bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intradermal injection of Fluorouracil versus triamcinolone in localized vitiligo treatment
Authors: Zohdy Hatem Abo‐El‐Wafa , Hussein Mohamed Saber 
Published: November 2018

SummaryBackgroundVitiligo is an autoimmune disease with a prevalence of 1.22% in Egypt. Intralesional steroids use in localized vitiligo treatment still a matter of debate. Fluorouracil was tried in vitiligo treatment after lesion dermabrasion, ablative laser, or micro‐needling. The study aimed to compare the efficacy of intradermal fluorouracil and triamcinolone acetonide without any adjuvant therapy in localized vitiligo treatment.Patients and methodsSixty patients with localized non‐segmental stable vitiligo were assigned randomly and equally into groups. Patients subjected to intradermal injection of either fluorouracil (50 mg/mL), triamcinolone acetonide (3 mg/mL) or an equal mixture of both drugs. All patients had four treatment sessions every 2 weeks were followed up for 6 months.ResultsIntradermal fluorouracil showed the best overall improvement (median 52.27, IQR 36.25‐68.18) when compared with triamcinolone (median 13.86, IQR 3.83‐33.32) and the drug mixture (median 17.15, IQR 7.48‐41.67). During follow‐up, the vitiliginous patches continued to repigment for 6 months in fluorouracil and the drug mixture groups. The improvement stopped 1 month after the last session in the triamcinolone group.ConclusionThe intradermal fluorouracil injection is an effective treatment of localized vitiligo. The intradermal steroid has a short‐acting therapeutic effect, but the mixture of drugs added no therapeutic effect.
Rapid and sensitive detection of Acidovorax citrulli in cucurbit seeds by visual loop‐mediated isothermal amplification assay
Authors: Yan Lichun , Zhao Yuqiang , Zhou Jiaju , Chen Shuo , Bai Sa , Tian Yanli , Gong Weirong , Hu Baishi 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA rapid, sensitive and visual loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for detecting Acidovorax citrulli in cucurbit seed was developed in this study. The LAMP primers were designed to recognize the non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene (locus tag: Aave_4658) from A. citrulli. The LAMP assay was conducted at 64°C in 1 hr with calcein as an indicator. The sensitivity and specificity of the LAMP assay were further compared with those of a conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The LAMP assay is highly specific to A. citrulli, and no cross‐reaction was observed with other bacterial pathogen. The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was 100‐fold higher than that of conventional PCR with a detection limit of 1 pg of genomic DNA. Using the LAMP assay, 7 of 12 cantaloupe seedlots collected from Xinjiang province were determined to be positive for A. citrulli. In contrast, only 2 of 12 seedlots showed positive for the pathogen with conventional PCR. Moreover, A. citrulli was detected in 100% of artificially infested seedlots with 0.01% infestation or greater. Our results demonstrated that the LAMP assay was simple, visual and sensitive for detecting A. citrulli, especially in seed health testing. Hence, this method has great potential application in routine detecting seed‐borne pathogens and reducing the risk of epidemics.
Caries prevalence and associations with medications and medical comorbidities
Authors: Jurasic M. Marianne , Gibson Gretchen , Wehler Carolyn J. , Orner Michelle B. , Jones Judith A. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractObjectivesTo use extensive electronic dental, medical, and pharmacy databases to estimate the prevalence of dental caries in a cohort of new patients during a 5‐year period (FY2010–FY2015) and determine whether medication use and medical comorbidities are associated with caries prevalence.MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of existing data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The number of teeth treated due to a caries‐related diagnosis was determined and outcomes were presented as number of teeth/person and proportion of patients receiving caries‐related treatment. Logistic and negative binomial regression modeled teeth/person with caries‐related treatment; covariates included age, gender, race, ethnicity, physical and mental comorbidities, and use of prescription medications and prescription drugs with strong anticholinergic properties.ResultsThe study population included 95,850 dentate dental patients: 92.1 percent were male, mean age of 58.7 ± 12.6 years, 73.2 percent were White/Caucasian, and 21.3 percent were Black/African American. They were taking a mean of 10.6 ± 5.9 VA prescription drug classes, 0.6 ± 0.4 drugs with strong anticholinergic properties, and had 3.6 ± 2.2 physical and 1.4 ± 1.2 mental comorbidities. On average, 2.2 teeth/person received caries‐related treatment and 58 percent of the study population received any caries‐related treatment. An increase in the rate of caries‐related treatment in Veterans was statistically significantly associated with increased prescription medication use; one or more drugs with strong anticholinergic properties and with 1+ mental comorbidities. Increased physical comorbidity was not statistically significantly associated with caries‐related treatment.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates a high prevalence of caries among Veteran dental patients, with an increased prevalence in those taking higher numbers of prescription medications.
The ELCIDD Project: An Audit of End‐of‐Life Care in Persons with Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia
Authors: Tromans Samuel , Andrews Hayley , Wani Anu , Ganghadaran Satheesh 
Published: November 2018

AbstractWith a rise in the life expectancy of people with intellectual disabilities in recent decades, there has been a related increase in rates of dementia. As a chronic, progressive condition dementia presents opportunities for provision of pre‐planned end‐of‐life care. This audit focussed on the level of compliance with pre‐defined end‐of‐life care standards for a group of patients with intellectual disabilities and severe dementia. Compliance with pre‐defined end‐of‐life care standards was found to be highly variable. Areas of high compliance included all 32 patients having access to their primary care physician, 84% (n = 27) having regular review by their psychiatrist and 94% (n = 30) having had a review of their medication regime. In contrast, there was only clear evidence of patient involvement in advance planning for 25% (n = 8) of patients, with similarly few patients having agreement on the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (22%; n = 7) a plan for supporting their carers and/or family (13%; n = 4) or a documented preferred place of death (22%; n = 7). Possible reasons for variable compliance include limited awareness of end‐of‐life care standards among ID professionals and carers, difficulties in discerning when patients are approaching the end of their lives and limited involvement of both the patient and palliative care professionals in decision‐making approaches. There is a clear need for a more structured approach for the assessment and management of these patients, and recently published guidance may help support ID professionals in this regard.
Assessing student academic time use: assumptions, predictions and realities
Authors: Zeeman Jacqueline M , Kang Isabell , Angelo Thomas A 
Published: November 2018

ContextIn an era of medical education reform and increasing accountability at all levels of higher education, there is a need to understand how the time in which students engage in academic activities can inform evidence‐based quality improvement of the curriculum. Time logging provides an opportunity to quantify student use of academic time and guide data‐informed decision making in curriculum design.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate faculty staff and student predictions of students’ academic time use and to assess students’ reported academic time use.MethodsGraduate‐level professional students engaged in a time use exercise during the first semester of Year 1 (autumn 2015) and second semester of Year 2 (spring 2017) of a redesigned curriculum launched in autumn 2015. This exercise involved three key activities: (i) prediction of time use; (ii) time logging, and (iii) reflection on time use. Key faculty staff predicted students’ weekday time use in both semesters.ResultsStudents’ predictions of academic time use strongly correlated with their reported academic time use during both the first semester of Year 1 and second semester of Year 2 (r = 0.55 and r = 0.53, respectively). Faculty members’ predictions of academic time use did not correlate with student academic time use during either semester. Although 63.8% of Year‐1 students reported the time use exercise motivated them to change their time use, students reported spending similar amounts of time on academic activities during the first semester of Year 1 (7.8 ± 1.5 hours per weekday) and the second semester of Year 2 (7.9 ± 2.0 hours per weekday). Most students reported that the exercise had been useful and indicated that their logged time accurately reflected their actual time use.ConclusionsAlthough curriculum reform efforts may always require that some assumptions be made, time logging can quantify students’ academic use of time. Although students predict their use of time more accurately than do faculty staff, negligible changes in students’ academic time use despite reported desires to make changes indicate that students’ academic time use may remain inelastic. Educators must consider these findings as they design curricula, identify academic rigour, and establish student expectations of academic time use.
Plant traits inform predictions of tundra responses to global change
Authors: Myers‐Smith Isla H. , Thomas Haydn J. D. , Bjorkman Anne D. 
Published: November 2018

Contents

Summary
1742

I.
Introduction
1742

II.
The global context of tundra trait variation
1743

III.
The current state of knowledge on trait change in the tundra biome
1744

IV.
The links between traits and ecosystem functions
1744

V.
Future priorities for tundra trait research
1746

VI.
Conclusions
1746

References
1747

SummaryIn the rapidly warming tundra biome, plant traits provide an essential link between ongoing vegetation change and feedbacks to key ecosystem functions. However, only recently have comprehensive trait data been compiled for tundra species and sites, allowing us to assess key elements of functional responses to global change. In this review, we summarize trait‐based research in tundra ecosystems, with a focus on three components: plant trait variation and how it compares with global patterns; shifts in community‐level traits in response to environmental change; and the use of traits to understand and predict ecosystem function. Quantifying patterns and trends in plant traits will allow us to better project the consequences of environmental change for the ecology and functioning of tundra ecosystems.
On the origins of osmotically driven stomatal movements
Authors: Sussmilch Frances C. , Roelfsema M. Rob G. , Hedrich Rainer 
Published: November 2018

Contents

Summary
84

I.
Introduction
84

II.
Stomatal form and biomechanics
85

III.
Stomatal function
86

IV.
Evolution of guard cell ion channels
87

V.
Conclusions
88

Acknowledgements
88

Author contributions
88

References
88

SummaryStomatal pores with apertures that can be adjusted by changes in guard cell turgor have facilitated plant success in dry environments. We explore their evolutionary origins, considering recent findings from bryophytes. Unlike vascular plant stomata, which close to prevent water loss, bryophyte stomata become locked open to promote spore desiccation. We find that the families of ion channels, known to control stomatal movements in angiosperms, are ancient and represented across extant land plants. However, although angiosperm guard cells express specific ion channel genes, none appear specifically expressed in stomata‐bearing moss tissues. Given the evolutionary shift in stomatal function from promotion to prevention of water loss, we postulate that ion channels adopted guard cell‐specific functions after the divergence of bryophytes.
Wood decomposition is more strongly controlled by temperature than by tree species and decomposer diversity in highly species rich subtropical forests
Authors: Pietsch Katherina A. , Eichenberg David , Nadrowski Karin , Bauhus Jürgen , Buscot François , Purahong Witoon , Wipfler Benjamin , Wubet Tesfaye , Yu Mingjian , Wirth Christian 
Published: November 2018

While the number of studies on the role of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning is steadily increasing, a key component of biogeochemical cycling in forests, dead wood decay, has been largely neglected. It remains widely unknown whether and how dead wood decay is affected by diversity loss in forests. We studied the hierarchical effects of tree species diversity on wood decay rates in a subtropical forest landscape in southeast China via its influence on fungal OTU richness and invertebrate diversity using piecewise structural equation models. The experiment was conducted in natural forest plots that span a wide gradient of tree species diversity embedded in a heterogeneous topography. To account for interactions between macro‐invertebrates and fungi, that potentially modify the influence of tree biodiversity and climate on dead wood decay, we compared a macro‐invertebrate exclusion treatment with a control treatment that allowed access to all types of decomposers.Diversity effects of trees on wood decay rates were mostly negative and mediated by the diversity of macro‐invertebrates. However, the effects of tree species diversity or fungal OTU richness and macro‐invertebrate diversity on wood decay rates were comparatively weak. Temperature affected decay rates positively and had the strongest influence in all treatments. While the exclusion of macro‐invertebrates did not lead to a reduction of wood decay rates, our results suggest that they may however have a mediating role in the process. In the presence of invertebrates the predictability of wood decay rates was higher and we observed a tendency of a stronger temperature control.Our results suggest that there is evidence for diversity effects on wood decomposition, but the temperature control is still more important. Thus, an increase in mean annual temperature will increase carbon and nutrient turnover through wood decomposition in subtropical forest irrespective of biotic composition.
Pain relief in the palm of your hand: Harnessing mobile health to manage pediatric pain
Authors: Hunter John F. , Kain Zeev N. , Fortier Michelle A. 
Published: November 2018

SummaryThe development and implementation of mobile health (mHealth) interventions provide an opportunity for more optimal management of pediatric pain in the home setting. Leveraging the popularity, mobility, and technological capabilities of digital mobile devices may reduce pediatric pain. Several mHealth applications have already been developed that target the reduction of acute and chronic pediatric pain by digitally delivering intervention strategies in an engaging manner, accumulating pain assessment data, facilitating patient‐provider communication, and providing interactive training. Although several mHealth programs have begun to make strides in the management of pediatric pain, there are still many more possibilities for improvement as greater development and adoption of mHealth practices is on the horizon. Recommendations are provided that advocate for continued advancement of pediatric pain mHealth implementation with an emphasis on robust scientific evaluation, a structured approach to development and design elements that enhance engagement. Increased awareness about the positive influence of mHealth along with the encouragement of researchers and healthcare providers to promote and develop mHealth programs has the potential to transform pediatric pain management. This merger of evidence‐based pain management strategies and digital technology positions pediatric mHealth to have a profound impact by effectively augmenting standard of care and benefiting healthcare providers, parents, and especially children in need.
Intensity expectation modifies gustatory evoked potentials to sweet taste: Evidence of bidirectional assimilation in early perceptual processing
Authors: Wilton Moon , Stancak Andrej , Giesbrecht Timo , Thomas Anna , Kirkham Tim 
Published: November 2018

AbstractExpectations can affect subjective sensory and hedonic ratings of tastes, but it is unclear whether they also shape sensory experience at a perceptual level. The neural correlates of the taste‐expectancy relationship were explored through EEG analysis. Using a trial‐by‐trial cueing paradigm, lingual delivery of 0.05 M or 0.3 M sucrose solutions was preceded by congruent or incongruent visual cues designed to promote anticipation of either a low‐sweet or high‐sweet solution. When participants were cued to expect low‐sweet, but received high‐sweet (incongruent cue), intensity ratings for high‐sweet decreased. Likewise, expectation of high‐sweet increased intensity ratings of low‐sweet solutions. Taste‐dependent, right central‐parietal gustatory ERPs were detected, with greater P1 (associated with greater right insula activation) and P2 peak amplitudes for high‐sweet tastes. Valid cue‐taste pairings led to specific reduced right‐lateralized N400 responses (associated with an attenuation in right insula activation) compared with invalid cue‐taste pairings. Finally, P1 amplitudes following invalidly cued low‐sweet tastes closely matched those generated by expected high‐sweet tastes, and P1 amplitudes for invalidly cued high‐sweet tastes resembled those generated by low‐sweet tastes. We conclude that, as well as modifying subjective ratings toward the anticipated intensity level, expectations affect cortical activity in a top‐down manner to induce bidirectional assimilation in the early perceptual processing of sweet taste and modulate N400 ERP components not previously associated with gustatory stimulation.
Modulation theory solution for nonlinearly resonant, fifth‐order Korteweg–de Vries, nonclassical, traveling dispersive shock waves
Authors: Hoefer Mark A. , Smyth Noel F. , Sprenger Patrick 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA new class of resonant dispersive shock waves was recently identified as solutions of the Kawahara equation— a Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) type nonlinear wave equation with third‐ and fifth‐order spatial derivatives— in the regime of nonconvex, linear dispersion. Linear resonance resulting from the third‐ and fifth‐order terms in the Kawahara equation was identified as the key ingredient for nonclassical dispersive shock wave solutions. Here, nonlinear wave (Whitham) modulation theory is used to construct approximate nonclassical traveling dispersive shock wave (TDSW) solutions of the fifth‐ order KdV equation without the third derivative term, hence without any linear resonance. A self‐similar, simple wave modulation solution of the fifth order, weakly nonlinear KdV–Whitham equations is obtained that matches a constant to a heteroclinic traveling wave via a partial dispersive shock wave so that the TDSW is interpreted as a nonlinear resonance. The modulation solution is compared with full numerical solutions, exhibiting excellent agreement. The TDSW is shown to be modulationally stable in the presence of sufficiently small third‐order dispersion. The Kawahara–Whitham modulation equations transition from hyperbolic to elliptic type for sufficiently large third‐order dispersion, which provides a possible route for the TDSW to exhibit modulational instability.
Mechanical properties of soil freshly amended with Miscanthus biochar
Authors: Menon M. , Tatari A. , Smith C. C. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBiochar has been shown to have multiple, positive benefits on soil physico‐chemical and biological properties. However, mechanical behaviour of biochar‐amended soils has been given relatively less attention. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to describe these properties of soil freshly amended with Miscanthus biochar in the context of compaction mitigation through a comprehensive laboratory study. In particular, for the first time, we evaluated the short‐term loading and unloading responses of replicated biochar‐amended soils using a modified oedometer, using different rates of application of biochar (2, 6 and 10% w/w, dry weight basis), in two types of soil (humus‐free loam and field loam) prepared at two different (10 and 22% w/w) soil moisture contents. From the experiment, dry density (ρd), void ratio (e), compression index (Cc) and relaxation ratio (R) were derived and statistically analysed. The addition of biochar was shown to reduce ρd, while e increased with the amount of added biochar. The addition of biochar increased Cc and R. The effect of soil moisture content and soil types was also found to be statistically significant on the above parameters. However, field studies are needed to understand the long‐term mechanical behaviour of biochar‐amended soils and further studies are required to examine the performance of different biochar types and soil types.
Locals get travellers’ diarrhoea too: risk factors for diarrhoeal illness and pathogenic Escherichia coli infection across an urban‐rural gradient in Ecuador
Authors: Smith Shanon M. , Montero Lorena , Paez Maritza , Ortega Estefania , Hall Eric , Bohnert Kate , Sanchez Xavier , Puebla Edison , Endara Pablo , Cevallos William , Trueba Gabriel , Levy Karen 
Published: November 2018

AbstractObjectivesDiarrhoea is a common and well‐studied cause of illness afflicting international travellers. However, traveller's diarrhoea can also result from travel between high and low disease transmission regions within a country, which is the focus of this study.MethodsWe recruited participants for a case‐control study of diarrhoea at four sites along an urban‐rural gradient in Northern Ecuador: Quito, Esmeraldas, Borbón and rural communities outside of Borbón. At each of these sites, approximately 100 subjects with diarrhoea (cases) were recruited from Ministry of Health clinics and were age‐matched with subjects visiting the same clinics for other complaints (controls).ResultsTravellers to urban destinations had higher risk of diarrhoea and diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) infections. Travel to Quito was associated with diarrhoea (aOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.10–3.68) and travel to Guayaquil (another urban centre in Ecuador) was associated with Diffuse Adherent E. coli infection (OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.01–4.33). Compared to those not travelling, urban origins were also associated with greater risk of diarrhoea in Esmeraldas (aOR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.20–4.41), and with higher risk of diarrhoeagenic E. coli infections in Quito (aOR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.16–5.86), with >50% of travel from Quito and Esmeraldas specified to another urban destination.ConclusionsThis study suggests that individuals travelling from lower‐transmission regions (rural areas) to higher transmission regions (urban centres) within a single country are at a greater risk of acquiring a diarrhoea‐related illness. Investments to improve water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in urban areas could have impacts on outlying rural areas within a given country.
Evolutionary and ecological functional genomics, from lab to the wild
Authors: Zaidem Maricris L. , Groen Simon C. , Purugganan Michael D. 
Published: November 2018

SummaryPlant phenotypes are the result of both genetic and environmental forces that act to modulate trait expression. Over the last few years, numerous approaches in functional genomics and systems biology have led to a greater understanding of plant phenotypic variation and plant responses to the environment. These approaches, and the questions that they can address, have been loosely termed evolutionary and ecological functional genomics (EEFG), and have been providing key insights on how plants adapt and evolve. In particular, by bringing these studies from the laboratory to the field, EEFG studies allow us to gain greater knowledge of how plants function in their natural contexts.