bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Association Between Electrical Stimulation Dose, Subsequent Cognitive Function and Depression Severity in Patients Receiving Bilateral Electroconvulsive Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Sinclair Jenny Elisabeth , Fernie Gordon , Bennett Daniel Mark , Reid Ian Cameron , Cameron Isobel Mary 
Published: April 2016

Objective
To assess the relationship between electrical stimulation administered to patients undergoing bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and subsequent measures of cognitive function and depression severity.

Methods
Stimulus dose titrated patients receiving bilateral ECT were assessed with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) Spatial Recognition Memory test and Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at baseline, after 4 ECT treatments and on course completion. Changes in CANTAB and MADRS scores were assessed in relation to electrical dosage, initial stimulus dose, and demographic variables using linear mixed models.

Results
Data pertained to 143 patients (mean age, 56.85 [SD, 14.94], 43% male). Median change in CANTAB score was −10% (−20% to 5%) after 4 ECT treatments and −10% (−20% to 5%) at course completion. Median change in MADRS score was −22 (−33 to −13) after 4 ECT treatments and −14 (−25 to −7) at course completion. Electrical dosage had no effect on CANTAB or MADRS change scores either after 4 treatments or course completion. Improvement in CANTAB score at end of course was associated with female sex (P < 0.05), higher intelligence quotient (P = 0.01), and age. After 4 treatments, improvement in CANTAB score was associated with younger age (P < 0.001) and higher intelligence quotient (P < 0.01). Improved MADRS score at course completion was associated with older age (P < 0.001 at end of course and after 4 treatments).

Conclusions
Electroconvulsive therapy has significant antidepressant and cognitive effects which are not associated with the total electrical dose administered. Other, unalterable variables, such as age and sex, have an influence on these effects.
Induction of Kanizsa contours requires awareness of the inducing context
Authors: Banica Theodora , Schwarzkopf Dietrich Samuel 
Published: April 2016

AbstractIt remains unknown to what extent the human visual system interprets information about complex scenes without conscious analysis. Here we used visual masking techniques to assess whether illusory contours (Kanizsa shapes) are perceived when the inducing context creating this illusion does not reach awareness. In the first experiment we tested perception directly by having participants discriminate the orientation of an illusory contour. In the second experiment, we exploited the fact that the presence of an illusory contour enhances performance on a spatial localization task. Moreover, in the latter experiment we also used a different masking method to rule out the effect of stimulus duration. Our results suggest that participants do not perceive illusory contours when they are unaware of the inducing context. This is consistent with theories of a multistage, recurrent process of perceptual integration. Our findings thus challenge some reports, including those from neurophysiological experiments in anaesthetized animals. Furthermore, we discuss the importance to test the presence of the phenomenal percept directly with appropriate methods.
Is most published research really false?
Authors: Leek Jeffrey T. , Jager Leah R. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThere has been an increasing concern that most published medical findings are false. But what does it mean to be false? Here we describe the range of definitions of false discoveries in the scientific literature. We summarize the philosophical, statistical, and experimental evidence for each type of false discovery. We discuss common underpinning problems with the scientific and data analytic practices and point to tools and behaviors that can be implemented to reduce the problems with published scientific results.
An empirical test of the influence of society at large on police integrity in a centralized police system
Authors: Ivković Sanja Kutnjak , Cajner Mraović Irena , Borovec Krunoslav 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to test the theory of police integrity, particularly its fourth dimension, on a centralized police agency and to assess the degree to which levels of police integrity are related to the characteristics of the larger environment.Design/methodology/approach– In 2008, a stratified representative sample of 945 Croatian police officers from ten police administrations evaluated 11 hypothetical scenarios describing a range of various forms of police misconduct. The questionnaire measures officer views regarding scenario seriousness, appropriate and expected discipline, and willingness to report the misconduct.Findings– Bivariate analyses show that police officers’ evaluations of seriousness differed across categories of police administrations for more than one-half of the scenarios. Multivariate analyses reveal that, once organizational predictors are entered into the models, community characteristics remain significant predictors of seriousness evaluations for only a few scenarios.Research limitations/implications– The analytical strategies were limited by the number of police administrations in the country.Practical implications– The results indicate that levels of police integrity in large, centralized organizations vary across units and that the characteristics of the communities the police are a contributing factor to these differences. At the same time, organizational characteristics carry substantial weight.Originality/value– Prior studies of police integrity focussed on the organizational aspects (the first three dimensions of the theory); the present paper extends the literature to ascertain the importance of the larger environment and its characteristics for levels of police integrity (the fourth dimension of the police integrity theory).
New Evidence on What Works in Effective Public Reporting
Authors: Sandmeyer Brent , Fraser Irene 
Published: April 2016

ObjectiveTo describe the current state of the public reporting field and provide guidance to public report producers based on the evidence.Principal FindingsPublic reports should address the questions and priorities that consumers actually have; present information credibly and in a way that is understood by the intended audience; reach the intended audience; and enable consumers to act on the information.ConclusionsPublic reports have advanced greatly in recent years, but there remains much room for improvement. Report producers should continually evaluate their reports and apply the latest evidence to maximize their usefulness and impact.
Oil Palm Expansion among Smallholder Farmers in Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: Euler Michael , Schwarze Stefan , Siregar Hermanto , Qaim Matin 
Published: April 2016

AbstractMany tropical regions are experiencing a rapid growth of oil palm cultivation. In Indonesia, the world's leading palm oil producer, in addition to large companies, smallholder farmers are increasingly engaged in the oil palm sector. Smallholder oil palm cultivation may contribute to income gains and socio‐economic development. However, land‐use decisions by smallholders are not well understood. Without appropriate policies, negative social and environmental consequences can also occur. To improve the knowledge base, we use data about present and past land‐use decisions from a survey of farm households in Sumatra. Employing duration models, we analyse the determinants and dynamics of oil palm adoption among smallholders. We find that independently operating farmers are currently driving growth rates in the oil palm sector. Smallholder adoption decisions are mainly attributable to regional and village level factors. While the current adoption primarily occurs outside of contracts, previous contractual ties between companies and other farmers in the same village play an important role for individual decisions. Beyond initial adoption, we also analyse later expansion decisions. While expanding the oil palm area subsequent to initial adoption is common among all types of adopters, those without previous contracts are found to expand significantly faster. We conclude that the concessions the government has allocated to palm oil companies in the past have initiated oil palm adoption in the small farm sector, but that the ensuing land‐use dynamics are mostly beyond government control. Some wider implications are discussed.
Identification of MBF2 family genes in Bombyx mori and their expression in different tissues and stages and in response to Bacillus bombysepticus infection and starvation
Authors: Zhou Chun‐Yan , Zha Xing‐Fu , Liu Chun , Han Min‐Jin , Zhang Li‐Ying , Shi Pan‐Pan , Wang He , Zheng Ren‐Wen , Xia Qing‐You 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe Multiprotein bridge factor 2 (MBF2) gene was first identified as a co‐activator involved in BmFTZ‐F1‐mediated activation of the Fushi tarazu gene. Herein, nine homologous genes of MBF2 gene are identified. Evolutionary analysis showed that this gene family is insect‐specific and that the family members are closely related to response to pathogens (REPAT) genes. Tissue distribution analysis revealed that these genes could be expressed in a tissue‐specific manner. Developmental profiles analysis showed that the MBF2 gene family members were highly expressed in the different stages. Analysis of the expression patterns of nine MBF2 family genes showed that Bacillus bombysepticus treatment induced the up‐regulation of several MBF2 family genes, including MBF2‐4, ‐7, ‐9, ‐8. Furthermore, we found the MBF2 family genes were modulated by starvation and the expression of these genes recovered upon re‐feeding, except for MBF2‐5, ‐9. These findings suggested roles for these proteins in insect defense against pathogens and nutrient metabolism, which has an important guiding significance for designing pest control strategies.
Antioxidant and Antitumor Activities of the Extracts from Chinese Yam (Dioscorea opposite Thunb.) Flesh and Peel and the Effective Compounds
Authors: Liu Yuanxue , Li Hongfa , Fan Yaya , Man Shuli , Liu Zhen , Gao Wenyuan , Wang Tingting 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe aims of this study are to investigate the antioxidant and antitumor activities of the water and ethanol extracts isolated from Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposite Thunb.) flesh (CYF) and peel (CYP) and the effective compounds. It was found that all peel portions have a better effect on reactive oxygen (ROS) scavenging assay than meat portions, especially for the water extract of Chinese yam peel (CYP‐W). Its IC50 values for hydroxyl radical (OH•) scavenging assay (744.25 ± 3.46 μg/mL) and for 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl scavenging assay (374.85 ± 6.78 μg/mL) were both lower than that of yam flesh (CYF‐W). Furthermore, the antitumor property of yam peel was more effective than that of yam flesh (CYF‐W) on mouse models, with tumor inhibition rates were 47.92% and 27.41% for Ehrlich Ascites Tumor (EAC) model and 40.44% and 24.22% for H22 hepatocarcinoma tumor (H22) model. Meanwhile, extracts of peel showed higher allantoin, total flavonoids, and total phenolics contents than extracts of flesh. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that CYP‐W exerted better antitumor activity than flesh extracts and the scavenging ROS effects were also significantly higher in the CYP‐W in vitro. Moreover, the data indicated that allantoin may play an important role on antioxidative and antitumor capacity in yam peel.
Relocation potentiates obesity and cardiovascular risk: A case–control study on relocatees from the Three Gorges area
Authors: Huang Hantao , Peng Miaomiao , Zhang Jiaoyue , Hu Xiang , Chen Lulu 
Published: April 2016

Highlights

Relocatees of The Three Gorges, compared with original inhabitants, are at higher risk of general and abdominal obesity, and other metabolic disorders associated with cardiovascular risk, such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome.
The process of rapid nutritional transition from under‐nutrition to subsequent nutritional restoration in adulthood, which is associated with the relocation, may be one of the major factors for the metabolic disorder epidemic in Asia.
Effect of the oral iron chelator deferiprone in diabetic nephropathy rats
Authors: Zou Chunbo , Liu Xiaogang , Liu Ruichan , Wang Mingao , Sui Manshu , Mu Suhong , Li Li , Ji Liqi , Xie Rujuan 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the iron chelator deferiprone in diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats and the mechanisms involved.MethodsThirty‐two male Wistar rats (180–220 g, 6 weeks old) were randomly divided into a control group, a DN group and two DN groups treated with either 50 or 100 mg/kg per day deferiprone. The DN group was established by feeding of a high‐carbohydrate–fat diet and injection of 35 mg/kg streptozotocin into the vena caudalis. The duration of deferiprone treatment was 20 weeks. Histopathological changes were detected by hematoxylin–eosin and Masson staining, as well as transmission electron microscopy. Levels of nuclear factor (NF)‐κB, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)‐1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐9, tissue‐specific inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)‐1, cyclo‐oxygenase (COX)‐2, and nitrotyrosine were determined in kidney tissues using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), western blotting, and immunohistochemistry.ResultsHistopathological observations showed that deferiprone treatment alleviated inflammation infiltrates and collagenous fibrosis in DN rats. Results from RT‐PCR and western blotting indicated that deferiprone inhibited the expression of NF‐κB, MCP‐1, COX‐2, and nitrotyrosine, which were overexpressed in DN rats. Immunohistochemistry showed that the mechanism of deferiprone action may involve regulation of MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1. Decreased MMP‐9 expression and increased TIMP‐1 expression in DN rats were significantly promoted and inhibited by deferiprone, respectively.ConclusionIron chelation by oral deferiprone has a renoprotective effect in DN rats by relieving oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis, which is related to the cytokines NF‐κB, MCP‐1, MMP‐9, TIMP‐1, COX‐2, and nitrotyrosine.
Computational analyses of type 2 diabetes‐associated loci identified by genome‐wide association studies
Authors: Cheng Mengrong , Liu Xinhong , Yang Mei , Han Lanchun , Xu Aimin , Huang Qingyang 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundGenome‐wide association studies (GWAS) of type 2 diabetes (T2D) have discovered a number of loci that contribute to susceptibility to the disease. Future challenges include elucidation of functional mechanisms through which these GWAS‐identified loci modulate T2D disease risk. The aim of the present study was to comprehensively characterize T2D associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes through computational approaches.MethodsComputational biology approaches used in the present study included comparative genomic analyses and functional annotation using GWAS3D and RegulomeDB, investigation of the effects of T2D‐associated SNPs on miRNA binding and protein phosphorylation, and gene ontology, pathway enrichment, protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks and functional module analysis of T2D‐associated genes from previously published GWAS.ResultsComputational analysis identified a number of T2D GWAS‐associated SNPs that were located at protein binding sites, including CCCTC‐binding factor (CTCF), E1A binding protein p300 (EP300), hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF4A), transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2), forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) and A2 (FOXA2), and potentially affected the binding of miRNAs and protein phosphorylation. Pathway enrichment analysis confirmed two well‐known maturity onset diabetes of the young and T2D pathways, whereas PPI network analysis identified highly interconnected “hub” genes, such as TCF7L2, melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B), and solute carrier family 30 (zinc transporter), member 8 (SLC30A8), that created two tight subnetworks.ConclusionsThe results provide objectives and clues for future experimental studies and further insights into the molecular pathogenesis of T2D.
Transitional Justice as Elite Justice? Compromise Justice and Transition in Tunisia
Authors: Lamont Christopher K. , Pannwitz Hannah 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis article reflects upon the ways in which transitional justice debates and processes impacted Tunisia's transition. It explores key questions such as what demands for justice emerged in the aftermath of the Tunisian revolution? Did Tunisia's transitional justice process reflect these demands? And, did international norms of transitional justice, which emerged from a field of practice that draws heavily upon European, Latin America and Sub‐Saharan experiences, but has largely excluded the Arab Middle East, serve to mediate between competing demands for justice in the aftermath of the Tunisian revolution? It will be argued that transitional justice demands in Tunisia reflected a breakdown in the state–society socioeconomic bargain, which had maintained autocratic regimes since independence in 1956; however, due to the elite‐centred nature of transitional justice discourses, many transitional justice demands never resonated into mainstream transitional justice discourse. We will argue that international transitional justice entrepreneurs' attempt to import a normative framework that was ill suited to grapple with the complex legacies of socioeconomic marginalization, resulted in a growing disillusionment and disengagement from the state driven transitional justice process on the part of Tunisian society.
Learning from Experience inNSW?
Authors: Bell Brian , Dollery Brian , Drew Joseph 
Published: April 2016

While the bulk of the empirical evidence shows that municipal mergers do not improve the performance of local authorities, Australian policy‐makers nonetheless continue to impose council amalgamation, as illustrated by the current New South WalesFit for the Futurelocal government reform process. This paper first critically examines the empirical evidence employed by the Independent Local Government Review Panel on the impact of the 2004 council mergers. We argue that this evidence is flawed. We then provide an empirical assessment of the municipal mergers, which occurred over 2000–2004 with our sample drawn from Group 4 councils in the New South Wales variant of the Australian Local Government Classification System. Group 4 councils represent a group of significant regional cities and town councils with similar operational activities. We demonstrate that merged councils have not performed any better than their unmerged peers over the period 2004 to 2014. The paper concludes with some brief policy implications for local government reform in New South Wales and elsewhere.
Prescribing patterns of dental practitioners in Australia from 2001 to 2012. Antimicrobials
Authors: Ford PJ , Saladine C , Zhang K , Hollingworth SA 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe development of antibiotic resistance by bacteria is of global concern. Inappropriate prescribing has the potential to exacerbate this issue. We aimed to examine the patterns of prescribing of antimicrobial medicines by dental practitioners in Australia from 2001 to 2012.MethodsData were collected from Medicare Australia on prescriptions from dental practitioners dispensed to concessional beneficiaries between 2001 and 2012. We examined patterns of use over time.ResultsThere was an overall increase in number of prescriptions and in dispensed use (standardized by dose and population) of antibiotics and antifungals for the concessional population over the 12‐year period. The use of dentally prescribed antibiotics increased 50%. Amoxicillin was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic accounting for 66% of all prescriptions in 2012. Generally, there was preferential prescribing of the highest dose formulations. The use of the two antifungals increased 30% over the study period with a preference for amphotericin B (74%) rather than nystatin.ConclusionsThese data show a concerning increase in prescribing of antibiotics and antifungals by dentists in Australia. It would appear that Australian dentists may not be prescribing these medicines appropriately; however, further research is needed to understand prescribing behaviours and decision‐making by dentists.
A population‐based registry study evaluating surgery in newly diagnosed uterine cancer
Authors: Borgfeldt Christer , Kalapotharakos Grigorios , Asciutto Katrin C. , Löfgren Mats , Högberg Thomas 
Published: April 2016

AbstractIntroductionThe aim was to evaluate surgical treatment of newly diagnosed uterine cancer in a Swedish population.Material and methodsData in the GynOp registry from 2008 to 2014 were analyzed.ResultsIn total, 3443 cases were included: 430 (12%) were robotic‐assisted laparoscopic, 272 (8%) laparoscopic, and 2741 (80%) abdominal operations. There was an increasing trend in minimally invasive surgery from 2008 to 2014 (41%). Women with lymph nodes removed in the robotic‐assisted laparoscopic group experienced less blood loss (mean 105 vs. 377 mL), shorter length of hospital stay (2.4 vs. 4.1 days), and fewer days to normal activities of daily living (6.5 vs. 12.7 days) (all p < 0.001) compared with the abdominal group, but operating time did not differ. Similar results were found in women with no lymph node removal and in women with body mass index ≥35. Major complications during hospital stay, reoperations, and time to work were less in both minimally invasive groups. More lymph nodes were retrieved in the abdominal (mean 34.4) than in the robotic‐assisted laparoscopic (mean 26.0) group, but the number of women with lymph node metastases did not differ, totaling 211/960 (21.9%; 95% CI 19.4–24.7%). Isolated para‐aortic lymph node metastases were found in 3.9% (95% CI 2.4–5.6%) of women.ConclusionsMinimally invasive surgery in uterine cancer patients reduces days to normal activities of daily living, number of days to return to work, length of hospital stay, and blood loss in patients without and with lymph node dissection and in obese patients.