bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patients’ experiences 1–6 months after atrial fibrillation ablation: An holistic perspective
Authors: Bergtun Sønneva , Oterhals Kjersti , Fridlund Bengt 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAimTo describe patients’ experiences from a holistic perspective 1–6 months after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.BackgroundCatheter ablation (CA) is an invasive treatment for AF. While CA has Class 1A indication, the latest guidelines for AF management state there is an urgent need to better understand complications in clinical practice to improve the quality of AF ablation procedures.DesignA qualitative analytic approach based on a deductive and descriptive design was used.MethodsInterviews of 19 patients, carried out from September 2016 to February 2017, were analysed using qualitative content analysis.FindingsFive themes were identified; one in each life dimension due to the deductive design based on a holistic model: (a) having unexpected complications with a slower recovery; (b) discovering one's own self‐management strategies when lacking information and insufficient follow‐up; (c) managing resentment through different coping strategies while emotional reactions depended on feeling better or worse; (d) failing to receive full understanding and support from close ones, with social consequences when the biophysical level did not return to normal; (e) gradually adopting new life perspectives with a hope for a better future, despite having unmet expectations and uncertainty, leading to discovering existential matters.ConclusionPatients’ post CA experiences could be understood in terms of a holistic model. Their feelings of uncertainty caused by a lack of medical follow‐up led to emotional reactions, the magnitude of which depended on feeling‐well or worse. Patients’ need more information about possible complications, suggesting follow‐up and patient education needs improvement.
Family carers’ experiences of participating in a weight management programme for overweight children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities: An exploratory study
Authors: Lee Regina L.T. , Brown Michael , Leung Cynthia , Chen Hong , Louie Lobo , Chen Jyu‐Lin , Lee Paul H. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAimTo gain insight into the experiences of family carers participating in a weight management programme via mHealth tools for overweight children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities.BackgroundMany weight reduction programs fail to show positive and sustainable impacts due to not involving parents, who are usually unavailable to attend school‐based health programs. The mHealth interactive interventions were carried out in September 2015–August 2016, engaging carers to monitor and sustain their children's healthy lifestyle behaviours at home being one way to achieve this.DesignQualitative research design to conduct focus group discussion with family carers involved in a school‐based weight management programme via the mHealth interventions.MethodsAn exploratory study was used to examine family carers’ views of participating in a weight management programme. Focus group interviews examined the in‐depth experiences of 20 family carers in providing social support and monitoring lifestyle behaviours via the mHealth interactive interventions.ResultsTwenty family carers were recruited and four themes emerged: (a) improving family carer–child interactions and communications; (b) gaining useful and practical health information from experts; (c) supporting each other via an mHealth platform; and (d) appreciating the collaborative effort between school personnel and family carers. Family carers stressed the usefulness of the mHealth interactive interventions in monitoring and sustaining the children's healthy lifestyle behaviours at home.ConclusionThe mHealth interactive interventions for increasing family carers’ involvement and monitoring were well received. The findings provide new insights into using mHealth interventions in future weight management programmes involving parental participation in the home environment.
The relative importance of space compared to topography increases from rare to common tree species across latitude
Authors: Hu Yue‐Hua , Johnson Daniel J. , Mi Xiang‐Cheng , Wang Xu‐Gao , Ye Wan‐Hui , Li Yi‐De , Lian Ju‐Yu , Cao Min 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAimUnderstanding how spatial distributions of rare and common species are associated with environmental and spatial processes is essential to understanding community assembly. We addressed the following questions: (a) does the relative importance of space and topography vary from rare to common tree species? (b) Are the contributions of topography and space equal? (c) Are the variances explained by topography or space correlated with elevational ranges (ER) at the local scale? (d) Does cell‐size influence those postulated associations?LocationChina and the Americas.Major taxa studiedTree species.MethodsWe partitioned the variation in species richness and composition of rare and common tree species by topography and space across a range of extents and grain sizes in eight communities. We calculated contribution ratio (CR) between space and topography to quantify their relative importance. We employed Kendall's rank correlation to determine the relation between CR and commonness. Mixed effect models were used to identify the influence of cell‐size on the results.ResultsThe majority of CR values were positively related to increasing commonness, especially for composition. The explained variances by space were always higher than that by topography regardless of commonness. At local scale, variances explained by space or topography were not correlated with ER.Main conclusionsOur results indicate that the relative importance of space compared to topography increases from rare to common species across forests. We suggest that future studies of community assembly need to account for both space and topography to adequately describe differences in rare and common species assembly mechanisms at range of spatial extents and grain sizes.
Can educational robotics introduce young children to robotics and how can we measure it?
Authors: Castro Emanuela , Cecchi Francesca , Valente Massimiliano , Buselli Elisa , Salvini Pericle , Dario Paolo 
Published: September 2018

AbstractStudies have shown that educational robotics (ER) may impact student learning, especially in relation to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) areas. In the STEM framework, particularly for younger children, the “E” and the “T” are considered to be missing letters, because few studies have concentrated on teaching and evaluating technology and engineering through ER activities. This study aimed to develop and test the efficacy of an ER protocol to teach robotics in a sample of 389 students, hypothesizing that girls would be as successful as boys. A Robotics Questionnaire assessing the basics of robotics was developed for this study. A Wilcoxon nonparametric test was performed in order to evaluate improvements (p < 0.05). A Mann–Whitney nonparametric test was performed in order to test the presence of gender differences (p < 0.05). Data indicated significant improvements for all the age ranges considered. No gender differences were found. In order to evaluate the efficacy of a didactic intervention utilizing ER, it is important to assess the impact on children's technological and engineering (robotics, in particular) knowledge.
No measurable fitness cost to experimentally evolved host defence in the Caenorhabditis elegans–Serratia marcescens host–parasite system
Authors: Penley McKenna J. , Greenberg Arielle B. , Khalid Arooj , Namburar Sathvik R. , Morran Levi T. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractHost susceptibility to parasites can vary over space and time. Costs associated with the maintenance of host defence are thought to account for a portion of this variation. Specifically, trade‐offs wherein elevated defence is maintained at the cost of fitness in the absence of the parasite may cause levels of host defence to change over time and differ between populations. In previous studies, we found that populations of the host nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, evolved greater levels of parasite avoidance and resistance against the bacterial parasite, Serratia marcescens. Here, we passaged these host populations either in the presence or absence of the parasite to test for a cost of elevated host defences. After 16 generations, we found that elevated levels of host defence were maintained during evolution in both the presence and absence of the parasite. Further, this maintenance of defence was not the result of limited standing genetic variation, but rather the absence of a measurable cost associated with defence. Therefore, costs associated with host defence may not broadly account for differences in host susceptibility across space and time.
Indirect activation of rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) NK cells in oral and mucosal draining lymph nodes
Authors: Ram Daniel R. , Kroll Kyle , Reeves R. Keith 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe oral mucosae and draining lymph nodes are primary entry points for invading pathogens, particularly during immunosuppressive HIV/SIV infections. Innate immunity against oral stimuli, including natural killer (NK) cells, is understudied. Herein, we demonstrate functional NK cell responses to pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) of potential oral pathogens in rhesus macaques.
Cultural equivalence, reliability and utility of the Portuguese version of the Oral Behaviours Checklist
Authors: Barbosa Cláudia , Manso Maria Conceição , Reis Tiago , Soares Tânia , Gavinha Sandra , Ohrbach Richard 
Published: September 2018

SummaryBackgroundOral behaviors (OBs) must be assessed as part of a biobehavioural evaluation for patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).ObjectivesThe aims of this study were: to translate and culturally adapt the Oral Behaviors Checklist (OBC) into Portuguese; to evaluate its basic psychometric properties; and to assess the utility of the Portuguese OBC.MethodsThe Portuguese translation, cross‐cultural equivalence, and two studies (Pre‐field test, N = 8, and field test, N = 45) of the OBC adhered to official guidelines of the International RDC/TMD Research Consortium (now, INfORM). In the formal test (N = 120) the Portuguese RDC/TMD was used for TMD diagnosis.ResultsTranslation and cultural equivalence of the OBC into Portuguese was reviewed and approved by an expert panel. In the field test, item agreement between English and Portuguese OBC versions was very good (weighted Kappa ≥ 0.934). Test‐retest reliability of the OBCSumScore was excellent intra‐class correlation coefficient ((ICC) = 0.998, P < 0.001). As an initial probe into validity using parallel forms, comparison of the sleep bruxism and awake clenching questions included in the RDC/TMD with the corresponding OBC questions yielded excellent (Kappa = 0.932) and very good (k = 0.850), respectively, convergent validity as well as excellent (that is, poor agreement, kappa = 0.013) discriminant validity for these specific OBs. The mean OBCSumScore was significantly lower for the healthy group, compared to the painful TMD group (ANOVA, P = 0.037).ConclusionsThe Portuguese translation of the OBC exhibits cross‐cultural equivalence for use in Portugal, and the instrument performs with acceptable psychometric properties. The validity of the parafunction construct requires additional research in both Portuguese and other languages.
A systematic review on models of care effectiveness and barriers to Hepatitis C treatment in prison settings in the EU/EEA
Authors: Vroling Hilde , Oordt‐Speets Anouk M. , Madeddu Giordano , Babudieri Sergio , Monarca Roberto , O'Moore Eamonn , Vonk Noordegraaf‐Schouten Marije , Wolff Hans , Montanari Marialinda , Hedrich Dagmar , Tavoschi Lara 
Published: September 2018

SummaryHepatitis C prevalence in prison populations is much higher than in the community. Effective hepatitis C treatment within this population does not only have a direct individual health benefit, but may lead to substantial community dividend. We reviewed available evidence on hepatitis C treatment in prison settings, with a focus on the European Union/European Economic Area. A systematic review of the literature (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library) was performed and complemented with searches for conference abstracts and grey literature. Thirty‐four publications were included reporting on the effectiveness, acceptability and economic aspects of hepatitis C virus treatment models of care to achieve treatment completion and sustained viral response in prison settings. Available evidence shows that hepatitis C treatment in prison settings is feasible and the introduction of direct‐acting antivirals will most likely result in increased treatment completion and better clinical outcomes for the prison population, given the caveats of affordability and the need for increased funding for prison health, with the resulting benefits accruing mostly in the community.
Add‐on peginterferon alfa‐2a to nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy for Caucasian patients with hepatitis B ‘e’ antigen‐negative chronic hepatitis B genotype D
Authors: Lampertico Pietro , Brunetto Maurizia R. , Craxì Antonio , Gaeta Giovanni B. , Rizzetto Mario , Rozzi Antonella , Colombo Massimo ,   on behalf of The HERMES Study Group
Published: September 2018

SummaryNucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and peginterferon have complementary effects in chronic hepatitis B, but it is unclear whether combination therapy improves responses in genotype D‐infected patients. We conducted an open‐label study of peginterferon alfa‐2a 180 μg/wk added to ongoing NA therapy in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative, genotype D‐infected patients with hepatitis B virus DNA <20 IU/mL. The primary endpoint was proportion of patients with ≥50% decline in serum HBsAg by the end of the 48‐week add‐on phase. Seventy patients received treatment, 11 were withdrawn at week 24 for no decrease in HBsAg, and 14 withdrew for other reasons. Response rate (per‐protocol population) was 67.4% (29/43) at week 48 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 51, 81) and 50.9% (28/55) at week 96 (95% CI: 38, 66). Median serum HBsAg decreased throughout peginterferon alfa‐2a treatment and was significantly lower than baseline at weeks 48, 72 and 96 (P < 0.001). Decreases in HBsAg of ≥0.5‐log10 and ≥1‐log10 were documented in 19 (44.2%) and 6 (14.0%) patients at week 48 and 6 (10.9%) and 17 (30.9%) patients at week 96. The proportion of patients with HBsAg <1000, <500, <100 and <10 IU/mL at ≥1 timepoint during treatment was 78.6% (n = 44), 57.1% (n = 32), 21.4% (n = 12) and 7.1% (n = 4). Interferon gamma‐induced protein 10 increased from baseline up to week 48, with week 12 levels significantly associated with response at week 48. Addition of peginterferon alfa‐2a to ongoing NA therapy significantly decreased HBsAg levels in HBeAg‐negative patients with genotype D infection (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01706575).
Switching to peginterferon for chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion on entecavir – A prospective study
Authors: Chan Henry L. Y. , Chan Fiona W. S. , Hui Aric J. , Li Michael K. K. , Chan Kam H. , Wong Grace L. H. , Loo Ching K. , Chim Angel M. L. , Tse Chi H. , Wong Vincent W. S. 
Published: September 2018

SummaryNucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) are effective in suppressing hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, but most patients require long‐term treatment. This study aimed to investigate switching to peginterferon as a strategy to stop NA. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients who developed HBeAg seroconversion during NA treatment were studied. All patients received open‐label peginterferon alfa‐2a 180 μg/wk for 48 weeks, and NA was stopped at week 4 of peginterferon treatment. The primary endpoint was sustained response, which was defined as negative HBeAg, positive anti‐HBe and HBV DNA <2000 IU/mL at week 72. Other secondary endpoints including HBsAg loss at week 72 were also studied. Forty‐one patients treated with entecavir for 56 ± 23 months were recruited. Sustained response was achieved in 30 patients (73%, 95% confidence interval 58%‐84%). At week 72, 31 (76%) patients had HBeAg seroconversion, 56 (23%) patients had undetectable HBV DNA, 31 (76%) patients had normal ALT, and 6 patients (15%) had HBsAg loss. Baseline HBsAg level was the best predictor for both sustained response and HBsAg loss; the best HBsAg cut‐off for sustained response was <1500 IU/mL and that for HBsAg loss was <500 IU/mL by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Twenty‐two of 25 (88%) patients with baseline HBsAg <1500 IU/mL had sustained response. Five of 10 (50%) patients with baseline HBsAg <500 IU/mL developed HBsAg loss. Switching to peginterferon can be considered as a treatment option in NA‐treated patients with HBeAg seroconversion, particularly among those with lower HBsAg levels.
A comparison of genomic islands of differentiation across three young avian species pairs
Authors: Irwin Darren E. , Milá Borja , Toews David P. L. , Brelsford Alan , Kenyon Haley L. , Porter Alison N. , Grossen Christine , Delmore Kira E. , Alcaide Miguel , Irwin Jessica H. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDetailed evaluations of genomic variation between sister species often reveal distinct chromosomal regions of high relative differentiation (i.e., “islands of differentiation” in FST), but there is much debate regarding the causes of this pattern. We briefly review the prominent models of genomic islands of differentiation and compare patterns of genomic differentiation in three closely related pairs of New World warblers with the goal of evaluating support for the four models. Each pair (MacGillivray's/mourning warblers; Townsend's/black‐throated green warblers; and Audubon's/myrtle warblers) consists of forms that were likely separated in western and eastern North American refugia during cycles of Pleistocene glaciations and have now come into contact in western Canada, where each forms a narrow hybrid zone. We show strong differences between pairs in their patterns of genomic heterogeneity in FST, suggesting differing selective forces and/or differing genomic responses to similar selective forces among the three pairs. Across most of the genome, levels of within‐group nucleotide diversity (πWithin) are almost as large as levels of between‐group nucleotide distance (πBetween) within each pair, suggesting recent common ancestry and/or gene flow. In two pairs, a pattern of the FST peaks having low πBetween suggests that selective sweeps spread between geographically differentiated groups, followed by local differentiation. This “sweep‐before‐differentiation” model is consistent with signatures of gene flow within the yellow‐rumped warbler species complex. These findings add to our growing understanding of speciation as a complex process that can involve phases of adaptive introgression among partially differentiated populations.
Host‐derived population genomics data provides insights into bacterial and diatom composition of the killer whale skin
Authors: Hooper Rebecca , Brealey Jaelle C. , van der Valk Tom , Alberdi Antton , Durban John W. , Fearnbach Holly , Robertson Kelly M. , Baird Robin W. , Bradley Hanson M. , Wade Paul , Gilbert M. Thomas P. , Morin Phillip A. , Wolf Jochen B. W. , Foote Andrew D. , Guschanski Katerina 
Published: September 2018

AbstractRecent exploration into the interactions and relationship between hosts and their microbiota has revealed a connection between many aspects of the host's biology, health and associated micro‐organisms. Whereas amplicon sequencing has traditionally been used to characterize the microbiome, the increasing number of published population genomics data sets offers an underexploited opportunity to study microbial profiles from the host shotgun sequencing data. Here, we use sequence data originally generated from killer whale Orcinus orca skin biopsies for population genomics, to characterize the skin microbiome and investigate how host social and geographical factors influence the microbial community composition. Having identified 845 microbial taxa from 2.4 million reads that did not map to the killer whale reference genome, we found that both ecotypic and geographical factors influence community composition of killer whale skin microbiomes. Furthermore, we uncovered key taxa that drive the microbiome community composition and showed that they are embedded in unique networks, one of which is tentatively linked to diatom presence and poor skin condition. Community composition differed between Antarctic killer whales with and without diatom coverage, suggesting that the previously reported episodic migrations of Antarctic killer whales to warmer waters associated with skin turnover may control the effects of potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of microbiome studies from host shotgun sequencing data and highlights the importance of metagenomics in understanding the relationship between host and microbial ecology.
Wheat blast: from its origins in South America to its emergence as a global threat
Authors: Ceresini Paulo Cezar , Castroagudín Vanina Lilián , Rodrigues Fabrício Ávila , Rios Jonas Alberto , Aucique‐Pérez Carlos Eduardo , Moreira Silvino Intra , Croll Daniel , Alves Eduardo , de Carvalho Giselle , Maciel João Leodato Nunes , McDonald Bruce Alan 
Published: September 2018

SummaryWheat blast was first reported in Brazil in 1985. It spread rapidly across the wheat cropping areas of Brazil to become the most important biotic constraint on wheat production in the region. The alarming appearance of wheat blast in Bangladesh in 2016 greatly increased the urgency to understand this disease, including its causes and consequences. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge of wheat blast and aim to identify the most important gaps in our understanding of the disease. We also propose a research agenda that aims to improve the management of wheat blast and limit its threat to global wheat production.
Obesity in the global haemophilia population: prevalence, implications and expert opinions for weight management
Authors: Wilding J. , Zourikian N. , Di Minno M. , Khair K. , Marquardt N. , Benson G. , Ozelo M. , Hermans C. 
Published: September 2018

SummaryOverweight and obesity may carry a significant disease burden for patients with haemophilia (PWH), who experience reduced mobility due to joint inflammation, muscle dysfunction and haemophilic arthropathy. This review aimed to define the prevalence and clinical impact of overweight/obesity in the global population of PWH. A detailed literature search pertaining to overweight/obesity in haemophilia in the last 15 years (2003–2018) was conducted, followed by a meta‐analysis of epidemiological data. The estimated pooled prevalence of overweight/obesity in European and North American PWH was 31%. Excess weight in PWH is associated with a decreased range in motion of joints, accelerated loss of joint mobility and increase in chronic pain. Additionally, the cumulative disease burden of obesity and haemophilia may impact the requirement for joint surgery, occurrence of perioperative complications and the prevalence of anxiety and depression that associates with chronic illness. Best practice guidelines for obesity prevention and weight management, based on multidisciplinary expert perspectives, are considered for adult and paediatric PWH. Recommendations in the haemophilia context emphasize the importance of patient education and tailoring engagement in physical activity to avoid the risk of traumatic bleeding.