bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Islam as Europe's ‘Other’ in the Long Term: Some Discontinuities
Authors: Wintle Michael 
Published: February 2016

AbstractOne of the most important aspects of identity – both individual and collective – is the process known as Othering. One of the ways of identifying Europe, then, is through the fact that much of Europe shares its ‘Others’, at least to a degree. There is a partly shared, imagined European heritage of enemies, dangers, different people, alien forces, and threats: prime candidates for this ‘Other’ have been the remaining continents, the colonies, the United States, Communism, and especially Islam. Islam has been a prominent if not dominant ‘Other’ for a very long time, since its rise in the seventh century. It is argued that it has changed radically as an ‘Other’ or type of ‘Other’, and that it is not just an external but an internal ‘Other’. However, longevity (if not continuity) and current pre‐eminence justify the examination of Islam as Europe's ‘Other’ throughout history. A survey of the Islamic European ‘Other’ over the last thirteen centuries or so is followed by two illustrative excursions: the Ottomans as the Islamic ‘Other’, and Islam as an iconic symbol for Asia, which was often Europe's principal ‘Other’ amongst the continents. The article ends with an account of the discontinuities in this process, particularly the difference between Europe as a religious idea in the Middle Ages, and as a civilizational idea since the Renaissance.
Molecular Analysis of the Polymeric Glutenins with Gliadin‐Like Characteristics That Were Produced by Acid Dispersion of Wheat Gluten
Authors: Murakami Tetsuya , Nishimura Takahisa , Kitabatake Naofumi , Tani Fumito 
Published: February 2016

AbstractWe had earlier shown that the dispersion of wheat gluten in acetic acid solution conferred gliadin‐like characteristics to the polymeric glutenins. To elucidate the molecular behavior of its polymeric glutenins, the characteristics of gluten powder prepared from dispersions with various types of acid were investigated in this study. Mixograph measurements showed that the acid‐treated gluten powders, regardless of the type of acid, had dough properties markedly weakened in both resistance and elasticity properties, as though gliadin was supplemented. The polymeric glutenins extracted with 70% ethanol increased greatly in all acid‐treated gluten powders. Size exclusion HPLC and SDS‐PAGE indicated that the behavior of polymeric glutenins due to acid treatment was attributed to their subunit composition rich in high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW‐GS) and not their molecular size. The gluten prepared with the addition of NaCl in acid dispersion had properties similar to those of the control gluten. The results suggest that ionic repulsion induced by acid dispersion made the polymeric glutenins rich in HMW‐GS disaggregate, and therefore, act like gliadins.
The Road to NHDPlus — Advancements in Digital Stream Networks and Associated Catchments
Authors: Moore Richard B. , Dewald Thomas G. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractA progression of advancements in Geographic Information Systems techniques for hydrologic network and associated catchment delineation has led to the production of the National Hydrography Dataset Plus (NHDPlus). NHDPlus is a digital stream network for hydrologic modeling with catchments and a suite of related geospatial data. Digital stream networks with associated catchments provide a geospatial framework for linking and integrating water‐related data. Advancements in the development of NHDPlus are expected to continue to improve the capabilities of this national geospatial hydrologic framework. NHDPlus is built upon the medium‐resolution NHD and, like NHD, was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Geological Survey to support the estimation of streamflow and stream velocity used in fate‐and‐transport modeling. Catchments included with NHDPlus were created by integrating vector information from the NHD and from the Watershed Boundary Dataset with the gridded land surface elevation as represented by the National Elevation Dataset. NHDPlus is an actively used and continually improved dataset. Users recognize the importance of a reliable stream network and associated catchments. The NHDPlus spatial features and associated data tables will continue to be improved to support regional water quality and streamflow models and other user‐defined applications.
Pediatric rheumatology consultant workforce in Australia and New Zealand: the current state of play and challenges for the future
Authors: Cox Angela , Piper Sue , Singh‐Grewal Davinder 
Published: February 2016

AbstractAimThere have been no formal assessments of current levels of the pediatric rheumatology workforce in Australia and New Zealand. Despite this it is felt that we fall well behind international guidelines placing children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases at risk of suboptimal care. Overcoming this shortfall in specialist pediatric rheumatology care requires documentation and recognition of the shortfall and a commitment from the health system to support improvements to supplement the current specialist workforce. The purpose of this survey was to assess the current state of play of the pediatric rheumatology workforce in Australia and New Zealand.MethodsThe Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group (APRG) conducted a survey, which examined the current pediatric rheumatology workforce in Australia and New Zealand. The survey was sent via email link to a survey hosted by Zoomerang™ to 49 physicians known to treat patients with pediatric rheumatic diseases and they were asked to forward the survey to any others who they knew saw children with rheumatic disease.ResultsCurrently there is a shortfall in the pediatric rheumatology workforce of 68% based on minimum requirements and a shortfall of 225% based on an ideal scenario.ConclusionCurrently in Australia and New Zealand we fail to provide the level of care to children with pediatric rheumatic diseases comparable to other developed health economies worldwide. The current deficiency requires an increase in resource allocation to clinical service and speciality training to overcome this disparity and ensure children in Australia and New Zealand receive internationally recognized standards of care.
Transanal submucosal polyacrylamide gel injection treatment of anal incontinence: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Altman Daniel , Hjern Fredrik , Zetterström Jan 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIntroductionThe efficacious and safe use of transurethral injections of polyacrylamide hydrogel (Bulkamid®) in women with stress urinary incontinence suggests that it may be suitable also for treatment of anal incontinence. We aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of polyacrylamide hydrogel when used as a transanal submucosal bulking agent in women with anal incontinence.Materials and methodsThirty women with a diagnosis of anal incontinence and a Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (CCIS) >10 were randomized to three different techniques of transanal submucosal injections using polyacrylamide hydrogel. Follow up was performed at 2, 6 and 12 months using CCIS and the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life scale (FIQL).ResultsIn all, 29 of the 30 women completed the follow up. Approximately half of the women requested a re‐injection at the 6‐month visit. The overall CCIS improved significantly from baseline (14.7. SD 2.5) to 1 year (12.4. SD 3.1) (p = 0.003). There was a significant improvement with regard to the occurrence of loose fecal incontinence (p = 0.014) but not for solid fecal incontinence (p = 0.28). At 1 year the FIQL domains of coping‐behavior, depression, and embarrassment showed significant improvements (p = 0.012, p = 0.007 and p = 0.007, respectively). We recorded no adverse events related either to the injection technique or the biomaterial. There were no significant differences between the treatment groups in either CCIS or FIQL scores.ConclusionTransanal submucosal injection of polyacrylamide hydrogel resulted in a modest although significant overall improvement in anal incontinence symptom scores with corresponding improvements in several domains of quality of life, regardless of injection volume.
Using a wrap skirt to improve the pelvic examination experience
Authors: Neuhaus Lilian R. , Memeti Elza , Schäffer Marie‐Kristin , Zimmermann Roland , Schäffer Leonhard 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIntroductionThe study aims were to analyze the experience of women and their physicians of nakedness when moving between changing room and examination chair and during pelvic examination itself, and to assess the protective benefit of a wrap skirt in alleviating the associated discomfort and vulnerability.Material and methodsWe offered 1000 women a wrap skirt for pelvic examination and asked them to complete a post‐procedure questionnaire. Physicians were invited to complete a similar but separate questionnaire. Data were analyzed using chi‐squared contingency tables.ResultsA total of 425 women (43%, age 15–78 years) completed the questionnaire; 51% felt uncomfortable and embarrassed during the examination, Muslim women significantly more so (p < 0.001). Most women (n = 255; 58%) rated the wrap skirt a significant improvement; 69% requested it for future examinations, significantly more so if the physician was male rather than female (66% vs. 54%, p = 0.003). Even the one‐third of women experiencing no discomfort reported improvement. Most examiners (n = 45; 56%) found the wrap skirt beneficial; 31 (38%) were unconvinced.ConclusionsPelvic examination as practiced in many countries, on women naked from the waist down throughout, causes unnecessary embarrassment. A simple protective measure, such as a wrap skirt, significantly alleviates the discomfort and sense of vulnerability associated with nakedness.
An Information-Theoretic Approach for the Evaluation of Surrogate Endpoints Based on Causal Inference
Authors: Alonso Ariel , Van der Elst Wim , Molenberghs Geert , Buyse Marc , Burzykowski Tomasz 
Published: February 2016

Summary
In this work a new metric of surrogacy, the so-called individual causal association (ICA), is introduced using information-theoretic concepts and a causal inference model for a binary surrogate and true endpoint. The ICA has a simple and appealing interpretation in terms of uncertainty reduction and, in some scenarios, it seems to provide a more coherent assessment of the validity of a surrogate than existing measures. The identifiability issues are tackled using a two-step procedure. In the first step, the region of the parametric space of the distribution of the potential outcomes, compatible with the data at hand, is geometrically characterized. Further, in a second step, a Monte Carlo approach is proposed to study the behavior of the ICA on the previous region. The method is illustrated using data from the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study. A newly developed and user-friendly R package Surrogate is provided to carry out the evaluation exercise.
A Flexible Ratio Regression Approach for Zero-Truncated Capture–Recapture Counts
Authors: Böhning Dankmar , Rocchetti Irene , Alfó Marco , Holling Heinz 
Published: February 2016

SummaryCapture–recapture methods are used to estimate the size of a population of interest which is only partially observed. In such studies, each member of the population carries a count of the number of times it has been identified during the observational period. In real-life applications, only positive counts are recorded, and we get a truncated at zero-observed distribution. We need to use the truncated count distribution to estimate the number of unobserved units. We consider ratios of neighboring count probabilities, estimated by ratios of observed frequencies, regardless of whether we have a zero-truncated or an untruncated distribution. Rocchetti et al. (2011) have shown that, for densities in the Katz family, these ratios can be modeled by a regression approach, and Rocchetti et al. (2014) have specialized the approach to the beta-binomial distribution. Once the regression model has been estimated, the unobserved frequency of zero counts can be simply derived. The guiding principle is that it is often easier to find an appropriate regression model than a proper model for the count distribution. However, a full analysis of the connection between the regression model and the associated count distribution has been missing. In this manuscript, we fill the gap and show that the regression model approach leads, under general conditions, to a valid count distribution; we also consider a wider class of regression models, based on fractional polynomials. The proposed approach is illustrated by analyzing various empirical applications, and by means of a simulation study.
Technical mentorship during robot‐assisted surgery: a cognitive analysis
Authors: Hussein Ahmed A. , Shafiei Somayeh B. , Sharif Mohamed , Esfahani Ehsan , Ahmad Basel , Kozlowski Justen D. , Hashmi Zishan , Guru Khurshid A. 
Published: February 2016

ObjectiveTo investigate cognitive and mental workload assessments, which may play a critical role in defining successful mentorship.Materials and MethodsThe ‘Mind Maps’ project aimed at evaluating cognitive function with regard to surgeon's expertise and trainee's skills. The study included electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings of a mentor observing trainee surgeons in 20 procedures involving extended lymph node dissection (eLND) or urethrovesical anastomosis (UVA), with simultaneous assessment of trainees using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load index (NASA‐TLX) questionnaire. We also compared the brain activity of the mentor during this study with his own brain activity while actually performing the same surgical steps from previous procedures populated in the ‘Mind Maps’ project.ResultsDuring eLND and UVA, when the mentor thought the trainee's mental demand and effort were low based on his NASA‐TLX questionnaire (not satisfied with his performance), his EEG‐based mental workload increased (reflecting more concern and attention). The mentor was mentally engaged and concerned while he was engrossed in observing the surgery. This was further supported by the finding that there was no significant difference in the mental demands and workload between observing and operating for the expert surgeon.ConclusionsThis study objectively evaluated the cognitive engagement of a surgical mentor teaching technical skills during surgery. The study provides a deeper understanding of how surgical teaching actually works and opens new horizons for assessment and teaching of surgery. Further research is needed to study the feasibility of this novel concept in assessment and guidance of surgical performance.
Serum microRNAs as novel biomarkers for primary sclerosing cholangitis and cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Bernuzzi F , Marabita F , Lleo A , Carbone M , Mirolo M , Marzioni M , Alpini G , Alvaro D , Boberg K M , Locati M , Torzilli G , Rimassa L , Piscaglia F , He X-S , Bowlus C L , Yang G-X , Gershwin M E , Invernizzi P 
Published: February 2016

Summary
The diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is difficult due to the lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers, as is the early diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma (CC), a complication of PSC. The aim of this study was to identify specific serum miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for PSC and CC. The levels of 667 miRNAs were evaluated in 90 human serum samples (30 PSC, 30 CC and 30 control subjects) to identify disease-associated candidate miRNAs (discovery phase). The deregulated miRNAs were validated in an independent cohort of 140 samples [40 PSC, 40 CC, 20 primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and 40 controls]. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were established and only miRNAs with an area under the curve (AUC) &gt; 0·70 were considered useful as biomarkers. In the discovery phase we identified the following: 21 miRNAs expressed differentially in PSC, 33 in CC and 26 in both in comparison to control subjects as well as 24 miRNAs expressed differentially between PSC and CC. After the validation phase, miR-200c was found to be expressed differentially in PSC versus controls, whereas miR-483-5p and miR-194 showed deregulated expression in CC compared with controls. We also demonstrate a difference in the expression of miR-222 and miR-483-5p in CC versus PSC. Combination of these specific miRNAs further improved the specificity and accuracy of diagnosis. This study provides a basis for the use of miRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis of PSC and CC.
Advantages of magnifying narrow‐band imaging for diagnosing colorectal cancer coexisting with sessile serrated adenoma/polyp
Authors: Chino Akiko , Osumi Hiroki , Kishihara Teruhito , Morishige Kenjiro , Ishikawa Hirotaka , Tamegai Yoshiro , Igarashi Masahiro 
Published: February 2016

Background and AimIn the present study, we investigated the advantages of narrow‐band imaging (NBI) for efficient diagnosis of sessile serrated adenoma/polyp (SSA/P). The main objective of this study was to analyze the characteristic features of cancer coexisting with serrated lesion by carrying out NBI.MethodsWe evaluated 264 non‐malignant serrated lesions by using three modalities (conventional white light colonoscopy, magnifying chromoendoscopy, and magnifying NBI). Of the evaluated cancer cases with serrated lesions, 37 fulfilled the inclusion criteria.ResultsIn diagnosing non‐malignant SSA/P, an expanded crypt opening (ECO) under magnifying NBI is a useful sign. One hundred and twenty‐five lesions (87%) of observed ECO were, at the same time, detected to have type II open pit pattern, which is known to be a valuable indicator when using magnifying chromoendoscopy. ECO had high sensitivity of 80% for identifying SSA/P, with 62% specificity and 83% positive predictive value (PPV). In detecting the cancer with SSA/P, irregular vessels under magnifying NBI were frequently observed with 100% sensitivity and 99% specificity, 86% PPV and 100% negative predictive value.ConclusionsA focus on irregular vessels in serrated lesions might be useful for identification of cancer with SSA/P. This is an advantage of carrying out magnifying NBI in addition to being used simultaneously with other modalities by switching, and observations can be made by using wash‐in water alone. We can carry out advanced examinations for selected lesions with irregular vessels. To confirm cancerous demarcation and invasion depth, a combination of all three aforementioned modalities should be done.
Leukodystrophies and genetic leukoencephalopathies in childhood: a national epidemiological study
Authors: Stellitano Lesley A , Winstone Anne Marie , van der Knaap Marjo S , Verity Christopher M 
Published: February 2016

AimTo report on the epidemiology of the brain white matter disorders of children identified via a national prospective study.MethodSince 1997 a study of UK children with progressive intellectual and neurological deterioration (PIND) has used the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit system to identify children with progressive neurodegenerative disease. This paper reports on children in the study with brain white matter disorders.ResultsBetween May 1997 and November 2014 the PIND study identified 349 children with diagnosed leukodystrophies, giving an estimated UK lifetime risk of 31/million live births. There were 18 specific diseases in the group and relatively large numbers of affected children came from consanguineous Pakistani families. In addition there were 454 children with genetic leukoencephalopathies – in this group there were 38 diseases. 5.8% of children with scan evidence of brain white matter disorders did not receive a specific diagnosis.InterpretationThese unique prospectively‐obtained national data avoid the selection bias inherent in reports from single centres. White matter disorders of the central nervous system comprise more than half of UK paediatric neurodegenerative diseases meeting the PIND criteria. This paper reports the lifetime risk/million live births for the commonest leukodystrophies, providing a basis for comparison with future studies.
L‐arginine promotes gut hormone release and reduces food intake in rodents
Authors: Alamshah A. , McGavigan A. K. , Spreckley E. , Kinsey‐Jones J. S. , Amin A. , Tough I. R. , O'Hara H. C. , Moolla A. , Banks K. , France R. , Hyberg G. , Norton M. , Cheong W. , Lehmann A. , Bloom S. R. , Cox H. M. , Murphy K. G. 
Published: February 2016

AimsTo investigate the anorectic effect of L‐arginine (L‐Arg) in rodents.MethodsWe investigated the effects of L‐Arg on food intake, and the role of the anorectic gut hormones glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) and peptide YY (PYY), the G‐protein‐coupled receptor family C group 6 member A (GPRC6A) and the vagus nerve in mediating these effects in rodents.ResultsOral gavage of L‐Arg reduced food intake in rodents, and chronically reduced cumulative food intake in diet‐induced obese mice. Lack of the GPRC6A in mice and subdiaphragmatic vagal deafferentation in rats did not influence these anorectic effects. L‐Arg stimulated GLP‐1 and PYY release in vitro and in vivo. Pharmacological blockade of GLP‐1 and PYY receptors did not influence the anorectic effect of L‐Arg. L‐Arg‐mediated PYY release modulated net ion transport across the gut mucosa. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of L‐Arg suppressed food intake in rats.ConclusionsL‐Arg reduced food intake and stimulated gut hormone release in rodents. The anorectic effect of L‐Arg is unlikely to be mediated by GLP‐1 and PYY, does not require GPRC6A signalling and is not mediated via the vagus. I.c.v. and i.p. administration of L‐Arg suppressed food intake in rats, suggesting that L‐Arg may act on the brain to influence food intake. Further work is required to determine the mechanisms by which L‐Arg suppresses food intake and its utility in the treatment of obesity.
Ictal motor sequences: Lateralization and localization values
Authors: Marashly Ahmad , Ewida Amr , Agarwal Rajkumar , Younes Kyan , Lüders Hans O. 
Published: February 2016

SummaryObjectiveTo determine the lateralization and localization values of ictal motor sequences in the setting of focal epilepsy ending with a secondarily generalized motor seizure.MethodsRetrospectively, the ictal motor sequences were analyzed in patients with focal epilepsy ending with a secondarily generalized motor seizure by three readers blinded to all clinical and electrographic data. One representative seizure per patient was selected. Prevalence, positive predictive value (PPV), and Fleiss Kappa for the following motor signs were calculated: version, unilateral limb tonic posturing, unilateral limb clonic seizure, figure‐of‐4, M2e, hand dystonia, clonic asymmetric ending, and Todd's paralysis. Sequences of signs with a PPV ≥ 80% were then analyzed to determine their lateralization and localization values.ResultsA total of 47 seizures were studied. The “reliable” motor signs with a robust lateralizing value (PPV > 80%) were version, unilateral tonic posturing, M2e, unilateral clonic seizure, asymmetric clonic ending, and Todd's paralysis. Figure‐of‐4 and hand dystonia had a relatively low PPV, and therefore were not included in the following sequence analysis, which included only 38 patients with two or more motor signs of high PPV. Multiple combinations of temporal progression of motor signs were seen in these 38 patients, with version being the most common initial motor sign (29 of 38 patients) usually followed by M2e (15 of 29 patients), and/or a focal tonic seizure (7 of 29 patients). Accurate lateralization of the epileptogenic zone (EZ) with a PPV of 100% can be predicted when two or more reliable motor signs point to the same side. However, the various sequences of reliable motor signs did not differentiate between temporal and extratemporal epilepsy.SignificanceThe presence of reliable ictal motor signs in focal epilepsy is extremely valuable in lateralizing the EZ, but not in determining the localization of the EZ. This is especially useful when epilepsy surgery is indicated.