bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A psychological intervention programme for patients with breast cancer under chemotherapy and at a high risk of depression: A randomised clinical trial
Authors: Kim Yeon Hee , Choi Kyung Sook , Han Kihye , Kim Hae Won 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAims and objectivesTo develop a nurse‐led psychological intervention programme and to evaluate its effects on psychological distress and quality of life in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy and at a high risk of depression.BackgroundDepression is common among patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Psychological intervention programmes that improve psychological distress and quality of life have previously been lacking in South Korea.DesignThis was a pre‐ and post‐test randomised controlled trial.MethodsThe nurse‐led psychological intervention programme comprised seven weekly counselling sessions delivered face to face and telephonically. These aimed to provide emotional support to patients and to enable them to express their feelings. Patients at a high risk of depression were recruited from an oncology outpatient clinic in a university hospital. Sixty participants were evenly and randomly allocated to either the intervention group or the control group. The effects of the intervention on psychological distress (mood disturbance, anxiety and depression) and quality of life were examined using linear mixed models.ResultsCompared with the control group, the intervention group reported significantly lower mood disturbance, anxiety and depression and showed an improved global health status and physical, role and emotional functions. They also reported fewer symptoms such as fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain and insomnia.ConclusionsOur nurse‐led psychological intervention programme might reduce patients’ uncertainty and encourage them to be proactive and self‐controllable.Relevance to clinical practiceNurse‐led psychological intervention programmes should be implemented to reduce psychological distress and improve quality of life in patients with breast cancer, particularly those at a high risk of depression.
Liver stiffness reduction correlates with histological characteristics of hepatitis C patients with sustained virological response
Authors: Tachi Yoshihiko , Hirai Takanori , Kojima Yuko , Ishizu Yoji , Honda Takashi , Kuzuya Teiji , Hayashi Kazuhiko , Ishigami Masatoshi , Goto Hidemi 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackground & AimsWe investigated the correlation between histological characteristics and changes in liver stiffness (LS) in patients with sustained virological response (SVR) using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography.MethodsIn this prospective study, we enrolled 176 hepatitis C patients with SVR who underwent ARFI elastography and liver biopsy before antiviral treatment, and serial ARFI elastography at the end of treatment (EOT) and at 24 weeks after the EOT. To compare the long‐term changes in LS in patients with SVR using ARFI elastography, another group of 140 patients who had undergone paired biopsy after achieving SVR was included.ResultsMean LS values were 1.60±0.63 m/s, 1.48±0.56 m/s and 1.37±0.62 m/s at baseline, EOT and 24 weeks after EOT, respectively, P<.001. Higher inflammatory activity at baseline was associated with an improvement in LS at the EOT, with an odds ratio of 1.940. Significant fibrosis at baseline was associated with an improvement in LS at 24 weeks after the EOT, with an odds ratio of 2.617. Among patients in the paired biopsy group with baseline fibrosis stage identical to the ARFI group, LS values at 24 weeks after the EOT did not show any difference with values at 5 years after EOT.ConclusionsPre‐treatment histological characteristics influence LS reduction after SVR is achieved.
Assessment of in vitro inhibitory activity of hydrogen peroxide on the growth of Malassezia pachydermatis and to compare its efficacy with commercial ear cleaners
Authors: Marrero Edrei Javier , Silva Freddy Alejandro , Rosario Inmaculada , Déniz Soraya , Real Fernando , Padilla Daniel , Díaz Esther Licia , Acosta‐Hernández Begoña 
Published: May 2017

SummaryOtitis caused by Malassezia pachydermatis is generally a common and recurrent disease in canine clinical pathology. The increased incidence of fungal resistant to antifungal in both humans and pets is a cause for concern and is associated with the indiscriminate use of antifungals. Finding the most effective disinfectants and antifungals has become essential. To evaluate the in vitro inhibitory activity of hydrogen peroxide on the growth of M. pachydermatis and compare its efficacy with commercial ear cleaners. The test for sensitivity to antimicrobials was carried out following the indications of the CLSI document M44‐A2. The comparative results demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide 1.5% showed excellent results for growth inhibition of M. pachydermatis, followed by Epiotic® and MalAcetic®, the lowest result was for Otoclean®.
The measure and mismeasure of reciprocity in heterostylous flowers
Authors: Armbruster W. Scott , Bolstad Geir H. , Hansen Thomas F. , Keller Barbara , Conti Elena , Pélabon Christophe 
Published: May 2017

Summary

The goal of biological measurement is to capture underlying biological phenomena in numerical form. The reciprocity index applied to heterostylous flowers is meant to measure the degree of correspondence between fertile parts of opposite sex on complementary (inter‐compatible) morphs, reflecting the correspondence of locations of pollen placement on, and stigma contact with, pollinators. Pollen of typical heterostylous flowers can achieve unimpeded fertilization only on opposite‐morph flowers. Thus, the implicit goal of this measurement is to assess the likelihood of ‘legitimate’ pollinations between compatible morphs, and hence reproductive fitness.

Previous reciprocity metrics fall short of this goal on both empirical and theoretical grounds.

We propose a new measure of reciprocity based on theory that relates floral morphology to reproductive fitness. This method establishes a scale based on adaptive inaccuracy, a measure of the fitness cost of the deviation of phenotypes in a population from the optimal phenotype. Inaccuracy allows the estimation of independent contributions of maladaptive bias (mean departure from optimum) and imprecision (within‐population variance) to the phenotypic mismatch (inaccuracy) of heterostylous morphs on a common scale.

We illustrate this measure using data from three species of Primula (Primulaceae).
A microbially derived tyrosine‐sulfated peptide mimics a plant peptide hormone
Authors: Pruitt Rory N. , Joe Anna , Zhang Weiguo , Feng Wei , Stewart Valley , Schwessinger Benjamin , Dinneny José R. , Ronald Pamela C. 
Published: May 2017

Summary

The biotrophic pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) produces a sulfated peptide named RaxX, which shares similarity to peptides in the PSY (plant peptide containing sulfated tyrosine) family. We hypothesize that RaxX mimics the growth‐stimulating activity of PSY peptides.

Root length was measured in Arabidopsis and rice treated with synthetic RaxX peptides. We also used comparative genomic analyses and reactive oxygen species burst assays to evaluate the activity of RaxX and PSY peptides.

Here we found that a synthetic sulfated RaxX derivative comprising 13 residues (RaxX13‐sY), highly conserved between RaxX and PSY, induces root growth in Arabidopsis and rice in a manner similar to that triggered by PSY. We identified residues that are required for activation of immunity mediated by the rice XA21 receptor but that are not essential for root growth induced by PSY. Finally, we showed that a Xanthomonas strain lacking raxX is impaired in virulence.

These findings suggest that RaxX serves as a molecular mimic of PSY peptides to facilitate Xoo infection and that XA21 has evolved the ability to recognize and respond specifically to the microbial form of the peptide.
Three TOB1‐related YABBY genes are required to maintain proper function of the spikelet and branch meristems in rice
Authors: Tanaka Wakana , Toriba Taiyo , Hirano Hiro‐Yuki 
Published: May 2017

Summary

YABBY genes play important roles in the development of lateral organs such as leaves and floral organs in Angiosperms. However, the function of YABBY genes is poorly understood in monocots.

We focused on three rice (Oryza sativa) YABBY genes, TONGARI‐BOUSHI (TOB1, TOB2, TOB3), which are closely related to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) FILAMENTOUS FLOWER (FIL). To elucidate the function of these YABBY genes, we employed a reverse genetic approach.

TOB genes were expressed in bract and lateral organ primordia, but not in meristems. RNAi knockdown of TOB2 or TOB3 in the tob1 mutant caused abnormal spikelet development. Furthermore, simultaneous knockdown of both TOB2 and TOB3 in tob1 affected not only spikelet, but also inflorescence development. In severe cases, the inflorescences comprised naked branches without spikelets. Analysis of inflorescence development at an early stage showed that the observed phenotypic defects were closely associated with a failure to initiate and maintain reproductive meristems.

These results indicate that the TOB genes regulate the maintenance and fate of all reproductive meristems. It is likely that the function of FIL/TOB clade YABBY genes has been conserved between Arabidopsis and rice to maintain the proper function of meristems, even though these genes are expressed in lateral organ primordia.
Working memory load impairs the evaluation of behavioral errors in the medial frontal cortex
Authors: Maier Martin E. , Steinhauser Marco 
Published: May 2017

AbstractEarly error monitoring in the medial frontal cortex enables error detection and the evaluation of error significance, which helps prioritize adaptive control. This ability has been assumed to be independent from central capacity, a limited pool of resources assumed to be involved in cognitive control. The present study investigated whether error evaluation depends on central capacity by measuring the error‐related negativity (Ne/ERN) in a flanker paradigm while working memory load was varied on two levels. We used a four‐choice flanker paradigm in which participants had to classify targets while ignoring flankers. Errors could be due to responding either to the flankers (flanker errors) or to none of the stimulus elements (nonflanker errors). With low load, the Ne/ERN was larger for flanker errors than for nonflanker errors—an effect that has previously been interpreted as reflecting differential significance of these error types. With high load, no such effect of error type on the Ne/ERN was observable. Our findings suggest that working memory load does not impair the generation of an Ne/ERN per se but rather impairs the evaluation of error significance. They demonstrate that error monitoring is composed of capacity‐dependent and capacity‐independent mechanisms.
A Fourier‐series‐based virtual fields method for the identification of three‐dimensional stiffness distributions and its application to incompressible materials
Authors: Nguyen T. T. , Huntley J. M. , Ashcroft I. A. , Ruiz P. D. , Pierron F. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe present an inverse method to identify the spatially varying stiffness distributions in 3 dimensions. The method is an extension of the classical Virtual Fields Method—a numerical technique that exploits information from full‐field deformation measurements to deduce unknown material properties—in the spatial frequency domain, which we name the Fourier‐series‐based virtual fields method (F‐VFM). Three‐dimensional stiffness distributions, parameterised by a Fourier series expansion, are recovered after a single matrix inversion. A numerically efficient version of the technique is developed, based on the Fast Fourier Transform. The proposed F‐VFM is also adapted to deal with the challenging situation of limited or even non‐existent knowledge of boundary conditions. The three‐dimensional F‐VFM is validated with both numerical and experimental data. The latter came from a phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging experiment containing material with Poisson's ratio close to 0.5; such a case requires a slightly different interpretation of the F‐VFM equations, to enable the application of the technique to incompressible materials.
Are top managers important for firm performance and idiosyncratic risk? Evidence from sharia vs non‐sharia‐compliant firms in theUKand Pakistan
Authors: Kutan Ali M. , Naz Iram , Shah Syed Muhammad Aamir 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe examine the impact of top managers on performance and idiosyncratic risk of the sharia‐compliant firms in theUKand Pakistan by constructing a manager–firm matched panel data and then tracking the role of individual top managers across different firms. The results regarding the individual effects on performance by a particular firm show that there exists a significant difference for managers who move from a non‐sharia to a sharia‐compliant firm. However, this difference is not significant for managers who move from a sharia‐compliant firm to another sharia firm. Policy implications of the findings are discussed.
A Review of Physical Activity Interventions Delivered via Facebook
Authors: Ferrer David A. , Ellis Rebecca 
Published: May 2017

Background:The use of social networking sites to deliver behavioral interventions is becoming more prevalent. The purpose of this review was to systematically evaluate the published research to determine the effectiveness of Facebook-delivered interventions for promoting physical activity behavior change.Methods:A search of interventions delivered via Facebook (as the primary delivery method or part of a multifaceted intervention) in which physical activity was the primary or secondary outcome resulted in 8 studies for review.Results:Overall, 87.5% of the Facebook interventions reported some type of significant physical activity behavior change (ie, interactions, main effects for time, differences between conditions); however, only 2 of these interventions found this change to be significantly better for the treatment group than the control group.Conclusion:Future researchers are encouraged to test the effectiveness of Facebook-delivered physical activity interventions with additional control groups that receive no aspects of the intervention within experimental study designs, more diverse samples, theory-based content with assessment of mediators of behavior change, direct observations of physical activity, and long-term follow-ups. Although based on a small sample of studies, Facebook appears to be a promising delivery method for physical activity interventions.
Bouts of Vigorous Physical Activity and Bone Strength Accrual During Adolescence
Authors: Gabel Leigh , Macdonald Heather M. , Nettlefold Lindsay , McKay Heather A. 
Published: May 2017

Purpose: We examined the influence of vigorous physical activity (VPA) bout frequency on bone strength accrual across adolescence, independent of total volume of VPA. Methods: We measured VPA (6 metabolic equivalents; total volume and bout frequency <5 min in duration) annually using waist-worn accelerometers (ActiGraph GT1M) in 309 adolescents (9–20 y at baseline: 99, <13 y; 126, 13–18 y; 84, >18 y) over a maximum of 4 years. We applied finite element analysis to high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography scans of the distal tibia (8% site) to estimate bone strength (failure load; F.Load, Newtons). We fit a mixed effects model with maturity offset (years from age at peak height velocity) as a random effect and sex, ethnicity, tibia length, lean body mass, and VPA (volume and bout frequency) as fixed effects. Results: VPA volume and bout frequency were positively associated with F.Load across adolescence; however, VPA volume did not predict F.Load once VPA bout frequency was included in the model. Participants in the upper quartile of VPA bout frequency (∼33 bouts per day) had 10% (500 N) greater F.Load across adolescence compared with participants in the lowest quartile (∼9 bouts per day; P = .012). Each additional daily bout of VPA was associated with 21 N greater F.Load, independent of total volume of VPA. Conclusion: Frequent VPA should be promoted for optimal bone strength accrual.
Pioglitazone and risk of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes: results from a European multidatabase cohort study
Authors: Strongman Helen , Korhonen Pasi , Williams Rachael , Bahmanyar Shahram , Hoti Fabian , Christopher Solomon , Majak Maila , Kool-Houweling Leanne , Linder Marie , Dolin Paul , Heintjes Edith M 
Published: May 2017

ObjectivesEstimate and compare the risk of mortality in patients whose antidiabetic therapy is modified to include pioglitazone compared with an alternative antidiabetic medication at the same stage of disease progression.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingPooled analysis of clinical data collected from primary and/or secondary care settings in four European countries: Finland, The Netherlands, Sweden and the UK .Participants56 337 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus first prescribed pioglitazone between 2000 and 2011, and 56 337 patients never prescribed pioglitazone matched by treatment stage, history of diabetes, diabetes complications and cardiovascular disease, and year of cohort entry using exact and propensity score matching. Patients were followed-up for a mean of 2.90 (SD 2.21) and 2.83 (SD 2.37) years in the pioglitazone-exposed and non-pioglitazone-exposed groups, respectively.OutcomesAll-cause mortality ascertained from clinical or registry data. Mortality was a planned secondary outcome in a study primarily studying the association of pioglitazone use with bladder cancer risk.ResultsThe crude overall mortality rate per 10 000 patient years was 206 (95% CI 199 to 213) in the pioglitazone-exposed group and 448 (95% CI 438 to 458) in the non-pioglitazone-exposed group. The crude HR comparing pioglitazone to alternative antidiabetic exposure was 0.46 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.48). This reduced in magnitude to 0.67 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.70) following further adjustment for matching variables, propensity scores, age, gender and time-dependent variables representing use of alternative antidiabetic drugs.ConclusionsIn this large observational cohort study of patients with type 2 diabetes, pioglitazone exposure was associated with a statistically significant decrease in the risk of all-cause mortality across four European countries. Results should be interpreted with caution due to the potential for residual confounding.Protocol registrationEuropean Network of Centres for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance.
Prevalence and types of rectal douches used for anal intercourse among men who have sex with men in Brazil
Authors: Lamblet Luiz Carlos Ribeiro , da Silva Roberto José Carvalho 
Published: May 2017

IntroductionRectal douching (RD) is practised among men who have sex with men (MSM), and various products and materials are used. There have been no studies in Brazil on this practice and its risks in the transmission of sexually transmitted infections and HIV.MethodBetween June and August 2015, 401 MSM over the age of 18 were interviewed about their sexual practices associated with RD over the last 3 months. RD was associated with the reported sexual behaviour, and descriptive statistical analyses were conducted on the same.ResultsAmong the respondents, 85.6% identified themselves as men and 14.4% as transgender; 255 declared themselves to be white (63.6%) and 104 to be mixed (25.9%). From among those who had performed anal sex within the last 3 months (n=369), 197 reported having used RD (53.4%). The most commonly used material was a shower hose (84.5%) and the main product used was water (93%). Of those interviewed, 94.5% never received guidelines from health professionals on this practice and its potential risks. Receptive anal intercourse and RD were found to be associated (p<0.001).ConclusionsRD is a common practice among the MSM population. Health professionals must deepen their knowledge of this. We propose studies in Brazil on the practice of RD that—from that knowledge strategies for prevention and harm reduction—can be incorporated to the vulnerable populations.
Protocol for a single-centre, parallel-arm, randomised controlled superiority trial evaluating the effects of transcatheter arterial embolisation of abnormal knee neovasculature on pain, function and quality of life in people with knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Landers Steve , Hely Andrew , Harrison Benjamin , Maister Nick , Hely Rachael , Lane Stephen E , Gill Stephen D , Page Richard S 
Published: May 2017

IntroductionSymptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) is common. Advanced knee OA is successfully treated with joint replacement surgery, but effectively managing mild to moderate knee OA can be difficult. Angiogenesis increases with OA and might contribute to pain and structural damage. Modifying angiogenesis is a potential treatment pathway for OA. The aim of the current study is to determine whether transcatheter arterial embolisation of abnormal neovasculature arising from the genicular arterial branches improves knee pain, physical function and quality of life in people with mild to moderate symptomatic knee OA.Methods and analysisThe study is a single centre, parallel-arm, double-blinded (participant and assessor), randomised controlled superiority trial with 1:1 random block allocation. Eligible participants have mild to moderate symptomatic knee OA and will be randomly assigned to receive either embolisation of aberrant knee neovasculature of genicular arterial branches or a placebo intervention. Outcome measures will be collected prior to the intervention and again 1, 6 and 12 months postintervention. The primary outcome is change in knee pain between baseline and 12 month assessment as measured by the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Secondary outcomes include change in self-reported physical function (KOOS), self-reported quality of life (KOOS, EuroQol: EQ-5D-5L), self-reported knee joint stiffness (KOOS), self-reported global change, 6 min walk test performance, and 30 s chair-stand test performance. Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed including all participants as randomised. To detect a mean between group difference in change pain of 20% at the one year reassessment with a two-sided significance level of α=0.05 and power of 80% using a two-sample t-test, we require 29 participants per arm which allows for 20% of participants to drop out.Ethics and disseminationBarwon Health Human Research Ethics Committee, 30 May 2016, (ref:15/101). Study results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.Trial registration numberUniversal trial number U1111-1183-8503, Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12616001184460, approved 29 August 2016.