bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
When first language is not first: an functional magnetic resonance imaging investigation of the neural basis of diglossia in Arabic
Authors: Nevat Michael , Khateb Asaid , Prior Anat 
Published: January 2015

AbstractIn Arabic, the language used for everyday conversation (‘spoken Arabic’ – SA) differs markedly from literary Arabic (LA), which is used for written communication and formal functions. This fact raises questions regarding the cognitive status of the two varieties and their processing in the brain. Previous studies using auditory stimuli suggested that LA is processed by Arabic native speakers as a second language. The current study examined this issue in the visual modality. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) responses were collected while Arabic–Hebrew bilinguals performed a semantic categorization task on visually presented words in LA, SA and Hebrew. Performance on LA was better than SA and Hebrew, which did not differ from each other. Activation in SA was stronger than in LA in left inferior frontal, precentral, parietal and occipito‐temporal regions, and stronger than in Hebrew in left precentral and parietal regions. Activation in SA was also less lateralized than activation for LA and Hebrew, which did not differ from each other in terms of lateralization, though activation for Hebrew was more extensive in both hemispheres than activation for LA. Altogether, these results indicate an advantage for LA in the current study, presumably due to participants' proficiency in reading in this language. Stronger activation for SA appears to be due to the relative unfamiliarity of written word forms in SA, which could also explain differences in performance between the two languages. However, the stronger activation observed in the left parietal cortex may also reflect stronger associations among words in SA.
Increasing utilization of pediatric epilepsy surgery in the United States between 1997 and 2009
Authors: Pestana Knight Elia M. , Schiltz Nicholas K. , Bakaki Paul M. , Koroukian Siran M. , Lhatoo Samden D. , Kaiboriboon Kitti 
Published: January 2015

SummaryObjectiveTo examine national trends of pediatric epilepsy surgery usage in the United States between 1997 and 2009.MethodsWe performed a serial cross‐sectional study of pediatric epilepsy surgery using triennial data from the Kids’ Inpatient Database from 1997 to 2009. The rates of epilepsy surgery for lobectomies, partial lobectomies, and hemispherectomies in each study year were calculated based on the number of prevalent epilepsy cases in the corresponding year. The age‐race‐sex adjusted rates of surgeries were also estimated. Mann‐Kendall trend test was used to test for changes in the rates of surgeries over time. Multivariable regression analysis was also performed to estimate the effect of time, age, race, and sex on the annual incidence of epilepsy surgery.ResultsThe rates of pediatric epilepsy surgery increased significantly from 0.85 epilepsy surgeries per 1,000 children with epilepsy in 1997 to 1.44 epilepsy surgeries per 1,000 children with epilepsy in 2009. An increment in the rates of epilepsy surgeries was noted across all age groups, in boys and girls, all races, and all payer types. The rate of increase was lowest in blacks and in children with public insurance. The overall number of surgical cases for each study year was lower than 35% of children who were expected to have surgery, based on the estimates from the Connecticut Study of Epilepsy.SignificanceIn contrast to adults, pediatric epilepsy surgery numbers have increased significantly in the past decade. However, epilepsy surgery remains an underutilized treatment for children with epilepsy. In addition, black children and those with public insurance continue to face disparities in the receipt of epilepsy surgery.
Mechanical fatigue in aluminium at elevated temperature and remaining life prediction based on natural frequency evolution
Authors: Khan M.  A. , Khan S.  Z. , Sohail W. , Khan H. , Sohaib M. , Nisar S. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTFatigue is one of the principle damage mechanisms in materials especially at elevated temperatures. It possesses a great influence on the material properties and the possible working life. In this work, a novel technique for the analysis of fatigue at elevated temperature is suggested. Material fundamental frequency and its drop are used as the key parameters to predict the remaining useful life of a selected shape specimen, which is operated under low‐cyclic fatigue loading at elevated temperature. Experiments are performed on aluminium 1050 with two different lengths of a non‐prismatic cantilever beam at room temperature, 100, 200 and 300 °C, respectively. The experimental data is further transformed in to an empirical correlation that can predict specimen useful life. The error in this life prediction is less than 5%, and it reduces more once the frequency drop is increased.
In breast cancer, are treatments and survival the same whatever a patient's age? A population‐based study over the period 1998–2009
Authors: Dialla Pegdwende Olivia , Quipourt Valérie , Gentil Julie , Marilier Sophie , Poillot Marie‐Laure , Roignot Patrick , Altwegg Thierry , Darut‐Jouve Ariane , Guiu Sévérine , Arveux Patrick , Dabakuyo‐Yonli Tienhan Sandrine 
Published: January 2015

AimThe present study aimed to describe treatments, relative survival and prognostic factors in breast cancer patients according to age.MethodsAll women with primary invasive breast cancer, diagnosed from 1998 to 2009 in the department of Côte d'Or, were retrospectively selected. Variations in treatments administered according to age (<50 years, 50–74 years, >74 years) and period were assessed using Cochran–Armitage trend tests and χ2‐tests, respectively. Prognostic factors according to age were estimated using a generalized linear model with a Poisson error structure.ResultsOverall, 4305 women were included. The oldest women (aged >74 years) were more likely than the youngest women to have comorbidities, advanced stage tumors, hormone receptor‐positive tumors and be human epidermal growth factor receptor 2‐negative. The use of breast conserving surgery plus adjuvant therapy decreased in older women (>74 years), whereas the proportions of women without treatments and with adjuvant hormone therapy increased with age. Multivariate relative survival analyses according to age showed an increased risk of death in women aged 50–74 years and >74 years with comorbidities compared with those without comorbidities; relative excess risks were 1.85 (1.13–3.02) and 3.23 (1.26–8.31), respectively. In contrast, a decreased risk of death was observed in women aged 50–74 years diagnosed by medical imaging compared with those diagnosed by clinical signs; relative excess risks 0.44 (0.22–0.89).ConclusionElderly women compared with the youngest women were diagnosed with more favorable tumor biology (hormone receptor‐positive tumors, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2‐negative). However, survival was poor in elderly women who had comorbid conditions, did not attend screening mammography examinations and were undertreated. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 617–626.
Effect of dysphagia rehabilitation on oral intake in elderly patients with aspiration pneumonia
Authors: Momosaki Ryo , Yasunaga Hideo , Matsui Hiroki , Horiguchi Hiromasa , Fushimi Kiyohide , Abo Masahiro 
Published: January 2015

AimTo clarify the effects of dysphagia rehabilitation on oral intake after aspiration pneumonia in older adults.MethodsThe present retrospective observational study used data from the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database. We identified patients who were admitted to acute care hospitals with aspiration pneumonia. Patients were subdivided into those with and without dysphagia rehabilitation. The main outcome variable was total oral intake on discharge. We carried out multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess the effect of dysphagia rehabilitation on the outcome, with adjustment for patient backgrounds. We also carried out analyses based on pneumonia severity, and the timing and duration of dysphagia rehabilitation.ResultsWe identified 22 819 patients with dysphagia rehabilitation and 75 555 patients without dysphagia rehabilitation. The rates of total oral intake on discharge were 78.0 and 75.2%, respectively. The multivariate regression model showed that the dysphagia rehabilitation group had a significantly higher proportion of total oral intake on discharge (odds ratio 1.32; P < 0.001). Mild pneumonia patients had a higher odds ratio for total oral intake associated with dysphagia rehabilitation than patients with moderate and severe pneumonia (odds ratio 2.27; P < 0.001). Among patients who underwent a short period of dysphagia rehabilitation, those with early rehabilitation were more likely to achieve total oral intake at discharge than those with late rehabilitation.ConclusionThe data suggest that dysphagia rehabilitation had a positive effect on total oral intake in elderly patients with aspiration pneumonia. Dysphagia rehabilitation showed greater benefit in patients with mild pneumonia than with more severe pneumonia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 694–699.
Microwave and pulsed electric field assisted extractions of polyphenols from defatted canola seed cake
Authors: Teh Sue‐Siang , Niven Brian E. , Bekhit Alaa El‐Din A. , Carne Alan , Birch Edward John 
Published: January 2015

SummaryThe incorporation of microwave and pulsed electric field (PEF) technologies in optimising the extraction of polyphenols from defatted canola seed cake was determined by Box‐Behnken response surface methodology, using three parameters of microwave treatment (power, time and liquid: solid (L:S) ratio) and four parameters of PEF (ethanol concentration, time, frequency and voltage). After microwave and PEF pretreatments, the polyphenols of defatted canola seed cake were extracted by ultrasound treatment under fixed variables (200 W of ultrasonic power, 70 °C of water bath and 20 min of extraction time). The measured responses were total phenolics, total flavonoids, the DPPH˙ scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The maximum yields of all responses were achieved under optimum conditions of microwave processing (5 min, L:S ratio of 6.0 and 633.3 W) and PEF‐assisted extraction (30 V, 30 Hz, 10% ethanol concentration and 10 s).
Effects of preoperative dutasteride treatment in holmium laser enucleation of the prostate
Authors: Sato Ryo , Sadaoka Yuko , Nishio Kojiro , Kobori Yoshitomo , Yagi Hiroshi , Arai Gaku , Soh Shigehiro , Okada Hiroshi 
Published: January 2015

ObjectivesTo investigate factors influencing the degree of difficulty in finding and maintaining an appropriate plane on the surgical capsule of the prostate during holmium laser enucleation of the prostate.MethodsA total of 116 men undergoing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for benign prostate hyperplasia between January 2010 and September 2013 at our hospital were included in this analysis. The degree of difficulty in finding and maintaining the plane of the surgical capsule of the prostate was retrospectively evaluated and graded by using video‐based analysis according to newly defined criteria (grade I, least difficult; grade IV, most difficult). Factors influencing the degree of difficulty were investigated.ResultsVideo analysis was possible in 99 of 116 patients. Decapsulation difficulty in decapsulation was deemed as being grade I in 32 patients, grade II in 31 patients, grade III in 20 patients and grade IV in 16 patients. Preoperative dutasteride therapy was the only factor associated with an increasing level of difficulty in decapsulation during holmium laser enucleation of the prostate.ConclusionsAlthough preoperative dutasteride therapy effectively reduces intraoperative blood loss, surgeons with limited experience should be careful with the use of dutasteride, because its administration might increase surgical difficulty during holmium laser enucleation of the prostate.
Nocturia in men is a chaotic condition dominated by nocturnal polyuria
Authors: Fujimura Tetsuya , Yamada Yuta , Sugihara Toru , Azuma Takeshi , Suzuki Motofumi , Fukuhara Hiroshi , Nakagawa Tohru , Kume Haruki , Igawa Yasuhiko , Homma Yukio 
Published: January 2015

ObjectiveTo characterize nocturia in men based on frequency volume chart data and symptom profiles assessed using the Core Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Score and Athens Insomnia Scale questionnaires.MethodsThe Core Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Score and Athens Insomnia Scale questionnaires were administered to 299 consecutive treatment naïve men with nocturia (≥one time per night). Frequency volume chart data were recorded for 2 days. Correlations between nocturia and clinical characteristics including symptom scores, clinical diagnosis, Charlson Comorbidity Index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, uroflowmetry and prostate volume were analyzed.ResultsPatients were divided into five groups: one time (n = 36), two times (n = 65), three times (n = 85), four times (n = 78) and five times (n = 34) of nocturia. Age, prevalence or severity of chronic kidney disease, hyperlipidemia, low bladder capacity, nocturnal polyuria, urgency, bladder pain and sleep disorders were significantly correlated with the severity of nocturia. The Spearman correlation analysis identified eight possible independent factors for nocturia: age, estimated glomerular filtration rate, urgency, bladder pain, sleep quality, sleepiness during the day, average voided volume and nocturnal volume divided by body weight. Logistic regression analysis showed that nocturnal volume divided by body weight was the strongest factor of nocturia, and ≥7, 9 and 9.7 mL/kg were practical cut‐off values of three, four and five times per night of nocturia, respectively.ConclusionsNocturia in men is a chaotic condition dominated by nocturnal polyuria, and related to multiple factors including age, renal function, urgency, bladder pain, insomnia and bladder volume.
Prognostic significance of visceral obesity in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma undergoing nephrectomy
Authors: Lee Hye Won , Jeong Byong Chang , Seo Seong Il , Jeon Seong Soo , Lee Hyun Moo , Choi Han Yong , Jeon Hwang Gyun 
Published: January 2015

ObjectivesTo determine the effect of visceral obesity on the prognosis of advanced renal cell carcinoma patients undergoing nephrectomy.MethodsWe reviewed clinicopathological data of 2187 patients who underwent nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (localized [T1–2, N0, M0], n = 1738 [79.5%]; advanced [T3–4, any N and M], n = 449 [20.5%]) at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. The visceral fat area and subcutaneous fat area were determined at the level of the umbilicus on computed tomograms obtained before surgery. Patients were categorized as either viscerally obese or non‐obese according to visceral fat area and visceral fat area/subcutaneous fat area ratio.ResultsHigh visceral fat area (greater than 50 percentiles in each sex) was associated with longer cancer‐specific survival (P = 0.01) or overall survival (P = 0.03), whereas visceral fat area/subcutaneous fat area ratio showed no influence on survival outcomes. By multivariate analysis adjusted with clinicopathological variables, low visceral fat area was an independent predictor of cancer‐specific death and overall death (cancer‐specific survival P = 0.004, hazard ratio = 2.19; overall survival P = 0.003, hazard ratio = 2.22), as well as old age (P = 0.01), radical nephrectomy (P = 0.002), high tumor grade (P = 0.01) and the presence of a sarcomatoid component (P < 0.001) in the subgroup analysis of advanced renal cell carcinoma.ConclusionHigh visceral fat area might represent a predictor of better prognosis in patients with advanced renal cell carcinomas undergoing nephrectomy. © 2015 The Japanese Urological Association
Investigating the exercise‐prescription practices of nurses working in inpatient mental health settings
Authors: Stanton Robert , Happell Brenda , Reaburn Peter 
Published: January 2015

AbstractNurses working in mental health are well positioned to prescribe exercise to people with mental illness. However, little is known regarding their exercise‐prescription practices. We examined the self‐reported physical activity and exercise‐prescription practices of nurses working in inpatient mental health facilities. Thirty‐four nurses completed the Exercise in Mental Illness Questionnaire – Health Practitioner Version. Non‐parametric bivariate statistics revealed no relationship between nurses' self‐reported physical activity participation and the frequency of exercise prescription for people with mental illness. Exercise‐prescription parameters used by nurses are consistent with those recommended for both the general population and for people with mental illness. A substantial number of barriers to effective exercise prescription, including lack of training, systemic issues (such as prioritization and lack of time), and lack of consumer motivation, impact on the prescription of exercise for people with mental illness. Addressing the barriers to exercise prescription could improve the proportion of nurses who routinely prescribe exercise. Collaboration with exercise professionals, such as accredited exercise physiologists or physiotherapists, might improve knowledge of evidence‐based exercise‐prescription practices for people with mental illness, thereby improving both physical and mental health outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Changes in Thinking for Speaking: A Longitudinal Case Study
Authors: Stam Gale 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTCross‐linguistic research on motion events has shown that Spanish speakers and English speakers have different patterns of thinking for speaking about motion, both linguistically and gesturally (for a review, see Stam, 2010b). Spanish speakers express path linguistically with verbs, and their path gestures tend to occur with path verbs, whereas English speakers express path linguistically with satellites (adverbs or particles), and their path gestures tend to occur with satellite units. This article investigated whether a Spanish‐speaking English language learner's thinking for speaking patterns about motion exhibited continuous linguistic and gestural change in her L1 (Spanish) and L2 (English). The results indicate that the learner's gestural expression of path changed in both her L1 and L2, and her gestural expression of manner changed in her L2. This change suggests that manner, a pattern acquired in childhood, may not be resistant to change after all (Slobin, 1996; Stam, 2010b). The results have implications for the teaching of second and foreign languages.
Learning to Think in a Second Language: Effects of Proficiency and Length of Exposure in English Learners of German
Authors: Athanasopoulos Panos , Damjanovic Ljubica , Burnand Julie , Bylund Emanuel 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTThe aim of the current study is to investigate motion event cognition in second language learners in a higher education context. Based on recent findings that speakers of grammatical aspect languages like English attend less to the endpoint (goal) of events than do speakers of nonaspect languages like Swedish in a nonverbal categorization task involving working memory (Athanasopoulos & Bylund, 2013; Bylund & Athanasopoulos, 2015), the current study asks whether native speakers of an aspect language start paying more attention to event endpoints when learning a nonaspect language. Native English and German (a nonaspect language) speakers, and English learners of L2 German, who were pursuing studies in German language and literature at an English university, were asked to match a target scene with intermediate degree of endpoint orientation with two alternate scenes with low and high degree of endpoint orientation, respectively. Results showed that, compared to the native English speakers, the learners of German were more prone to base their similarity judgements on endpoint saliency, rather than ongoingness, primarily as a function of increasing L2 proficiency and year of university study. Further analyses revealed a nonlinear relationship between length of L2 exposure and categorization patterns, subserved by a progressive strengthening of the relationship between L2 proficiency and categorization as length of exposure increased. These findings present evidence that cognitive restructuring may occur through increasing experience with an L2, but also suggest that this relationship may be complex and unfold over a long period of time.
Serum vitamin D levels and hypogonadism in men
Authors: Lerchbaum E. , Pilz S. , Trummer C. , Rabe T. , Schenk M. , Heijboer A. C. , Obermayer‐Pietsch B. 
Published: January 2015

SummaryThere is inconsistent evidence on a possible association of vitamin D and androgen levels in men. We therefore aim to investigate the association of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) with androgen levels in a cohort of middle‐aged men. This cross‐sectional study included 225 men with a median (interquartile range) age of 35 (30–41) years. We measured 25(OH)D, total testosterone (TT) and SHBG concentrations. Hypogonadism was defined as TT <10.4 nmol/L. We found no significant correlation of 25(OH)D and androgen levels. Furthermore, androgen levels were not significantly different across 25(OH)D quintiles. The overall prevalence of hypogonadism was 21.5% and lowest in men within 25(OH)D quintile 4 (82–102 nmol/L). We found a significantly increased risk of hypogonadism in men within the highest 25(OH)D quintile (>102 nmol/L) compared to men in quintile 4 (reference) in crude (OR 5.10, 1.51–17.24, p = 0.009) as well as in multivariate adjusted analysis (OR 9.21, 2.27–37.35, p = 0.002). We found a trend towards increased risk of hypogonadism in men within the lowest 25(OH)D quintile (≤43.9 nmol/L). In conclusion, our data suggest that men with very high 25(OH)D levels (>102 nmol/L) might be at an increased risk of hypogonadism. Furthermore, we observed a trend towards increased risk of hypogonadism in men with very low vitamin D levels indicating a U‐shaped association of vitamin D levels and hypogonadism. With respect to risk of male hypogonadism, our results suggest optimal serum 25(OH)D concentrations of 82–102 nmol/L.
Climate Change Impacts and Uncertainties on Spring Flooding of Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River
Authors: Riboust Philippe , Brissette François 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe source of the Richelieu River is Lake Champlain, located between the states of New York, Vermont, and Québec. In 2011, the lake and the Richelieu River reached historical flood levels, raising questions about the influence of climate change on the watershed. The objectives of this work are to model the hydrology of the watershed, construct a reservoir model for the lake and to analyze flooding trends using climate simulations. The basin was modeled using the HSAMI lumped conceptual model from Hydro‐Québec with a semi‐distributed approach in order to estimate the inflows into Lake Champlain. The discharge at the Richelieu River was computed by using a mass balance equation between the inputs and outputs of Lake Champlain. Future trends were estimated over the 2041‐2070 and 2071‐2100 periods using a large number of outputs from general circulation models and regional climate models downscaled with constant scaling and daily translation methods. While there is a certain amount of uncertainty as to future trends, there is a decreasing tendency in the magnitude of the mean spring flood. A flood frequency analysis showed most climate projections indicate the severity of most extreme spring floods may be reduced over the two future periods although results are subject to a much larger uncertainty than for the mean spring flood. On the other hand, results indicate summer‐fall extreme events such as caused by hurricane Irene in August 2011 may become more frequent in the future.