bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can a simple test of functional capacity add to the clinical assessment of diabetes?
Authors: Stewart T. , Caffrey D. G. , Gilman R. H. , Mathai S. C. , Lerner A. , Hernandez A. , Pinto M. E. , Huaylinos Y. , Cabrera L. , Wise R. A. , Miranda J. J. , Checkley W. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimTo identify impairment in functional capacity associated with complicated and non‐complicated diabetes using the 6‐min walk distance test.MethodsWe enrolled 111 adults, aged ≥40 years, with Type 2 diabetes from a hospital facility and 150 healthy control subjects of similar age and sex from a community site in Lima, Peru. All participants completed a 6‐min walk test.ResultsThe mean age of the 261 participants was 58.3 years, and 43.3% were male. Among those with diabetes, 67 (60%) had non‐complicated diabetes and 44 (40%) had complications such as peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy or nephropathy. The mean unadjusted 6‐min walk distances were 376 m and 394 m in adults with and without diabetes complications, respectively, vs 469 m in control subjects (P<0.001). In multivariable regression, the subjects with diabetes complications walked 84 m less far (95% CI ‐104 to ‐63 m) and those without complications walked 60 m less far (‐77 to ‐42 m) than did control subjects. When using HbA1c level as a covariate in multivariable regression, participants walked 13 m less far (‐16.9 to ‐9.9 m) for each % increase in HbA1c.ConclusionsThe subjects with diabetes had lower functional capacity compared with healthy control subjects with similar characteristics. Differences in 6‐min walk distance were even apparent in the subjects without diabetes complications. Potential mechanisms that could explain this finding are early cardiovascular disease or deconditioning.
Arabic Spelling: Errors, Perceptions, and Strategies
Authors: Brosh Hezi 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThis study investigated common spelling errors among first language English speakers who study Arabic at the college level. A sample of 63 students (45 males and 18 females) was asked to write texts about a variety of topics and then to answer survey questions regarding their perceptions and strategies. Their writing produced 457 spelling errors, which were examined and classified. The results demonstrate that the spelling skill is developmental and that it offers a necessary structure for students to master key elements of Arabic. The wide variety of spelling errors made by participants points to their unsatisfactory awareness of the language's phonology, morphology, and orthography aspects. Participants perceived an important connection between the spelling skill and such other skills as reading, writing, and pronunciation, but they perceived its development as challenging, due to insufficient practice. Their strategies for memorizing words included using textbooks and online dictionaries, repetition and practice, and simply sounding out the words. The results indicated potential implications that current and future Arabic instructors can use to help students develop the spelling skill.
Teacher vs. Peer Oral Corrective Feedback in the German Language Classroom
Authors: Sippel Lieselotte , Jackson Carrie N. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThis classroom study investigated the effects of oral teacher and peer corrective feedback on the acquisition of the German present perfect tense, including auxiliary verb selection (a rule‐based structure) and past participle formation (an item‐based structure). Intermediate learners of German were assigned to a teacher feedback condition, a peer feedback condition, or a control group. Learners in the teacher feedback group were corrected by their course instructor, while learners in the peer feedback group were trained to provide guidance to each other at the beginning of a two‐day instructional treatment. Results from both an immediate and delayed posttest showed that while both experimental groups significantly improved in grammatical accuracy with both auxiliary selection and the past participle, the largest improvement was seen among the learners in the peer feedback group. These findings suggest that peer corrective feedback heightens learners' awareness of linguistic forms and that learners who provide such feedback may benefit not only from receiving but also from providing it. The results further demonstrate that peer feedback can be effective with less‐proficient learners and with different types of grammatical structures.
Beyond Classroom Discourse: Learning as Participation in Native Speaker–Learner and Learner–Learner Interactions
Authors: Hoshi Saori 
Published: November 2015

AbstractConsistent with the notion of learning as changing participation (Lave & Wenger, 1991; Rogoff, 1998; Sfard, 1998; Young & Miller, 2004), the present qualitative study investigated how social interaction between learners of Japanese as a foreign language and native speaker classroom guests contributed to the students' use of second language (L2) linguistic resources in their productive performance over time. Specifically, the study considered the kinds of L2 linguistic resources that were made available to learners during guided interpersonal interactions with native speaker guests. Findings suggest that participants' nonpedagogical interaction with a more knowledgeable native speaker interlocutor provided a wider range of linguistic resources than instructor‐fronted instruction and that those linguistic forms were taken up by the learners and then appropriated in subsequent activities with peers.
Global impacts of the 1980s regime shift
Authors: Reid Philip C. , Hari Renata E. , Beaugrand Grégory , Livingstone David M. , Marty Christoph , Straile Dietmar , Barichivich Jonathan , Goberville Eric , Adrian Rita , Aono Yasuyuki , Brown Ross , Foster James , Groisman Pavel , Hélaouët Pierre , Hsu Huang‐Hsiung , Kirby Richard , Knight Jeff , Kraberg Alexandra , Li Jianping , Lo Tzu‐Ting , Myneni Ranga B. , North Ryan P. , Pounds J. Alan , Sparks Tim , Stübi René , Tian Yongjun , Wiltshire Karen H. , Xiao Dong , Zhu Zaichun 
Published: November 2015

AbstractDespite evidence from a number of Earth systems that abrupt temporal changes known as regime shifts are important, their nature, scale and mechanisms remain poorly documented and understood. Applying principal component analysis, change‐point analysis and a sequential t‐test analysis of regime shifts to 72 time series, we confirm that the 1980s regime shift represented a major change in the Earth's biophysical systems from the upper atmosphere to the depths of the ocean and from the Arctic to the Antarctic, and occurred at slightly different times around the world. Using historical climate model simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) and statistical modelling of historical temperatures, we then demonstrate that this event was triggered by rapid global warming from anthropogenic plus natural forcing, the latter associated with the recovery from the El Chichón volcanic eruption. The shift in temperature that occurred at this time is hypothesized as the main forcing for a cascade of abrupt environmental changes. Within the context of the last century or more, the 1980s event was unique in terms of its global scope and scale; our observed consequences imply that if unavoidable natural events such as major volcanic eruptions interact with anthropogenic warming unforeseen multiplier effects may occur.
Medullary carcinoma of the small bowel
Authors: Brcic Iva , Cathomas Gieri , Vanoli Alessandro , Jilek Kurt , Giuffrida Paolo , Langner Cord 
Published: November 2015

AimsMedullary carcinoma of the large bowel occurs mainly right‐sided in elderly females. The tumour is almost invariably microsatellite instable and has been associated with favourable outcome. Our study aimed to present three cases of medullary carcinoma originating from the small bowel.Methods and resultsWe describe three cases of small bowel medullary carcinoma. Two patients had coeliac disease, diagnosed at the ages of 79 and 71 years, respectively. The tumours showed the characteristic syncytial growth pattern with marked intratumoral lymphocytic inflammation. Loss of MutL homologue 1 (MLH1) [and postmeiotic segregation increased 2 (S. cerevisiae) PMS2] expression was observed in all cases, consistent with high‐level microsatellite instability. All tumours were negative for Epstein–Barr virus. Follow‐up information was available for one patient, who is recurrence‐free 6 years after resection.DiscussionMedullary carcinoma of the small bowel is exceedingly rare. Our data and a review of the literature suggest that this tumour type is characteristic for coeliac disease and may be the histological type underlying small bowel cancers with high‐level microsatellite instability in patients with coeliac disease.
Consumers’ subjective and objective consumerism knowledge and subsequent complaint behaviour concerning consumer electronics: a South African perspective
Authors: Donoghue Suné , van Oordt Chanelle , Strydom Nina 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAlthough there is immense international support for consumer protection, the notion exists that consumer protection can only exist in developed countries with ample fiscal resources and expertise to properly act in the interest of consumers. This conception leaves consumers in emerging and transitional economies in a difficult position as these economies indeed generally lack sufficient funding and the required capacity to educate consumers on their rights. With the South African Consumer Protection Act that came into effect in 2011, South African consumers can now claim to be among the best protected consumers in the world. However, many consumers are still not aware of their consumer rights, and do not have the necessary knowledge to pursue redress when they are dissatisfied. The objective of this research was therefore to explore and describe the relationship between consumers’ knowledge of consumerism (consumer protection) and their consumer complaint behaviour (CCB) concerning their dissatisfaction with a technologically advanced product, in this case, a consumer electronic product. This study attempts to differentiate between subjective consumerism knowledge and objective consumerism knowledge and by extension the measures used. In addition, we explored and described the relationship between demographic variables and levels of subjective and objective consumerism knowledge as well as the combined effect of the two types of knowledge on CCB. The findings revealed that the respondents had a reasonable level of subjective consumerism knowledge relative to a low level of objective consumerism knowledge. No significant relationship was found between subjective consumerism knowledge and demographic variables. However, the factors of race, gender and level of income were related to objective knowledge. A higher level of subjective knowledge could be associated with public action. Respondents with reasonable levels of objective knowledge were also better equipped to take private and public action. CHAID (Chi‐Square Automatic Interaction Detection) analysis highlighted that a combination of subjective and objective knowledge was the best predictor of taking public action only and of taking both private and public complaint action. The study has implications for policy makers, consumer protection organisations, retailers and the individual consumer. Our approach to measuring knowledge of consumerism could possibly be applied in other emerging contexts where consumers generally lack awareness of consumer protection.
Organic consumers’ preferences and willingness‐to‐pay for locally produced animal products
Authors: Wägeli Salome , Janssen Meike , Hamm Ulrich 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn Germany, a large share of organic animal products is being produced with imported protein feedstuffs. Products labelled as ‘local’ are also often produced with imported feed. At the point of purchase, animal products are not usually labelled with any information on the feed that was used to produce it. Therefore, it remains unclear what consumers think about the use of imported feed, in particular in the case of products labelled as ‘local’. The aim of the present research study was to analyse whether the use of local feed represents an option for successful product differentiation in the organic animal products market. Discrete Choice Experiments and computer assisted personal interviews were conducted with 597 organic consumers in Germany to investigate their preferences and willingness‐to‐pay for local organic animal products produced with local feed. The choice experiments revealed a strong preference for local feed. The outcome of our investigation also shows that the provision of information on feed imports into Germany can be an important tool for promoting organic animal products produced with local feed. The results suggest the use of local feed could be an option for successful product differentiation in the organic animal products market, especially if effort is put into raising consumer awareness of current organic feed importation practices.
Phase transformation of Cu‐rich precipitates from 9R to 3R variant via ledges mechanism in ferritic steel containing copper
Authors: CHEN B.L. , WANG W. , XIE H. , GE R.R. , ZHANG Z.Y. , LI Z.W. , ZHOU X.Y. , ZHOU B.X. 
Published: November 2015

SummaryPrecipitates and solute enrich in aged ferritic steel containing copper were examined using high‐resolution electron microscopy, high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. Two ledges with one‐atom and two‐atom layers height in the 9R/3R interface were observed. The enrichment of copper into two successive closed‐packed planes with an interval of Fe‐rich close‐packed plane was detected. The passage of the Shockley partial, or the shearing, changes the stacking sequence of closed‐packed planes. Finally, 9R Cu variant transformed into 3R Cu variant.
Reduced Field of View Diffusion‐Weighted Imaging in the Evaluation of Congenital Spine Malformations
Authors: Radhakrishnan Rupa , Betts Aaron M. , Care Marguerite M. , Serai Suraj , Zhang Bin , Jones Blaise V. 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDReduced field of view diffusion‐weighted imaging (rFOV DWI) is a more recently described technique in the evaluation of spine pathology. In adults, this technique has been shown to increase clinician confidence in identification of diffusion restricting lesions.PURPOSEIn this study, we evaluate the image quality and diagnostic confidence of the rFOV DWI technique in pediatric spine MRI.METHODSWe included patients with MRI of the lumbar spine for suspected congenital abnormalities who had conventional SS‐EPI (single shot echo planar imaging) with full field of view (fFOV) and rFOV DWI performed. Images were graded for image quality and observer confidence for detection of lesions with reduced diffusion. Position of the conus and L3 vertebral body measurements were recorded. Comparisons were made between the fFOV and rFOV scores.RESULTSFifty children (30 girls, 20 boys) were included (median 3.6 years). Compared to the fFOV images, the rFOV images scored higher in image quality (P < 0.0001) and for confidence in detecting lesions with reduced diffusion (P < 0.0001). The average spread of identified conus position was smaller for in rFOV compared to fFOV (P = 0.0042). There was no significant difference in the L3 vertebral body measurements between the two methods. In rFOV, the anterior aspects of the vertebral bodies were excluded in a few studies due to narrow FOV.CONCLUSIONrFOV DWI of the lumbar spine in the pediatric population has qualitatively improved image quality and observer confidence for lesion detection when compared to conventional fFOV SS‐EPI DWI.
The effect of implant placement in patients with either Kennedy class II and III on oral health‐related quality of life: a prospective clinical trial
Authors: van Eekeren P. J. A. , Aartman I. H. A. , Tahmaseb A. , Wismeijer D. 
Published: November 2015

SummaryThere is little evidence of the effect of implants restored with fixed partial dentures on oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) in partially edentulous Kennedy class II and III patients. The aim of this study was to determine the change in OHRQoL in Kennedy classification II and III patients treated with a two‐implant‐supported fixed dental prosthesis (FDP). Kennedy class II and III patients received dental implants and an FDP. Oral health‐related quality of life was measured by administration of the Oral Health Impact Profile‐14 (OHIP‐14NL) questionnaire at intake (T1), 2 weeks after surgery (T2) and after 1 year of loading (T3). The mean OHIP score at T1 was 6·5 ± 1·2, 2·4 ± 1·0 at T2, and 0·9 ± 0·3 at T3. There was a statistically significant difference between T1 and T2 (P = 0·002) and T1 and T3 (P < 0·001) but not between T2 and T3 (P = 0·407). The OHIP score in Kennedy II patients decreased from 4·8 ± 3·2 at T1 to 1·5 ± 2·0 at T2 and 1·1 ± 1·8 at T3, and that in Kennedy III patients decreased from 8·9 ± 9·6 at T1 to 3·6 ± 8·9 at T2 and 0·8 ± 2·2 at T3. There were no statistically significant differences in the reductions in Kennedy II and III patients. Oral health‐related quality of life changed positively in patients treated with implants and an FDP in both groups. There was no change in OHRQoL between the times of implant placement and FDP placement.
Parents’ and caregivers’ perspectives on the Manitoba Dental Association's Free First Visit program
Authors: Schroth Robert J. , Ndayisenga Stephanie , Guenther Katelyn , Marchessault Gail , Prowse Sarah , Hai‐Santiago Khalida , Edwards Jeanette M. , Moffatt Michael E.K. ,   the Manitoba Dental Association
Published: November 2015

AbstractObjectivesThe Free First Visit (FFV) program was implemented in 2010 to promote early preventive dental visits for children <36 months of age in Manitoba, Canada. The purpose was to understand parents’ and caregivers’ perspectives on the program.MethodsThree focus groups with 21 participants were conducted in Winnipeg, Canada using an interview guide in this qualitative study.ResultsMost participants were aware of the FFV program and the appropriate age for a child's first visit. Almost all agreed with the recommendation to see a dentist by one year of age. Some reported that general dentists advised them to bring their child after three years of age. Participants appreciated that the program was free, and some noted that the program made them aware of the appropriate age for a first visit. About half of the participants had taken their child for a FFV. Reasons for not taking their child for a FFV included: nothing wrong with their child's teeth, they believed there was still time as their child was not three years old, they had government insurance, child's temperament, and feelings of apathy. There were mixed opinions regarding whether the program was helping those who needed it the most.ConclusionsThe majority of participants liked the FFV program and believed that it should continue. Parents would benefit from further education and encouragement to seek oral care for their child by age one. Some general dentists may need further training and skills to meet the recommendations for first dental visits.
Effect of Intravaginal Prasterone on Sexual Dysfunction in Postmenopausal Women with Vulvovaginal Atrophy
Authors: Labrie Fernand , Derogatis Leonard , Archer David F. , Koltun William , Vachon Andrée , Young Douglas , Frenette Louise , Portman David , Montesino Marlene , Côté Isabelle , Parent Julie , Lavoie Lyne , Beauregard Adam , Martel Céline , Vaillancourt Mario , Balser John , Moyneur Érick ,   Members of the VVA Prasterone Research Group
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Previous data have shown that intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, prasterone) improved all the domains of sexual function, an effect most likely related to the local formation of androgens from DHEA.

Aims
To confirm in a placebo-controlled, prospective, double-blind and randomized study the benefits of daily intravaginal DHEA for 12 weeks on sexual function using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire.

Methods
Placebo was administered daily to 157 women while 325 women received 0.50% (6.5 mg) DHEA daily for 12 weeks. All women were postmenopausal meeting the criteria of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), namely moderate to severe dyspareunia as their most bothersome symptom of VVA in addition to having ≤5% of vaginal superficial cells and vaginal pH &gt; 5.0. The FSFI questionnaire was filled at baseline (screening and day 1), 6 weeks and 12 weeks. Comparison between DHEA and placebo of the changes from baseline to 12 weeks was made using the analysis of covariance test, with treatment group as the main factor and baseline value as the covariate.

Main Outcome Measures
The six domains and total score of the FSFI questionnaire were evaluated.

Results
The FSFI domain desire increased over placebo by 0.24 unit (+49.0%, P  = 0.0105), arousal by 0.42 unit (+56.8%, P  = 0.0022), lubrication by 0.57 unit (+36.1%, P  = 0.0005), orgasm by 0.32 unit (+33.0%, P  = 0.047), satisfaction by 0.44 unit (+48.3%, P  = 0.0012), and pain at sexual activity by 0.62 unit (+39.2%, P  = 0.001). The total FSFI score, on the other hand, has shown a superiority of 2.59 units in the DHEA group over placebo or a 41.3% greater change than placebo (P  = 0.0006 over placebo).

Conclusion
The present data show that all the six domains of the FSFI are improved over placebo (from P  = 0.047 to 0.0005), thus confirming the previously observed benefits of intravaginal DHEA on female sexual dysfunction by an action exerted exclusively at the level of the vagina, in the absence of biologically significant changes of serum steroids levels.
Quantifying the reefscape transformation of a coastal Caribbean coral reef during a phase shift and the associated coastal landscape change
Authors: Rendis Abigail Martínez‐ , Acosta González Gilberto , Hernández‐Stefanoni José Luis , Arias González Jesús Ernesto 
Published: November 2015

AbstractCaribbean coral reefs are under strong natural and human pressures and many have undergone phase shifts as a result of local and global change. However few studies have quantified the extent of these phase shifts and the potential impacts that they have on coral reef communities. A temporal comparative analysis of several coral reefscape and landscape metrics was conducted for data from Mahahual, Quintana Roo, Mexico, between the years 2000 and 2006, when a phase shift occurred. Landscape metrics were calculated from coral reef and coastal cover maps obtained by multispectral satellite image classification using IKONOS satellite imagery. These metrics showed that the coastal landscape and reefscape of Mahahual lost 85 ha of vegetation cover and 43 ha of coral cover over 6 years, respectively. Coastal landscape transformation was induced by the construction of a cruise ship pier and multiple associated tourist developments along the coast, such as hotels and restaurants, meanwhile alteration of the reefscape may be associated with potential stressors such as coastal development, bleaching events and hurricanes.