bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aggravation of airway inflammation and hyper‐responsiveness following nasal challenge with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in perennial allergic rhinitis without symptoms of asthma
Authors: Wang W. , Xian M. , Xie Y. , Zheng J. , Li J. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractBackgroundHouse dust mites are the most prevalent allergen causing sensitizations in patients with rhinitis and asthma in China. We aimed to investigate the changes in both upper and lower airway inflammation and responsiveness following Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der‐p) nasal provocation test (NPT) in rhinitis patients.MethodsStudy subjects included 15 nonasthmatic Der‐p‐sensitized rhinitis (AR) patients with airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR) (AR+AHR+), 15 AR patients without AHR (AR+AHR‐), 15 healthy controls (HCs) with Der‐p sensitization (HC+DP+), and 15 HC without Der‐p sensitization (HC+DP‐). All subjects underwent Der‐p NPT. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of nasal symptoms, nasal lavage and nasal airway resistance (NAR) measurement, sputum induction, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were performed. Airway responsiveness to histamine bronchoprovocation (PD20‐FEV1) and exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) was determined.ResultsNAR increased significantly in all subjects with the greatest effect seen in AR+AHR+ individuals. VAS increased in all subjects at 30 min and returned to baseline at 6 h, with significantly higher levels in AR+AHR+ and AR+AHR‐ subjects (P < 0.05). Eosinophils in nasal lavage fluid and sputum increased significantly after NPT in AR+AHR+ and AR+AHR‐ subjects (P < 0.001). FEV1% and PD20‐FEV1 decreased and FeNO increased significantly after NPT only in AR+AHR+ subjects (P < 0.05). Nasal lavage eosinophil count was positively correlated with sputum eosinophil count and the level of FeNO and negatively correlated with FEV1 and PD20.ConclusionsHouse dust mite nasal provocation test induces and aggravates both upper and lower airway inflammation and hyper‐responsiveness in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis without asthmatic symptoms.
Review article: the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and the incidence of gastric cancer across Europe
Authors: Roberts S. E. , Morrison‐Rees S. , Samuel D. G. , Thorne K. , Akbari A. , Williams J. G. 
Published: November 2015

SummaryBackgroundThere is little up‐to‐date review evidence on the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori across Europe.AimTo establish regional and national patterns in H. pylori prevalence across Europe. Secondly, to establish trends over time in H. pylori prevalence and gastric cancer incidence and, thirdly, to report on the relationship between H. pylori prevalence and age group across Europe.MethodsA review of H. pylori prevalence from unselected surveys of adult or general populations across 35 European countries and four European regions since 1990. Secondly, an analysis of trends over time in H. pylori prevalence and in gastric cancer incidence from cancer registry data.ResultsHelicobacter pylori prevalence was lower in northern and western Europe than in eastern and southern Europe (P < 0.001). In 11 of 12 European studies that reported on trends, there were sharp reductions in H. pylori prevalence (mean annual reduction = 3.1%). The mean annual reduction in the incidence of gastric cancer across Europe from 1993 to 2007 was 2.1% with little variation regionally across Europe (north 2.2%, west 2.3%, east 1.9% and south 2.0%). Sharp increases in age‐related prevalence of H. pylori often levelled off for middle age groups of about 50 years onwards, especially in areas with high prevalence.ConclusionsThis review shows that H. pylori prevalence is much higher in less affluent regions of Europe and that age‐related increases in prevalence are confined to younger age groups in some areas. There were sharp reductions in both H. pylori prevalence and gastric cancer incidence throughout Europe.
Children's Racial Categorization in Context
Authors: Pauker Kristin , Williams Amanda , Steele Jennifer R. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe ability to discriminate visually based on race emerges early in infancy: 3‐month‐olds can perceptually differentiate and 6‐month‐olds can perceptually categorize faces by race. Between ages 6 and 8 years, children can sort others into racial groups. But to what extent are these abilities influenced by context? In this article, we review studies on children's racial categorization and discuss how our conclusions are affected by how we ask the questions (i.e., our methods and stimuli), where we ask them (i.e., the diversity of the child's surrounding environment), and whom we ask (i.e., the diversity of the children we study). Taken together, we suggest that despite a developmental readiness to categorize others by race, the use of race as a psychologically salient basis for categorization is far from inevitable and is shaped largely by the experimental setting and the greater cultural context.
The Clinic for Assessment of Youth at Risk (CAYR): 10 years of service delivery and research targeting the prevention of psychosis in Montreal, Canada
Authors: Pruessner Marita , Faridi Kia , Shah Jai , Rabinovitch Mark , Iyer Srividya , Abadi Sherezad , Pawliuk Nicole , Joober Ridha , Malla Ashok K. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimIn the context of an increasing focus on indicated prevention of psychotic disorders, we describe the operation of the Clinic for Assessment of Youth at Risk (CAYR) over 10 years, a specialized service for identification, monitoring and treatment of young individuals who meet ultra‐high risk (UHR) criteria for psychosis, and its integration within the Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychosis (PEPP) in Montreal, Canada.MethodsWe outline rationale, development, inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessment, services offered, community outreach and liaison with potential referral sites, and our research focus on risk and protective factors related to the neural diathesis–stress model of psychosis.ResultsBetween January 2005 and December 2014, CAYR has received 370 referrals and accepted 177 patients who met UHR criteria based on the Comprehensive Assessment for At Risk Mental States. Conversion rates to a first episode of psychosis were 11%. Our research findings point to high subjective stress levels, poor self‐esteem, social support and coping skills, and a dysregulation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis during the high‐risk phase.ConclusionsOur efforts at community outreach have resulted in increasing numbers of referrals and patients accepted to CAYR, highlighting the relevance of and need for a high‐risk programme in the Montreal area. Patients with psychotic symptoms can be immediately assigned to the first‐episode psychosis clinic within PEPP, which has likely contributed to the low conversion rates observed in the UHR group. Our research findings on stress and protective factors emphasize the importance of psychosocial interventions for high‐risk patients.
Postencephalitic epilepsy and drug‐resistant epilepsy after infectious and antibody‐associated encephalitis in childhood: Clinical and etiologic risk factors
Authors: Pillai Sekhar C. , Mohammad Shekeeb S. , Hacohen Yael , Tantsis Esther , Prelog Kristina , Barnes Elizabeth H. , Gill Deepak , Lim Ming J. , Brilot Fabienne , Vincent Angela , Dale Russell C. 
Published: November 2015

SummaryTo define the risk factors for postencephalitic epilepsy (PE) and drug‐resistant epilepsy (DRE) in childhood following infectious and autoimmune encephalitis, we included 147 acute encephalitis patients with a median follow‐up of 7.3 years (range 2–15.8 years). PE was defined as the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for ≥24 months, and DRE was defined as the persistence of seizures despite ≥2 appropriate AEDs at final follow‐up. PE and DRE were diagnosed in 31 (21%) and 15 (10%) of patients, respectively. The features during acute encephalitis predictive of DRE (presented as odds ratio [OR] with confidence intervals [CIs]) were status epilepticus (OR 10.8, CI 3.4–34.3), visual disturbance (6.4, 1.4–29.9), focal seizures (6.2, 1.9–20.6), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hippocampal/amygdala involvement (5.0, 1.7–15.4), intensive care admission (4.7, 1.4–15.4), use of >3 AEDs (4.5, 1.2–16.1), MRI gadolinium enhancement (4.1, 1.2–14.2), any seizure (3.9, 1.1–14.4), and electroencephalography (EEG) epileptiform discharges (3.9, 1.3–12.0). On multivariable regression analysis, only status epilepticus remained predictive of DRE in all models. DRE was common in herpes simplex virus (3/9, 33%) and unknown (8/40, 20%) encephalitis, but absent in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) (0/32, 0%), enterovirus (0/18), and anti‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor–NMDAR encephalitis (0/9). We have identified risk factors for DRE and demonstrated “high‐risk,” and “low‐risk” etiologies.
The sensory acceptance of fibre‐enriched cereal foods: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Grigor John M. , Brennan Charles S. , Hutchings Scott C. , Rowlands David S. 
Published: November 2015

SummaryImproved understanding of the sensory responses to fibre fortification may assist manufacturers and health promotion efforts. The effects of fibre fortification (or modified ingredients) on sensory acceptability of baked cereal foods (bread, cookies, muffins) were estimated by linear random‐effects meta‐analysis of twenty eligible studies (869 panellists, 34% male). As little as 2 g per 100 g fortification caused moderate–large reductions in overall acceptability, flavour acceptability, and appearance acceptability in most items, with cookies most negatively affected. Fortification of base nonfortified foods with low initial acceptability improved acceptability; however, at higher basic levels, fortification lowered acceptability. Fortification improved texture acceptability of muffins and bread with low base acceptability, but lowered texture acceptability when base acceptability was high. Flavour improvement of muffins with fortification decreased with increasing base food acceptability. Fibre fortification of baked cereal foods lowers acceptability, but food format and base food acceptability affect the magnitude and direction of responses. Refining fibre fortification approaches could improve consumer uptake.
Remittance behaviours of foreigners in Italy
Authors: Busetta Annalisa , Cetorelli Valeria , Stranges Manuela 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThis article investigates the determinants of remittance behaviours among foreigners in Italy and intends to gain a better understanding of the temporal pattern of remittances. The analysis is based on data from the 2009 “Italian Statistics on Income and Living Conditions of Households with Foreigners”. The decisions on whether to remit and how much to remit are separately yet simultaneously estimated using a zero‐inflated beta regression model. The findings reveal that remittances are driven by a mix of altruistic and self‐interest motives that may persist for many years. Many covariates included in the model have a different effect on the propensity to remit and on the relative amount of remittances. We find some evidence that the average propensity to remit follows an M‐shaped trajectory over time. However, the model specification including only time and time squared proves that the inverted‐U shape trajectory, well‐established in the literature, still remains a better choice in terms of parsimoniousness and flexibility. Among those who remit, time since migration does not have any significant effect on the normalized amount remitted.
Pharmaceutical drug misuse: are industry of employment and occupation risk factors?
Authors: Brown Sarah , Harris Mark N. , Prendergast Jake , Srivastava Preety 
Published: November 2015

AbstractWe explore the misuse of pharmaceutical drugs in the Australian workforce, focusing on whether any differences exist between workers in particular industries or occupations. In terms of industry, being employed in hospitality is positively associated with pharmaceutical drug misuse, while being employed in finance, insurance and retail is inversely related. In terms of occupation, we find that being a labourer is positively related to misuse of pharmaceutical drugs, while being employed in managerial, professional, sales, clerical or administrative roles is associated with a lower tendency. Further analysis of occupational effects revealed that being in a blue‐collar occupation, as a whole, is positively related to pharmaceutical drug misuse relative to white‐collar employment. Moreover, being employed in higher status roles is associated with a lower likelihood of such behaviour. Our findings imply that particular workplace pressures, cultural norms and/or working conditions might be influential factors behind workers' drug misuse.
Morphology, Cell Division, and Phylogeny of Uroleptus longicaudatus (Ciliophora, Hypotricha), a Species of the Uroleptus limnetis Complex
Authors: Chen Lingyun , Lv Zhao , Shao Chen , Al‐Farraj Saleh A. , Song Weibo , Berger Helmut 
Published: November 2015

AbstractA Chinese population of the little‐known freshwater hypotrich Uroleptus longicaudatus was investigated with emphasis on its living morphology and infraciliature. The characteristic, tripartite body consists of a narrowed (cephalized) anterior portion, a slender trunk, and a long, slender, and strongly contractile tail occupying up to 30% of body length. Contracted specimens with a tail length of about 12% closely resemble Uroleptus limnetis which has, like U. longicaudatus, its type locality on the East Coast of the United States so that it cannot be excluded that these two species are synonymous. Thus, we propose to subsume these and few other little‐known species, which are not clearly distinguishable at the present state of knowledge, as U. limnetis complex. The morphogenesis of U. longicaudatus proceeds as in most congeners. The phylogenetic analyses reveal that Uroleptus is a monophyletic group, but due to the lack of detailed morphological data of the populations sequenced so far, the relationships within this taxon remain obscure. For the objective determination of the tail length of hypotrichs, we propose the “1/3‐method”, which says that the tail commences at that body width which corresponds one‐third of the maximum width. Paruroleptus ophryoglena Gelei, 1954 is transferred to Uroleptus: Uroleptus ophryoglena (Gelei, 1954) comb. nov.
Emergency Major Abdominal Surgical Procedures in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of Mortality and Functional Outcomes
Authors: Cooper Zara , Scott John W. , Rosenthal Ronnie A. , Mitchell Susan L. 
Published: November 2015

ObjectivesTo systematically review the current literature on mortality and functional outcomes after emergency major abdominal surgery in older adults.DesignSystematic literature search and standardized data collection of primary research publications from January 1994 through December 2013 on mortality or functional outcome in adults aged 65 and older after emergency major abdominal surgery using PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane, and CINAHL. Bibliographies of relevant reports were also hand‐searched to identify all potentially eligible studies.SettingSystematic review of retrospective and cohort studies using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses, Meta‐analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology, Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology, and A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews guidelines.ParticipantsOlder adults.MeasurementsArticles were assessed using a standardized quality scoring system based on study design, measurement of exposures, measurement of outcomes, and control for confounding.ResultsOf 1,459 articles screened, 93 underwent full‐text review, and 20 were systematically reviewed. In‐hospital and 30‐day mortality of all older adults exceeded 15% in 14 of 16 studies, where reported. Older adults undergoing emergency major abdominal surgery consistently had higher mortality across study settings and procedure types than younger individuals undergoing emergency procedures and older adults undergoing elective procedures. In studies that stratified older adults, odds of death increased with age. None of these studies examined postoperative functional status, which precluded including functional outcomes in this review. Differences in exposures, outcomes, and data presented in the studies did not allow for quantification of association using metaanalysis.ConclusionAge independently predicts mortality after emergency major abdominal surgery. Data on changes in functional status of older adults who undergo these procedures are lacking.
Azathioprine is effective for oral involvement in Crohn's disease but not for orofacial granulomatosis alone
Authors: Mentzer A. , Goel R. , Elliott T. , Campbell H. , Hullah E. , Patel P. , Challacombe S. , Escudier M. , Sanderson J. D. 
Published: November 2015

BackgroundThere have been no previous reports assessing the effectiveness of azathioprine (AZA) in the treatment of orofacial granulomatosis (OFG). This report is a review of patients receiving AZA for active OFG with or without concomitant gut Crohn's disease (CD) in a specialist tertiary referral centre.MethodsClinical response was defined by Global Physician Assessment at 4‐, 12‐ and 24‐month follow‐up and a standardised oral disease activity score (ODAS).ResultsSixty of 215 patients seen with OFG in our clinic over a 12‐year period were treated with AZA. Of these, 22 had concomitant CD. The proportion of patients responding to AZA with a diagnosis of CD/OFG vs. OFG only at 4, 12 and 24 months were 54% vs. 21% (P = 0.03), 59% vs. 21% (P = 0.003) and 41% vs. 24% (P = 0.16), respectively. A statistically significant difference was seen between starting and follow‐up ODAS scores at 4 months in the CD/OFG group which was not observed in the OFG only group. Factors predicting a need for AZA included a diagnosis of intestinal CD, sulcal swelling, sulcal ulcers and upper lip involvement. The factor predicting response to treatment was a diagnosis of CD at 12 months of follow‐up. No difference in the number of adverse effects was observed between the two groups of patients.ConclusionsAZA is significantly more effective in the treatment of oral disease with a concurrent diagnosis of CD rather than in the treatment of OFG alone.
Sensory Measurements for the Method of “M+N” with Larger M and N
Authors: Bi Jian , Kuesten Carla 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn a recent paper in the sensory literature, the method of “M+N” with larger M and N is proposed to be a new kind of sensory discrimination method. Fisher's exact test is used for the method for discrimination testing. The current article focuses on sensory measurements for the method. Five indices for sensory measurements and effect‐sizes are derived, estimated, and proposed. The indices include log odds ratio, R‐index, Thurstonian discriminal distance δ (or d′), Cohen's Δ (or d) and Gini‐index. Variances of the estimators of the indices are also produced. With the proposed indices, the method of “M+N” with larger M and N can be connected to and compared with the conventional sensory discrimination methods based on common sensory measurements.Practical ApplicationsThe method of “M+N” with larger M and N can be used for both sensory discrimination tests and measurements. The method is particularly suitable for a range of nonfatiguing discrimination tasks, e.g., visual inspection and, to a certain extent, manual inspection. With the indices proposed in this article, sensory effects can be measured for the new method. Built‐in R programs are used in the article for the analysis. R codes for estimations of the indices and their variances for the method are developed and provided. Tables for two important sensory indices, R‐index and d′, corresponding to the observed odds ratio are presented and used in the article.
Second Dialect Acquisition: A Sociophonetic Perspective
Authors: Nycz Jennifer 
Published: November 2015

AbstractMany people change aspects of their accent after moving to a new region. What kinds of changes are made, and why does it matter? Studies of second dialect acquisition (SDA) indicate that geographically mobile speakers change specific dialect features in ways that reflect the complex interaction of linguistic, social, and developmental factors in language use. This article reviews these findings from a sociophonetic perspective, paying particular attention to their theoretical implications, the methodological issues associated with studying SDA, and avenues for future research.
Gesture for Linguists: A Handy Primer
Authors: Abner Natasha , Cooperrider Kensy , Goldin‐Meadow Susan 
Published: November 2015

AbstractHumans communicate using language, but they also communicate usinggesture– spontaneous movements of the hands and body that universally accompany speech. Gestures can be distinguished from other movements, segmented, and assigned meaning based on their forms and functions. Moreover, gestures systematically integrate with language at all levels of linguistic structure, as evidenced in both production and perception. Viewed typologically, gesture is universal, but nevertheless exhibits constrained variation across language communities (as does language itself). Finally, gesture has rich cognitive dimensions in addition to its communicative dimensions. In overviewing these and other topics, we show that the study of language is incomplete without the study of its communicative partner, gesture.
The global regulatory system Csr senses glucose through the phosphoenolpyruvate: carbohydrate phosphotransferase system
Authors: Pérez‐Morales Deyanira , Bustamante Víctor H. 
Published: November 2015

SummaryA novel connection between two regulatory systems controlling crucial biological processes in bacteria, the carbon storage regulator (Csr) system and the glucose‐specific phosphotransferase system (PTS), is reported by Leng et al. in this issue. This involves the interaction of unphosphorylated EIIAGlc, a component of the glucose‐specific PTS, with the CsrD protein, which accelerates the decay of the CsrB and CsrC small RNAs via RNase E in Escherichia coli. As unphosphorylated EIIAGlc is generated in the presence of glucose, the PTS thus acts as a sensor of glucose for the Csr system. Interestingly, another pathway can operate for communication between the Csr system and the glucose‐specific PTS. The absence of glucose generates phosphorylated EIIAGlc, which activates the enzyme adenylate cyclase to produce cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) that, in turn, binds to the regulator cAMP receptor protein (CRP). Leng et al. show that the complex cAMP–CRP modestly reduces CsrB decay independently of CsrD. On the other hand, a previous study indicates that the complex cAMP–CRP positively regulates the transcription of CsrB and CsrC in Salmonella enterica. Therefore, EIIAGlc could work as a molecular switch that regulates the activity of the Csr system, in response to its phosphorylation state determined by the presence or absence of glucose, in order to control gene expression.