bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and associated factors for decreased appetite among patients with stable heart failure
Authors: Andreae Christina , Strömberg Anna , Årestedt Kristofer 
Published: February 2016

Aims and objectivesTo explore the prevalence of decreased appetite and factors associated with appetite among patients with stable heart failure.BackgroundDecreased appetite is an important factor for the development of undernutrition among patients with heart failure, but there are knowledge gaps about prevalence and the factors related to appetite in this patient group.DesignObservational, cross‐sectional study.MethodsA total of 186 patients with mild to severe heart failure were consecutively recruited from three heart failure outpatient clinics. Data were obtained from medical records (heart failure diagnosis, comorbidity and medical treatment) and self‐rated questionnaires (demographics, appetite, self‐perceived health, symptoms of depression and sleep). Blood samples were taken to determine myocardial stress and nutrition status. Heart failure symptoms and cognitive function were assessed by clinical examinations. The Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire was used to assess self‐reported appetite. Bivariate correlations and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to explore factors associated with appetite.ResultsSeventy‐one patients (38%) experienced a loss of appetite with a significant risk of developing weight loss. The final multiple regression model showed that age, symptoms of depression, insomnia, cognitive function and pharmacological treatment were associated with appetite, explaining 27% of the total variance.ConclusionIn this cross‐sectional study, a large share of patients with heart failure was affected by decreased appetite, associated with demographic, psychosocial and medical factors.Relevance to clinical practiceLoss of appetite is a prevalent problem among patients with heart failure that may lead to undernutrition. Health care professionals should routinely assess appetite and discuss patients' experiences of appetite, nutrition intake and body weight and give appropriate nutritional advice with respect to individual needs.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in West Virginia Substate Regions, 2007‐2013
Authors: Stabler Meagan E. , Long D. Leann , Chertok Ilana R. A. , Giacobbi Peter R. , Pilkerton Courtney , Lander Laura R. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractPurposeThe opioid epidemic is a public health threat with consequences affecting newborns. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a constellation of withdrawal symptoms resulting primarily from in utero opioid exposure. The purpose of this study was to examine NAS and drug‐specific trends in West Virginia (WV), where rurality‐related issues are largely present.MethodsThe 2007‐2013 WV Health Care Authority, Uniform Billing Data were analyzed for 119,605 newborn admissions with 1,974 NAS diagnoses. NAS (ICD9‐CM 779.5) and exposure diagnostic codes for opioids, hallucinogens, and cocaine were utilized as incidence rate (IR) per 1,000 live births.FindingsBetween 2007 and 2013, NAS IR significantly increased from 7.74 to 31.56 per 1,000 live births per year (Z: ‐19.10, P < .0001). During this time period, opioid exposure increased (Z: ‐9.56, P < .0001), while cocaine exposure decreased (Z: 3.62, P = .0003). In 2013, the southeastern region of the state had the highest NAS IR of 48.76 per 1,000 live births. NAS infants were more likely to experience other clinical conditions, longer hospital stay, and be insured by Medicaid.ConclusionsStatewide NAS IR increased 4‐fold over the study period, with rates over 3 times the national annual averages. This alarming trend is deleterious for the health of WV mother‐child dyads and it strains the state's health care system. Therefore, WV has a unique need for prenatal public health drug treatment and prevention resources, specifically targeting the southeastern region. Further examination of maternal drug‐specific trends and general underutilization of neonatal exposure ICD‐9‐CM codes is indicated.
Genetic and epigenetic differences associated with environmental gradients in replicate populations of two salt marsh perennials
Authors: Foust C. M. , Preite V. , Schrey A. W. , Alvarez M. , Robertson M. H. , Verhoeven K. J. F. , Richards C. L. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractWhile traits and trait plasticity are partly genetically based, investigating epigenetic mechanisms may provide more nuanced understanding of the mechanisms underlying response to environment. Using AFLP and methylation‐sensitive AFLP, we tested the hypothesis that differentiation to habitats along natural salt marsh environmental gradients occurs at epigenetic, but not genetic loci in two salt marsh perennials. We detected significant genetic and epigenetic structure among populations and among subpopulations, but we found multilocus patterns of differentiation to habitat type only in epigenetic variation for both species. In addition, more epigenetic than genetic loci were correlated with habitat in both species. When we analysed genetic and epigenetic variation simultaneously with partial Mantel, we found no correlation between genetic variation and habitat and a significant correlation between epigenetic variation and habitat in Spartina alterniflora. In Borrichia frutescens, we found significant correlations between epigenetic and/or genetic variation and habitat in four of five populations when populations were analysed individually, but there was no significant correlation between genetic or epigenetic variation and habitat when analysed jointly across the five populations. These analyses suggest that epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the response to salt marsh habitats, but also that the relationships among genetic and epigenetic variation and habitat vary by species. Site‐specific conditions may also cloud our ability to detect response in replicate populations with similar environmental gradients. Future studies analysing sequence data and the correlation between genetic variation and DNA methylation will be powerful to identify the contributions of genetic and epigenetic response to environmental gradients.
Development and evaluation of food and nutrition teaching kits for teachers of primary schoolchildren
Authors: Schneider E. , Theobald C. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractFood and nutrition education is a compulsory part of the primary school curriculum across the UK, but primary school teachers report the need for further support to deliver food and nutrition lessons. Although the British Nutrition Foundation's education website, Food – a fact of life (FFL), contains a vast selection of resources for primary teachers, it was hypothesised that a prescribed ‘off the shelf’ package of resources may be more desirable for teachers and better support their requirements. This led to the creation of the FFL teaching kits. The Foundation developed two versions of the FFL teaching kit, one aimed at teachers of children aged 5–6 years and another for teachers of children aged 10–11 years. Each kit contained 12 UK curricula linked lesson plans, posters, stickers and a CD‐ROM with existing FFL website resources (e.g. interactive games, PowerPoint presentations, worksheets). Home activity booklets were also included in the kit to encourage parent/carer engagement with healthy eating topics. A pilot evaluation study was carried out to determine the acceptability and feasibility of the FFL teaching kits. Feedback from teachers using the kits was positive, and they taught a broader range of topics than teachers not offered the kits. These results, including suggestions for improvement, will inform future education resource development at the Foundation.
Full4Health: Understanding food–gut–brain mechanisms across the lifespan in the regulation of hunger and satiety for health
Authors: Amin T. , Mercer J. G. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractGlobal levels of overweight and obesity continue to rise and successful interventions to combat this epidemic are limited in number and suitability. When energy intake exceeds that expended, the excess energy accumulates as body fat. Although energy balance is regulated by hypothalamic mechanisms, these can be overridden by the activation of hedonic brain systems. This apparent hierarchy is exacerbated by the widespread availability of inexpensive, palatable and energy‐dense food in the current obesogenic environment, giving rise to energy overconsumption and thereby contributing to the increase in overweight and obesity. The European Commission recognised a need for further research to enhance understanding of the relatively poorly understood mechanisms underpinning hunger and satiety, with a view to providing an evidence base from which novel strategies could be developed to tackle the escalating crisis. Full4Health (Understanding food–gut–brain mechanisms across the lifespan in the regulation of hunger and satiety for health) is a project funded under Framework Programme 7 (FP7), conceived to fulfil this aim. This article describes selected recent research from Full4Health and discusses how new mechanistic findings related to physiological responses to food might be adapted and harnessed to provide alternative ways to address the global problems related to positive energy balance.
The ubiquitin ligase SEVEN IN ABSENTIA (SINA) ubiquitinates a defense‐related NAC transcription factor and is involved in defense signaling
Authors: Miao Min , Niu Xiangli , Kud Joanna , Du Xinran , Avila Julian , Devarenne Timothy P. , Kuhl Joseph C. , Liu Yongsheng , Xiao Fangming 
Published: February 2016

Summary

We recently identified a defense‐related tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) NAC (NAM, ATAF1,2, CUC2) transcription factor, NAC1, that is subjected to ubiquitin–proteasome system‐dependent degradation in plant cells. In this study, we identified a tomato ubiquitin ligase (termed SEVEN IN ABSENTIA3; SINA3) that ubiquitinates NAC1, promoting its degradation.

We conducted coimmunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation to determine that SINA3 specifically interacts with the NAC1 transcription factor in the nucleus. Moreover, we found that SINA3 ubiquitinates NAC1 in vitro and promotes NAC1 degradation via polyubiquitination in vivo, indicating that SINA3 is a ubiquitin ligase that ubiquitinates NAC1, promoting its degradation. Our real‐time PCR analysis indicated that, in contrast to our previous finding that NAC1 mRNA abundance increases upon Pseudomonas infection, the SINA3 mRNA abundance decreases in response to Pseudomonas infection.

Moreover, using Agrobacterium‐mediated transient expression, we found that overexpression of SINA3 interferes with the hypersensitive response cell death triggered by multiple plant resistance proteins.

These results suggest that SINA3 ubiquitinates a defense‐related NAC transcription factor for degradation and plays a negative role in defense signaling.
Exploring why residents of socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods have less favourable perceptions of their neighbourhood environment than residents of wealthy neighbourhoods
Authors: Mackenbach J. D. , Lakerveld J. , van Lenthe F. J. , Bárdos H. , Glonti K. , Compernolle S. , De Bourdeaudhuij I. , Oppert J.‐M. , Roda C. , Rutter H. , Brug J. , Nijpels G. 
Published: February 2016

SummaryResidents of socioeconomically deprived areas perceive their neighbourhood as less conducive to healthy behaviours than residents of more affluent areas. Whether these unfavourable perceptions are based on objective neighbourhood features or other factors is poorly understood. We examined individual and contextual correlates of socioeconomic inequalities in neighbourhood perceptions across five urban regions in Europe.Data were analysed from 5205 participants of the SPOTLIGHT survey. Participants reported perceptions of their neighbourhood environment with regard to aesthetics, safety, the presence of destinations and functionality of the neighbourhood, which were summed into an overall neighbourhood perceptions score. Multivariable multilevel regression analyses were conducted to investigate whether the following factors were associated with socioeconomic inequalities in neighbourhood perceptions: objectively observed neighbourhood features, neighbourhood social capital, exposure to the neighbourhood, self‐rated health and lifestyle behaviours.Objectively observed traffic safety, aesthetics and the presence of destinations in the neighbourhood explained around 15% of differences in neighbourhood perceptions between residents of high and low neighbourhoods; levels of neighbourhood social cohesion explained around 52%. Exposure to the neighbourhood, self‐rated health and lifestyle behaviours were significant correlates of neighbourhood perceptions but did not contribute to socioeconomic differences.This cross‐European study provided evidence that socioeconomic differences in neighbourhood perceptions are not only associated with objective neighbourhood features but also with social cohesion. Levels of physical activity, sleep duration, self‐rated health, happiness and neighbourhood preference were also associated with neighbourhood perceptions.
Is yolk sac tumor related to the pathophysiology of low birthweight?
Authors: Kubo Hiroyuki , Shimono Ryuichi , Suzuki Hiromi , Fuke Noriko , Okada Hitoshi , Iwase Takashi , Kusaka Takashi , Hanaoka Uiko , Kanenishi Kenji , Hata Toshiyuki , Kozan Hiroko , Tanaka Aya , Fujii Takayuki , Katsuki Naomi , Kushida Yoshio , Haba Reiji 
Published: February 2016

AbstractAn 8‐year‐old Japanese girl was admitted with an ovarian yolk sac tumor. Regarding birth history, the patient had been delivered by cesarean section at 25 weeks of gestation with a birthweight of 711g. She had required neonatal intensive care including oxygenation, various medications, and tests. After surgery and chemotherapy, there was no recurrence for 2 years, at the time of writing. Yolk sac tumor, which is a malignant germ cell tumor, is rare in children. Although the cause and risk factors are unclear, it has been reported that malignant germ cell tumors in childhood have been associated with pathophysiology at birth. Given that premature infants are more likely to survive due to advances in perinatal care, it is expected that such cases will increase in the near future. We suggest that children born prematurely require careful follow up.
How the Ageing Population Contributes to UK Economic Activity: A Microsimulation Analysis
Authors: Lawson Tony 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIn the United Kingdom, as in several other countries, increasing life expectancy is leading to a shift in the age distribution of the population. Meanwhile, at the level of individuals, spending patterns change as people age. This paper investigates the extent to which demographic change is likely to affect household spending patterns by combining the techniques of dynamic microsimulation with an imputation method known as random assignment. While there has been significant concern about the economic cost of the ageing population, this paper finds a potentially beneficial effect in the form of an increase in total spending for most expenditure categories.
Union decline in Britain: does gender have anything to do with it?
Authors: Haile Getinet Astatike 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe paper examines if workplace gender diversity offers some explanation for the decline of unions in Britain. Using the WERS2004 linked employer–employee data and alternative econometric estimators it reports an inverse relationship between workplace union density and gender diversity. Gender and ownership status based sub‐group analyses suggest the inverse relationship to be stronger for male union members and those in the private sector. Gender group size‐based analysis reveals a positive link between workplace union density and gender diversity in workplaces with a female majority. The findings in this paper may mean that unions may need to embrace the changing workplace demography genuinely to improve their fate.
An association between systemic cyclosporine administration and development of acute bullous keratopathy in cats
Authors: Pierce Kenneth E. , Wilkie David A. , Gemensky‐Metzler Anne J. , Curran Paul G. , Townsend Wendy M. , Petersen‐Jones Simon M. , Bartoe Joshua T. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo determine whether any association exists between the onset of feline acute bullous keratopathy (ABK) and administration of systemic corticosteroid or immunosuppressive therapy.Animals studiedMedical records of cats diagnosed with ABK between the years of 2000 and 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Breed, age at diagnosis, weight, systemic disease status, eye affected, ophthalmic examination findings, systemic and topical therapy instituted, dosage and duration of therapy, visual outcome and histopathological analyses were recorded in cases meeting the inclusion criteria.ResultsA total of 12 cats of a surveyed population of 70 167 met the inclusion criteria with 17/24 eyes affected by ABK. Medical and/or surgical therapy was utilized for management of ABK with 13/17 eyes remaining sighted at the time of last follow‐up. In a subset of cases corneal cytology, aerobic bacterial culture, FHV‐1 PCR, virus isolation and/or histopathology were performed; no infectious organisms were identified. A rupture in Descemet's membrane of the cornea was identified histologically in two globes. A total of 10 of 12 cats had been previously diagnosed with ongoing systemic disease. A total of 10 of 12 cats were receiving systemic therapy, and a significant association (P < 0.001) was noted between systemic administration of corticosteroids and/or cyclosporine A and the development of ABK. A total of 8 of 10 cats were administered oral prednisolone at doses between 1–2 mg/kg every 12–24 h. A total of 5 of 8 cats receiving oral prednisolone were concurrently administered oral cyclosporine at doses of 1.5–7 mg/kg every 12–24 h. Systemic cyclosporine therapy was found to be a significant risk factor (P < 0.001) for ABK development, while systemic prednisolone was not significant (P = 0.10).ConclusionsSystemic cyclosporine administration appears to be a risk factor for development of ABK in the population of cats studied.
Performance of High-Temperature Materials for Efficient Power Plants: The Waterside Challenge
Authors: Auerkari Pertti , Yli-Olli Sanni , Penttilä Sami , Tuurna Satu , Pohja Rami 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
Supercritical (SC) service at high operating values aims for good plant efficiency, but the waterside oxidation resistance can then become life-limiting. In this paper, selected materials and modeling options are compared for life assessment under waterside SC oxidation, particularly for thermal power plants that increasingly need to accommodate cyclic service, fast ramping, and low minimum loads to an extent to which the conventional design practices and materials solutions only partially accounted. For example, the life reduction by high-temperature oxidation and corrosion via lost load-bearing wall thickness is more easily accommodated than the impact on crack growth or material ductility.
Four Points Bending Tests on Large Scale Welded Pipes Containing a Through-Wall Defect: Fatigue and Fracture Analysis
Authors: Bourgeois M. , Le Grasse T. , Kayser Y. 
Published: February 2016

Within the framework of European project STYLE (Structural integrity for lifetime management), fracture tests on two large scale pipes containing a through wall crack have been performed. Two Mock-ups have been tested: MU1 is a narrow gap Inconel Dissimilar Metals, provided and designed by AREVA France, and MU2 is a an austenitic steel butt-weld with a thermally aged weld repair austenitic weld, provided by EDF British Energy.
The four-points bending tests were carried out by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), in order to study the mechanical properties and integrity of component such as welding pipes. A through wall crack was machined in the both pipes. After a fatigue pre-cracking step carried out at RT, the monotonic fracture test was performed (at 300°C on MU1). Optical camera and Electrical Potential Drop Method have allowed following the crack growth during fatigue and final fracture stages. The observations made post-mortem showed ductile tearing of a few millimeters in those pipes.
The first part of this paper is devoted to the four-points bending tests. The second part of this paper deals with first numerical analysis related to the Mock-up-1. Previous results concerning the mechanical characterizations of the constitutive materials are discussed. Fracture mechanics small scale specimens are interpreted using FE Analysis to obtain the fracture parameters used in global approaches. First computation is shown on the Mock-up-1 in order to predict the behavior of the large scale test mechanical and fracture behavior.
Analysis of Effective Mechanical Properties and Anisotropy of Structured Porous Materials
Authors: De la Rosa Dávila Efrain , de Lange Dirk F. , Medellín Castillo Hugo I. , Rodríguez Gilberto Mejía 
Published: February 2016

Many natural and modern man-made materials are porous materials. In many cases, for practical applications and for the proper design of products it is necessary to understand the effective mechanical properties of the porous structure. Even though some general applicable theories exist to estimate the mechanical properties in function of the porosity fraction, or apparent density, the relation between the pore structure and size distribution is not clear. In particular, in case of structured porosity the mechanical properties demonstrate anisotropic behavior. For specialized applications there is an interest to be able to design materials with specified anisotropic properties or with properties varying in space.
In order to design and optimize porous structures with specific anisotropic properties, a flexible simulation model is developed and tested to predict and understand the mechanical anisotropic properties of a large variety of porous structures. In order to be able to change the geometric pore structure without recreating a new model, the pore structure is implemented into a space dependent smoothed binary function.
A comparison is made between results obtained with FEM models with a fully defined geometry and the FEM model with the porosity function to describe the pore structure in order to evaluate and quantify the error that is introduced by the latter implementation and investigate the possibility to mitigate the error.
The model results are also compared with experimental en numerical results reported in literature.