bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Going smoke‐free: attitudes of mental health professionals to policy change
Authors: Magor‐Blatch L. E. , Rugendyke A. R. 
Published: June 2016

Accessible summaryWhat is known on the subject?

While smoking rates within the general population in Australia are dropping, 32% of Australians with a mental illness smoke, increasing to 73% among those with severe or chronic mental illness.

In Australia and elsewhere, smoking bans within mental health facilities have been implemented.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge?

We surveyed 98 mental health professionals in Australia to gather information on attitudes toward smoke‐free policies in mental health/psychiatric units within Australia.

While previous research has sought information on agreement or disagreement with smoking‐bans, very little research has been conducted focusing on attitudes held by mental health professionals towards smoke‐free policies.

This study utilized a mixed‐methods approach in which the qualitative data provides a rich source of information to assist in developing programmes or interventions to influence attitudes and therefore change behaviours of mental health professionals.

What are the implications for practice?

This paper can be useful in providing a better understanding of the theories linking smoking and mental illness, and the common ‘myths’ which influence attitudes to smoking cessation in clinical populations.

Results will influence the development of training and education resources for mental health practitioners, and particularly for nursing staff working within psychiatric facilities, in relation to smoking cessation.

Importantly, this issue has implications in the areas of policy planning and development, education relating to smoking behaviour and smoking cessation programmes, together with holistic health care.

AbstractIntroductionMental health units in Australia and internationally are increasingly implementing smoke‐free policies. Due to the high prevalence of smoking among clinical populations, this has become an important research area.Purpose of studyThis study explored the attitudes of mental health professionals toward smoke‐free policies in mental health units within Australia.MethodUsing an online survey design, 98 Australian mental health professionals participated in the study.ResultsResults indicated that only 25.5% agreed with a total smoking ban. Although supporting smoke‐free initiatives within the wider community, participants commonly held attitudes that were unsupportive of smoking bans, and indicated beliefs inconsistent with a smoke‐free policy for clinical populations.DiscussionResults suggest the need for appropriate staff education and training regarding smoking behaviours and risks, and smoking cessation treatments for clinical populations if smoke‐free policies are to be successfully implemented.Implications for practiceFindings suggest important implications for holistic mental health care, staff education and training, as well as policy, planning and development, particularly in relation to this treatment group, who are likely to have entered a psychiatric unit in crisis.
In situ starch and crude protein degradation in the rumen and in vitro gas production kinetics of wheat genotypes
Authors: Seifried N. , Steingass H. , Hoffmann N. , Rodehutscord M. 
Published: June 2016

SummaryThe objective of this study was to determine the variation of in situ ruminal degradation characteristics of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and starch (ST), and to determine the effective degradation (ED) of wheat genotypes. Further, multivariate associations of these in situ values with their corresponding in vitro gas production (GP) kinetics and laboratory measurements were evaluated using correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. Grains of 20 genotypes of wheat were characterized by proximate constituents, amino acid (AA) composition and physical characteristics. Ruminal degradation kinetics were determined by in situ degradation of DM, CP and ST, and subsequent evaluation of in vitro GP relative to time courses. In situ and GP measurements were fitted to an exponential equation, and ED was calculated using passage rates in the rumen of 5%/h (ED5) and 8%/h (ED8). To predict ED8 of CP (EDCP8) and ST (EDST8), correlations were evaluated and stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were applied. Estimated degradation parameters varied considerably between wheat genotypes irrespective of the nutrient tested. Variance in a, b and c was not reflected in the variation of the ED, due to high degradation rates (c). The assumed passage rate also impacted estimation of the ED minimally. Estimated GP parameters varied only slightly among wheat genotypes. Nevertheless, regression models explained up to 80 and 99% of the variance in EDCP8 and EDST8, respectively, and associations between EDST8 and EDCP8 and chemical and physical characteristics of grains were detected. As ST is the primary nutrient in wheat grains and can comprise substantial portions of dairy rations, the total amount of ST as well as its ED in the rumen should be taken into account when wheat is incorporated into dairy rations. Conversely, variance in wheat grain CP degradation was very low and can largely be neglected in practical ration formulation for ruminants.
Influence of Breed Size, Age, Fecal Quality, and Enteropathogen Shedding on Fecal Calprotectin and Immunoglobulin A Concentrations in Puppies During the Weaning Period
Authors: Grellet A. , Heilmann R.M. , Polack B. , Feugier A. , Boucraut‐Baralon C. , Grandjean D. , Grützner N. , Suchodolski J. S. , Steiner J.M. , Chastant‐Maillard S. 
Published: June 2016

BackgroundFecal calprotectin and immunoglobulin A (IgA) are markers of intestinal inflammation and immunity in adult dogs.HypothesisFecal calprotectin and IgA concentrations in puppies are not influenced by fecal moisture in puppies but by enteropathogen shedding.AnimalsThree hundred and twenty‐four puppies.MethodsFecal consistency was assessed by gross examination. Fecal moisture was evaluated before and after lyophilization. Canine parvovirus and coronavirus were detected in feces by qPCR and qRT‐PCR respectively. Giardia intestinalis antigen was quantified by ELISA. The standard McMaster flotation technique was used to detect eggs and oocysts in feces. Fecal calprotectin and IgA concentrations were quantified by in‐house radioimmunoassays.ResultsFor each marker (IgA and calprotectin), a strong positive correlation was observed between concentration in fresh feces and concentration in fecal dry matter. 75.6% of the puppies were found to be infected by at ≥1 of the enteropathogens evaluated. Fecal calprotectin concentration was significantly influenced by age (P = .001), with higher concentrations in younger puppies, but not by viral (P = .863) or parasitic infection (P = .791). Fecal IgA concentration was significantly influenced by enteropathogen shedding (P = .01), with a lower fecal IgA concentration in puppies shedding at ≥1 enteropathogen compared to puppies without any enteropathogen shedding, but not by age.ConclusionsFecal calprotectin and IgA are of no diagnostic value to detect presence of enteropathogens in clinically healthy puppies or puppies with abnormal feces, but could help to better understand the maturation of digestive tract.
Mutational analysis of the Aspergillus ambient pH receptor PalH underscores its potential as a target for antifungal compounds
Authors: Lucena‐Agell Daniel , Hervás‐Aguilar América , Múnera‐Huertas Tatiana , Pougovkina Olga , Rudnicka Joanna , Galindo Antonio , Tilburn Joan , Arst Herbert N. , Peñalva Miguel A. 
Published: June 2016

SummaryThe pal/RIM ambient pH signalling pathway is crucial for the ability of pathogenic fungi to infect hosts. The Aspergillus nidulans 7‐TMD receptor PalH senses alkaline pH, subsequently facilitating ubiquitination of the arrestin PalF. Ubiquitinated PalF triggers downstream signalling events. The mechanism(s) by which PalH transduces the alkaline pH signal to PalF is poorly understood. We show that PalH is phosphorylated in a signal dependent manner, resembling mammalian GPCRs, although PalH phosphorylation, in contrast to mammalian GPCRs, is arrestin dependent. A genetic screen revealed that an ambient‐exposed region comprising the extracellular loop connecting TM4‐TM5 and ambient‐proximal residues within TM5 is required for signalling. In contrast, substitution by alanines of four aromatic residues within TM6 and TM7 results in a weak ‘constitutive’ activation of the pathway. Our data support the hypothesis that PalH mechanistically resembles mammalian GPCRs that signal via arrestins, such that the relative positions of individual helices within the heptahelical bundle determines the Pro316‐dependent transition between inactive and active PalH conformations, governed by an ambient‐exposed region including critical Tyr259 that potentially represents an agonist binding site. These findings open the possibility of screening for agonist compounds stabilizing the inactive conformation of PalH, which might act as antifungal drugs against ascomycetes.
Characterization of ApB73, a virulence factor important for colonization ofZea maysby the smutUstilago maydis
Authors: Stirnberg Alexandra , Djamei Armin 
Published: June 2016

SummaryThe biotrophic fungusUstilago maydis, the causal agent of corn smut disease, uses numerous small secreted effector proteins to suppress plant defence responses and reshape the host metabolism. However, the role of specific effectors remains poorly understood. Here, we describe the identification of ApB73 (Apathogenic in B73), an as yet uncharacterized protein essential for the successful colonization of maize byU. maydis. We show thatapB73is transcriptionally induced during the biotrophic stages of the fungal life cycle. The deletion of theapB73gene results in cultivar‐specific loss of gall formation in the host. The ApB73 protein is conserved among closely related smut fungi. However, using virulence assays, we show that only the orthologue of the maize‐infecting head smutSporisorium reilianumcan complement the mutant phenotype ofU. maydis. Although microscopy shows that ApB73 is secreted into the biotrophic interface, it seems to remain associated with fungal cell wall components or the fungal plasma membrane. Taken together, the results show that ApB73 is a conserved and important virulence factor ofU. maydisthat localizes to the interface between the pathogen and its hostZea mays.
Communication with former romantic partners and current relationship outcomes among college students
Authors: RODRIGUEZ LINDSEY M. , ØVERUP CAMILLA S. , WICKHAM ROBERT E. , KNEE C. RAYMOND , AMSPOKER AMBER B. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThis research investigates individual and contextual differences underlying postdissolution friendships by considering communication with former romantic partners among individuals in new romantic relationships. Two studies demonstrate the prevalence, determinants, and implications of former partner communication for the current relationship. Study 1 showed that approximately 40% of individuals in relationships communicate with a former partner and highlighted differences between those who communicate and those who do not. Study 2 factor analyzed reasons why people communicate with former partners and examined how the reasons are differentially associated with current relationship functioning. In general, results support the notion that under certain circumstances and for certain individuals, communication with former partners can have deleterious influences on one's current relationship.
Identifying Optimal Approaches to Early Termination in Two-Stage Biomarker Validation Studies
Authors: Kaizer Alexander M. , Koopmeiners Joseph S. 
Published: June 2016

SummaryGroup sequential study designs have been proposed as an approach to conserve resources in biomarker validation studies. Typically, group sequential study designs allow both ‘early termination to reject the null hypothesis’ and ‘early termination for futility’ if there is evidence against the alternative hypothesis. In contrast, several researchers have advocated for using group sequential study designs that allow only early termination for futility in biomarker validation studies because of the desire to obtain a precise estimate of marker performance at study completion. This suggests a loss function that heavily weights the precision of the estimate that is obtained at study completion at the expense of an increased sample size when there is strong evidence against the null hypothesis. We propose a formal approach to comparing designs that allow early termination for futility, superiority or both by developing a loss function that incorporates the expected sample size under the null and alternative hypotheses, as well as the mean-squared error of the estimate that is obtained at study completion. We then use our loss function to compare several candidate designs and derive optimal two-stage designs for a recently reported validation study of a novel prostate cancer biomarker.
Expression of VEGFR and PDGFR‐α/‐βin 187 canine nasal carcinomas
Authors: Gramer I. , Killick D. , Scase T. , Chandry D. , Marrington M. , Blackwood L. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractRadiotherapy represents the standard of care for intranasal carcinomas. Responses to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been reported but data on expression of target receptor tyrosine kinases (rTKs) is limited. This study characterizes the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), platelet‐derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)‐α and PDGFR‐β in canine intranasal carcinomas. Histological samples from 187 dogs were retrieved. Immunohistochemistry was performed using commercially available antibodies. Expression of rTKs was classified into weak, moderate or intense and additionally recorded as cytoplasmic, membranous, cytoplasmic‐membranous, nuclear or stromal. VEGFR was expressed in 158 dogs with predominantly moderate expression (36.9%) and a cytoplasmic‐membranous expression pattern (70.9%). PDGFR‐α was detected in 133 with predominantly weak expression (57.9%) and cytoplasmic pattern (87.9%). PDGFR‐β was identified in 74 patients with a predominantly moderate expression (17.6%) and cytoplasmic expression pattern (63.5%). Co‐expression of rTKs was common. These results confirm expression of VEGFR, PDGFR‐α and PDGFR‐β in canine intranasal carcinomas and support the utility of TKIs.
A Novel Imaging System Distinguishes Neoplastic from Normal Tissue During Resection of Soft Tissue Sarcomas and Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs
Authors: Bartholf DeWitt Suzanne , Eward William C. , Eward Cindy A. , Lazarides Alexander L. , Whitley Melodi Javid , Ferrer Jorge M. , Brigman Brian E. , Kirsch David G. , Berg John 
Published: June 2016

ObjectiveTo assess the ability of a novel imaging system designed for intraoperative detection of residual cancer in tumor beds to distinguish neoplastic from normal tissue in dogs undergoing resection of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and mast cell tumor (MCT).Study DesignNon‐randomized prospective clinical trial.Animals12 dogs with STS and 7 dogs with MCT.MethodsA fluorescent imaging agent that is activated by proteases in vivo was administered to the dogs 4–6 or 24–26 hours before tumor resection. During surgery, a handheld imaging device was used to measure fluorescence intensity within the cancerous portion of the resected specimen and determine an intensity threshold for subsequent identification of cancer. Selected areas within the resected specimen and tumor bed were then imaged, and biopsies (n=101) were obtained from areas that did or did not have a fluorescence intensity exceeding the threshold. Results of intraoperative fluorescence and histology were compared.ResultsThe imaging system correctly distinguished cancer from normal tissue in 93/101 biopsies (92%). Using histology as the reference, the sensitivity and specificity of the imaging system for identification of cancer in biopsies were 92% and 92%, respectively. There were 10/19 (53%) dogs which exhibited transient facial erythema soon after injection of the imaging agent which responded to but was not consistently prevented by intravenous diphenhydramine.ConclusionA fluorescence‐based imaging system designed for intraoperative use can distinguish canine soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and mast cell tumor (MCT) tissue from normal tissue with a high degree of accuracy. The system has potential to assist surgeons in assessing the adequacy of tumor resections during surgery, potentially reducing the risk of local tumor recurrence. Although responsive to antihistamines, the risk of hypersensitivity needs to be considered in light of the potential benefits of this imaging system in dogs.
DEVELOPMENT OF A FLICKING SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING CALCIUM ALGINATE MICROBEADS
Authors: Wong Soon Chuan , Soon Chin Fhong , Leong Wai Yean , Tee Kian Sek 
Published: June 2016

Microencapsulation of cells for various applications is attracting increasing interest. A variety of microencapsulation technology has been developed to produce cells encapsulation. However, previous microencapsulation systems were associated with complex design, high voltage supply, requirements of post cleaning process and large volume of reagents. In this paper, we proposed the development of a flicking device for generating a 3D cell model in calcium alginate microbeads that has potential for pharmacological test and tissue implants. A flicking system based on a flicking device and a syringe pump has been developed for generation of calcium alginate microbeads. The size of the microbeads produced using this system can be controlled by changing the flow rate (5 to 15 µl/min) of the syringe pump and fixing the motor rotation speed of the flicking device at 90 rpm. The calcium alginate microbeads produced using the flicking device were shown to be size controllable (270 to 430 µm) and suitable for microencapsulation.
Consequences of air around an ionization chamber: Are existing solid phantoms suitable for reference dosimetry on an MR‐linac?
Authors: Hackett S. L. , van Asselen B. , Wolthaus J. W. H. , Kok J. G. M. , Woodings S. J. , Lagendijk J. J. W. , Raaymakers B. W. 
Published: June 2016

Purpose:A protocol for reference dosimetry for the MR‐linac is under development. The 1.5 T magnetic field changes the mean path length of electrons in an air‐filled ionization chamber but has little effect on the electron trajectories in a surrounding phantom. It is therefore necessary to correct the response of an ionization chamber for the influence of the magnetic field. Solid phantoms are used for dosimetry measurements on the MR‐linac, but air is present between the chamber wall and phantom insert. This study aimed to determine if this air influences the ion chamber measurements on the MR‐linac. The absolute response of the chamber and reproducibility of dosimetry measurements were assessed on an MR‐linac in solid and water phantoms. The sensitivity of the chamber response to the distribution of air around the chamber was also investigated.Methods:Measurements were performed on an MR‐linac and replicated on a conventional linac for five chambers. The response of three waterproof chambers was measured with air and with water between the chamber and the insert to measure the influence of the air volume on absolute chamber response. The distribution of air around the chamber was varied indirectly by rotating each chamber about the longitudinal chamber axis in a solid phantom and a water phantom (waterproof chambers only) and measuring the angular dependence of the chamber response, and varied directly by displacing the chamber in the phantom insert using a paper shim positioned at different orientations between the chamber casing and the insert.Results:The responses of the three waterproof chambers measured on the MR‐linac were 0.7%–1.2% higher with water than air in the chamber insert. The responses of the chambers on the conventional linac changed by less than 0.3% when air in the insert was replaced with water. The angular dependence of the chambers ranged from 0.6% to 1.9% in the solid phantom on the MR‐linac but was less than 0.5% in water on the MR‐linac and less than 0.3% in the solid phantom on the conventional linac. Inserting a shim around the chamber induced changes of the chamber response in a magnetic field of up to 2.2%, but the change in chamber response on the conventional linac was less than 0.3%.Conclusions:The interaction between the magnetic field and secondary electrons in the air around the chamber reduces the charge collected from 0.7% to 1.2%. The large angular dependence of ion chambers measured in the plastic phantom in a magnetic field appears to arise from a change of air distribution as the chamber is moved within the insert, rather than an intrinsic isotropy of the chamber sensitivity to radiation. It is recommended that reference dosimetry measurements on the MR‐linac can be performed only in water, rather than in existing plastic phantoms.
Evaluation of an Optimal Epidemiological Typing Scheme for Legionella pneumophila with Whole-Genome Sequence Data Using Validation Guidelines
Authors: David Sophia , Mentasti Massimo , Tewolde Rediat , Aslett Martin , Harris Simon R. , Afshar Baharak , Underwood Anthony , Fry Norman K. , Parkhill Julian , Harrison Timothy G. 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACT

Sequence-based typing (SBT), analogous to multilocus sequence typing (MLST), is the current “gold standard” typing method for investigation of legionellosis outbreaks caused by
Legionella pneumophila
. However, as common sequence types (STs) cause many infections, some investigations remain unresolved. In this study, various whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based methods were evaluated according to published guidelines, including (i) a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based method, (ii) extended MLST using different numbers of genes, (iii) determination of gene presence or absence, and (iv) a kmer-based method.
L. pneumophila
serogroup 1 isolates (
n
= 106) from the standard “typing panel,” previously used by the European Society for Clinical Microbiology Study Group on Legionella Infections (ESGLI), were tested together with another 229 isolates. Over 98% of isolates were considered typeable using the SNP- and kmer-based methods. Percentages of isolates with complete extended MLST profiles ranged from 99.1% (50 genes) to 86.8% (1,455 genes), while only 41.5% produced a full profile with the gene presence/absence scheme. Replicates demonstrated that all methods offer 100% reproducibility. Indices of discrimination range from 0.972 (ribosomal MLST) to 0.999 (SNP based), and all values were higher than that achieved with SBT (0.940). Epidemiological concordance is generally inversely related to discriminatory power. We propose that an extended MLST scheme with ∼50 genes provides optimal epidemiological concordance while substantially improving the discrimination offered by SBT and can be used as part of a hierarchical typing scheme that should maintain backwards compatibility and increase discrimination where necessary. This analysis will be useful for the ESGLI to design a scheme that has the potential to become the new gold standard typing method for
L. pneumophila
.