bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Causes of high variance in building conservation tenders in Malaysia
Authors: Yoke Mui Lim , Ahmad Yahaya , Nabavi Faezeh 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to identify the reasons for the variance among tenders for conservation projects in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach
– Semi-structured interview approach was adopted because this method allows for effective probing of issues. The interviews are conducted with experienced conservation contractors. The interviews are transcribed and the data are analysed using thematic analysis. Coefficient of variation (CV) measure was also used to determine the level of variance that occurs in tenders for conservation projects.

Findings
– The study found that contractors faced difficulty in pricing competitively due to the following four factors, namely, uncertain information on the actual work on site, inexperience in conservation construction works, information in the bill of quantities is incomplete and uncertain labour and material cost. The study of 22 tenders also ascertains that there is a high variance among the tenderers for building conservation projects. This is determined by the CV analysis where conservation works has a mean CV of 25.5 per cent as compared to 6.5 per cent for new build works.

Research limitations/implications
– While the interviews managed to draw out insights into the reasons for the high variance among the tender amounts, a definitive conclusion cannot be drawn on the level of variance in tendering for conservation projects due to the limited data that is available for analysis.

Originality/value
– The paper offers an insight into the reasons why tenders for conservation projects usually have a higher variance than the norm.
Sustainability and investment appraisal for housing regeneration projects
Authors: Higham Anthony Paul , Fortune Chris , Boothman J.C. 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to assess the selection and use, in practice, of appraisal frameworks regarding sustainability evaluation in UK social housing sector projects, which have been advocated by academics as a means of ensuring that business decisions related to potential built environment projects are driven by best value rather than lowest cost. It also seeks to identity the key features of sustainability as assessed at the project feasibility stage. The research context is housing regeneration projects undertaken by UK social housing providers.Design/methodology/approach– Using a quantitative approach, a survey was conducted of 481 built environment professionals working within the UK social housing sector, which generated an overall response rate of 24 per cent.Findings– The survey results revealed that few toolkits and models developed by academe to facilitate the development and evaluation of sustainability-led building projects have so far been adopted. The impact of organisational factors such as size, denomination, and maturity on the frameworks was analysed and, in general, no statistically significant relationship was found between organisational features and the models in use. The principal features of sustainability were found to be related to energy efficiency and asset life expectancy. These findings have implications for the UK construction industry’s commitment to enhancing the built environment’s sustainability and thereby stakeholder prosperity.Research limitations/implications– The methodological approach adopted failed to uncover fully the reasons why practitioners selected particular types of sustainability appraisal toolkits.Practical implications– This paper focuses on the current use of sustainability-led project appraisal models and the key features of sustainability whilst also providing directions for further research. It explores the adoption of sustainability-focused project evaluation practices in the UK social housing sector and outlines potential areas for further research, focused on developing a usable, holistic framework for evaluating sustainability during the early stages of project development to help to create a more sustainable built environment.Originality/value– The paper contributes to the body of knowledge available on the adoption of sustainability-focused project evaluation practice in the UK social housing sector, outlining potential areas for further research, focused on developing a usable, holistic framework for evaluating sustainability during the early stages of project development to help to create a more sustainable built environment.
Parenting work and autism trajectories of care
Authors: Singh Jennifer S. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis study investigates the work and care associated with raising a child with disabilities in the United States. Based on in‐depth interviews with parents who have a child with autism, it develops the notion of parenting work and trajectories of care to investigate how parents navigate and coordinate the challenges of getting an autism diagnosis, obtaining educational services, and re‐contextualising the possibilities for the future. I argue that parents embody a complex mix of love, hope, and responsibility in parenting work and trajectories of care that expands temporal and social elements of illness work and trajectories initially developed by Anselm Strauss and colleagues. This type of parenting work changes over time and is influenced by social structural forces and relationships in which the care takes place. The re‐articulation of these analytic tools also begins to untangle the intricate mix of both medical and social models of disability that parents embrace and continuously negotiate. This study demonstrates how parents accept the medical model of disability by seeking and pushing for a clinical autism diagnosis and subsequent treatments, while at the same time challenge the limits placed on their children by providing them with opportunities, possible futures, and a sense of personhood.A Virtual Abstract of this paper can be accessed at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0UmGvpcjeQ
Conservation Practices and the Growth of US Cash Rent Leases
Authors: Allen Douglas W. , Borchers Allison 
Published: April 2016

AbstractOver the past 20 years the ratio of cash rent to cropshare land leases across the US has more than doubled. We test different theories that might explain this, and conclude that the shift is mostly the result of revolutionary changes in cultivation practices. The switch from conventional to conservation tillage brought about by changes in herbicide technologies, genetically modified seeds, increased fuel costs, and knowledge of the benefits of soil micro‐organisms, has reduced a tenant‐farmer's ability to exploit a landowner's soil. This removes a major incentive to cropshare and makes cash renting more attractive. Using USDA field‐level data from across the US, we find strong support for this hypothesis, and some evidence that increased corporate structure also influences cash renting. Alternatively, we cannot find evidence that changes in risk, risk‐aversion or insurance coverage explain the growth in cash renting.
Thrombin Augments LPS‐Induced Human Endometrial Endothelial Cell Inflammation via PAR1 Activation
Authors: Mhatre Mohak V. , Potter Julie A. , Lockwood Charles J. , Krikun Graciela , Abrahams Vikki M. 
Published: April 2016

ProblemRisk factors for preterm birth include placental abruption, giving rise to excessive decidual thrombin, and intrauterine bacterial infection. Human endometrial endothelial cells (HEECs) express Toll‐like receptors (TLRs), and infection‐derived agonists trigger HEECs to generate specific inflammatory responses. As thrombin, in addition to inducing coagulation, can contribute to inflammation, its effect on HEEC inflammatory responses to the TLR4 agonist, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), was investigated.Method of studyHEECs were pre‐treated with or without thrombin or specific protease‐activated receptor (PAR) agonists, followed by treatment with or without LPS. Supernatants were measured for cytokines and chemokines by ELISA and multiplex analysis.ResultsThrombin significantly and synergistically augmented LPS‐induced HEEC secretion of interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8, granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF), and growth‐regulated oncogene‐alpha (GRO‐α), and significantly augmented monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)‐1, tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion additively. Similar to thrombin, a PAR1 agonist synergistically augmented the LPS‐induced HEEC secretion of inflammatory IL‐6, IL‐8, G‐CSF, and GRO‐α.ConclusionThrombin, via PAR1 activation, synergistically augments LPS‐induced HEEC production of chemokines involved in immune cell recruitment and survival, suggesting a mechanism by which intrauterine abruption and bacterial infection may together be associated with an aggravated uterine inflammatory response.
Impact of parenchymal preserving surgery on survival and recurrence after liver resection for colorectal liver metastasis
Authors: Pandanaboyana Sanjay , Bell Richard , White Alan , Pathak Samir , Hidalgo Ernest , Lodge Peter , Prasad Raj , Toogood Giles 
Published: April 2016

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the impact of non‐anatomical liver resection (NAR) versus anatomical resection (AR) in patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM), with regard to perioperative and long‐term outcomes.MethodsAnalysis of prospectively collected data for patients with CRLM who underwent either AR or NAR between January 1993 and August 2011 was performed. The impact of AR and NAR on morbidity, mortality, margin positivity, redo liver resections, overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) was analysed.ResultsA total of 1574 resections for CRLM were performed. A total of 249 were redo resections and 334 patients underwent combined AR and NAR, hence, 583 were excluded. In total, 582 AR and 409 NAR were performed. The median age was 66 years (range 23.8–91.8). Median follow up was 32.2 months (interquartile range 17.5–56.9). The need for postoperative transfusion (11.6% versus 2.2%, P = <0.0001), overall complications (25% versus 10.7%, P < 0.0001) and 90‐day mortality (4.9% versus 1.2%, P < 0.0001) was higher in the AR group. R0 and R1 resection rates (AR 26.2% NAR 25%, P = 0.69) and number of patients with intrahepatic recurrence was similar between the two groups (AR 17.5% NAR 22%, P = 0.08). However, the need for redo liver surgery was higher in NAR group 15.4% versus 8.7% (P < 0.001). The OS (NAR 34.1 months versus AR 31.4 months, P = 0.002) and DFS were longer in the NAR group (NAR 18.8 months versus AR 16.9 months, P = 0.031).ConclusionsA parenchymal preserving surgery (NAR) is associated with lower complication rates and better OS and DFS when compared with AR without compromising margin status. However, NAR increases the need for repeat liver resections.
The Relation Between Variability of Intact Parathyroid Hormone, Calcium, and Cardiac Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Ulusoy Sukru , Ozkan Gulsum , Guvercin Beyhan , Yavuz Adnan 
Published: April 2016

AbstractChronic kidney disease‐mineral and bone disorder (CKD‐BMD) is a condition known to be associated with cardiovascular disease and mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The relation between calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) variability in HD patients and cardiac mortality is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the relation between variability in these parameters and cardiac mortality. Baseline demographic and biochemical parameters of 218 HD patients together with Ca values corrected with albumin and P values measured on a monthly basis and iPTH levels measured at 3‐monthly intervals were recorded over 2 years. Standard deviation (SD) and smoothness index (SI) for each parameter were calculated to assess Ca, P, and iPTH variability. The relations between all parameters and cardiac mortality were then analyzed. Cardiac mortality was observed in 38 patients in the 2‐year study period. Nonsurviving patients' ages, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (HsCRP) levels, mean iPTH, and SD iPTH were significantly higher than those of surviving patients, while albumin levels, SI iPTH and SI Ca were significantly lower. Age, low albumin, high DBP, SI iPTH, and SI Ca were identified as independent predictors of cardiac mortality at multivariate analysis. Our study shows that Ca and iPTH variability affect cardiac mortality independently of mean and baseline values. When supported by further studies, the relation between Ca and iPTH variability and cardiac mortality in HD patients can lead to a new perspective in terms of prognosis and treatment planning.
The role of emotion knowledge in the links between shyness and children's socio‐emotional functioning at preschool
Authors: Sette Stefania , Baumgartner Emma , Laghi Fiorenzo , Coplan Robert J. 
Published: April 2016

The present study investigated the potential protective role of components of emotion knowledge (i.e., emotion recognition, situation knowledge) in the links between young children's shyness and indices of socio‐emotional functioning. Participants were n = 163 children (82 boys and 81 girls) aged 23–77 months (M = 53.29, SD = 14.48), recruited from preschools in Italy. Parents provided ratings of child shyness and teachers rated children's socio‐emotional functioning at preschool (i.e., social competence, anxiety‐withdrawal, peer rejection). Children were also interviewed to assess their abilities to recognize facial emotional expressions and identify situations that affect emotions. Among the results, shyness was positively related to anxiety‐withdrawal and peer rejection. In addition, emotion recognition was found to significantly moderate the links between shyness and preschool socio‐emotional functioning, appearing to serve a buffering role. For example, at lower levels of emotion recognition, shyness was positively associated with both anxiety‐withdrawal and rejection by peers, but at higher levels of emotion recognition, these associations were attenuated. Results are discussed in terms of the protective role of emotion recognition in promoting shy children's positive socio‐emotional functioning within the classroom context.
F16357, a novel protease‐activated receptor 1 antagonist, improves urodynamic parameters in a rat model of interstitial cystitis
Authors: Monjotin N , Gillespie J , Farrié M , Le Grand B , Junquero D , Vergnolle N 
Published: April 2016

Background and PurposeThe aims of the present study were to characterize the role of PAR1 in rat bladder under inflammatory conditions and determine whether a selective PAR1 antagonist, F16357, can prevent the pathophysiological symptoms of cyclophosphamide‐induced interstitial cystitis (IC).Experimental ApproachImmunohistochemistry, contractile activity in isolated bladder and urodynamics were determined before and after cyclophosphamide treatment. F16357 was administered intravesically during the acute phase of inflammation, and effects on PAR1 and PAR1‐related bladder contraction evaluated 24 h after cyclophosphamide injection. Urodynamics and associated voided volumes were recorded 7 and 24 h after cyclophosphamide.Key ResultsIn control conditions, PAR1 was present only in some umbrella cells. Cyclophosphamide disrupted the urothelium and expression of PAR1 by all remaining urothelial cells. After F16357 treatment, urothelial damage was absent and PAR1 immunoreactivity similar to control tissues. Thrombin and TFLLR‐NH2 induced bladder contractions. These were increased in inflammatory conditions and antagonized by F16357 in a concentration‐dependent manner. In telemetric experiments, furosemide increased urine production and voiding frequency for 60 min, 7 h after cyclophosphamide injection. Intravesical administration of F16357 blocked these changes with a return to a physiological profile; 24 h after cyclophosphamide, the volume of micturition was still lower with no increase in number of micturitions. F16357 30 μM reduced the number of micturitions and improved bladder capacity, but did not affect diuresis. Under similar experimental conditions, lidocaine 2% induced comparable effects.Conclusions and ImplicationsPAR1 is expressed in rat bladder, overactivated in inflammatory conditions and involved in bladder function and sensation. F16357 could represent an interesting candidate for IC treatment.
Causal inference from observational data
Authors: Listl Stefan , Jürges Hendrik , Watt Richard G. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractRandomized controlled trials have long been considered the ‘gold standard’ for causal inference in clinical research. In the absence of randomized experiments, identification of reliable intervention points to improve oral health is often perceived as a challenge. But other fields of science, such as social science, have always been challenged by ethical constraints to conducting randomized controlled trials. Methods have been established to make causal inference using observational data, and these methods are becoming increasingly relevant in clinical medicine, health policy and public health research. This study provides an overview of state‐of‐the‐art methods specifically designed for causal inference in observational data, including difference‐in‐differences (DiD) analyses, instrumental variables (IV), regression discontinuity designs (RDD) and fixed‐effects panel data analysis. The described methods may be particularly useful in dental research, not least because of the increasing availability of routinely collected administrative data and electronic health records (‘big data’).
Disentangling the causes of protected‐species bycatch in gillnet fisheries
Authors: Northridge Simon , Coram Alex , Kingston Al , Crawford Rory 
Published: April 2016

AbstractGillnet fisheries are widely thought to pose a conservation threat to many populations of marine mammals, seabirds, and turtles. Gillnet fisheries also support a significant proportion of small‐scale fishing communities worldwide. Despite a large number of studies on protected‐species bycatch in recent decades, relatively few have examined the underlying causes of bycatch and fewer still have considered the issue from a multitaxon perspective. We used 3 bibliographic databases and one search engine to identify studies by year of publication and taxon. The majority of studies on the mechanisms of gillnet bycatch are not accessible through the mainstream published literature. Many are reported in technical papers, government reports, and university theses. We reviewed over 600 published and unpublished studies of bycatch in which causal or correlative factors were considered and identified therein 28 environmental, operational, technical, and behavioral factors that may be associated with high or low bycatch rates of the taxa. Of the factors considered, 11 were associated with potential bycatch reduction in 2 out of the 3 taxa, and 3 factors (water depth, mesh size, and net height) were associated with trends in bycatch rate for all 3 taxa. These findings provide a basis to guide further experimental work to test hypotheses about which factors most influence bycatch rates and to explore ways of managing fishing activities and improving gear design to minimize the incidental capture of species of conservation concern while ensuring the viability of the fisheries concerned.
Establishment and adipocyte differentiation of polycystic ovary syndrome‐derived induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Yang Sheng , Ding Shufang , Jiang Xianglong , Sun Bolan , Xu Qianhua 
Published: April 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo establish a new biological cell model and approach to mimic abnormal lipid metabolism of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in vitro.Materials and methodsEpithelial cells from PCOS patients were reprogrammed to pluripotency by retroviral transduction using defined factors. Morphology, growth characteristics, karyotype, gene expression and differentiation in vitro and in vivo were detected by identification protocol of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). PCOS‐induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were then induced to differentiate into adipocytes. Ability of the adipocytes for glucose consumption was compared with those from non‐PCOS‐iPSCs.ResultsiPSCs were successfully generated from PCOS patients' adult cells. Formed iPSC clones had the same characteristics of human ESCs. PCOS‐iPSCs were induced to differentiation into normal karyotype adipocytes. Compared to non‐PCOS‐iPSCs, PCOS‐iPSCs had more glucose consumption ability during adipocyte differentiation and development in vitro.ConclusionsThis protocol provides a new biological cell model and approach for studying pathogenesis of PCOS and discovering potential drugs to treat it.
Inter‐observer reproducibility of endometrial cytology by the Osaki Study Group method: utilising the Becton Dickinson SurePath™liquid‐based cytology
Authors: Norimatsu Y. , Yamaguchi T. , Taira T. , Abe H. , Sakamoto H. , Takenaka M. , Yanoh K. , Yoshinobu M. , Irino S. , Hirai Y. , Kobayashi T. K. 
Published: April 2016

ObjectiveThe purpose of the present study was to evaluate the reproducibility of the cytological diagnosis of endometrial lesions by the Osaki Study Group (OSG) method of new cytological diagnostic criteria using BD SurePath™(SP)‐liquid‐based cytology (LBC).MethodsThis cytological classification using the OSG method consists of six categories: (i) normal endometrium (NE), (ii) endometrial glandular and stromal breakdown (EGBD), (iii) atypical endometrial cells, cannot exclude atypical endometrial hyperplasia or more (ATEC‐A), (iv) adenocarcinoma including atypical endometrial hyperplasia or malignant tumour (Malignancy), (v) endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (EH) and (vi) atypical endometrial cells of undetermined significance (ATEC‐US). For this study, a total 244 endometrial samplings were classified by two academic cytopathologists as follows: 147 NE cases , 36 EGBD cases , 47 Malignant cases, eight ATEC‐A cases, two EH cases and four ATEC‐US cases. To confirm the reproducibility of the diagnosis and to study the inter‐ and intra‐observer agreement further, a second review round followed at 3‐month intervals, which included three additional cytopathologists.ResultsThe inter‐observer agreement of NE classes improved progressively from ‘good to fair’ to ‘excellent’, with values increasing from 0.70 to 0.81. Both EGBD and Malignancy classes improved progressively from ‘good to fair’ to ‘excellent’, with values increasing from 0.62–0.63 to 0.84–0.95, respectively. The overall intra‐observer agreement between the first and the second rounds was ‘good to fair’ to ‘excellent’, with values changing from 0.79 to 0.85. All kappa improvements were significant (P < 0.0001).ConclusionIn this study, it seemed that the use of the OSG method as the new diagnostic criteria for SP‐LBC preparation, may be a valid method to improve the precision (reproducibility) of endometrial cytology.
Right Ventricle Metastasis of Pleomorfic Undifferentiated Sarcoma Detected by FDG PET/CT and Three‐Dimensional Echocardiography
Authors: Vatankulu Betül , Dirlik Serim Burcu , Sonmezoglu Kerim , Vatankulu Mehmet A. 
Published: April 2016

Mini‐AbstractHigh‐grade undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas are rare disease with poor prognosis. The most commonly metastasis sites of pleomorphic sarcomas are lungs, liver, and bone. Cardiac metastasis of these tumors is extremely rare. Herein, we report a case with cardiac metastasis of pleomorphic sarcoma detected by FDG PET/CT and three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.