bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term effects of selective dorsal rhizotomy in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review
Authors: Tedroff Kristina , Hägglund Gunnar , Miller Freeman 
Published: July 2019

AimTo evaluate the long‐term effects of selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) 10 years or more after the procedure and complications observed any time after SDR in children with cerebral palsy (CP).MethodEmbase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched from their individual dates of inception through 1st June 2018 for full‐text original articles in English that described long‐term follow‐up after SDR in children with CP. The authors independently screened publications to determine whether they met inclusion criteria; thereafter all authors extracted data on patient characteristics, the proportion of the original cohort being followed‐up, and the reported outcomes.ResultsOf the 199 studies identified, 16 were included in this evaluation: 14 were case series and two studies reported a retrospectively assigned comparison group. Evidence concerning function was limited by study design differences, clinical variability, loss to follow‐up, and heterogeneity across trials.InterpretationAt 10 years or more follow‐up, available studies generate low‐level evidence with considerable bias. No functional improvement of SDR over routine therapy is documented. Furthermore, the long‐term effects of SDR with respect to spasticity reduction is unclear, with many studies reporting a high amount of add‐on spasticity treatment. More long‐term follow‐up using robust scientific protocols is required before it can be decided whether the use of SDR as routine therapy for children with CP is to be recommended or not.What this paper adds

Ten years after selective dorsal rhizotomy, available studies supply inconclusive evidence on functional outcomes.

The long‐term effect on spasticity is uncertain, studies reported a substantial need for add‐on treatment.

Short‐ and long‐term complications seem frequent but are not reported in a consistent manner.
Is there still a role for UV therapy in itch treatment?
Authors: Legat Franz J. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractItching is a frequent and greatly distressing symptom related to many skin and systemic diseases. New insights into the pathophysiology of itchy skin and potentially involved mediators have increased the interest in and development of new treatments that specifically act on targets involved in the transmission and perception of itching. Phototherapy has long been known and used as an effective treatment for various kinds of chronic itching. However, despite its well‐known beneficial effects, the mechanisms behind the antipruritic effect of phototherapy are less well‐known. In addition, phototherapy requires the use of expensive equipment in dermatology offices, patients must undergo repeated treatments and no large, randomized, controlled trials have yet supported the antipruritic effect of UV. Therefore, phototherapy is rarely recommended as a treatment method for chronic pruritic diseases or only used as a last recourse. However, the wide range of pruritic conditions that can be successfully treated with phototherapy, together with its low acute side effects, extremely low frequency of interactions with other medications, possibilities to combine phototherapy with other treatment modalities and the fact that patients of almost all ages—from childhood to old age, including women during pregnancy or lactation—can be treated make UV therapy advantageous over other treatments of chronic pruritus. Thus, despite the development of new targeted therapies against pruritus, UV therapy is neither outdated nor the ‘last recourse’, but should be considered early on in the treatment of chronic pruritus.
Effects of irrigation system alterations on the trophic position of a threatened top predator in rice‐field ecosystems
Authors: Ohba Shin‐ya , Suzuki Kodai , Sakai Yoichiro , Shibata Jun‐ya , Okuda Noboru 
Published: July 2019

Abstract

Rice fields serve as alternative habitats for wetland species, and their recent reduction in area due to land conversion is considered one of the main human drivers of wetland biodiversity loss. Even for existing rice fields, physico‐chemical disturbances, such as farmland consolidation and agrochemical application, also have negative effects on wetland biodiversity. For fish that inhabit rice fields for at least part of their life history, differences in water level between rice fields and irrigation ditches caused by irrigation system improvements are critical to their abundance by preventing their access.

The ecological impact of differences in water level may extend to the foraging habits and trophic positions of the top predators in rice fields, resulting in the alteration of wetland food webs. Here, we investigated how physical disruptions to habitat networks affect food‐web properties in rice‐field ecosystems.

We conducted stable nitrogen and carbon isotope analysis on a threatened giant water bug, Kirkaldyia deyrolli, to estimate its trophic position as an indicator of food‐chain length. Based on field observations, we found that fish that were at a high trophic position were only available to K. deyrolli in rice fields where there were no physical barriers blocking access to the network of habitats, and the diets of K. deyrolli included fish prey (18%, based on visual observation). The stable isotope analysis revealed that the trophic position of K. deyrolli was significantly lower in rice fields with physical barriers (no fish/10 dips by a dip net) than in those without physical barriers (5.6 fish) due to the absence of fish in locations with barriers.

In conclusion, our study demonstrates that physical alterations are important to community composition and food‐web properties in rice‐field ecosystems because they can act as barriers to fish.
Understanding and predicting frost‐induced tropical tree mortality patterns
Authors: Bojórquez Adrián , Álvarez‐Yépiz Juan C. , Búrquez Alberto , Martínez‐Yrízar Angelina 
Published: July 2019

AbstractExtreme climatic and weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity across the world causing episodes of widespread tree mortality in many forested ecosystems. However, we have a limited understanding about which local factors influence tree mortality patterns, restricting our ability to predict tree mortality, especially within topographically complex tropical landscapes with a matrix of mature and secondary forests. We investigated the effects of two major local factors, topography and forest successional type, on climate‐induced tropical tree mortality patterns using an observational and modeling approach. The northernmost Neotropical dry forest endured an unprecedented episode of frost‐induced tree mortality after the historic February 2011 cold wave hit northwestern Mexico. In a moderately hilly landscape covering mature and secondary tropical dry forests, we surveyed 454 sites for the presence or absence of frost‐induced tree mortality. In addition, across forty‐eight 1 ha plots equally split into the two forest types, we examined 6,981 woody plants to estimate a frost‐disturbance severity metric using the density of frost‐killed trees. Elevation is the main factor modulating frost effects regardless of forest type. Higher occurrence probabilities of frost‐induced tree mortality at lowland forests can be explained by the strong influence of elevation on temperature distribution since heavier cold air masses move downhill during advective frosts. Holding elevation constant, the probability of frost‐induced tree mortality in mature forests was twice that of secondary forests but severity showed the opposite pattern, suggesting a cautious use of occurrence probabilities of tree mortality to infer severity of climate‐driven disturbances. Extreme frost events, in addition to altering forest successional pathways and ecosystem services, likely maintain and could ultimately shift latitudinal and altitudinal range margins of Neotropical dry forests.
Value of college athletic programmes in the Korean Higher Education: A contingent valuation study
Authors: Cha Jae Hyuk , Lee Jungmin , Kim Taehee , Chang Kyungro 
Published: July 2019

AbstractHigher Education institutions in Korea are undergoing restructuring in response to the government reform policy. As one aspect of the restructuring, many colleges are reducing or abolishing the athletic programmes. This study investigated the value of athletic programmes for college students by using the contingent valuation method. The results of a multivariate survival analysis with a convenience sample of 372 undergraduate students indicate that the monetary value of the willingness of a student to pay for athletic programmes was about KRW 116,000 per semester. Students’ level of involvement with and knowledge about intercollegiate athletics, as well as monthly allowance and year in college have positive effects on willingness to pay for athletic programmes.
Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms associated with pemphigus vulgaris: Potent markers for better treatment and personalized medicine
Authors: Mahmoudi HamidReza , Ebrahimi Elaheh , Daneshpazhooh Maryam , Balighi Kamran , Mirzazadeh Azin , Elikaei Behjati Somayeh , Tavakolpour Soheil 
Published: July 2019

AbstractPemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare autoimmune blistering disorder, which could affect both skin and mucosal surfaces. There is increasing evidence that genetics plays a critical role in PV development, severity and prognosis. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common type of genetic variation among people and have been widely evaluated in most diseases. However, there are few studies regarding the roles of SNPs in the PV. Here, we reviewed both pathogenic and protective roles of the SNPs in non‐HLA genes regarding the PV. Among the large number of studied SNPs, it was found that several SNPs in different genes might control the susceptibility of PV, including TNFA (rs361525, rs1800629, rs1800629), IL10 (rs1800871, rs1800896, rs1800871, and rs1800872), IL6 (rs1800795), CTLA4 (rs231775), ICOS (rs10932029), CD86 (rs1129055), DSG3 (rs8085532, rs3911655, rs3848485, rs3794925, rs1466379), ST18 (rs2304365, rs17315309) and TAP2 (rs7454108), probably in a population‐specific manner. Moreover, SNPs in glucocorticoid receptor, also known as nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1) gene, including rs11745958, rs17209237, rs33388, rs7701443 as well as rs116855232 at NUDT15, seem to be associated with therapeutic outcomes in PV patients. Additionally, variations in the other genes involved in the drugs' metabolisms, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics such as rs396991 in FCGR3A gene could be used for the prediction of clinical response to drugs and side effects. Taken together, SNPs seem to be valuable tools for better management of PV patients. Further studies need to be conducted to evaluate SNPs in genes that control immune responses and apoptosis.
Migration Governance and Policy in the Global South: Introduction and Overview
Authors: Gisselquist Rachel M. , Tarp Finn 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBuilding knowledge about migration governance and policy in the Global South is a priority for research and policy. The studies in this special section offer both new empirical insights and new frameworks for analysis, with key policy implications, that can enrich our discussion of these topics. They focus on issues that relate to national and sub‐national level governance and policy, speaking both to the impact of diverse governance structures and policies on the well‐being of migrants and host communities, and of the policy‐making process itself and the factors influencing that process. In so doing, they point toward promising directions for future work on these topics and underscore the value of multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and cross‐regional analysis. This essay provides an introduction to the studies included in this collection, framing their contributions in the context of research in development and ongoing global discussions on migration policy.
Effect of La2O3 on the oxidation resistance of SiC ceramic at 1973 K: Experimental and theoretical study
Authors: Xie Wei , Fu Qiangang , Cheng Chunyu , Zhang Guangpeng , Yan Ningning , Wang Zhaowei 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe effect of La2O3 on the oxidation resistance of SiC ceramic at 1973 K was investigated using isothermal oxidation test and first‐principles calculations. The SiC ceramic with La2O3 shows a better oxidation resistance compared with that without La2O3 due to the in situ formed La2Si2O7 in SiO2 glass layer after oxidation at 1973 K. First‐principles calculations based on density functional theory were applied to analyze the solution behaviors of La atom in the surface of SiO2 and La2Si2O7. The solution energy of La atom in SiO2 (0 1 1) is −19.05 eV, which is far less than −4.19 eV in La2Si2O7 (2 0 1) with a La vacancy, thus resulting in that La atom in La2Si2O7 (2 0 1) diffuses into SiO2 (0 1 1). The SiO2 lattice with an interstitial La atom is more stable than that with a substitutional La atom and the interstitial La breaks the nearest Si–O bond to form La–O and La–Si bonds, which is beneficial to improving the high‐temperature stability of SiO2. Experimental and theoretical results indicate that the formation of refractory La2Si2O7 phase enhances the stability of SiO2 glass layer, so as to protect SiC ceramic from further oxidation at 1973 K.
Improvement of densification and microstructure of HfB2 ceramics by Ta/Ti substitution for Hf
Authors: Zhang Yan , Tan Da‐Wang , Guo Wei‐Ming , Wu Li‐Xiang , Sun Shi‐Kuan , You Yang , Lin Hua‐Tay , Wang Cheng‐Yong 
Published: July 2019

AbstractUltrafine HfB2 powders were synthesized by the combination of borothermal reduction of HfO2 and solid solution of 5 mol% TiB2 or 5 mol% TaB2, prototypically, (Hf0.95Ti0.05)B2 and (Hf0.95Ta0.05)B2. The influence of substitution on the particle growth, high‐temperature stability, densification, microstructure, and mechanical properties of HfB2 was investigated. Results showed that the particle sizes of HfB2, (Hf0.95Ti0.05)B2 and (Hf0.95Ta0.05)B2 powders prepared by borothermal reduction at 1500°C were 1.73, 0.87, and 0.21 µm, respectively. The substitution of TaB2 led to a greater decrease in particles size than TiB2. After heat treatment at 1800°C, the particle sizes of HfB2, (Hf0.95Ti0.05)B2 and (Hf0.95Ta0.05)B2 powders increased to 2.60, 1.59, and 0.32 µm, respectively, indicative of the good high‐temperature stability of TaB2‐substituted HfB2. The relative densities of HfB2, (Hf0.95Ti0.05)B2 and (Hf0.95Ta0.05)B2 ceramics after spark plasma sintering at 2000°C were 76.1%, 85.2% and 99.8%, respectively. The fully dense (Hf0.95Ta0.05)B2 ceramics with fine microstructure showed comparably high Vickers hardness of 21.1 GPa combined with flexural strength of 521.2 MPa. It was proved that the solid solution of TaB2 could effectively inhibit the grain growth of HfB2 powders, and improve the densification, microstructure, and mechanical properties of HfB2 ceramics.
Life cycle assessment of functional materials and devices: Opportunities, challenges, and current and future trends
Authors: Smith Lucy , Ibn‐Mohammed Taofeeq , Koh Lenny , Reaney Ian M. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractFunctional ceramics such as piezoelectrics, thermoelectrics, magnetic materials, ionic conductors, and semiconductors are opening new frontiers that underpin numerous aspects of modern life. This widespread usage comes with a responsibility to understand what impact their mass production has on the environment. Life‐cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool employed for the identification of sustainable materials pathways through the consideration of environmental burdens of materials both during fabrication and as a final product. Although the LCA technique has been widely used for the evaluation of environmental impacts in numerous product supply chains, its application for environmental profiling of functional ceramics is now gaining attention. This paper presents a review of current developments in LCA, including existing and emerging applications with emphasis on the development and fabrication of functional materials and devices (FM&D). Selected published works on LCA of functional ceramics are discussed, highlighting the importance of adopting LCA at the design stage and/or at laboratory stage before expensive investments and resources are committed. Drawing from the extant literature, we show that the integration of environmental and sustainability principles into the overall process of FM&D manufacturing, in a way that anticipates foreseeable harmful consequences while identifying opportunities for improvement, can aid the timely communications of key findings to functional materials developers. This guides the orientation of research, development and deployment, and provides insights toward the prioritization of research activities while potentially averting unintended consequences. It is intended that the review presented will encourage the materials science community to engage with LCA to address important materials design, substitution, and optimization needs.
Carefreeness and Children's Wellbeing
Authors: Ferracioli Luara 
Published: July 2019

ABSTRACTIn this article, I investigate the relationship between carefreeness and the valuable goods that constitute a good childhood. I argue that carefreeness is necessary for children to develop positive affective responses to worthwhile projects and relationships, and so is necessary for children to endorse the valuable goods in their lives. One upshot of my discussion is that a child who is allowed to play, who receives an adequate education, and who has loving parents, but who lacks the psychological disposition of carefreeness leads an impoverished life, even if she might lead a good life in adulthood.
Getting Obligations Right: Autonomy and Shared Decision Making
Authors: Lewis Jonathan 
Published: July 2019

AbstractShared Decision Making (‘SDM’) is one of the most significant developments in Western health care practices in recent years. Whereas traditional models of care operate on the basis of the physician as the primary medical decision maker, SDM requires patients to be supported to consider options in order to achieve informed preferences by mutually sharing the best available evidence. According to its proponents, SDM is the right way to interpret the clinician‐patient relationship because it fulfils the ethical imperative of respecting patient autonomy. However, there is no consensus about how decisions in SDM contexts relate to the principle of respect for autonomy. In response, I demonstrate that in order to make decisions about what treatment they will or will not receive, patients will be required to meet different conditions depending on the approach proponents of SDM take to understanding personal autonomy. Due to the fact that different conceptions of autonomy yield different obligations, I argue that if physicians and patients satisfied all the conditions described in standard accounts of SDM, then SDM would undermine patient autonomy.
Urinary exosome miR‐30c‐5p as a biomarker of clear cell renal cell carcinoma that inhibits progression by targeting HSPA5
Authors: Song Shangqing , Long Manmei , Yu Guopeng , Cheng Yajun , Yang Qing , Liu Jiayi , Wang Yiwei , Sheng Jiayan , Wang Linhui , Wang Zhong , Xu Bin 
Published: July 2019

AbstractExosome‐derived miRNAs are regarded as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of many human cancers. However, its function in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear. In this study, differentially expressed miRNAs from urinal exosomes were identified using next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and verified using urine samples of ccRCC patients and healthy donors. Then, the exosomes were analysed in early‐stage ccRCC patients, healthy individuals and patients suffering from other urinary system cancers. Thereafter, the target gene of the miRNA was detected. Its biological function was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that miR‐30c‐5p could be amplified in a stable manner. Its expression pattern was significantly different only between ccRCC patients and healthy control individuals, but not compared with that of other urinary system cancers, which indicated its specificity for ccRCC. Additionally, the overexpression of miR‐30c‐5p inhibited ccRCC progression in vitro and in vivo. Heat‐shock protein 5 (HSPA5) was found to be a direct target gene of miR‐30c‐5p. The depletion of HSPA5 caused by miR‐30c‐5p inhibition reversed the promoting effect of ccRCC growth. In conclusion, urinary exosomal miR‐30c‐5p acts as a potential diagnostic biomarker of early‐stage ccRCC and may be able to modulate the expression of HSPA5, which is correlated with the progression of ccRCC.
Telehealth in Home‐Based Primary Care: Factors and Challenges Associated With Integration Into Veteran Care
Authors: Dang Stuti , Olsan Tobie , Karuza Jurgis , Cai Xueya , Gao Shan , Intrator Orna , Li Jiejin , Gillespie Suzanne M. 
Published: July 2019

OBJECTIVESTo describe the structural characteristics and challenges associated with home telehealth (HT) use in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home‐Based Primary Care (HBPC) program.DESIGNWe designed a national survey to collect information about HBPC program structural characteristics. The survey included eight organizational and service domains, one of which was HT. HBPC program directors were surveyed online using REDCap.PARTICIPANTSWe received 232 surveys from 394 HBPC sites (59% response rate).METHODSHBPC structural domains were compared between sites using and not using HT technology. Open‐ended responses were analyzed using content analysis.RESULTSA total of 127 sites (76%) used HT, which was more likely when HBPC sites were aligned organizationally with the VA's Geriatrics and Extended Care Services division, when there were more disciplines on the HBPC team, and when primary care providers made home visits. Program directors overwhelmingly viewed HT as contributing to managing veterans' complex chronic conditions (81%), yet HT data were not readily integrated into care planning (24%). Challenges to HT use included veterans' acceptance and adherence, device issues, and collaboration between HBPC teams and HT staff.CONCLUSIONCorresponding to HBPC's complexity, HT use is primarily a self‐organizing process that shapes the patterns of integration at each site. Although HT technology is compatible with core structures of the HBPC model, usability varies, and overall is low. To optimize HT use in HBPC, there are opportunities to redesign systems to mitigate challenges to adoption. As the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' strives to increase access to both HBPC and telehealth benefits, evidenced by the continuation of its successful Independence at Home demonstration and the final changes in the proposed rule in April 2019 incorporating additional telehealth benefits for beneficiaries, this information will be relevant to VA and non‐VA alike. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1928–1933, 2019