bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
“I feel like just a normal person now”: An exploration of the perceptions of people with intellectual disabilities about what is important in the provision of positive behavioural support
Authors: McKenzie Karen , Whelan Kathryn J. , Mayer Claire , McNall Anne , Noone Steve , Chaplin Jill 
Published: July 2018

Accessible Summary

People with a learning disability do not always get good support

We wanted to know what they thought about positive behavioural support

They told us many important things about good and bad support

Good support included being treated as a human being, having a good and full life and being helped with behaviour and skills.

AbstractBackgroundThere is a growing evidence base about the effectiveness of positive behavioural support (PBS) in relation to behaviours that challenge (CB). There is, however, limited research from the perspective of individuals receiving this support. The objective of this qualitative study was to obtain the views of participants with an intellectual disability about what was important to them in relation to receiving PBS.Materials and methodsSeven participants with an intellectual disability, recruited via support organisations in the North East of England, gave their views about their support through interviews (n = 3) and a focus group (n = 4). Data were collected between April and June 2016 and were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsFour themes were identified: the importance of being treated as a human being; the wider impact of PBS; the contrast of PBS with previous experiences of support; and the beneficial impact of positive support. PBS was valued for its wide impact on quality of life, with a reduction in CB being just one of many important aspects.ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of including service user perspectives and quality‐of‐life indicators in research which evaluates service provision and support.
Sex‐specific autistic endophenotypes induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid involve anandamide signalling
Authors: Melancia Francesca , Schiavi Sara , Servadio Michela , Cartocci Veronica , Campolongo Patrizia , Palmery Maura , Pallottini Valentina , Trezza Viviana 
Published: July 2018

Background and PurposeAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is more commonly diagnosed in males than in females. Prenatal exposure to the antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) is an environmental risk factor of ASD. Male rats prenatally exposed to VPA show socio‐emotional autistic‐like dysfunctions that have been related to changes in the activity of the endocannabinoid anandamide. Here, we have investigated if prenatal VPA induced sex‐specific autistic endophenotypes involving anandamide signalling.Experimental ApproachWe studied sex‐specific differences in the ASD‐like socio‐emotional, cognitive and repetitive symptoms displayed during development of Wistar rats of both sexes, prenatally exposed to VPA. The involvement of anandamide was followed by Western blotting of cannabinoid CB1 receptors and by inhibiting its metabolism.Key ResultsFemale rats were less vulnerable to the deleterious effects of prenatal VPA exposure on social communication, emotional reactivity and cognitive performance than male rats. Conversely, as observed in male rats, prenatal VPA exposure induced selective deficits in social play behaviour and stereotypies in the female rat offspring. At the neurochemical level, prenatal VPA exposure altered phosphorylation of CB1 receptors in a sex‐specific, age‐specific and tissue‐specific manner. Enhancing anandamide signalling through inhibition of its degradation reversed the behavioural deficits displayed by VPA‐exposed animals of both sexes.Conclusions and ImplicationsThese findings highlight sexually dimorphic consequences of prenatal VPA exposure that may be related to sex‐specific effects of VPA on endocannabinoid neurotransmission in the course of development and introduce a new therapeutic target for reversing autistic‐like symptoms in both sexes.
Disparities in dental healthcare utilization in China
Authors: Li Chaofan , Yao Nengliang (Aaron) , Yin Aitian 
Published: July 2018

AbstractObjectivesThe goal of this study was to investigate inequality in dental service utilization in Chinese middle‐aged and senior adults and changes in inequality over time and to determine the sources of inequality.MethodsThe data included 17 648 individuals aged 45 years and older in 2013 and 15 450 individuals in 2015 who participated in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The concentration index was used to quantify the degree of inequality. A decomposition method was employed to determine the sources of inequality, including need variables (demographic characteristics, self‐reported health status, and presence of chronic diseases), living standard (measured by household consumption expenditure per capita), other non‐need variables (education level, marital status, region of residence, urban–rural difference and type of health insurance plans).ResultsThe better‐off not only had a higher likelihood of using dental care services than did the worse‐off but also used them more often than the worse‐off. The concentration index for probability of dental care utilization increased from 0.074 to 0.112 between 2013 and 2015, and the concentration index for total number of dental visits increased from 0.085 to 0.127. Living standard, education, health insurance plans and urban–rural disparities showed a pro‐rich contribution to the inequality. The living standard contributed about 70% to the pro‐rich inequality.ConclusionsDental care utilization in the Chinese middle‐aged and older adults was concentrated in the better‐off. Inequality in dental care utilization widened from 2013 to 2015. Achieving equity in dental care utilization remains a challenge for the healthcare system in China.
Fluoride intake and urinary fluoride excretion in 4‐ and 8‐year‐old children living in urban and rural areas of Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Ibiyemi O. , Zohoori F. V. , Valentine R. A. , Maguire A. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractObjectivesTo estimate and compare total daily fluoride intake (TDFI), daily urinary fluoride excretion (DUFE), daily fluoride retention (DFR), fractional urinary fluoride excretion (FUFE) and fractional fluoride retention (FFR) in 4‐ and 8 year‐old Nigerians and explore associations between these outcomes to improve understanding of fluoride metabolism.MethodsUsing a cross‐sectional observational study, 72 four‐year‐olds and 72 eight‐year‐olds were recruited from nursery and primary schools (respectively) in lower and higher water F areas of urban and rural localities in Oyo State, southwest Nigeria. TDFI from diet and toothpaste ingestion was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire and visual scale of toothpaste used during toothbrushing. DUFE was measured by collecting a 24‐hour urine sample, FUFE estimated as the ratio between DUFE and TDFI, DFR estimated as TDFI‐TDFE (where TDFE = DUFE + estimated faecal F excretion (ie TDFI × 10%), and FFR was estimated as [(TDFI‐DFR)/TDFI] × 100. Data were analysed using ANOVA with post hoc tests and Student's t tests and strengths of associations between key variables measured.ResultsMean (SD) TDFI, DUFE, DFR, FUFE and FFR were 0.137 (0.169) mg/kg bw/d, 0.032 (0.027) mg/kg bw/d, 0.091 (0.147) mg/kg bw/d, 44% (44%) and 46% (44%), respectively, for 4‐year‐olds. Corresponding values for 8‐year‐olds (n = 63) were 0.106 (0.130) mg/kg bw/d, 0.022 (0.017) mg/kg bw/d, 0.073 (0.107) mg/kg bw/d, 36% (30%) and 54% (30%), respectively. Dietary contribution to TDFI was 79% and 75% (respectively), for 4‐ and 8‐year‐olds. Mean (SD) TDFI from toothpaste ingestion was 0.021 (0.013) mg/kg bw/d in 4‐year‐olds, 0.014 (0.010) mg/kg bw/d in 8‐year‐olds (P = .002) but with no differences between areas. Differences in dietary F intake determined the main differences in F exposure between areas. The positive correlation between TDFI and DUFE was weak for 4‐year‐olds (r = +.29) and strong for 8‐year‐olds (r = +.64). A strong positive correlation was observed between TDFI and DFR for both age groups: (r) = +.98 for 4‐year‐olds and (r) = +.99 for 8‐year‐olds.ConclusionFluoride intake in these 4‐ and 8‐year‐old Nigerians was much higher than the “optimal range” of 0.05‐0.07 mg/kg bw/d in rural, higher F water areas, with diet as the main contributor. F retention was similar in both age groups, with almost half of TDFI retained in the body. In terms of risk vs benefit for fluorosis and dental caries, this finding should be considered when mitigating against excessive fluoride exposure and planning F‐based prevention.
Real‐world multicentre experience of the pathological features of colonic ischaemia and their relationship to symptom duration, disease distribution and clinical outcome
Authors: Fenster M. , Feuerstadt P. , Brandt L. J. , Mansoor M. S. , Huisman T. , Aroniadis O. C. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAimTo determine the pathological features of colonic ischaemia (CI) and their relationship to symptom duration, disease distribution and clinical outcome in a real‐world, clinical setting.MethodA retrospective, multicentre chart review was performed in patients diagnosed with CI at Montefiore Medical Center (January 2005 to July 2015), and Yale‐New Haven Hospital (January 2005 to June 2010). Patients were included if clinical presentation, colonoscopic findings and colonic pathology were all consistent with CI.ResultsSix hundred and sixteen patients with pathologically proven CI were included. Common pathological findings included inflammation (51.1%), ulceration (38.2%), fibrosis (26.0%) and necrosis (20.4%). Infarction and ghost cells were seen in 1.6% and 0.2% of cases, respectively. There was a significant relationship between symptom duration and hyalinization of the lamina propria (P = 0.05) and cryptitis/crypt abscesses (P = 0.01). Patients with isolated right CI (IRCI) were more likely than patients with isolated left CI (ILCI) to exhibit necrosis (P < 0.01), cryptitis/crypt abscess (P < 0.01) and inflammation (P = 0.03). Patients with poor outcomes were more likely to exhibit necrosis (P < 0.01) and capillary fibrin thrombi (P < 0.01) and less likely to exhibit fibrosis (P < 0.01) and epithelial changes (P < 0.01).ConclusionCI is accompanied by a broad spectrum of pathological findings. The traditional pathognomonic findings of CI are rare and cannot be relied upon to exclude the diagnosis. Patients with IRCI and/or poor outcomes were more likely to have pathological findings of necrosis than patients who had ILCI and/or nonpoor outcomes.
Development of brain functional connectivity and its relation to infant sustained attention in the first year of life
Authors: Xie Wanze , Mallin Brittany M. , Richards John E. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe study of brain functional connectivity is crucial to understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the improved behavioral performance and amplified ERP responses observed during infant sustained attention. Previous investigations on the development of functional brain connectivity during infancy are primarily confined to the use of functional and structural MRI techniques. The current study examined the relation between infant sustained attention and brain functional connectivity and their development during infancy with high‐density EEG recordings. Fifty‐nine infants were tested at 6 (N = 15), 8 (N =14), 10 (N = 17), and 12 (N = 13) months. Infant sustained attention was defined by measuring infant heart rate changes during infants’ looking. Functional connectivity was estimated from the electrodes on the scalp and with reconstructed cortical source activities in brain regions. It was found that infant sustained attention was accompanied by attenuated functional connectivity in the dorsal attention and default mode networks in the alpha band. Graph theory analyses showed that there was an increase in path length and a decrease in clustering coefficient during infant sustained attention. The functional connectivity within the visual, somatosensory, dorsal attention, and ventral attention networks and graph theory measures of path length and clustering coefficient were found to increase with age. These findings suggest that infant sustained attention is accompanied by distinct patterns of brain functional connectivity. The current findings also suggest the rapid development of functional connectivity in brain networks during infancy.
Seed manipulation by ants: disentangling the effects of ant behaviours on seed germination
Authors: Fernandes Tiago V. , Paolucci Lucas N. , Carmo Flávia M. S. , Sperber Carlos F. , Campos Ricardo I. 
Published: July 2018

1. Seed manipulation by ants can play a key role in seed germination through two main behaviours: elaiosome detachment and seed scarification. Despite the fact that these behaviours are commonplace, their effects have only been quantified independently, and their consequences on seed germination remain controversial.2. Here we experimentally investigate the effects of ant manipulation on seed germination, disentangling the contributions of these two ant behaviours to this process. To do so, under laboratory conditions, we studied the effects of seed manipulation by Acromyrmex subterraneus on germination of seeds from Mabea fistulifera, a myrmecochorous plant. We established six experimental treatments: (i) unmanipulated seeds; (ii) ant‐manipulated seeds with the elaiosome detached and scarified; (iii) ant‐manipulated seeds with the elaiosome detached and non‐scarified; (iv) hand‐manipulated seeds with the elaiosome remaining and scarified; (v) hand‐manipulated seeds with the elaiosome detached and scarified; and (vi) hand‐manipulated seeds with elaiosome detached and non‐scarified.3. We found that both elaiosome detachment and seed scarification decreased seed germination rates. Moreover, there was no difference in germination rates whether the seeds were manipulated by researcher's hand or by ants, suggesting a lack of other ant‐manipulation effects on seeds.4. The present study shows that manipulation by A. subterraneus can exert negative effects on germination of a myrmecochorous seed. Accordingly, we suggested that studies evaluating the benefits of myrmecochory for plants, based only on seed removal amount and distance, may be overestimating those benefits. Our results contribute to the understanding of the potential mechanisms influencing plant recruitment, especially for myrmecochorous plants inhabiting tropical forests.
Early interventions in a US military FIRST episode psychosis program
Authors: Hann Michael C. , Caporaso Evan , Loeffler George , Cuellar Adrian , Herrington Lisa , Marrone Laura , Yoon Jong 
Published: July 2018

AimNaval Medical Center San Diego's Psychiatric Transition Program is a specialized first episode psychosis treatment program that delivers coordinated specialty care to military service members with psychotic disorders. Due to the unique military environment, military service members with first episode psychosis are hypothesized to receive care very early after the emergence of first psychotic symptoms, resulting in significantly reduced duration of untreated psychosis. This study's aim is to calculate the duration of untreated psychosis for patients enrolled in Naval Medical Center San Diego's Psychiatric Transition Program (NMCSD PTP) from 01JUL2014‐31DEC2016.MethodsPatients included in this study had a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder (13.04%), schizophrenia (43.48%), schizoaffective disorder (8.70%), other specified schizophreniform disorder (30.43%), or brief psychotic disorder (4.35%) upon discharge from military service and NMCSD PTP. Duration of untreated psychosis was defined as the interval from emergence of positive psychotic symptoms to antipsychotic medication initiation. Duration of untreated psychosis was measured through retrospective review of the electronic medical record. A total of 69 subjects in the Naval Medical Center San Diego's Psychiatric Transition Program met inclusion criteria. Mean and median values as well as standard deviations were calculated for all included subjects.ResultsThe mean duration to scheduled (non‐PRN) neuroleptic medication was 37 days (median: 4 days). The mean duration to PRN neuroleptic medication was 21 days (median: 2 days).ConclusionsThese data support our view that the structure of the military and military healthcare system markedly shortens the DUP for military service members who experience first episode psychosis.
Evaluating pedotransfer functions of the Splintex model
Authors: Huf Dos Reis A. M. , Armindo R. A. , Durães M. F. , De Jong Van Lier Q. 
Published: July 2018

The soil water retention curve (SWRC) is an essential hydraulic function for the understanding and modelling of soil hydraulic processes. Its direct determination is time consuming and sometimes expensive because it requires extensive sampling, especially when spatial and temporal variation of soil hydraulic properties are an issue. The use of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) is a viable alternative to predict the parameters of SWRC from more easily determined soil attributes. Splintex is a physically based engineering model containing two PTFs to estimate SWRC parameters and saturated hydraulic conductivity, but its performance and functionality have not yet been fully evaluated and disseminated for soil science. We examined the functionality of the PTFs available in Splintex to estimate parameters of the Van Genuchten–Mualem (VGM) SWRC equation with a laboratory‐measured dataset containing information on particle size, bulk and particle density, saturated water content and parameters of the SWRCs. In addition, we tested the performance of both PTFs for deriving some soil physical–structural variables calculated from estimated SWRC parameters. Compared with VGM parameters fitted to the laboratory dataset, the model performed well. Its predictive performance for soil air capacity, relative field capacity and soil physical–structural quality indices was also evaluated. The performance of Splintex for estimating the VGM parameters depended on the combined effect of all input variables rather than on isolated correlations between an input variable and a model parameter.Highlights
Splintex provides two PTFs to estimate the Van Genuchten–Mualem parameters of the SWRC.
In addition to PTF1 input, PTF2 needs an additional soil water content–retention observation.
Performance of Splintex‐PTF1 against measured data and ‐PTF2 prediction is presented.
PTF2 provided better results than PTF1 for estimating SPQ indices.
Towards a predictive model of species interaction beta diversity
Authors: Graham Catherine H. , Weinstein Ben G. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSpecies interactions are fundamental to community dynamics and ecosystem processes. Despite significant progress in describing species interactions, we lack the ability to predict changes in interactions across space and time. We outline a Bayesian approach to separate the probability of species co‐occurrence, interaction and detectability in influencing interaction betadiversity. We use a multi‐year hummingbird–plant time series, divided into training and testing data, to show that including models of detectability and occurrence improves forecasts of mutualistic interactions. We then extend our model to explore interaction betadiversity across two distinct seasons. Despite differences in the observed interactions among seasons, there was no significant change in hummingbird occurrence or interaction frequency between hummingbirds and plants. These results highlight the challenge of inferring the causes of interaction betadiversity when interaction detectability is low. Finally, we highlight potential applications of our model for integrating observations of local interactions with biogeographic and evolutionary histories of co‐occurring species. These advances will provide new insight into the mechanisms that drive variation in patterns of biodiversity.
Crop‐to‐wild hybridization in cherries—Empirical evidence from Prunus fruticosa
Authors: Macková Lenka , Vít Petr , Urfus Tomáš 
Published: July 2018

AbstractCrop cultivation can lead to genetic swamping of indigenous species and thus pose a serious threat for biodiversity. The rare Eurasian tetraploid shrub Prunus fruticosa (ground cherry) is suspected of hybridizing with cultivated allochthonous tetraploid P. cerasus and autochthonous diploid P. avium. Three Prunus taxa (447 individuals of P. fruticosa, 43 of P. cerasus and 73 of P. avium) and their hybrids (198 individuals) were evaluated using analysis of absolute genome size/ploidy level and multivariate morphometrics. Flow cytometry revealed considerable differentiation in absolute genome size at the tetraploid level (average 2C of P. fruticosa = 1.30 pg, average 2C of P. cerasus = 1.42 pg, i.e., a 9.2% difference). The combination of methods used allowed us to ascertain the frequency of hybrids occurring under natural conditions in Central Europe. The morphological evaluation of leaves was based upon distance‐based morphometrics supplemented by elliptic Fourier analysis. The results provided substantial evidence for ongoing hybridization (hybrids occurred in 39.5% of P. fruticosa populations). We detected homoploid introgressive hybridization with alien P. cerasus at the tetraploid level. We also found previously overlooked but frequent triploid hybrids resulting from heteroploid hybridization with indigenous P. avium, which, however, probably represent only the F1 generation. Although both hybrids differ in ploidy, they cannot be distinguished using morphometrics. Hybrids are frequent and may endanger wild populations of genuine P. fruticosa via direct niche competition or, alternatively or in addition, via introgression at the homoploid level (i.e., genetic swamping). The cultivation of cherries thus substantially threatens the existence of genuine P. fruticosa.
Nuclear Lamin is required for Winged Eye‐mediated transdetermination of Drosophila imaginal disc
Authors: Masuko Keita , Furuhashi Hirofumi , Komaba Kanae , Numao Eriko , Nakajima Rumi , Fuse Naoyuki , Kurata Shoichiro 
Published: July 2018

AbstractDrosophila imaginal discs often change their cell fate under stress conditions, and this phenomenon, called transdetermination (TD), has long been a useful model for studying cell fate plasticity during regeneration. We previously identified a chromatin‐associated protein, Winged Eye (Wge), which induces eye‐to‐wing TD upon its over‐expression in eye imaginal discs. However, the molecular mechanism of Wge‐mediated TD remains obscure. Here, we analyzed Wge‐interacting proteins and found that several heterochromatin‐related proteins, including a nuclear lamina protein, Lamin (Lam), were associated with Wge protein in cultured cells. Knockdown experiments revealed that Lam is indeed required for Wge‐mediated eye‐to‐wing TD. Moreover, Wge over‐expression altered the spatial organization of genomic DNA inside the cell nuclei. Accordingly, we suggest that Wge interacts with Lam to link some genomic regions with the nuclear periphery and regulates chromatin dynamics in imaginal disc TD.