bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Constructing and enacting kinship in sister‐to‐sister egg donation families: a multi‐family member interview study
Authors: Van Parys Hanna , Provoost Veerle , Zeiler Kristin , De Sutter Petra , Pennings Guido , Buysse Ann 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAlthough intra‐familial egg donation has been practiced for more than 15 years in several countries, little is known about family relationships in this family type. Framed within the new kinship studies, this article focuses on the experiential dimension of kinship in sister‐to‐sister egg donation families: how is kinship ‘unpacked’ and ‘reconstructed’ in this specific family constellation? Qualitative data analysis of interviews with receiving parents, their donating sisters and the donor children revealed six themes: (1) being connected as an extended family; (2) disambiguating motherhood; (3) giving and receiving as structuring processes; (4) acknowledging and managing the ‘special’ link between donor and child; (5) making sense of the union between father and donor; and (6) kinship constructions being challenged. This study showed the complex and continuous balancing of meanings related to the mother‐child dyad, the donor‐child dyad and the donor‐father dyad. What stood out was the complexity of, on the one hand cherishing the genetic link with the child allowed by the sisters’ egg donation, while, on the other, managing the meanings related to this link, by, for instance, acknowledging, downsizing, symbolising, and differentiating it from the mother‐child bond.(A Virtual Abstract of this paper can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_979cmCmR9rLrKuD7z0ycA)
Controlled study of the impact on child behaviour problems of intensive interaction for children with ASD
Authors: Tee Abi , Reed Phil 
Published: December 2016

Pupils with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) received 6 months of intensive interaction or treatment as usual. They were assessed for behaviour problems at the start and end of the period, and changes were related to child and parent factors. Intensive interaction did not offer any greater advantages to child behaviour than treatment as usual. However, intensive interaction was more effective for pupils with less challenging behaviour. Levels of depression in mothers were related negatively to changes in child behaviours. These data suggest that intensive interaction may be of limited utility for reducing problem behaviours of pupils with ASD, but that the approach could be effective with less behaviourally challenging pupils and that levels of parent distress may reduce its impact.
Distinct intrinsic functional brain network abnormalities in methamphetamine‐dependent patients with and without a history of psychosis
Authors: Ipser Jonathan C. , Uhlmann Anne , Taylor Paul , Harvey Brian H. , Wilson Don , Stein Dan J. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractChronic methamphetamine use is associated with executive functioning deficits that suggest dysfunctional cognitive control networks (CCNs) in the brain. Likewise, abnormal connectivity between intrinsic CCNs and default mode networks (DMNs) has also been associated with poor cognitive function in clinical populations. Accordingly, we tested the extent to which methamphetamine use predicts abnormal connectivity between these networks, and whether, as predicted, these abnormalities are compounded in patients with a history of methamphetamine‐associated psychosis (MAP). Resting‐state fMRI data were acquired from 46 methamphetamine‐dependent patients [19 with MAP, 27 without (MD)], as well as 26 healthy controls (CTRL). Multivariate network modelling and whole‐brain voxel‐wise connectivity analyses were conducted to identify group differences in intrinsic connectivity across four cognitive control and three DMN networks identified using an independent components analysis approach (meta‐ICA). The relationship of network connectivity and psychotic symptom severity, as well as antipsychotic treatment and methamphetamine use variables, was also investigated. Robust evidence of hyper‐connectivity was observed between the right frontoparietal and anterior DMN networks in MAP patients, and ‘normalized’ with increased duration of treatment with antipsychotics. Attenuation of anticorrelated anterior DMN–dorsal attention network activity was also restricted to this group. Elevated coupling detected in MD participants between anterior and posterior DMN networks became less apparent with increasing duration of abstinence from methamphetamine. In summary, we observed both alterations of RSN connectivity between DMN networks with chronic methamphetamine exposure, as well as DMN‐CCN coupling abnormalities consistent with possible MAP‐specific frontoparietal deficits in the biasing of task‐appropriate network activity.
Grassland connectivity explains entomophilous plant species assemblages in an agricultural landscape of the Pampa Region, Argentina
Authors: Herrera Lorena , Sabatino Malena , Gastón Aitor , Saura Santiago 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe Pampa grassland of Argentina is one of the most highly threatened biomes in the world. A high proportion of the original grassland cover has been transformed into land for agriculture or degraded. In the southern part of the region, fragmented semi‐natural grasslands over exposed rock still persist and connectivity between them is assumed to be crucial for maintaining viable populations. We quantified overall connectivity of grassland patches in a sector of the Southern Pampa region, and investigated the degree to which landscape connectivity explains entomophilous plant species assemblages in a subset of patches. We characterized each of the 301 patches in the landscape by their degree of intra‐patch and inter‐patch connectivity based on graph theory, and considering threshold dispersal distances from 100 to 1000 m. We surveyed entomophilous plant species in 39 grassland patches and classified the species in three categories (annual herbs, perennial herbs and shrubs) considering their different growth form and longevity. The influence of connectivity variables on entomophilous plant species assemblages variation was explored using Canonical Correspondence Analysis. Although grassland patches were poorly connected at all threshold distances, some of them were found to be critical for global connectivity. Connectivity significantly explained total, annual‐biennial and shrub assemblages for all threshold dispersal distances (6–13% of total variation). Variation in annual species assemblages was associated with intra‐patch and inter‐patch connectivity at short distance (100 m), while variation in shrub species assemblages was explained by intra‐patch and inter‐patch connectivity for distances between 100 m and 1000 m. This study evidenced the low connectivity of the study system, allowed the identification of critical areas for conservation, and provided valuable information to develop management strategies in increasingly human‐dominated landscapes.
Materialism lowers well‐being: The mediating role of the need for autonomy – correlational and experimental evidence
Authors: Nagpaul Tania , Pang Joyce S. 
Published: December 2016

While there is evidence from the self‐determination perspective for the mediation of basic needs satisfaction in the materialism–well‐being link, no research to date has attempted to examine the relative contribution of the three needs to the mediating effect. Given that the predictive value of psychological needs on well‐being depends upon the match between the need and life domains, in two studies we investigate the differential mediating role of all three needs in the negative relationship between materialism and well‐being. In study 1, 231 adult participants self‐reported their materialistic attitudes, basic needs satisfaction and well‐being. In study 2 (N = 82 undergraduates), we experimentally activated materialistic thoughts and examined their effects on need satisfaction and state well‐being as compared to a neutral control condition. Study 1 furnished cross‐sectional evidence that materialism diminishes well‐being through lower satisfaction of the psychological need for autonomy only. Study 2 showed that experimental activation of materialism via short‐term exposure to pictorial consumer‐cues leads to lower satisfaction of the need for autonomy, which in turn produces higher negative affect among participants. The findings point towards the importance of considering the specific role of the psychological need for autonomy in the materialism–well‐being link.
The effect of prescriber education on medication‐related patient harm in the hospital: a systematic review
Authors: Bos Jacqueline M. , van den Bemt Patricia M.L.A. , de Smet Peter A.G.M. , Kramers Cornelis 
Published: December 2016

AimsEducating prescribers is a strategy to reduce prescription errors in hospitals. The present systematic review gives an overview of original research papers on the education of prescribers and reporting outcomes on (potential) patient harm.MethodsA search of the databases Embase and Medline, using the Ovid interface, was performed. Research on the effect of physician education in order to prevent medication‐related problems in inpatients, and on reporting original data and outcomes on prescribing errors and/or (potential) patient harm, was included. The assessment of methodological quality and risk of bias was performed using the Methodological Index for Non‐Randomized studies (MINORS) checklist and the suggested risk of bias criteria for Effective Practice and Organization of Care (EPOC) reviews.ResultsEight studies investigated an intervention on education alone, and in seven studies education was the main part of a multifaceted intervention. All studies were small and had short follow‐up periods. The educational programmes varied and were given to physicians of different specialties and levels of experience. Most studies reported intermediate process parameters as the outcome. The risk of performance and reporting bias were high.ConclusionAll included studies suffered from poor methodology. The majority, especially studies in which education was part of a multifaceted intervention, reported effectiveness on intermediate outcome markers as prescription errors and potential adverse drug events. However, we found no firm evidence that educating prescribers in the hospital leads to a decrease in patient harm. Further work is needed to develop educational programmes, accompanied by more high‐quality research with outcomes on the improvement of patient care.
Radio‐guided sentinel lymph node detection and lymph node mapping in invasive urinary bladder cancer: a prospective clinical study
Authors: Aljabery Firas , Shabo Ivan , Olsson Hans , Gimm Oliver , Jahnson Staffan 
Published: December 2016

ObjectivesTo investigate the possibility of detecting sentinel lymph nodes (SNs) in patients with urinary bladder cancer (BCa) intra‐operatively and whether the histopathological status of the identified SNs reflected that of the lymphatic field.Patients and MethodsWe studied 103 patients with BCa pathological stage T1–T4 who were treated with cystectomy and pelvic lymph node (LN) dissection during 2005–2011 at the Department of Urology, Linköping University Hospital. Radioactive tracer Nanocoll 70 MBq and blue dye were injected into the bladder wall around the primary tumour before surgery. SNs were detected ex vivo during the operation with a handheld Geiger probe (Gamma Detection System; Neoprobe Corp., Dublin, OH, USA). All LNs were formalin‐fixed, sectioned three times, mounted on slides and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. An experienced uropathologist evaluated the slides.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 69 years, and 80 (77%) were male. Pathological staging was T1–12 (12%), T2–20 (19%), T3–48 (47%) and T4–23 (22%). A mean (range) number of 31 (7–68) nodes per patient were examined, totalling 3 253 nodes. LN metastases were found in 41 patients (40%). SNs were detected in 83 of the 103 patients (80%). Sensitivity and specificity for detecting metastatic disease by SN biopsy (SNB) varied between LN stations, with average values of 67% and 90%, respectively. LN metastatic density (LNMD) had a significant prognostic impact; a value of ≥8% was significantly related to shorter survival. Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) occurred in 65% of patients (n = 67) and was significantly associated with shorter cancer‐specific survival (P < 0.001).ConclusionWe conclude that SNB is not a reliable technique for peri‐operative localization of LN metastases during cystectomy for BCa; however, LNMD has a significant prognostic value in BCa and may be useful in the clinical context and in BCa oncological and surgical research. LVI was also found to be a prognostic factor.
Guidelines for the presentation of contact allergy case reports
Authors: Uter Wolfgang , Goossens An , Gonçalo Margarida , Johansen Jeanne D. ,   , on behalf of the EECDRG
Published: December 2016

SummaryCase reports constitute a classic publication format that is being increasingly appreciated, for example because of its educational value. In the field of contact dermatitis research, case reports often serve as sentinel publications concerning new allergens, or new exposures to known allergens, or regarding other conditions leading to contact dermatitis. The CARE guideline published in 2013 addresses standardized and complete reporting of case reports in all fields of medicine. The present article takes up the CARE suggestions, and further specifies these in terms of application to case reports in the field of contact dermatitis. The objective of this structured guidance is to provide junior or inexperienced doctors and researchers with an annotated list, against which the fulfilment of essential or optional items of a complete, high‐quality case report to be submitted to Contact Dermatitis or other journals can be checked.
Do Eurasian minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus L.) inhabiting brackish water enter fresh water to reproduce: Evidence from a study on otolith microchemistry
Authors: Svirgsden Roland , Rohtla Mehis , Albert Anu , Taal Imre , Saks Lauri , Verliin Aare , Vetemaa Markus 
Published: December 2016

AbstractDynamics of coastal fish assemblages in the Baltic Sea are still rather poorly understood. In particular, little information is available on migrations and movements of the small‐bodied littoral fish species like Eurasian minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus L.). Minnow is considered typically as a river and lake species, but it also inhabits brackish coastal waters of the Baltic Sea. In this study, we investigated movement patterns of brackish water inhabiting minnows using otolith microchemistry. Fish were collected from four different sites (from two bays and two stream mouths) around Saaremaa Island. The results indicated that at least three distinct migration patterns exist: (i) seawater residency, (ii) fast springtime migrations to fresh water or to bays with lower salinities (areas near stream mouths) and (iii) prolonged migrations to fresh water (some cases overwintering in streams). Migration patterns listed above were not evenly distributed among sites, and some individuals did not migrate to fresh water in every year. None of the analysed fish were freshwater residents. Additionally, potentially ontogenetic effects on Mn and Sr concentrations were observed in the otolith core regions, which may have important implications for the interpretation of otolith chemistry data. The overall findings of this study demonstrate that much more complex migration patterns exists in brackish water inhabiting minnow populations than previously thought and at least some individuals do enter freshwater to reproduce.
Fibrinogen and D‐dimer levels elevate in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: High pretreatment fibrinogen levels predict poor outcomes
Authors: Liu Zhikun , Guo Haijun , Gao Feng , Shan Qiaonan , Li Jie , Xie Haiyang , Zhou Lin , Xu Xiao , Zheng Shusen 
Published: December 2016

AimPlasma fibrinogen and D‐dimer have been reported to predict survival in several types of malignancies. The aim of this study is to investigate their predictive value in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed plasma fibrinogen and D‐dimer levels from 252 subjects: control (n = 20), hepatitis (n = 20), cirrhosis (n = 20), and HCC (n = 192) subjects. The clinical involvement and prognostic value of fibrinogen and D‐dimer was analyzed in HCC subjects. To confirm the effects of tumor on hypercoagulability and fibrinolysis, fibrinogen and D‐dimer levels were measured in nude mice following HCC inoculation.ResultsFibrinogen decreased and D‐dimer increased in cirrhosis subjects relative to other groups. In HCC subjects, elevated fibrinogen and D‐dimer levels were significantly associated with adverse tumor features (increased size, stage, and grade) and systemic inflammation. Patients with HCC with either elevated fibrinogen or D‐dimer levels had significantly higher 3‐year tumor recurrence rates (65% vs. 41%, P < 0.001 for fibrinogen; 67% vs. 40%, P = 0.011 for D‐dimer) and significantly lower 3‐year overall survival rates (57% vs. 79%, P < 0.001 for fibrinogen; 56% vs. 80%, P = 0.001 for D‐dimer). After multivariate analysis, elevated fibrinogen levels remained an independent predictor of poor prognosis in HCC patients. Finally, elevated levels of fibrinogen and D‐dimer were confirmed in nude mice following tumor inoculation.ConclusionThe fibrinogen and D‐dimer levels, elevating after carcinogenesis, may serve as simple but effective predictors of adverse tumor profiles and outcomes in HCC.
Towards robust evolutionary inference with integral projection models
Authors: Janeiro M. J. , Coltman D. W. , Festa‐Bianchet M. , Pelletier F. , Morrissey M. B. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractIntegral projection models (IPMs) are extremely flexible tools for ecological and evolutionary inference. IPMs track the distribution of phenotype in populations through time, using functions describing phenotype‐dependent development, inheritance, survival and fecundity. For evolutionary inference, two important features of any model are the ability to (i) characterize relationships among traits (including values of the same traits across ages) within individuals, and (ii) characterize similarity between individuals and their descendants. In IPM analyses, the former depends on regressions of observed trait values at each age on values at the previous age (development functions), and the latter on regressions of offspring values at birth on parent values as adults (inheritance functions). We show analytically that development functions, characterized this way, will typically underestimate covariances of trait values across ages, due to compounding of regression to the mean across projection steps. Similarly, we show that inheritance, characterized this way, is inconsistent with a modern understanding of inheritance, and underestimates the degree to which relatives are phenotypically similar. Additionally, we show that the use of a constant biometric inheritance function, particularly with a constant intercept, is incompatible with evolution. Consequently, current implementations of IPMs will predict little or no phenotypic evolution, purely as artefacts of their construction. We present alternative approaches to constructing development and inheritance functions, based on a quantitative genetic approach, and show analytically and through an empirical example on a population of bighorn sheep how they can potentially recover patterns that are critical to evolutionary inference.
Mind the gap in clinical trials: A participatory action analysis with citizen collaborators
Authors: Price Amy , Liew Su May , Kirkpatrick Jo , Price Jazmin , Lopreto Taylor , Nelken Yasmin 
Published: December 2016

AbstractWhat are the strengths, gaps, expectations, and barriers to research engagement in clinical trials as communicated through social media? Clinical trials test treatments to provide reliable information for safety and effectiveness. Trials are building blocks in which what is learned in earlier research can be used to improve treatments, compare alternatives, and improve quality of life. For 20 years, the percentages of clinical trials volunteers have decreased whereas the costs of running clinical trials have multiplied. Participants enroll in trials to access latest treatments, to help others, and to advance science, but there is growing unrest. The priorities of those running the trials differ from those of the participants, and the roles for public research involvement lack clarity. Changes to bridge these gaps in the research culture are proposed through the use of participatory action research (PAR) in which stakeholders collaborate to improve research methodology, galvanize citizen participation, multiply health knowledge, problem‐solve barriers to access, and explore the value of research volunteers as collaborators. PAR enabled the inclusion of citizens as full collaborators.Social media data were gathered for 120 days until saturation was reached. De‐identified data were organized into a Strengths Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats framework and coded into themes for analysis. After the analysis, the authors prioritized potential solutions for improving research engagement. Strengths and opportunities remained constant through trial phases, disease burdens, and interventions. Threats included alienation, litigation, disparity, and shaming. Poor management and barriers to inclusion were identified as weaknesses. Opportunities included improving resource management and information quality.Barriers were minimized when relationships between staff and participants were inclusive, respectful, tolerant, and open to change. Participants' communications ranged from fulfillment through trial involvement to disparities and rights violations. PAR provides a safe space without power imbalances in which researchers and citizen worked as equals rather than as researchers and objects of research.
An Observational Study to Assess Brain MRI Change and Disease Progression in Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Practice—The MS‐MRIUS Study
Authors: Zivadinov Robert , Khan Nasreen , Medin Jennie , Christoffersen Pia , Price Jennifer , Korn Jonathan R. , Bonzani Ian , Dwyer Michael G. , Bergsland Niels , Carl Ellen , Silva Diego , Weinstock‐Guttman Bianca 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND & PURPOSETo describe methodology, interim baseline, and longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition parameter characteristics of the multiple sclerosis clinical outcome and MRI in the United States (MS‐MRIUS).MATERIAL & METHODSThe MS‐MRIUS is an ongoing longitudinal and retrospective study of MS patients on fingolimod. Clinical and brain MRI image scan data were collected from 600 patients across 33 MS centers in the United States. MRI brain outcomes included change in whole‐brain volume, lateral ventricle volume, T2‐ and T1‐lesion volumes, and new/enlarging T2 and gadolinium‐enhancing lesions.RESULTSInterim baseline and longitudinal MRI acquisition parameters results are presented for 252 patients. Mean age was 44 years and 81% were female. Forty percent of scans had 3‐dimensional (3D) T1 sequence in the preindex period, increasing to 50% in the postindex period. Use of 2‐dimensional (2D) T1 sequence decreased over time from 85% in the preindex period to 65% in the postindex. About 95% of the scans with FLAIR and 2D T1‐WI were considered acceptable or good quality compared to 99–100% with 3D T1‐WI. There were notable changes in MRI hardware, software, and coil (39.5% in preindex to index and 50% in index to postindex). MRI sequence parameters (orientation, thickness, or protocol) differed for 36%, 29%, and 20% of index/postindex scans for FLAIR, 2D T1‐WI, and 3D T1‐WI, respectively.CONCLUSIONSThe MS‐MRIUS study linked the clinical and brain MRI outcomes into an integrated database to create a cohort of fingolimod patients in real‐world practice. Variability was observed in MRI acquisition protocols overtime.