bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of environmental education on children's and parents' knowledge and attitudes towards lemurs in rural Madagascar
Authors: Rakotomamonjy S. N. , Jones J. P. G. , Razafimanahaka J. H. , Ramamonjisoa B. , Williams S. J. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractEnvironmental education is widely used to increase awareness of conservation issues. The theory is that increasing knowledge will improve attitudes towards the environment. Often, environmental education is aimed at children with the assumption that this can also impact adults through intergenerational transfer of knowledge and attitudes. However, there are few detailed studies evaluating the effectiveness of environmental education on changing knowledge and attitudes, and whether any changes do transfer between generations. We evaluate the effect of a school‐based education programme run by Malagasy researchers aimed at promoting lemur conservation in Eastern Madagascar. We assess changes in the knowledge and attitudes of participating children and their parents (surveying 126 children and 88 parents across four matched villages, 1 year after two of the villages received environmental education). There was very low awareness of the law protecting lemurs. Attitudes towards lemurs varied between species; with the aye‐aye (considered scary) and the eastern lesser bamboo lemur (considered a pest) being less preferred. Children in villages who received environmental education had higher knowledge about lemurs and more positive attitudes than children in the villages not exposed to the environmental education. Knowledge about lemurs among parents where children had received environmental education was also higher (although not attitudes). Environmental education programmes can have a lasting effect, certainly on knowledge, but engagement of the research and NGO community is needed to build the capacity of teachers in rural areas to enthuse their pupils about ecology and conservation issues.
Systematic review with network meta‐analysis: adjuvant therapy for resected biliary tract cancer
Authors: Zhu G.‐Q. , Shi K.‐Q. , You J. , Zou H. , Lin Y.‐Q. , Wang L.‐R. , Braddock M. , Chen Y.‐P. , Zheng M.‐H. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryBackgroundMajor adjuvant therapies for biliary tract cancer (BTC) include fluorouracil, gemcitabine and chemoradiation (CRT), but the optimum regimen remains inconclusive.AimTo compare these therapies in terms of patient survival rates after resection and toxic effects.MethodsWe searched PubMed for controlled trials comparing the above three therapies with each other or observation alone until 31 January 2014. We estimated the hazard ratios (HRs) for death and odds ratios (ORs) for toxic effects among different therapies. Subgroup analyses based on positive lymph node or resection margin were also performed.ResultsTwelve eligible articles were included. Gemcitabine improved 5‐year survival (HR 2.12, 95% CI, confidence interval 1.23–4.02, P = 0.01), whereas fluorouracil (HR 1.61, 95% CI 0.74–3.67) and CRT (HR 1.55, 95% CI 0.82–3.32) provided a poorer survival outcome compared with gemcitabine after 1 year. Similarly, for 5‐year survival rates, although differing, CRT did not provide a significant improvement in survival (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.20–0.97) compared with gemcitabine. Fluorouracil did not appear to provide benefit over gemcitabine (HR 1.56, 95% CI 0.77–3.35). CRT was ranked highest for toxic effects including haematological (OR 5.45, 95% CI 0.01–483.85) and nonhaematological (OR 5.77, 95% CI 0.01–3807.40).ConclusionsChemotherapy with gemcitabine is the optimum adjuvant treatment with a balanced benefit‐toxicity ratio for resected biliary tract cancer. Chemoradiation was more likely to cause toxic effects.
Abiotic stress tolerance and competition‐related traits underlie phylogenetic clustering in soil bacterial communities
Authors: Goberna Marta , Navarro‐Cano Jose A. , Valiente‐Banuet Alfonso , García Carlos , Verdú Miguel 
Published: August 2014

AbstractSoil bacteria typically coexist with close relatives generating widespread phylogenetic clustering. This has been ascribed to the abiotic filtering of organisms with shared ecological tolerances. Recent theoretical developments suggest that competition can also explain the phylogenetic similarity of coexisting organisms by excluding large low‐competitive clades. We propose that combining the environmental patterns of traits associated with abiotic stress tolerances or competitive abilities with phylogeny and abundance data, can help discern between abiotic and biotic mechanisms underlying the coexistence of phylogenetically related bacteria. We applied this framework in a model system composed of interspersed habitats of highly contrasted productivity and comparatively dominated by biotic and abiotic processes, i.e. the plant patch‐gap mosaic typical of drylands. We examined the distribution of 15 traits and 3290 bacterial taxa in 28 plots. Communities showed a marked functional response to the environment. Conserved traits related to environmental stress tolerance (e.g. desiccation, formation of resistant structures) were differentially selected in either habitat, while competition related traits (e.g. organic C consumption, formation of nutrient‐scavenging structures) prevailed under high resource availability. Phylogenetic clustering was stronger in habitats dominated by biotic filtering, suggesting that competitive exclusion of large clades might underlie the ecological similarity of co‐occurring soil bacteria.
Congenital bilateral aplasia of the metacarpophalangeal joints in a foal
Authors: Jordana M. , Martens A. , Van Brantegem L. , Chiers K. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryA 2‐day‐oldWarmblood filly was presented for examination of an angular limb deformity of the left front limb and an upright conformation of both metacarpophalangeal joints. Radiological examination revealed bilateral absence of the metacarpophalangeal joint space with fusion of the third metacarpal bone and first phalanx (synostosis). No treatment was undertaken. The filly was readmitted to the clinic 10 weeks later for bilateral front limb lameness. On radiological examination, the synostosis of the front metacarpophalangeal joints was still present. Physitis of the distal growth plate of the right third metacarpal bone and proximal growth plate of the right proximal phalanx, and an avulsion fracture of the palmaromedial and proximal aspect of the left middle phalanx, with a cystic like lesion on the medial aspect of distal first phalanx and proximal middle phalanx were diagnosed. Given the poor prognosis, the foal was subjected to euthanasia.Post mortemexamination confirmed the absence of the metacarpophalangeal joint space with a trabecular bony union between the third metacarpal bone and the first phalanx. A rudimentary joint capsule was present at the level of the absent joints as well as a small zone of articular cartilage, which invaginated over a short distance into the dorsal trabecular bone on the right front limb. On the medial aspect of the left proximal interphalangeal joint, a focal defect of articular cartilage with exposure of subchondral bone was observed. This is the first case report of a foal born with congenital aplasia of both metacarpophalangeal joints. Congenital malformations should be considered as differential diagnosis in lame foals or foals born with angular or flexural limb deformities.
FrxA is an S‐nitrosoglutathione reductase enzyme that contributes to Helicobacter pylori pathogenicity
Authors: Justino Marta C. , Parente Margarida R. , Boneca Ivo G. , Saraiva Lígia M. 
Published: August 2014

Helicobacter pylori is a pathogen that infects the gastric mucosa of a large percentage of the human population worldwide, and predisposes to peptic ulceration and gastric cancer. Persistent colonization of humans by H. pylori triggers an inflammatory response that leads to the production of reactive nitrogen species. However, the mechanisms of H. pylori defence against nitrosative stress remain largely unknown. In this study, we show that the NADH‐flavin oxidoreductase FrxA of H. pylori, besides metabolizing nitrofurans and metronidazole, has S‐nitrosoglutathione reductase activity. In agreement with this, inactivation of the FrxA‐encoding gene resulted in a strain that was more sensitive to S‐nitrosoglutathione. FrxA was also shown to contribute to the proliferation of H. pylori in macrophages, which are key phagocytic cells of the mammalian innate immune system. Moreover, FrxA was shown to support the virulence of the pathogen upon mouse infection. Altogether, we provide evidence for a new function of FrxA that contributes to the successful chronic colonization ability that characterizes H. pylori.
Please don't misuse the museum: ‘declines’ may be statistical
Authors: Campbell Grant Evan H. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractDetecting declines in populations at broad spatial scales takes enormous effort, and long‐term data are often more sparse than is desired for estimating trends, identifying drivers for population changes, framing conservation decisions, or taking management actions. Museum records and historic data can be available at large scales across multiple decades, and are therefore an attractive source of information on the comparative status of populations. However, changes in populations may be real (e.g. in response to environmental covariates) or resulting from variation in our ability to observe the true population response (also possibly related to environmental covariates). This is a (statistical) nuisance in understanding the true status of a population. Evaluating statistical hypotheses alongside more interesting ecological ones is important in the appropriate use of museum data. Two statistical considerations are generally applicable to use of museum records: first without initial random sampling, comparison with contemporary results cannot provide inference to the entire range of a species, and second the availability of only some individuals in a population may respond to environmental changes. Changes in the availability of individuals may reduce the proportion of the population that is present and able to be counted on a given survey event, resulting in an apparent decline even when population size is stable.
Climate‐driven speedup of alpine treeline forest growth in the Tianshan Mountains, Northwestern China
Authors: Qi Zhaohuan , Liu Hongyan , Wu Xiuchen , Hao Qian 
Published: August 2014

AbstractForest growth is sensitive to interannual climatic change in the alpine treeline ecotone (ATE). Whether the alpine treeline ecotone shares a similar pattern of forest growth with lower elevational closed forest belt (CFB) under changing climate remains unclear. Here, we reported an unprecedented acceleration ofPicea schrenkianaforest growth since 1960s in theATEof Tianshan Mountains, northwestern China by a stand‐total sampling along six altitudinal transects with three plots in each transect: one from theATEbetween the treeline and the forest line, and the other two from theCFB. All the sampledP.schrenkianaforest patches show a higher growth speed after 1960 and, comparatively, forest growth in theCFBhas sped up much slower than that in theATE. The speedup of forest growth at theATEis mainly accounted for by climate factors, with increasing temperature suggested to be the primary driver. Stronger water deficit as well as more competition withinthe CFBmight have restricted forest growth there more than that within theATE, implying biotic factors were also significant for the accelerated forest growth in theATE, which should be excluded from simulations and predictions of warming‐induced treeline dynamics.
Do Houses of Worship Affect Housing Prices? Evidence fromGermany
Authors: Brandt Sebastian , Maennig Wolfgang , Richter Felix 
Published: August 2014

AbstractUsing hedonic pricing models, this paper analyzes the impact of houses of worship (HoWs) on the prices of adjacent condominiums inHamburg,Germany. It addresses the questions of whether this impact differs between Islamic and Christian religious centers, whether potential effects persist even after the house of worship has been deconsecrated, and whether church bells affect residential property prices. This is one of the first studies on this subject to have been conducted outside theU.S.Controlling for spatial dependence and by using potentiality variables, positive externalities ofHoWswithin a radius of 1,000 m were identified. Compared with properties beyond this threshold, price premiums of 4.6 percent were detected for condominiums at distances of 100–200 m to the next house of worship. The results also show that the positive externalities near mosques do not differ from those ofHoWsof other religions and that the positive effect of churches continues to be felt even after they have been deconsecrated. The influence of church bell ringing on the prices of surrounding residential properties, however, could not be substantiated.
Job Lock in Rural versus Urban Labor Markets
Authors: Mushinski David , Bernasek Alexandra , Weiler Stephan 
Published: August 2014

AbstractWhile the possible negative effect of employer‐sponsored health insurance on labor mobility (job lock) has spawned substantial research, little research has considered differences in job lock between rural and urban areas. Job lock might differ in rural areas because of specific features of rural economies, in particular, the thinness of rural labor markets. This paper estimates measures of job lock for rural and urban areas. Parameter estimates suggest that it is larger in rural areas. The results also indicate that nonwage benefits such as retirement plans, paid vacation, and sick pay are more important factors in married rural workers decisions to change jobs while wages are a more important factor in the transition decisions of single urban workers.
Functionally Graded Ceramics Fabricated with Side‐by‐Side Tape Casting for Use in Magnetic Refrigeration
Authors: Bulatova Regina , Bahl Christian , Andersen Kjeld , Kuhn Luise Theil , Pryds Nini 
Published: August 2014

Functionally graded ceramic tapes have been fabricated by a side‐by‐side tape casting technique. This study shows the possibility and describes the main principles of adjacent coflow of slurries resulting in formation of thin plates of graded ceramic material. Results showed that the small variations of solvent and binder system concentrations have a substantial effect on slurry viscosity. Varying these parameters showed that side‐by‐side tape casting with a well‐defined interface area is possible for slurries with viscosities above 3500 mPa s at a casting shear rate of 3.3 s−1. As it was expected, the choice of de‐bindering and sintering regimes significantly influences crack formation, and a three‐step heating programme was found to result in tapes of the highest quality. The interface regions of green graded tapes were investigated structurally by scanning electron microscopy; for a distinct identification of the interface region and analysing the degree of cross‐interface diffusion, the isothermal entropy change was measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer as the magnetic transition temperature (Curie temperature) is very sensitive to the dopant level in ceramics. Also the purpose of developing this graded ceramic tape casting was applications of these specific magnetocaloric properties within the magnetic refrigeration technology.
Influenza‐like illness sentinel surveillance in one hospital in Medellin, Colombia. 2007–2012
Authors: Arango Ana Eugenia , Jaramillo Sergio , Perez Juan , Ampuero Julia S. , Espinal David , Donado Jorge , Felices Vidal , Garcia Josefina , Laguna‐Torres Alberto 
Published: August 2014

BackgroundThe city of Medellin in Colombia has almost no documentation of the causes of acute respiratory infections (ARIs). As part of an ongoing collaboration, we conducted an epidemiologic surveillance for influenza and other respiratory viruses. It described the influenza strains that were circulating in the region along with their distribution over time, and performing molecular characterization to some of those strains. This will contribute to the knowledge of local and national epidemiology.ObjectivesTo analyze viral etiologic agents associated with influenza like illness (ILI) in participants reporting to one General hospital in Medelllin, Colombia.ResultsFrom January 2007 to December 2012, a total of 2039 participants were enrolled. Among them, 1120 (54·9%) were male and 1364 (69%) were under the age of five. Only 124 (6%) were older than the age of 15. From all 2039 participants, 1040 samples were diagnosed by either isolation or RT‐PCR. One or more respiratory viruses were found in 737 (36%) participants. Of those, 426 (57·8%) got influenza A or B. Adenoviral and parainfluenza infections represented 19·1% and 14·9% of viral infections, respectively. Influenza A was detected almost throughout the whole year except for the first quarter of 2010, right after the 2009 influenza A pandemic. Influenza B was detected in 2008, 2010, and 2012 with no pattern detected. During 2008 and 2010, both types circulated in about the same proportion. Unusually, in many months of 2012, the proportion of influenza B infections was higher than influenza A (ranging between 30% and 42%). The higher proportion of adenovirus was mainly detected in the last quarter of years 2007 and 2010. Adenoviral cases are more frequent in participants under the age of four.ConclusionsThe phylogenetic analysis of influenza viruses shows that only in the case of influenza A/H1N1, the circulating strains totally coincide with the vaccine strains each year.
17β‐Estradiol administration promotes delayed cutaneous wound healing in 40‐week ovariectomised female mice
Authors: Mukai Kanae , Nakajima Yukari , Urai Tamae , Komatsu Emi , Nasruddin  , Sugama Junko , Nakatani Toshio 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThis study investigated the effect of 17β‐estradiol on wound healing in 40‐week ovariectomised female mice. Thirty‐six‐week‐old female mice were divided into three groups: medication with 17β‐estradiol after ovariectomy (OVX + 17β‐estradiol), ovariectomy (OVX) and sham (SHAM). The mice received two full‐thickness wounds, and the OVX + 17β‐estradiol group was administered 17β‐estradiol at 0·01 g/day until healing. In the OVX + 17β‐estradiol group, the ratio of wound area was significantly smaller than those of the OVX and SHAM groups on days 1–3, 5, 6, 8–12 and 9–12, respectively, the numbers of neutrophils and macrophages were significantly smaller than those on days 3 and 7, the ratio of re‐epithelialisation was significantly higher than those on days 3 and 11, the ratio of myofibroblasts was significantly higher than those on day 11 and smaller on day 14, and the ratio of collagen fibres was significantly larger than that of the OVX group on days 7–14. We found that 17β‐estradiol administration promotes cutaneous wound healing in 40‐week female mice by reducing wound area, shortening inflammatory response, and promoting re‐epithelialisation, collagen deposition and wound contraction. Our results suggest that cutaneous wound healing that is delayed because of ageing is promoted by exogenous and continuous 17β‐estradiol administration.
Dissection of genomic correlation matrices of US Holsteins using multivariate factor analysis
Authors: Macciotta N.P.P. , Dimauro C. , Null D.J. , Gaspa G. , Cellesi M. , Cole J.B. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryThe aim of this study was to compare correlation matrices between direct genomic predictions for 31 traits at the genomic and chromosomal levels in US Holstein bulls. Multivariate factor analysis carried out at the genome level identified seven factors associated with conformation, longevity, yield, feet and legs, fat and protein content traits. Some differences were found at the chromosome level; variations in covariance structure on BTA 6, 14, 18 and 20 were interpreted as evidence of segregating QTL for different groups of traits. For example, milk yield and composition tended to join in a single factor on BTA 14, which is known to harbour the DGAT1 locus that affects these traits. Another example was on BTA 18, where a factor strongly correlated with sire calving ease and conformation traits was identified. It is known that in US Holstein, there is a segregating QTL on BTA18 influencing these traits. Moreover, a possible candidate gene for daughter pregnancy rate was suggested for BTA28. The methodology proposed in this study could be used to identify individual chromosomes, which have covariance structures that differ from the overall (whole genome) covariance structure. Such differences can be difficult to detect when a large number of traits are evaluated, and covariances may be affected by QTL that do not have large allele substitution effects.
Pooled analysis of clinical outcome for EGFR TKI‐treated patients with EGFR mutation‐positive NSCLC
Authors: Paz‐Ares Luis , Soulières Denis , Moecks Joachim , Bara Ilze , Mok Tony , Klughammer Barbara 
Published: August 2014

AbstractPatients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) appear to gain particular benefit from treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine‐kinase inhibitors (TKI) if their disease tests positive for EGFR activating mutations. Recently, several large, controlled, phase III studies have been published in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation‐positive tumours. Given the increased patient dataset now available, a comprehensive literature search for EGFR TKIs or chemotherapy in EGFR mutation‐positive NSCLC was undertaken to update the results of a previously published pooled analysis. Pooling eligible progression‐free survival (PFS) data from 27 erlotinib studies (n = 731), 54 gefitinib studies (n = 1802) and 20 chemotherapy studies (n = 984) provided median PFS values for each treatment. The pooled median PFS was: 12.4 months (95% accuracy intervals [AI] 11.6–13.4) for erlotinib‐treated patients; 9.4 months (95% AI 9.0–9.8) for gefitinib‐treated patients; and 5.6 months (95% AI 5.3–6.0) for chemotherapy. Both erlotinib and gefitinib resulted in significantly longer PFS than chemotherapy (permutation testing; P = 0.000 and P = 0.000, respectively). Data on more recent TKIs (afatinib, dacomitinib and icotinib) were insufficient at this time‐point to carry out a pooled PFS analysis on these compounds. The results of this updated pooled analysis suggest a substantial clear PFS benefit of treating patients with EGFR mutation‐positive NSCLC with erlotinib or gefitinib compared with chemotherapy.
An overview of hepatitis B prevalence, prevention, and management in the Pacific Islands and Territories
Authors: Howell Jessica , Van Gemert Caroline , Lemoine Maud , Thursz Mark , Hellard Margaret 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThere are over 500–750 000 deaths per year because of hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related cirrhosis and liver cancer worldwide and the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region has some of the highest endemic levels of HBV in the world, particularly within China, South East Asia and Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICT). The PICT have unique ethnic diversity and a very high prevalence of smoking and metabolic syndrome, both important risk factors for liver fibrosis and liver cancer. However, in contrast to many Asian countries, there is little published data on HBV prevalence and related liver disease burden in PICT. In this review, the available published literature and World Health Organization data for HBV prevalence and related liver disease and liver cancer burden in PICT is outlined, and unmet needs for improving HBV prevention and control in the region are highlighted.