the increase of inflammatory factors including monocyte chemotactic protein 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and tumour necrosis factor α in thoracic aorta from AngII‐infused rats. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the MR redox signalling pathway was involved in endothelial dysfunction and medial remodelling in AngII‐induced hypertension.
Impact of sarcopenia on diaphragm muscle fatigue
Authors: Fogarty Matthew J. , Mantilla Carlos B. , Sieck Gary C. 
Published: March 2019

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Is the residual force generated by the diaphragm muscle after repeated activation reduced with sarcopenia, and is the residual force generated after fatiguing activation sufficient to sustain ventilatory behaviours of diaphragm muscle in young and old rats?

What is the main finding and its importance?
After diaphragm muscle fatigue, the residual specific force after 120 s of repeated stimulation was unaffected by ageing and was sufficient to accomplish ventilatory behaviours, but not expulsive manoeuvres (e.g. coughing). The inability to perform expulsive behaviours might underlie the increased susceptibility of older individuals to respiratory tract infections.

AbstractType IIx and/or IIb diaphragm muscle (DIAm) fibres make up more fatigable motor units that are more vulnerable to sarcopenia, i.e. age‐associated reductions of specific force and cross‐sectional area. In contrast, type I and IIa DIAm fibres form fatigue‐resistant motor units that are relatively unchanged with age. The fatigue resistance of the DIAm is assessed by normalizing the residual force generated after a period of repeated supramaximal stimulation (e.g. 120 s) to the initial maximal force. Given that sarcopenia primarily affects more fatigable DIAm motor units, apparent fatigue resistance improves with ageing. However, the central question is whether there is an ageing‐related difference in the residual force generated by the DIAm after repeated stimulation and whether this force is sufficient to sustain ventilatory behaviours of DIAm. In 6‐ and 24‐month‐old Fischer 344 rats, we assessed the loss of ex vivo DIAm force throughout 120 s of repeated supramaximal stimulation at 10, 40 and 75 Hz. We found that relative fatigue resistance improved in older rats at 40 and 75 Hz stimulation. Across all stimulation frequencies, DIAm residual force was unchanged with age (∼5 N cm−2). We conclude that ageing increases the relative contribution of type I and IIa fibres to DIAm force, with decreased contributions of type IIx and/or IIb fibres. The residual force generated by the DIAm after repeated stimulation is sufficient to accomplish ventilatory behaviours, regardless of age.
Thermal and structural modeling of the Scillato wedge-top basin source-to-sink system: Insights into the Sicilian fold-and-thrust belt evolution (Italy)
Authors: Balestra Martina , Corrado Sveva , Aldega Luca , Morticelli Maurizio Gasparo , Sulli Attilio , Rudkiewicz Jean-Luc , Sassi William 
Published: March 2019

AbstractTemperature-dependent clay mineral assemblages, vitrinite reflectance, and one-dimensional (1-D) thermal and three-dimensional (3-D) geological modeling of a Neogene wedge-top basin in the Sicilian fold-and-thrust belt and its pre-orogenic substratum allowed us to: (1) define the burial history of the sedimentary succession filling the wedge-top basin and its substratum, (2) reconstruct the wedge-top basin geometry, depocenter migration, and sediment provenance through time in the framework of a source-to-sink system, and (3) shed new light into the kinematic evolution of the Apennine-Maghrebian fold-and-thrust belt.The pre-orogenic substratum of the Scillato basin shows an increase in levels of thermal maturity as a function of stratigraphic age that is consistent with maximum burial to 3.5 km in deep diagenetic conditions. In detail, Ro% values range from 0.40% to 0.94%, and random ordered illite-smectite (I-S) first converts to short-range ordered structures and then evolves to long-range ordered structures at the base of the Imerese unit. The wedge-top basin fill experienced shallow burial (∼2 km) and levels of thermal maturity in the immature stage of hydrocarbon generation and early diagenesis. Vitrinite reflectance and mixed-layer I-S values show two populations of authigenic and inherited phases. The indigenous population corresponds to macerals with Ro% values of 0.33%–0.45% and I-S with no preferred sequence in stacking of layers, whereas the reworked group corresponds to macerals with Ro% values of 0.42%–0.47% and short-range ordered I-S with no correlation as a function of depth.Authigenic and reworked components of the Scillato basin fill allowed us to unravel sediment provenance during the Neogene, identifying two main source areas feeding the wedge-top basin (crystalline units of the European domain and sedimentary units of the African domain), and to detect an early phase of exhumation driven by low-angle extensional faults that predated Neogene compression.
Development and validation of a prediction rule for estimating gastric cancer risk in the Chinese high-risk population: a nationwide multicentre study
Authors: Cai Quancai , Zhu Chunping , Yuan Yuan , Feng Qi , Feng Yichao , Hao Yingxia , Li Jichang , Zhang Kaiguang , Ye Guoliang , Ye Liping , Lv Nonghua , Zhang Shengsheng , Liu Chengxia , Li Mingquan , Liu Qi , Li Rongzhou , Pan Jie , Yang Xiaocui , Zhu Xuqing , Li Yumei , Lao Bo , Ling Ansheng , Chen Honghui , Li Xiuling , Xu Ping , Zhou Jianfeng , Liu Baozhen , Du Zhiqiang , Du Yiqi , Li Zhaoshen 
Published: March 2019

ObjectiveTo develop a gastric cancer (GC) risk prediction rule as an initial prescreening tool to identify individuals with a high risk prior to gastroscopy.DesignThis was a nationwide multicentre cross-sectional study. Individuals aged 40–80 years who went to hospitals for a GC screening gastroscopy were recruited. Serum pepsinogen (PG) I, PG II, gastrin-17 (G-17) and anti-Helicobacter pyloriIgG antibody concentrations were tested prior to endoscopy. Eligible participants (n=14 929) were randomly assigned into the derivation and validation cohorts, with a ratio of 2:1. Risk factors for GC were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses and an optimal prediction rule was then settled.ResultsThe novel GC risk prediction rule comprised seven variables (age, sex, PG I/II ratio, G-17 level,H. pyloriinfection, pickled food and fried food), with scores ranging from 0 to 25. The observed prevalence rates of GC in the derivation cohort at low-risk (≤11), medium-risk (12–16) or high-risk (17–25) group were 1.2%, 4.4% and 12.3%, respectively (p<0.001).When gastroscopy was used for individuals with medium risk and high risk, 70.8% of total GC cases and 70.3% of early GC cases were detected. While endoscopy requirements could be reduced by 66.7% according to the low-risk proportion. The prediction rule owns a good discrimination, with an area under curve of 0.76, or calibration (p<0.001).ConclusionsThe developed and validated prediction rule showed good performance on identifying individuals at a higher risk in a Chinese high-risk population. Future studies are needed to validate its efficacy in a larger population.
A unique B cell epitope-based particulate vaccine shows effective suppression of hepatitis B surface antigen in mice
Authors: Zhang Tian-Ying , Guo Xue-Ran , Wu Yang-Tao , Kang Xiao-Zhen , Zheng Qing-Bing , Qi Ruo-Yao , Chen Bin-Bing , Lan Ying , Wei Min , Wang Shao-Juan , Xiong Hua-Long , Cao Jia-Li , Zhang Bao-Hui , Qiao Xiao-Yang , Huang Xiao-Fen , Wang Ying-Bin , Fang Mu-Jin , Zhang Ya-Li , Cheng Tong , Chen Yi-Xin , Zhao Qin-Jian , Li Shao-Wei , Ge Sheng-Xiang , Chen Pei-Jer , Zhang Jun , Yuan Quan , Xia Ning-shao 
Published: March 2019

ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a novel therapeutic vaccine based on a unique B cell epitope and investigate its therapeutic potential against chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in animal models.MethodsA series of peptides and carrier proteins were evaluated in HBV-tolerant mice to obtain an optimised therapeutic molecule. The immunogenicity, therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of the candidate were investigated systematically.ResultsAmong the HBsAg-aa119-125-containing peptides evaluated in this study, HBsAg-aa113-135 (SEQ13) exhibited the most striking therapeutic effects. A novel immunoenhanced virus-like particle carrier (CR-T3) derived from the roundleaf bat HBV core antigen (RBHBcAg) was created and used to display SEQ13, forming candidate molecule CR-T3-SEQ13. Multiple copies of SEQ13 displayed on the surface of this particulate antigen promote the induction of a potent anti-HBs antibody response in mice, rabbits and cynomolgus monkeys. Sera and purified polyclonal IgG from the immunised animals neutralised HBV infection in vitro and mediated efficient HBV/hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance in the mice. CR-T3-SEQ13-based vaccination induced long-term suppression of HBsAg and HBV DNA in HBV transgenic mice and eradicated the virus completely in hydrodynamic-based HBV carrier mice. The suppressive effects on HBsAg were strongly correlated with the anti-HBs level after vaccination, suggesting that the main mechanism of CR-T3-SEQ13 vaccination therapy was the induction of a SEQ13-specific antibody response that mediated HBV/HBsAg clearance.ConclusionsThe novel particulate protein CR-T3-SEQ13 suppressed HBsAg effectively through induction of a humoural immune response in HBV-tolerant mice. This B cell epitope-based therapeutic vaccine may provide a novel immunotherapeutic agent against chronic HBV infection in humans.