bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tense and plural formation in Welsh–English bilingual children with and without language impairment
Authors: Chondrogianni Vasiliki , John Nerys 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackgroundGrammatical morphology has been shown to be problematic for children with specific language impairment (SLI) or developmental language disorder (DLD). Most research on this topic comes from widely spoken languages, such as English. Despite Welsh being the most extensively spoken indigenous in the UK after English, and Wales being the only official bilingual country in the UK, our knowledge about the morphosyntactic areas of Welsh that may pose problems for Welsh‐speaking children with SLI is limited. Currently, Welsh‐speaking speech and language therapists (SLTs) are heavily reliant on the use of informally translated English assessments. This can inadvertently result in a failure to take aspects of Welsh morphosyntax into account that are critical for the assessment and treatment of Welsh‐speaking children.AimsThis is the first study to examine how Welsh–English bilingual children of early school age with typical development (bi‐TD) and with SLI (bi‐SLI) perform on production tasks targeting verbal and nominal morphology in Welsh. We targeted areas of Welsh morphosyntax that could potentially be vulnerable for Welsh‐speaking children with or at risk of language impairment, such as tense marking and plural formation, and assessed their diagnostic potential.Methods & ProceduresTwenty‐eight Welsh‐dominant bilingual children participated in the study: 10 bi‐SLI and 18 bi‐TD. They were administered three elicitation tasks targeting the production of verbal (compound and synthetic past tense) and nominal (plural) morphology in Welsh.Outcomes & ResultsThe bi‐SLI children performed worse than their bi‐TD peers across all three tasks. They produced more uninflected verbs in the elicited‐production task and were less likely to be prompted to produce the synthetic past, which is a concatenating, low‐frequency form of the past tense. They also over‐regularized less in the context of plural nouns, and when they did, they opted for high‐frequency suffixes.Conclusions & ImplicationsBy focusing on aspects of morphosyntactic development which are unique to Welsh, we have increased existing about how verbal and nominal morphology are acquired in Welsh‐speaking bi‐SLI and bi‐TD children. The present results point towards productivity problems for Welsh‐speaking bi‐SLI children who are adversely influenced by low‐frequency structures and fail to over‐regularize in the context of verbal and nominal concatenating morphology. From a clinical perspective, targeting synthetic past‐tense forms through a prompting task may be a promising assessment and intervention tool that future studies could explore further.
Blow flies as urban wildlife sensors
Authors: Hoffmann Constanze , Merkel Kevin , Sachse Andreas , Rodríguez Pablo , Leendertz Fabian H. , Calvignac‐Spencer Sébastien 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWildlife detection in urban areas is very challenging. Conventional monitoring techniques such as direct observation are faced with the limitation that urban wildlife is extremely elusive. It was recently shown that invertebrate‐derived DNA (iDNA) can be used to assess wildlife diversity in tropical rainforests. Flies, which are ubiquitous and very abundant in most cities, may also be used to detect wildlife in urban areas. In urban ecosystems, however, overwhelming quantities of domestic mammal DNA could completely mask the presence of wild mammal DNA. To test whether urban wild mammals can be detected using fly iDNA, we performed DNA metabarcoding of pools of flies captured in Berlin, Germany, using three combinations of blocking primers. Our results show that domestic animal sequences are, as expected, very dominant in urban environments. Nevertheless, wild mammal sequences can often be retrieved, although they usually only represent a minor fraction of the sequence reads. Fly iDNA metabarcoding is therefore a viable approach for quick scans of urban wildlife diversity. Interestingly, our study also shows that blocking primers can interact with each other in ways that affect the outcome of metabarcoding. We conclude that the use of complex combinations of blocking primers, although potentially powerful, should be carefully planned when designing experiments.
Grafting influence on the weight and quality of tomato fruit under salt stress
Authors: Koleška I. , Hasanagić D. , Todorović V. , Murtić S. , Maksimović I. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractTwo commercial tomato cultivars were used to determine whether grafting could prevent decrease of fruit weight and quality under salt stress conditions. The cultivars Buran F1 and Berberana F1 were grafted onto rootstock ‘Maxifort’ and grown under three levels of elevated soil salinity (EC 3.80 dS m−1, 6.95 dS m−1 and 9.12 dS m−1). Fruit weight reduction of grafted plants was lower (about 20–30%) in comparison with non‐grafted ones. Salt stress at the second salinity level (EC 6.95 dS m−1) induced the highest alteration of examined growth and quality parameters. The total increase of phenols, flavonoids, ascorbate and lycopene content in the fruits of both grafted and non‐grafted plants for both cultivars had a similar trend and intensity, though some inter‐cultivar variation was observed. The possibility of grafting tomato plants to improve salt tolerance without fruit quality loss is discussed.
Renal complications of anaesthesia
Authors: McKinlay J. , Tyson E. , Forni L. G. 
Published: January 2018

SummaryPeri‐operative acute kidney injury is common, accounting for 30–40% of all in‐hospital cases of acute kidney injury. It is associated with clinically significant morbidity and mortality even with what was hitherto regarded as relatively trivial increases in serum creatinine, and carries over a 12‐fold relative risk of death following major abdominal surgery. Comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, liver disease and particularly pre‐existing chronic kidney disease, as well as the type and urgency of surgery, are major risk factors for the development of postoperative acute kidney injury. As yet, there are no specific treatment options for the injured kidney, although there are several modifiable risk factors of which the anaesthetist should be aware. As well as the avoidance of potential nephrotoxins and appropriate volume balance, optimal anaesthetic management should aim to reduce the risk of postoperative renal complications. This may include careful ventilatory management and blood pressure control, as well as appropriate analgesic strategies. The choice of anaesthetic agent may also influence renal outcomes. Rather than concentrate on the classical management of acute kidney injury, this review focuses on the potential development of acute kidney injury peri‐operatively, and the means by which this may be ameliorated.
Treatment with proton pump inhibitors is associated with increased mortality in patients with pyogenic liver abscess
Authors: Bettinger D. , Martin D. , Rieg S. , Schultheiss M. , Buettner N. , Thimme R. , Boettler T. 
Published: January 2018

SummaryBackgroundProton pump inhibitors (PPI) are often used in patients with gastro‐esophageal reflux and peptic ulcer disease. A higher risk for infectious diseases and for pyogenic liver abscess has been reported in patients with prolonged PPI intake. Although many patients have ongoing PPI treatment after diagnosis of liver abscess, there are no data available that focus on the prognostic impact of PPI treatment in these patients.AimTo analyse the effect of PPI treatment on mortality in patients with pyogenic liver abscesses.MethodsBetween January 2005 and March 2017, one hundred and eighty‐one patients with pyogenic liver abscess were retrospectively included in this analysis. Medical records including PPI treatment, microbiological and imaging data were reviewed. The primary endpoint was index mortality and predictive factors were analysed using uni‐ and multivariate logistic regression models.ResultsOne hundred patients with pyogenic liver abscess (55.2%) were treated with PPI compared to 81 patients (44.8%) without PPI treatment. In both patient cohorts, enterococcus spp. and streptococcus of the anginous group were the most common pathogens identified. Patients with PPI treatment had significantly higher index mortality compared to patients without PPI treatment (30.0% vs 11.1%, P = 0.003). After adjusting for comorbidities PPI remained an independent predictive factor with an OR of 2.56 (1.01‐6.46, P = 0.036).ConclusionsPPI treatment is associated with higher index mortality in patients with pyogenic liver abscess. Therefore, critical evaluation of the indication for PPI treatment is particularly important in patients at high risk for pyogenic liver abscess.
ITPA Activity in Children Treated by Azathioprine: Relationship to the Occurrence of Adverse Drug Reactions and Inflammatory Response
Authors: Citterio‐Quentin Antony , Moulsma Mustapha , Gustin Marie‐Paule , Lachaux Alain , Boulieu Roselyne 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAzathioprine (AZA), a thiopurine drug, is widely used in the treatment of children with immunological diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH); however, interindividual variability in the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and drug response is observed. This study investigated (i) the relationships between inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPA) activity, an enzyme involved in thiopurine metabolism, and the occurrence of ADRs in children with immunological disease on AZA therapy, and (ii) the relationship between ITPA activity and the inflammatory activity observed in children with IBD. ITPA and TPMT activities were determined in 106 children with immunological disease on AZA therapy. Markers of hepatotoxicity, myelotoxicity, pancreatitis and inflammation as well as clinical information were retrospectively collected during regular medical visits. No significant association was found between ITPA activity and hepatotoxicity or clinical ADRs such as cutaneous reactions, arthralgia, flulike symptoms and gastrointestinal disorders. Concerning myelotoxicity, a significant relation was observed between ITPA activity and RBC mean corpuscular volume (MCV; p=0.003). This observation may be related to the significant relationship found between high ITPA activity and the increase in γ‐globulin level reflecting inflammation (p=0.005). In our study, ITPA activity was not associated with occurrence of ADRs, but a relationship between high ITPA activity and γ‐globulin, a marker of inflammation, was found in children with IBD. Therefore, measurement of ITPA activity may help to identify children with IBD predisposed to residual inflammation on AZA therapy. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm this result.
Mesenchymal stem cell deficiency influences megakaryocytopoiesis through the TNFAIP3/NF‐κB/SMAD pathway in patients with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: He Yun , Xu Lin‐Lin , Feng Fei‐Er , Wang Qian‐Ming , Zhu Xiao‐Lu , Wang Chen‐Cong , Zhang Jia‐Min , Fu Hai‐Xia , Xu Lan‐Ping , Liu Kai‐Yan , Huang Xiao‐Jun , Zhang Xiao‐Hui 
Published: January 2018

SummaryImmune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play important roles in the physiology and homeostasis of the haematopoietic system, including supporting megakaryocytic differentiation from CD34+ haematopoietic progenitor cells. Tumour necrosis factor alpha‐induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3, also termed A20) plays a key role in terminating NF‐κB signalling. Human genetic studies showed that the polymorphisms of the TNFAIP3 gene may contribute to ITP susceptibility. In this study, we showed a significant decrease in TNFAIP3 and increase in NF‐κB/SMAD7 in ITP‐MSCs. In co‐cultures with CD34+ cells, NF‐κB was overexpressed in MSCs from healthy controls (HC‐MSCs) after transfection with NFKBIA (IκB)‐specific short hairpin (sh)RNAs, resulting in MSC deficiency and a reduction in megakaryocytic differentiation and thrombopoiesis. Knockdown of TNFAIP3 expression using TNFAIP3‐specific shRNAs in HC‐MSCs affected megakaryocytopoiesis. However, IKBKB knockdown corrected megakaryocytopoiesis inhibition in the ITP‐MSCs by decreasing NF‐κB expression. Amplified TNFAIP3 expression in ITP‐MSCs by TNFAIP3 cDNA can facilitate megakaryocyte differentiation. shRNA‐mediated knockdown of SMAD7 expression rescued the impaired MSC function in ITP patients. Therefore, we demonstrate that a pathological reduction in TNFAIP3 levels induced NF‐κB/SMAD7 pathway activation, causing a deficiency in MSCs in ITP patients. The ability of ITP‐MSCs to support megakaryocytic differentiation and thrombopoiesis of CD34+ cells was impaired.
Substance P as a putative efferent transmitter mediates GABAergic inhibition in mouse taste buds
Authors: Huang Anthony Y , Wu Sandy Y 
Published: January 2018

Background and PurposeCapsaicin‐mediated modulation of taste nerve responses is thought to be produced indirectly by the actions of neuropeptides, for example, CGRP and substance P (SP), on taste cells implying they play a role in taste sensitivity. During the processing of gustatory information in taste buds, CGRP shapes peripheral taste signals via serotonergic signalling. The underlying assumption has been that SP exerts its effects on taste transmitter secretion in taste buds of mice.Experimental ApproachTo test this assumption, we investigated the net effect of SP on taste‐evoked ATP secretion from mouse taste buds, using functional calcium imaging with CHO cells expressing high‐affinity transmitter receptors as cellular biosensors.Key ResultsOur results showed that SP elicited PLC activation‐dependent intracellular Ca2+ transients in taste cells via neurokinin 1 receptors, most likely on glutamate–aspartate transporter‐expressing Type I cells. Furthermore, SP caused Type I cells to secrete GABA.Conclusion and ImplicationsCombined with the recent findings that GABA depresses taste‐evoked ATP secretion, the current results indicate that SP elicited secretion of GABA, which provided negative feedback onto Type II (receptor) cells to reduce taste‐evoked ATP secretion. These findings are consistent with a role for SP as an inhibitory transmitter that shapes the peripheral taste signals, via GABAergic signalling, during the processing of gustatory information in taste buds. Notably, the results suggest that SP is intimately associated with GABA in mammalian taste signal processing and demonstrate an unanticipated route for sensory information flow within the taste bud.
A prospective cohort study of 122 adult patients presenting to an otolaryngologist's office with globus pharyngeus
Authors: Rasmussen E.R. , Schnack D.T. , Ravn A.T. 
Published: January 2018

ObjectivesTo investigate the epidemiology of globus pharyngeus in adult patients presenting to the otolaryngologist's office. Also, the predictors of persisting symptoms, prevalence of anxiety and the effect of clinical assessment were analysed.DesignThis was a prospective cohort study. Follow‐up was carried out using a postal questionnaire.SettingOne otolaryngologists’ office comprising three medical doctors.ParticipantsA total of 122 consecutive globus patients presenting to one otolaryngology office in a 1‐year period.Main outcome measuresGlobus incidence, gender and age distribution, predictors of persisting symptoms and the patient's health‐related concerns.Results3.8% of first‐time visits were regarding globus. The mean age was 48 years [range 20‐88 years], and a female predominance was found (ratio 1.49). Eighty‐four per cent experienced anxiety, mainly due to fear of cancer. The most common pathological findings were reflux (15.6%) and post‐infectious inflammation (10.6%). 21.4% of questionnaire responders reported full remission of their symptoms. Three predictors regarding symptom persistence were identified: male gender (OR 1.52), smoking (OR 3.4) and difficulties in breathing (OR 8.7). Patients with concomitant foreign body sensation were less likely to have persisting symptoms (OR 0.42). No cases of malignant disease were encountered. 94.7% was reassured by the office visit.ConclusionThe incidence of globus is 3.8% in the otolaryngologist's office. Female gender and concomitant foreign body sensation were predictive for presenting to the clinic even if symptom remission had occurred. Male gender, smoking and self‐perceived breathing difficulties were predictive for persisting symptoms. Globus is an anxiety‐causing symptom, but reassurance is provided by clinical examination by the otolaryngologist.
Split‐thickness skin grafting for reconstruction of auricular skin defects: a statistical analysis
Authors: Thuile Tobias , Larcher Lorenz , Gatscher Barbara , Schwaiger Karl , Deluca Jenny , Fallaha Amgiad , Tappeiner Lukas , Puviani Mario , Eisendle Klaus 
Published: January 2018

SummaryBackground and objectivesSurgical reconstruction following the removal of large malignant auricular lesions is challenging. While many options for defect closure have been described, in the elderly population usually affected flap surgery, long anesthesia times, patient compliance, and anticoagulant therapy pose additional risks. An alternative quick, simple, and effective method of defect closure is therefore highly desirable. The objective of the present study was to assess the aesthetic outcome, healing process, complications, and recurrence rates associated with unmeshed split‐thickness skin grafts (STSGs) used for covering large auricular skin defects following cartilage‐sparing skin cancer removal.Patients and methodsUnder local tumescent anesthesia, 32 patients received STSGs for defect closure following the removal of malignant cutaneous neoplasms of the ear.ResultsThe average defect size was 8.0 cm². In all cases, complete healing of the recipient site occurred within two weeks. There were no major complications. The aesthetic outcome was rated highly by patients as well as by the dermatosurgeon involved and two independent plastic surgeons.ConclusionsSTSGs are a valid option for closing large auricular skin defects. Even large cutaneous tumors of the external ear do not necessarily infiltrate the cartilage. Thus, cartilage‐sparing tumor resection with subsequent defect closure using a STSG is an excellent and quick method associated with high patient satisfaction.
Innovative approaches to continuous professional development (CPD) in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Europe: Findings from a comparative review
Authors: Jensen Bente , Iannone Rosa Lisa 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThis article explores innovation as an aspect of in‐service continuous professional development (CPD) in ECEC. Based on a literature review and a cross‐country analysis conducted in ten European countries, we found that innovation in CPD was understood as a way to improving quality in ECEC. CPD no longer solely deals with practitioners’ knowledge and skills. Rather, it encompasses processes such as critical thinking, reflexivity and co‐creation within and across ECEC systems. Two overall approaches to innovation in CPD emerged: one can be characterised as developing in systems that lack a national definition for innovation, where there is nevertheless a growing awareness of the need to finding new solutions for ECEC; and one as highly innovative in systems that have a history, culture and societal tradition of innovation. Also, three additional insights were identified as crucial aspects of CPD in terms of innovation: (a) critical reflection; (b) communities of practice; and (c) a growing focus on politics that address social inequality through ECEC. This analysis contributes to filling the gaps in research on innovative CPD in ECEC at three levels: system (macro), inter‐organisational (meso) and individual, organisational (micro). Further research is needed to explore more in‐depth the identified approaches to innovation related to CPD and their impact on quality development in European ECEC.
Changes in soil microbial community are linked to soil carbon fractions after afforestation
Authors: Zhao F. Z. , Ren C. J. , Zhang L. , Han X. H. , Yang G. H. , Wang J. 
Published: January 2018

The soil microbial community plays an important role in regulating soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition and maintaining stability in forest ecosystems. However, the interactions between the soil microbial community and soil carbon (C) fractions following afforestation remain poorly understood. In this study, soil samples were collected in an afforested area representing a chronosequence of 42, 27 and 17 years of Robinia pseudoacacia L. succession (RP42yr, RP27yr and RP17yr, respectively), and in farmland (FL) soil for comparison. Illumina sequencing of the16S rRNA and fungal ITS genes was used to analyse soil bacterial and fungal diversity, and the content of C fractions was also measured. Our results indicated that soil C fractions in the afforested RP42yr, RP27yr and RP17yr sites were 34.83–94.11%, 38.52–82.83% and 27.24–89.32% larger, respectively, than in the FL soil. Shannon indices for bacterial and fungal diversity, which ranged from 6.59 to 6.81 and 3.73 to 4.19, respectively, were also larger in the afforested soil. In addition, the dominant bacterial and fungal phyla, including Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, Bacteroidetes, Nitrospirae, Verrucomicrobia, Planctomycetes, Armatimonadetes, Cyanobacteria, Chlorobi, Firmicutes, Fibrobacteres, Zygomycota, Basidiomycota and Glomeromycota, were more abundant in afforested soil than in FL soil, whereas Actinobacteria and Ascomycota were more abundant in FL soil than in afforested soil. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were strong and positive between soil microbial diversity (alpha diversity, Bshannon and Fshannon) and C fractions (P < 0.05). The dominant phyla (both bacterial and fungal), such as Proteobacteria and Zygomycota, had significant positive effects on C fractions, whereas for other taxa, such as Actinobacteria and Ascomycota, they were significant and negative. Thus, our results indicated that changes in soil C fractions are linked to the composition of soil microbial communities following afforestation. They also provide further evidence that soil bacterial and fungal communities play vital roles in the turnover of SOC and C cycling.Highlights
Changes in soil microbial community influence soil carbon fractions following afforestation.
Carbon fractions and soil microbial communities respond to afforestation.
Changes in C fractions were strongly correlated with soil microbial diversity.
Soil microbial diversity and microbial taxa markedly affected carbon fractions.