bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Air Quality Health Index and Emergency Department Visits for Otitis Media
Authors: Kousha Termeh , Castner Jessica 
Published: February 2016

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore novel multipollutant exposure assessments using the Air Quality Health Index in relation to emergency department visits for otitis media (OM).DesignThis study was a retrospective analysis using information from emergency department visits for OM, air pollution, and weather databases.MethodsFor children 3 years of age or younger, there were 4,815 emergency department visits for OM over a 6‐year period across hospitals in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Both time‐stratified case‐crossover and nonlinear time series distributed lag analyses were applied to investigate the association between the Air Quality Health Index and visits for OM.FindingsUsing case‐crossover analysis, there was an increase in emergency department visits with OM diagnoses 6 to 7 days postexposure to increased ozone and 3 to 4 days after exposure to increased particulate matter. For every 1 unit increase in the Air Quality Health Index, discharge diagnosis of OM increased 5% to 6% three days postexposure. Effects were stronger using the nonlinear time series analysis. The overall risk for OM, in the first 15 days after an increase in the Air Quality Health Index, was 1.22 times the risk of OM on days following no increase in exposures.ConclusionsThese findings confirm that there is an association between the multipollutant Air Quality Health Index and emergency department visits for OM. The findings can be used to inform risk communication, patient education, and policy.Clinical RelevanceClinicians can use the Air Quality Health Index as an education and advocacy tool to promote and protect the health of those at high risk for OM to reduce exposures.
In Vitro Analysis of Surface Roughness of Acrylic Resin Exposed to the Combined Hygiene Method of Brushing and Immersion in Ricinus communis and Sodium Hypochlorite
Authors: Badaró Maurício Malheiros , Salles Marcela Moreira , de Arruda Carolina Noronha Ferraz , Oliveira Viviane de Cássia , de Souza Raphael Freitas , Paranhos Helena Freitas Oliveira , Silva‐Lovato Cláudia Helena 
Published: February 2016

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate a solution based on Ricinus communis (Castor oil) for denture cleansing, comparing it to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for the surface roughness of heat‐polymerized acrylic resin.Materials and MethodsForty polished and unpolished resin specimens (90 × 30 × 4 mm) were evaluated before and after their exposure to protocol hygiene: brushing the specimens with a specific denture brush and mild soap for 3 minutes, three times a day, and immersing them in hygiene solutions (0.25% NaOCl—S1 and 0.5% NaOCl—S2; 10% R. communis—S3; saline—S4: control) for 20 minutes. Surface roughness was evaluated by rugosimeter and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after the protocol. For evaluation of surface roughness, polished and unpolished surfaces were used.ResultsThe roughness of the polished surface was not affected by time (p = 0.062), but was affected by solutions (p < 0.0001) and the interaction between factors (p = 0.005). For S1 and S4, the period did not influence the roughness. For S2, there was a change after 7 days, remaining stable after 14 days. For S3, there were changes, and stabilization occurred after 14 days. After 7 and 14 days, S2 and S3 promoted major changes, but after 21 days, there were no differences among solutions, except saline. The unpolished surface was not influenced by factors: period (p = 0.115), solution (p = 0.120), and their interaction (p = 0.382). SEM analysis showed similar results on the evaluation of surface roughness.ConclusionsThe polished surface of the prosthesis was more susceptible to changes when exposed to hygiene solutions, and although the 0.5% NaOCl solution promoted an increase in the surface roughness compared with the same solution at 0.25% and R. communis at 10%, the values are clinically acceptable.
An In Vitro Study of Condylar Displacement Caused by Interocclusal Records: Influence of Recording Material, Storage Time, and Recording Technique
Authors: Ghazal Muhamad , Hedderich Jürgen , Kern Matthias 
Published: February 2016

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the condylar displacement after mounting working casts using different interocclusal recording materials and to analyze the influence of the storage time and the recording technique on the displacement caused by the interocclusal record.Materials and MethodsEight interocclusal records were made in each of the following groups: G1: Aluwax (aluminum wax), G2: Beauty Pink wax (hydrocarbon wax compound), G3: Futar D Fast, G4: Futar Scan (G3, G4: vinylpolysiloxane), G5: Ramitec (polyether), G6: LuxaBite (composite resin based on bis‐acryl), G7: LuxaBite corrected with Aluwax. A condylar‐positioning indicator measured the condylar displacement in the three planes after storage of the records for two periods of 1 and 48 hours. Two‐way ANOVA was used to determine the influences of recording materials and each of the following factors: (1) region (record and non‐record side), (2) storage time, and (3) recording technique. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05.ResultsThe vertical displacement caused by the interocclusal records in the record side after storage time of 1 hour ranged between 0.29 mm (Aluwax) and 0.14 mm (Futar Scan). The lateral displacement ranged between 0.13 mm (Aluwax) and 0.02 mm (Ramitec) while the anteroposterior displacement ranged between 0.15 mm (Ramitec) and 0.04 mm (Futar Scan). The corrected resin record showed generally lower displacement values than other materials tested (0.03, 0.02, and 0.07, respectively). On the non‐record side, the values were lower than that on the record side. The condylar displacement increased after a storage time of 48 hours for all materials. Both factors, storage time and recording technique, had statistically significant influence on the condylar displacement.ConclusionsBased on the results, the vertical displacement of the condyle caused by the interocclusal records was higher than the lateral or the anteroposterior displacement. Elastomers caused statistically significantly less condylar displacement than waxes or uncorrected composite resin. Corrected LuxaBite records with Aluwax showed significantly less condylar displacement than all other materials.
Class Average Score for Teacher Support and Relief of Depression in Adolescents: A Population Study in Japan
Authors: Mizuta Akiko , Noda Tatsuya , Nakamura Mieko , Tatsumi Asami , Ojima Toshiyuki 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDFactors contributing to the relief of depression among adolescents have not been sufficiently revealed. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of teacher support on depression in adolescent students.METHODSWe conducted a self‐rating questionnaire survey among 2862 junior high school students and 93 homeroom teachers in Japan. We employed binary logistic regression models, with teacher support averaged for each class as an explanatory variable and depression as an objective variable. To examine the interaction terms of class average score for teacher support by economic status, by student sex, and by grade satisfaction were estimated.RESULTSHigher class average scores for teacher support were independently associated with lower levels of depression among adolescents (odds ratio [OR], 0.739; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.575‐0.948). Furthermore, the interaction of class average scores for teacher support with grade satisfaction was significant (p = .025). The interaction of class average score for teacher support with economic status and with student sex was not significant.CONCLUSIONSOur findings suggest that higher class average scores for teacher support were significantly associated with lower depression. These results can help homeroom teachers enhance interventions and promote the health of their homeroom students.
Applying the Social Ecological Model to Creating Asthma‐Friendly Schools in Louisiana
Authors: Nuss Henry J. , Hester Laura L. , Perry Mark A. , Stewart‐Briley Collette , Reagon Valamar M. , Collins Pamela 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDIn 2010, the Louisiana Asthma Management and Prevention Program (LAMP) implemented the Asthma‐Friendly Schools Initiative in high‐risk Louisiana populations. The social ecological model (SEM) was used as a framework for an asthma program implemented in 70 state K‐12 public schools over 2 years.METHODSActivities included a needs assessment, identification of students with asthma, individualized asthma action plans (AAP), staff trainings, environmental quality improvement, and school system policy changes to address the asthma burden.RESULTSThere were 522 new or existing asthma cases recognized. Asthma knowledge/awareness was measurably improved among school personnel. School indoor air quality was improved across all locations. School‐level polices were adopted that improved AAP collection, compliance to bus‐idling restrictions, and asthma medication self‐carry.CONCLUSIONSThe SEM framework can be used for school‐based programs to address successfully and improve asthma‐related issues from the individual through policy levels.
Red and white Chinook salmon: genetic divergence and mate choice
Authors: Lehnert Sarah J. , Pitcher Trevor E. , Devlin Robert H. , Heath Daniel D. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractChinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) exhibit extreme differences in coloration of skin, eggs and flesh due to genetic polymorphisms affecting carotenoid deposition, where colour can range from white to bright red. A sympatric population of red and white Chinook salmon occurs in the Quesnel River, British Columbia, where frequencies of each phenotype are relatively equal. In our study, we examined evolutionary mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of the morphs, where we first tested whether morphs were reproductively isolated using microsatellite genotyping, and second, using breeding trials in seminatural spawning channels, we tested whether colour assortative mate choice could be operating to maintain the polymorphism in nature. Next, given extreme difference in carotenoid assimilation and the importance of carotenoids to immune function, we examined mate choice and selection between colour morphs at immune genes (major histocompatibility complex genes: MHC I‐A1 and MHC II‐B1). In our study, red and white individuals were found to interbreed, and under seminatural conditions, some degree of colour assortative mate choice (71% of matings) was observed. We found significant genetic differences at both MHC genes between morphs, but no evidence of MHC II‐B1‐based mate choice. White individuals were more heterozygous at MHC II‐B1 compared with red individuals, and morphs showed significant allele frequency differences at MHC I‐A1. Although colour assortative mate choice is likely not a primary mechanism maintaining the polymorphisms in the population, our results suggest that selection is operating differentially at immune genes in red and white Chinook salmon, possibly due to differences in carotenoid utilization.
Epigenetic divergence as a potential first step in darter speciation
Authors: Smith Tracy A. , Martin Michael D. , Nguyen Michael , Mendelson Tamra C. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractRecent studies show that epigenetic variation in the form of DNA methylation may serve as a substrate for selection. Theory suggests that heritable epigenetic marks that increase fitness should increase in frequency in a population, and these changes may result in novel morphology, behaviour, or physiology, and ultimately reproductive isolation. Therefore, epigenetic variation might provide the first substrate for selection during the course of evolutionary divergence. This hypothesis predicts that populations in the earliest stages of divergence will differentiate in their methylome prior to any genetic differentiation. While several studies have investigated natural epigenetic variation, empirical studies that test predictions about its role in speciation are surprisingly scarce. Here, we investigate DNA methylation variation using an isoschizomeric digest method, Methyl‐Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism, across multiple stages of evolutionary divergence in natural populations of North American stream fishes. We show that epigenetic differentiation between methylomes is greater than genetic divergence among closely related populations across two river drainages. Additionally, we demonstrate that epigenetic divergence is a stronger predictor of the strength of behavioural reproductive isolation and suggest that changes in the methylome could influence the evolution of reproductive isolation between species. Our findings suggest a role for epigenetics not only in the initiation of divergence, but also in the maintenance of species boundaries over greater evolutionary timescales.
Species‐wide patterns of DNA methylation variation in Quercus lobata and their association with climate gradients
Authors: Gugger Paul F. , Fitz‐Gibbon Sorel , PellEgrini Matteo , Sork Victoria L. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractDNA methylation in plants affects transposon silencing, transcriptional regulation and thus phenotypic variation. One unanswered question is whether DNA methylation could be involved in local adaptation of plant populations to their environments. If methylation alters phenotypes to improve plant response to the environment, then methylation sites or the genes that affect them could be a target of natural selection. Using reduced‐representation bisulphite sequencing (RRBS) data, we assessed whether climate is associated with variation in DNA methylation levels among 58 naturally occurring, and species‐wide samples of valley oak (Quercus lobata) collected across climate gradients. We identified the genomic context of these variants referencing a new draft valley oak genome sequence. Methylation data were obtained for 341 107 cytosines, of which we deemed 57 488 as single‐methylation variants (SMVs), found in the CG, CHG and CHH sequence contexts. Environmental association analyses revealed 43 specific SMVs that are significantly associated with any of four climate variables, the majority of which are associated with mean maximum temperature. The 43 climate‐associated SMVs tend to occur in or near genes, several of which have known involvement in plant response to environment. Multivariate analyses show that climate and spatial variables explain more overall variance in CG‐SMVs among individuals than in SNPs, CHG‐SMVs or CHH‐SMVs. Together, these results from natural oak populations provide initial evidence for a role of CG methylation in locally adaptive evolution or plasticity in plant response.
Bayesian Sensorimotor Psychology
Authors: Rescorla Michael 
Published: February 2016

AbstractSensorimotor psychologystudies the mental processes that control goal‐directed bodily motion. Recently, sensorimotor psychologists have provided empirically successful Bayesian models of motor control. These models describe how the motor system uses sensory input to select motor commands that promote goals set by high‐level cognition. I highlight the impressive explanatory benefits offered by Bayesian models of motor control. I argue that our current best models assign explanatory centrality to a robust notion of mental representation. I deploy my analysis to defendintentional realism, to rebuteliminativismandinstrumentalismregarding mental representation, and to explore the relation between intentionality and normativity.
Cognition in Skilled Action: Meshed Control and the Varieties of Skill Experience
Authors: Christensen Wayne , Sutton John , McIlwain Doris J.F. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractWe present a synthetic theory of skilled action which proposes that cognitive processes make an important contribution to almost all skilled action, contrary to influential views that many skills are performed largely automatically. Cognitive control is focused on strategic aspects of performance, and plays a greater role as difficulty increases. We offer an analysis of various forms of skill experience and show that the theory provides a better explanation for the full set of these experiences than automatic theories. We further show that the theory can explain experimental evidence for skill automaticity, including evidence that secondary tasks do not interfere with expert performance, and evidence that experts have reduced memory for performance of sensorimotor skills.
Intuitions' Linguistic Sources: Stereotypes, Intuitions and Illusions
Authors: Fischer Eugen , Engelhardt Paul E. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIntuitive judgments elicited by verbal case‐descriptions play key roles in philosophical problem‐setting and argument. Experimental philosophy's ‘sources project’ seeks to develop psychological explanations of philosophically relevant intuitions which help us assess our warrant for accepting them. This article develops a psycholinguistic explanation of intuitions prompted by philosophical case‐descriptions. For proof of concept, we target intuitions underlying a classic paradox about perception (‘argument from illusion’), trace them to stereotype‐driven inferences automatically executed in verb comprehension, and employ a forced‐choice plausibility‐ranking task to elicit the relevant stereotypical associations of perception‐ and appearance‐verbs. We obtain a debunking explanation that resolves the philosophical paradox.
The post‐transcriptional regulatory system CSR controls the balance of metabolic pools in upper glycolysis of Escherichia coli
Authors: Morin Manon , Ropers Delphine , Letisse Fabien , Laguerre Sandrine , Portais Jean‐Charles , Cocaign‐Bousquet Muriel , Enjalbert Brice 
Published: February 2016

SummaryMetabolic control in Escherichia coli is a complex process involving multilevel regulatory systems but the involvement of post‐transcriptional regulation is uncertain. The post‐transcriptional factor CsrA is stated as being the only regulator essential for the use of glycolytic substrates. A dozen enzymes in the central carbon metabolism (CCM) have been reported as potentially controlled by CsrA, but its impact on the CCM functioning has not been demonstrated. Here, a multiscale analysis was performed in a wild‐type strain and its isogenic mutant attenuated for CsrA (including growth parameters, gene expression levels, metabolite pools, abundance of enzymes and fluxes). Data integration and regulation analysis showed a coordinated control of the expression of glycolytic enzymes. This also revealed the imbalance of metabolite pools in the csrA mutant upper glycolysis, before the phosphofructokinase PfkA step. This imbalance is associated with a glucose–phosphate stress. Restoring PfkA activity in the csrA mutant strain suppressed this stress and increased the mutant growth rate on glucose. Thus, the carbon storage regulator system is essential for the effective functioning of the upper glycolysis mainly through its control of PfkA. This work demonstrates the pivotal role of post‐transcriptional regulation to shape the carbon metabolism.
Specific detection of Pectobacterium carotovorum by loop‐mediated isothermal amplification
Authors: Yasuhara‐Bell Jarred , Marrero Glorimar , De Silva Asoka , Alvarez Anne M. 
Published: February 2016

SummaryPotatoes are an important agroeconomic crop worldwide and maceration diseases caused by pectolytic bacterial pathogens result in significant pre‐ and post‐harvest losses. Pectobacterium carotovorum shares a common host range with other Pectobacterium spp. and other members of the Enterobacteriaceae, such as Dickeya spp. As these pathogens cannot be clearly differentiated on the basis of the symptoms they cause, improved methods of identification are critical for the determination of sources of contamination. Current standardized methods for the differentiation of pectolytic species are time consuming and require trained personnel, as they rely on traditional bacteriological practices that do not always produce conclusive results. In this growing world market, there is a need for rapid diagnostic tests that can differentiate between pectolytic pathogens, as well as separate them from non‐pectolytic enteric bacteria associated with soft rots of potato. An assay has been designed previously to detect the temperate pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum, but there is currently no recognized rapid assay for the detection of the tropical/subtropical counterpart, Pectobacterium carotovorum. This report describes the development of a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay that detects P. carotovorum with high specificity. The assay was evaluated using all known species of Pectobacterium and only showed positive reactions for P. carotovorum. This assay was also tested against 15 non‐target genera of plant‐associated bacteria and did not produce any false positives. The LAMP assay described here can be used as a rapid test for the differentiation of P. carotovorum from other pectolytic pathogens, and its gene target can be the basis for the development of other molecular‐based detection assays.
Direct oral anticoagulants: New drugs with practical problems. How can nurses help prevent patient harm?
Authors: Barras Michael A. , Hughes David , Ullner Melanie 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe safe use of anticoagulants requires a delicate balance between the risk of bleeding and the risk of thrombosis, particularly in drug‐sensitive patients, such as older people. Recently‐marketed “direct oral anticoagulants” are now being increasingly prescribed and administered in the hospital setting. Direct oral anticoagulants have pharmacological properties that are often unpredictable, and inter‐patient variability in drug response is high. Therefore, people often require meticulous review and planning to ensure they receive optimal dosing and monitoring. The multidisciplinary medication management of those receiving these drugs needs to be effectively coordinated to reduce the risk of patient harm. All clinical staff, including nurses, doctors, and pharmacists, should be competent in the pharmacology of these drugs, and know which people require individualized care plans. In this study, we introduced important concepts via the use of case studies developed from commonly‐seen scenarios at our quaternary hospital. In particular, the important role of nurses in ensuring patient safety in the periprocedural setting is highlighted.