bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Frequency–Amplitude Ratio of Ocular Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potentials for Detecting Meniere’s Disease: A Preliminary Investigation
Authors: Singh Niraj Kumar , Barman Animesh 
Published: January 2016

Objective:Several parameters of ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) have been used to identify Meniere’s disease. Nonetheless frequency–amplitude ratio (FAR), which is the ratio of amplitude between two frequencies, is one among the parameters that has failed to attract researchers’ attention despite proving its worth in diagnosis of Meniere’s disease when used in conjunction with cervical VEMP. Thus, the present study aimed at investigating the utility of FAR of oVEMP in identifying Meniere’s disease and finding out an optimum frequency pair for its diagnosis.Design:Using a case–control design, oVEMPs were recorded for tone bursts of 500, 750, 1000, and 1500 Hz from 36 individuals with unilateral definite Meniere’s disease in the age range of 15 to 50 years. For comparison purposes, oVEMP at the above frequencies were also obtained from an equal number of age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. The amplitudes of 750, 1000, 1500 Hz and tuned frequency, which was the frequency with the largest peak to peak amplitude among the above-mentioned frequencies, were divided by the amplitude of 500 Hz to obtain FARs for 750/500, 1000/500, 1500/500, and tuned frequency/500 frequency pairs.Results:The results revealed significantly higher FAR in the Meniere’s disease group than the healthy controls for all the frequency pairs (p< 0.05). The sensitivity of almost 90% and the specificity 100% was obtained for 1000/500 and 750/500, whereas the other frequency pairs produced a sensitivity of about 56% while still showing a specificity of 100%.Conclusions:High sensitivity and specificity, coupled with considerably lowered test duration when using only two frequencies, makes the use of FAR a more attractive prerogative, with 1000/500 as the frequency pair of choice.
Informal learning spaces (ILS) in university libraries and their campuses
Authors: Cunningham Matthew , Walton Graham 
Published: January 2016

Purpose
– This paper aims to explore at Loughborough University (UK) how informal learning spaces (ILS) are used by students in the Library and elsewhere on campus. Focus includes learning activities undertaken by students, reasons why the ILS is chosen, suggestions on how they can be improved and how technologies are used. Comparison will be drawn between how students use Library ILS and other ILS.

Design/methodology/approach
– Case study based at Loughborough University and its Library. Semi-structured interviews were held with 265 students in various ILS spaces across campus.

Findings
– Similarities and differences are present in the way students use Library ILS compared with other ILS campus spaces. These include impact of campus geography and individual academic levels of students.

Research limitations/implications
– This is a single case study and the results can only relate to Loughborough University. There may be some lessons and themes that are relevant to other universities. The number of interviewees is relatively small.

Practical implications
– Highlights the need for cooperation between various university stakeholders to strategically and operationally manage different ILS on campus.

Originality/value
– This is one of the very few studies that investigate together the range of ILS including the Library in a comparative approach.
Research methods used in library and information science during the 1970-2010
Authors: Gauchi Risso Veronica 
Published: January 2016

Purpose
– This paper aims to explore research methods used in Library and Information Science (LIS) during the past four decades. The goal is to compile a annotated bibliography of seminal works of the discipline used in different countries and social contexts.

Design/methodology/approach
– When comparing areas and types of research, different publication patterns are taken into account. As we can see, data indicators and types of studies carried out on scientific activity contribute very little when evaluating the real response potential to identified problems. Therefore, among other things, LIS needs new methodological developments, which should combine qualitative and quantitative approaches and allow a better understanding of the nature and characteristics of science in different countries.

Findings
– The conclusion is that LIS emerges strictly linked to descriptive methodologies, channeled to meet the challenges of professional practice through empirical strategies of a professional nature, which manifests itself the preponderance of a professional paradigm that turns out to be an indicator of poor scientific discipline development.

Research limitations/implications
– This, undoubtedly, reflects the reality of Anglo-Saxon countries, reproduced in most of the recognized journals of the field; this issue plus the chosen instruments for data collection certainly slant the results.

Originality/value
– The development of taxonomies in the discipline cannot be left aside from the accepted by the rest of the scientific community, at least if LIS desires to be integrated and recognized as a scientific discipline.
Facilitating a research culture in an academic library: top down and bottom up approaches
Authors: Pickton Miggie 
Published: January 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to consider why and how a research culture might be established in an academic library and to describe and evaluate efforts to achieve this at the University of Northampton.

Design/methodology/approach
– Contextualised within current literature on this topic, the paper examines the top-down and bottom-up approaches taken to facilitate practitioner research in one academic library.

Findings
– The approaches taken have led to a significant increase in practitioner research activity from library staff, resulting in a variety of enhancements to library services; a number of innovative practices being shared with the professional community through conference presentations and publications; and consequent rise in profile and reputation for individuals, the department and the university.

Practical implications
– The paper offers a wide range of ideas and practical suggestions for encouraging and facilitating practitioner research in an academic library. These include incorporating research activity into job descriptions and annual performance reviews; facilitating peer support for research; and providing competitive research awards, research training opportunities and funding for staff presenting at external events. Many of these require relatively little resource, yet offer significant benefit to those involved.

Originality/value
– It is rare, and maybe unique in the UK, for an academic library to attempt to instil a research culture throughout its staff and to provide ongoing resources, activities and practical support for this. The many positive outcomes from this work demonstrate its success and value. The experiences described in this paper are transferable to other academic and research libraries and, if replicated, have the potential to increase librarians’ engagement in research activity, promote research-informed practice and stimulate interest in library and information research across the sector.
Keeping current with climate change resources: it’s always the day after tomorrow!
Authors: Hartman Patricia J 
Published: January 2016

Purpose
– Keeping up with the abundance of new materials on climate change can be a challenge for selectors of library materials. There is a need for an updated list of recommended titles in the library literature.

Design/methodology/approach
– An exhaustive literature review was performed on climate change books published within the past four years.

Findings
– The following is an annotated bibliography of 22 recommended titles focused on climate change that were published within that timeframe.

Originality/value
– This will be helpful to librarians seeking to develop or update climate change collections.
Strategy for treatment of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis: Present and future
Authors: Yanaba Koichi 
Published: January 2016

AbstractSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a generalized connective tissue disorder characterized by microvascular damage, autoimmunity, and excessive fibrosis of the skin and various internal organs. Regardless of the recent progress in medicine, no radical therapy for SSc has been developed, and the risk of mortality remains high. Therefore, diagnosis in the early disease stage, risk stratification for the development of serious organ involvement and therapeutic intervention with disease‐modifying drugs can reduce the maximum degree of fibrosis, leading to improved long‐term survival. Recently, new criteria for very early diagnosis of SSc have been proposed, which are expected to be useful for regularly following up patients with very early SSc, regardless of the absence of skin sclerosis, and for detecting the development of internal organ involvement as early as possible. At present, several immunosuppressants, including methotrexate, corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, are being used for the treatment of fibrosis. Furthermore, mycophenolate mofetil, i.v. immunoglobulins, B‐cell depletion, anti‐interleukin‐6 receptor antibody, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, rapamycin, pirfenidone and imatinib mesylate are potential candidates for the treatment of SSc, although their efficacy has not been validated. Moreover, targeting transforming growth factor‐1 and its signaling pathway or modulating the imbalance between T‐helper 1 and 2 immune responses are also attractive therapeutic options. This review describes recent advances in the strategy for treatment of fibrosis in SSc and future perspectives.
B lymphocytes in systemic sclerosis: Abnormalities and therapeutic targets
Authors: Yoshizaki Ayumi 
Published: January 2016

AbstractSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition in the skin and visceral organs with an autoimmune background. Although the pathogenic relationship between systemic autoimmunity and the clinical manifestations remains unknown, SSc patients have immunological abnormalities including the production of disease‐specific autoantibodies. Recent studies have demonstrated that B cells play a crucial role in systemic autoimmunity and disease expression via various functions in addition to autoantibody production. Recent studies show that B cells from SSc patients demonstrate an upregulated CD19 signaling pathway, which is a crucial regulator of B‐cell activation, that induces SSc‐specific autoantibody production in SSc. In addition, B cells from SSc patients exhibit an overexpression of CD19. Consistently, in CD19 transgenic mice, CD19 overexpression induces SSc‐specific autoantibody production. SSc patients have also intrinsic B‐cell abnormalities characterized by chronic hyperreactivity of memory B cells, possibly due to CD19 overexpression. Similarly, B cells from a tight‐skin mouse, a genetic model of SSc, show augmented CD19 signaling and chronic hyperreactivity. Furthermore, in bleomycin‐induced SSc model mice, endogenous ligands for Toll‐like receptors, induced by bleomycin treatment, stimulate B cells to produce various fibrogenic cytokines and autoantibodies. Remarkably, CD19 loss results in inhibition of B‐cell hyperreactivity and elimination of autoantibody production, which is associated with improvement of fibrosis. Taken together, altered B‐cell function may result in tissue fibrosis, as well as autoimmunity, in SSc. Although further studies and greater understanding are needed, B cells are potential therapeutic target in SSc.
An Overview of Regular Dialysis Treatment in Japan (As of 31 December 2013)
Authors: Masakane Ikuto , Nakai Shigeru , Ogata Satoshi , Kimata Naoki , Hanafusa Norio , Hamano Takayuki , Wakai Kenji , Wada Atsushi , Nitta Kosaku 
Published: January 2016

AbstractA nationwide survey of 4325 dialysis facilities was conducted at the end of 2013, among which 4268 (98.7%) responded. The number of new dialysis patients was 38 095 in 2013. Since 2008, the number of new dialysis patients has remained almost the same without any marked increase or decrease. The number of dialysis patients who died in 2013 was 30 751. The dialysis patient population has been growing every year in Japan; it was 314 438 at the end of 2013. The number of dialysis patients per million at the end of 2013 was 2470. The crude death rate of dialysis patients in 2013 was 9.8%. The mean age of new dialysis patients was 68.7 years and the mean age of the entire dialysis patient population was 67.2 years. The most common primary cause of renal failure among new dialysis patients was diabetic nephropathy (43.8%). The actual number of new dialysis patients with diabetic nephropathy has almost been unchanged for the last few years. Diabetic nephropathy was also the most common primary disease among the entire dialysis patient population (37.6%), followed by chronic glomerulonephritis (32.4%). The percentage of dialysis patients with diabetic nephropathy has been increasing continuously, whereas the percentage of dialysis patients with chronic glomerulonephritis has been decreasing. The number of patients who underwent hemodiafiltration (HDF) at the end of 2013 was 31 371, a marked increase from that in 2012. This number is more than twice that at the end of 2011 and approximately 1.5 times the number at the end of 2012. In particular, the number of patients who underwent online HDF increased approximately fivefold over the last 2 years. Among 151 426 dialysis patients with primary causes of renal failure other than diabetic nephropathy, 10.8% had a history of diabetes. Among those with a history of diabetes, 26.8% used glycoalbumin as an indicator of blood glucose level; and 33.0 and 27.6% were administered insulin and dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)–4 inhibitor, respectively, as a medication of diabetes. The facility survey showed that 9392 patients underwent peritoneal dialysis (PD). The patient survey revealed that 1920 of these PD patients also underwent another dialysis method using extracorporeal circulation, such as hemodialysis (HD) or HDF. The number of patients who underwent HD at home at the end of 2013 was 461, a marked increase from that at the end of 2012 (393).
Effects of an insect‐mediated mental healthcare program for mentally disordered children
Authors: Jun Young‐Soon , Bae Sung‐Min , Shin Tae‐Young , Lee Seung‐Hee , Gwak Won‐Seok , Ahn Yong‐Oh , Kim In‐Hui , Lee See‐Nae , Kim Dong‐Jun , Kim Tae‐Ho , Woo Soo‐Dong 
Published: January 2016

AbstractInsects are the most diverse groups of animals on the planet, representing more than one‐half of all known living organisms, and are found in nearly every environment. Recently, the importance of insects as food sources or as pets has increased in many countries, including Korea. In addition, several insects have been shown to exert a strong influence on people's emotions. Our insect‐mediated mental healthcare program is designed to help meet the physical, behavioral and developmental needs of people with mental disorders. Children with mental disorders, the experimental group, were provided with an insect‐mediated mental healthcare program for a total of eight sessions, one session per week, at 1–2 h per session, accompanied by a pre‐test and post‐test. The overall, gender, education level, and mental disease profiles of the participants in this study were balanced. Our results indicated that children who participated in the insect‐mediated healthcare program group once showed significant improvement in their emotional health and insect awareness. Additionally, paired education level's t‐tests showed that the outcomes of the participants in treatment group were significantly improved (α < 0.05). However, participants' satisfaction with their school life (middle school) was not influenced. These results suggest that insects positively influence children's emotional health through an insect‐mediated healthcare program. Further research on the basis of this study is expected to help children with emotional therapy in other areas.
Benthic macroinvertebrate biodiversity improved with irrigation ponds linked to a rice paddy field
Authors: Choe Lak Jung , Cho Kwang Jin , Han Min Su , Kim Min Kyeong , Choi Soon Kun , Bang Hea Son , Eo Jinu , Na Young Eun , Kim Myung Hyun 
Published: January 2016

AbstractTraditionally, many irrigation ponds supplied water to paddy fields, but most of these ponds have disappeared through improvements in irrigation systems. The aim of this study was to assess the ecological functions (especially biodiversity conservation) of irrigation ponds by using benthic macroinvertebrates that inhabit paddy fields. This study was conducted in Hwaseong‐si, Yesan‐gun, Hongseong‐gun, Uljin‐gun and Damyang‐gun, Korea. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected using a quadrat sampler from August to September for three years (2010–2012) in paddy fields with and without an irrigation pond. In the comparisons between two paddy field types (paddy fields with and without an irrigation pond) for species richness and densities of benthic macroinvertebrates, the species richness and densities were higher in the paddy fields with a pond than in the paddy fields without a pond (P < 0.001). Biodiversity enhancement effect degree (BEED) of the irrigation pond showed positive values in all survey regions. There were no significant differences among the survey regions. BEED showed positive values in all taxonomic groups (excluding Crustacea) and were not significantly different among taxonomic groups. The BEED values for non‐insects, passive dispersers, were relatively higher than for insects, active dispersers. The results indicate that BEED is related to the dispersal abilities of each taxonomic group and an irrigation pond increases biodiversity in a paddy field in all regions. Therefore, the irrigation pond is one method that can be immediately applied in paddy fields in order to improve the biodiversity of agricultural ecosystems.
Standardized Asthma Admission Criteria Reduce Length of Stay in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Rutman Lori , Migita Russell , Spencer Suzanne , Kaplan Ron , Klein Eileen J. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractObjectivesAsthma is the most common chronic illness in children and accounts for > 600,000 emergency department (ED) visits each year. Reducing ED length of stay (LOS) for moderate to severe asthmatics improves ED throughput and patient care for this high‐risk population. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of adding standardized, respiratory score–based admission criteria to an asthma pathway on ED LOS for admitted patients, time to bed request, overall percentage of admitted asthmatics, inpatient LOS, and percentage of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of a quality improvement intervention. Statistical process control methodologies were used to analyze measures 15 months before and after implementation of a modified asthma pathway (June 2010 to December 2012; pathway modification September 2011).ResultsA total of 3,688 patients aged 1 through 18 years who presented to the ED with an asthma exacerbation during the study period were included. Patients were excluded if they were not eligible for the asthma pathway. Patient characteristics were similar before and after the intervention. Mean ED LOS and time to bed request for admitted asthmatics both decreased by 30 minutes. There was no change in percentage of asthma admissions (34%), mean inpatient LOS (1.4 days), or percentage of PICU admissions (2%).ConclusionsStandardizing care for asthma patients to include objective admission criteria early in the ED course may optimize patient care and improve ED flow.
Clinical and haematological risk factors for cerebral macrovasculopathy in a sickle cell disease newborn cohort: a prospective study
Authors: Sommet Julie , Alberti Corinne , Couque Nathalie , Verlhac Suzanne , Haouari Zinedine , Mohamed Damir , François Martine , Missud Florence , Holvoet Laurent , Elmaleh Monique , Ithier Ghislaine , Denjean André , Elion Jacques , Baruchel André , Benkerrou Malika 
Published: January 2016

SummaryChildren with sickle cell disease (SCD) have a significant vascular morbidity, especially cerebral macrovasculopathy (CV), detectable by transcranial Doppler. This study aimed to identify risk factors for CV using longitudinal biological and clinical data in a SCD newborn cohort followed at the Robert Debre Reference centre (n = 375 SS/Sβ0). Median follow‐up was 6·8 years (2677 patient‐years). Among the 59 children presenting with CV, seven had a stroke. Overall, the incidence of CV was 2·20/100 patient‐years [95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1·64–2·76] and the incidence of stroke was 0·26/100 patient‐years (95%CI: 0·07–0·46). The cumulative risk of CV by age 14 years was 26·0% (95%CI: 20·0‐33·3%). Risk factors for CV were assessed by a Cox model encompassing linear multivariate modelling of longitudinal quantitative variables. Years per upper‐airway obstruction [Hazard ratio (HR) = 1·47; 95%CI: 1·05–2·06] or bronchial obstruction (HR = 1·76; 95% CI: 1·49–2·08) and reticulocyte count (HR = 1·82 per 50 × 109/l increase; 95%CI: 1·10–3·01) were independent risk factors whereas fetal haemoglobin level (HR = 0·68 per 5% increase; 95%CI: 0·48–0·96) was protective. Alpha‐thalassaemia was not protective in multivariate analysis (ancillary analysis n = 209). Specific treatment for upper or lower‐airway obstruction and indirect targeting of fetal haemoglobin and reticulocyte count by hydroxycarbamide could potentially reduce the risk of CV.
Nut allergy prevalence and differences between Asian‐born children and Australian‐born children of Asian descent: a state‐wide survey of children at primary school entry in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Panjari M. , Koplin J. J. , Dharmage S. C. , Peters R. L. , Gurrin L. C. , Sawyer S. M. , McWilliam V. , Eckert J. K. , Vicendese D. , Erbas B. , Matheson M. C. , Tang M. L. K. , Douglass J. , Ponsonby A.‐L. , Dwyer T. , Goldfeld S. , Allen K. J. 
Published: January 2016

SummaryBackgroundAsian infants born in Australia are three times more likely to develop nut allergy than non‐Asian infants, and rates of challenge‐proven food allergy in infants have been found to be unexpectedly high in metropolitan Melbourne. To further investigate the risk factors for nut allergy, we assessed the whole‐of‐state prevalence distribution of parent‐reported nut allergy in 5‐year‐old children entering school.MethodsUsing the 2010 School Entrant Health Questionnaire administered to all 5‐year‐old children in Victoria, Australia, we assessed the prevalence of parent‐reported nut allergy (tree nut and peanut) and whether this was altered by region of residence, socio‐economic status, country of birth or history of migration. Prevalence was calculated as observed proportion with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Risk factors were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression and adjusted for appropriate confounders.ResultsParent‐reported nut allergy prevalence was 3.1% (95% CI 2.9–3.2) amongst a cohort of nearly 60 000 children. It was more common amongst children of mothers with higher education and socio‐economic index and less prevalent amongst children in regional Victoria than in Melbourne. While children born in Australia to Asian‐born mothers (aOR 2.67, 95% CI 2.28–3.27) were more likely to have nut allergy than non‐Asian children, children born in Asia who subsequently migrated to Australia were at decreased risk of nut allergy (aOR 0.1, 95% CI 0.03–0.31).ConclusionMigration from Asia after the early infant period appears protective for the development of nut allergy. Additionally, rural regions have lower rates of nut allergy than urban areas.