bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Per capita remuneration of dentists and the quality of dental services
Authors: Grytten Jostein , Holst Dorthe , Skau Irene 
Published: January 2013

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine the effects of a per capita based remuneration system on the quality of dental care.MethodsThe basis for the study was a natural experiment in the county of Østfold in Norway in which all public dental officers (n = 34) were given the opportunity to renegotiate their contract from a fixed salary to a combined per capita and fixed salary contract. Quality was assessed according to three criteria: number of preventive procedures, number of under‐diagnosed carious lesions and number of untreated carious lesions. This information was selected from a random sample of patient records for 18‐year‐olds in the autumn of 1999 (base‐line data) and at the end of 2006 (final data), altogether 20 records per dentist. At the end of the period of evaluation, 26 dentists were still eligible for inclusion in the study. The data were analysed both descriptively and using multilevel difference‐in‐difference regression models.ResultsThe main finding was that the transition to a per capita remuneration system did not lead to under‐diagnosis of carious lesions, under‐treatment or less prevention.ConclusionsA per capita remuneration scheme did not lead to a fall in the quality of dental care. This result must be assessed taking into account that the experiment was carried out within a publicly financed and managed dental service. Also, the incentive effect of the per capita contract was relatively weak.
Self‐report poor oral health and chronic diseases: the Hong Kong FAMILY project
Authors: Lee Paul H. , McGrath Colman P. J. , Kong Angie Y. C. , Lam Tai Hing 
Published: January 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the association between self‐reported oral health (SROH) and general health, this study examined the cross‐sectional associations between SROH and nine chronic health conditions, namely cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, nervous system disease, eye/nose/throat disease, stomach/intestinal disease, and musculoskeletal disease in Hong Kong.MethodsThis study included 41 641 participants recruited in the FAMILY Project cohort study during March 2009–March 2011. SROH was measured on a 5‐point Likert scale. Multiple logistic regression model was used to analyze the effect of dichotomized SROH (0: very good/good/average, 1: bad/very bad) on nine chronic health conditions, adjusted for age, sex, education, personal income, smoking and drinking habits, Body mass index (BMI), and blood pressures.ResultsAll the nine chronic health conditions investigated were associated with SROH. SROH showed the strongest cross‐sectional association with nervous system disease (odds ratio = 3.30, P < 0.001), while the odds ratio with other significant chronic health conditions ranged from 1.13 (high cholesterol, P = 0.033)–1.73 (stomach/intestinal disease, P < 0.001).ConclusionsPoor SROH is associated with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, nervous system disease, eye/nose/throat disease, stomach/intestinal disease, and musculoskeletal disease.
Rac1 modulates the vitreous‐induced plasticity of mesenchymal movement in retinal pigment epithelial cells
Authors: Huang Xiong‐gao , Chen You‐zhen , Zhang Zhao‐tian , Wei Yan‐tao , Ma Hai‐zhi , Zhang Ting , Zhang Shao‐chong 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe vitreous has been shown to induce epithelial‐mesenchymal transdifferentiation because it induces fibroblast‐like morphology, enhanced migration and invasion in retinal pigment epithelial cells in proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Rac1 is the principal mediator of cell migration. In the current study, the relationship between Rac1 and cell migration, and invasion in vitreous‐transformed retinal pigment epithelial cells was investigated using NSC23766, a specific inhibitor of Rac guanosine‐5′‐triphosphatase activity, and the involvement of a Rac1 guanosine‐5′‐triphosphatase‐dependent pathway was detected.DesignOne‐way design with multiple levels and repeated measurement design.Participants and SamplesThe vitreous humor was collected from 20 healthy donor eyes and the retinal pigment epithelial cells were obtained from 9 healthy donor eyes.MethodsHuman low‐passage retinal pigment epithelial cells were treated with normal medium or 25% vitreous medium. Rac1 activity was measured using a pull‐down assay. The cytotoxicity of NSC23766 was measured using the trypan blue dye exclusion test. Cell migration was measured using a wound healing assay. Cell invasion was determined using a transwell invasion assay. Protein expression of Rac1 and phosphorylation of LIM kinase 1 and cofilin were detected by Western blot analysis.Main Outcome MeasuresCell migration, invasion, Rac1 activity and phosphorylation of LIM kinase 1 and cofilin.ResultsRac1guanosine‐5′‐triphosphatase was activated in vitreous‐transformed retinal pigment epithelial cells. A Rac inhibitor suppressed vitreous‐induced migration and invasion in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Cofilin phosphorylation was activated by vitreous treatment but blocked by NSC23766.ConclusionsRac1 mediates vitreous‐transformed retinal pigment epithelial cells' plasticity of mesenchymal movement via Rac1 guanosine‐5′‐triphosphatase‐dependent pathways that modulate LIM kinase 1 and cofilin activity. Rac inhibition may be considered a novel treatment for proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
High prevalence of refractive errors in a rural population: ‘Nooravaran Salamat’ Mobile Eye Clinic experience
Authors: Hashemi Hassan , Rezvan Farhad , Ostadimoghaddam Hadi , Abdollahi Majid , Hashemi Maryam , Khabazkhoob Mehdi 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of myopia and hyperopia and determinants were determined in a rural population of Iran.DesignPopulation‐based cross‐sectional study.ParticipantsUsing random cluster sampling, 13 of the 83 villages of Khaf County in the north east of Iran were selected. Data from 2001 people over the age of 15 years were analysed.MethodsVisual acuity measurement, non‐cycloplegic refraction and eye examinations were done at the Mobile Eye Clinic.Main Outcome MeasuresThe prevalence of myopia and hyperopia based on spherical equivalent worse than −0.5 dioptre and +0.5 dioptre, respectively.ResultsThe prevalence of myopia, hyperopia and anisometropia in the total study sample was 28% (95% confidence interval: 25.9–30.2), 19.2% (95% confidence interval: 17.3–21.1), and 11.5% (95% confidence interval: 10.0–13.1), respectively. In the over 40 population, the prevalence of myopia and hyperopia was 32.5% (95% confidence interval: 28.9–36.1) and 27.9% (95% confidence interval: 24.5–31.3), respectively. In the multiple regression model for this group, myopia strongly correlated with cataract (odds ratio = 1.98 and 95% confidence interval: 1.33–2.93), and hyperopia only correlated with age (P < 0.001). The prevalence of high myopia and high hyperopia was 1.5% and 4.6%. In the multiple regression model, anisometropia significantly correlated with age (odds ratio = 1.04) and cataract (odds ratio = 5.2) (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe prevalence of myopia and anisometropia was higher than that in previous studies in urban population of Iran, especially in the elderly. Cataract was the only variable that correlated with myopia and anisometropia.
Perceived difficulty of various steps of manual small incision cataract surgery among trainees in rural China
Authors: Huang Wenyong , Ye Ronghua , Huang Shengsong , Wang Decai , Wang Lanhua , Liu Bin , Friedman David S , He Mingguang , Liu Yizhi , Congdon Nathan G 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe perceived difficulty of steps of manual small incision cataract surgery among trainees in rural China was assessed.DesignCohort study.ParticipantsFifty‐two trainees at the end of a manual small incision cataract surgery training programme.MethodsParticipants rated the difficulty of 14 surgical steps using a 5‐point scale, 1 (very easy) to 5 (very difficult). Demographic and professional information was recorded for trainees.Main Outcome MeasureMean ratings for surgical steps.ResultsQuestionnaires were completed by 49 trainees (94.2%, median age 38 years, 8 [16.3%] women). Twenty six (53.1%) had performed ≤50 independent cataract surgeries prior to training. Trainees rated cortical aspiration (mean score ± standard deviation = 3.10 ± 1.14) the most difficult step, followed by wound construction (2.76 ± 1.08), nuclear prolapse into the anterior chamber (2.74 ± 1.23) and lens delivery (2.51 ± 1.08). Draping the surgical field (1.06 ± 0.242), anaesthetic block administration (1.14 ± 0.354) and thermal coagulation (1.18 ± 0.441) were rated easiest. In regression models, the score for cortical aspiration was significantly inversely associated with performing >50 independent manual small incision cataract surgery surgeries during training (P = 0.01), but not with age, gender, years of experience in an eye department or total number of cataract surgeries performed prior to training.ConclusionsCortical aspiration, wound construction and nuclear prolapse pose the greatest challenge for trainees learning manual small incision cataract surgery, and should receive emphasis during training. Number of cases performed is the strongest predictor of perceived difficulty of key steps.
Radiographic features of Kirner's deformity
Authors: Satake Hiroshi , Ogino Toshihiko , Eto Jun , Maruyama Masahiro , Watanabe Tadayoshi , Takagi Michiaki 
Published: January 2013

AbstractWe conducted a study of Kirner's deformity to investigate its radiologic features and consider its possible causes. Sixty‐seven patients with Kirner's deformity, 41 in our series and 26 retrieved in a survey of the literature were investigated. We divided Kirner's deformity into three types according to the site of curvature: the epiphyseal line, diaphysis, and distal tip. Among our series, 12 hands were affected in males and 26 in females. The gender of the patients for the other three hands was unknown. Twelve cases occurred on the right side, five on the left side, and 24 on both sides. Radiographic data for 34 hands were available. The palmar surface of the distal phalanx was at a mean angle of 27.4 degrees to the long axis of the middle phalanx. Epiphyseal line curvature was seen in four hands (mean patient age, 11 years), diaphysis curvature in 10 (mean age, 12.4 years), and distal tip curvature in 20 (mean age, 26.5 years). Dorsal subluxation of the distal phalanx was noticed in six hands (18%). Radiographic data for 26 hands reported previously were analyzable. The differences between epiphyseal line or diaphysis curvature and distal tip curvature in terms of age were significant in both the present study and the literature.
Simulation of Morphology Changes in Drying Leaves
Authors: Jeong SoHyeon , Park Si‐Hyung , Kim Chang‐Hun 
Published: January 2013

AbstractWe introduce a biologically motivated simulation technique for the realistic shape deformation of drying leaves. In contrast to skeleton‐based leaf deformation, our approach simulates the whole leaf surface to capture the fine details of desiccated leaves. We represent a leaf as a triangulated double‐layer structure that consists of a Delaunay triangulation discretized along the vein structure and its corresponding Voronoi diagram. This structure can generate not only sharp creases along leaf veins, but also the complicated curling and crumpling on the leaf surface. The loss of water is the major factor that controls the inhomogeneous shrinkage of drying leaves. The proposed osmotic water flow successfully models the gradual changes of dehydrated regions advancing towards the veins. We demonstrate the robustness of our method by comparing a sequence of simulated morphology changes with photographs of real leaves.
Rotational thromboelastometry and standard coagulation tests for live liver donors
Authors: Mohammed Maged , Fayed Nirmeen , Hassanen Ashraf , Ahmed Fatma , Mourad Wessam , El Sheikh Maha , Abofetouh Fawzia , Yassen Khaled , Khalil Magdy , Marwan Ibrahim , Tanaka Koichio 
Published: January 2013

AbstractPurposeTo study coagulation of live liver donors with standard coagulation tests (SCT) and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and investigate their relationship.MethodsA descriptive prospective study involving 50 right hepatotomy donors with epidural catheters. ROTEM (EXTEM, INTEM, and FIBTEM represent extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of coagulation and fibrinogen activity, respectively) was measured perioperatively and on days 1, 3, 5, 10, and 30. SCTs include prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR) of PT, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPPT), fibrinogen, and platelets.ResultsPT and INR reflect hypocoagulability reaching maximum on day one (16.9 ± 2.5 s, 1.4 ± 0.2, p < 0.05 compared with baseline). ROTEM was in normal ranges till day 30 with no hypercoagulability. Fibrinogen showed no correlation with maximum clot firmness (MCF) of FIBTEM (r = 0.35, p > 0.05). CFT of EXTEM was not in significant correlation with PT and INR (r = 0.16, 0.19, p > 0.05), respectively. Significant correlation between platelets and both MCF (EXTEM; r = 0.59, p = 0.004) and MCF (INTEM; r = 0.48, p = 0.027).ConclusionROTEM disagreed with SCTs and did not show the temporary hypocoagulability suggested by SCTs. Both ROTEM and SCTs showed no signs of hypercoagulability. Future studies involving ROTEM could help develop new guidelines for coagulation monitoring.
Diversity in the fertilization envelopes of echinoderms
Authors: Oulhen Nathalie , Reich Adrian , Wong Julian L. , Ramos Isabela , Wessel Gary M. 
Published: January 2013

SUMMARYCell surface changes in an egg at fertilization are essential to begin development and for protecting the zygote. Most fertilized eggs construct a barrier around themselves by modifying their original extracellular matrix. This construction usually results from calcium‐induced exocytosis of cortical granules, the contents of which in sea urchins function to form the fertilization envelope (FE), an extracellular matrix of cortical granule contents built upon a vitelline layer scaffold. Here, we examined the molecular mechanism of this process in sea stars, a close relative of the sea urchins, and analyze the evolutionary changes that likely occurred in the functionality of this structure between these two organisms. We find that the FE of sea stars is more permeable than in sea urchins, allowing diffusion of molecules in excess of 2 megadaltons. Through a proteomic and transcriptomic approach, we find that most, but not all, of the proteins present in the sea urchin envelope are present in sea stars, including SFE9, proteoliaisin, and rendezvin. The mRNAs encoding these FE proteins accumulated most densely in early oocytes, and then beginning with vitellogenesis, these mRNAs decreased in abundance to levels nearly undetectable in eggs. Antibodies to the SFE9 protein of sea stars showed that the cortical granules in sea star also accumulated most significantly in early oocytes, but different from sea urchins, they translocated to the cortex of the oocytes well before meiotic initiation. These results suggest that the preparation for cell surface changes in sea urchins has been shifted to later in oogenesis, and perhaps reflects the meiotic differences among the species—sea star oocytes are stored in prophase of meiosis and fertilized during the meiotic divisions, as in most animals, whereas sea urchins are one of the few taxons in which eggs have completed meiosis prior to fertilization.
The origins of multicellular organisms
Authors: Niklas Karl J. , Newman Stuart A. 
Published: January 2013

SUMMARYMulticellularity has evolved in several eukaryotic lineages leading to plants, fungi, and animals. Theoretically, in each case, this involved (1) cell‐to‐cell adhesion with an alignment‐of‐fitness among cells, (2) cell‐to‐cell communication, cooperation, and specialization with an export‐of‐fitness to a multicellular organism, and (3) in some cases, a transition from “simple” to “complex” multicellularity. When mapped onto a matrix of morphologies based on developmental and physical rules for plants, these three phases help to identify a “unicellular ⇒ colonial ⇒ filamentous (unbranched ⇒ branched) ⇒ pseudoparenchymatous ⇒ parenchymatous” morphological transformation series that is consistent with trends observed within each of the three major plant clades. In contrast, a more direct “unicellular ⇒ colonial or siphonous ⇒ parenchymatous” series is observed in fungal and animal lineages. In these contexts, we discuss the roles played by the cooptation, expansion, and subsequent diversification of ancestral genomic toolkits and patterning modules during the evolution of multicellularity. We conclude that the extent to which multicellularity is achieved using the same toolkits and modules (and thus the extent to which multicellularity is homologous among different organisms) differs among clades and even among some closely related lineages.
Identification of Phytophthora species baited and isolated from forest soil and streams in northwestern Yunnan province, China
Authors: Huai W.‐x. , Tian G. , Hansen E. M. , Zhao W.‐x. , Goheen E. M. , Grünwald N. J. , Cheng C. 
Published: January 2013

SummaryPhytophthora species were surveyed by collecting soil samples and placing bait leaves in selected streams during June–October in the years 2005, 2006 and 2010 at three sites in oak forests in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of NW Yunnan province, China. Seventy‐three isolates of Phytophthora spp. were recovered from 135 baited leaf samples and 81 soil samples. Eight Phytophthora species were identified by observation of morphological features and ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 rDNA sequence analysis. The eight taxa included two well‐known species P. gonapodyides and P. cryptogea, two recently described species P. gregata and P. plurivora, two named but as yet undescribed taxa, P. taxon PgChlamydo and P. taxon Salixsoil, and two previously unrecognized species, Phytophthora sp.1 and P. sp.2. The most numerous species, P. taxon PgChlamydo, and the second most abundant species, P. taxon Salixsoil, were recovered at all three sites. Phytophthora cryptogea was detected only once at site Nixi. Phytophthora gregata and P. sp.2 were isolated from a stream only at site Bitahai, while the other three species were each found at two sites. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolates belonged to three ITS clades, one species including six isolates in clade 2, six species including 66 isolates in clade 6 and one species in clade 8. There was a relatively rich species and genetic diversity of Phytophthora detected in the investigated regions where the forest biotic and abiotic factors affecting the growth and evolution of Phytophthora populations were diverse.
Comparative developmental and reproductive biology of geographical populations from two cryptic species in Brontispa longissima (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Takano Shun‐ichiro , Takasu Keiji , Murata Mika , Huong Nguyen Thi , Nakamura Satoshi 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBrontispa longissima is a serious pest of the coconut palm Cocos nucifera, presumed to have originated in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. It recently invaded Southeast and East Asia, where outbreaks have been reported. Mitochondrial DNA analysis reveals two cryptic species in B. longissima: one is distributed over a wide area including Asia and the Pacific region (the Asian clade) and the other in a limited area in the Pacific region (the Pacific clade). Recent invasions and outbreaks have been reported only from the area where the Asian clade has been found, suggesting that this clade has become a pest in Asia. To infer if the Asian clade has the ability to establish, spread and outbreak in novel habitats more effectively than the Pacific clade, we compared life‐history traits between the two populations of different clades. The net reproduction rate (R0) was 130.0 and 94.0, the mean length of a generation (T) was 57.7 and 54.7 days, and the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) was 0.084 and 0.083 per day for the population from Ishigaki Island, Japan (ISH) (the Asian clade) and for the population from Papua New Guinea (PNG) (the Pacific clade), respectively. Although the difference in r was little, the simulated population growth showed that the ISH population can be 1.6 times larger than that of the PNG after ten generations. The rapid population growth of the Asian clade would be partly responsible for its establishment, spread and frequent outbreaks in Asia.
Diurnal rhythm and effects of feeding, exercise and recombinant equine growth hormone on serum insulin concentrations in the horse
Authors: Noble G. K. , Sillence M. N. 
Published: January 2013

SummaryReasons for performing the studyAs growth hormone increases lean body mass, it could be a therapy for obese horses. However, growth hormone use induces hyperinsulinaemia in some species, so further investigation is warranted.ObjectivesTo investigate the effects of feeding, exercise and growth hormone therapy on basal insulin concentrations in healthy horses.Study designIn vivo experimental study.MethodsBlood samples were obtained every 30 min from 12 geldings over 24 h, to establish basal serum insulin concentrations, before they underwent a 3‐week exercise programme. Horses were allocated into 2 groups and exercised for another 4 weeks. Group A received daily i.m. injections of recombinant equine growth hormone; 5 mg/day for 5 days, then 12.5 mg/day for 16 days. Blood samples were taken daily before feeding. Insulin vs. time area under curve of Groups A and B were compared using a Student's unpaired t test.ResultsHorses demonstrated insulin peaks within 2 h of feeding of 577 ± 108.3 pmol/l at 09.30 h and 342.4 ± 75.7 pmol/l at 17.30 h, despite receiving the same meal. The nadir was between midnight and 07.30 h. Exercise had no effect on basal insulin concentrations prior to equine growth hormone administrations. The equine growth hormone injections increased serum insulin concentrations (P = 0.01) within Group A, from 44.4 ± 15.3 pmol/l initially to 320.9 ± 238.2 pmol/l by Day 12. Exogenous growth hormone caused variable hyperinsulinaemia, which was alleviated once equine growth hormone administration ceased.ConclusionsSingle serum samples taken prior to the morning meal provide basal insulin concentrations. Exercise did not change basal insulin concentrations. However, equine growth hormone injections increased basal insulin concentrations, which were not ameliorated by exercise.Potential relevanceThis therapy is not recommended to address obesity in insulin‐resistant equids.