bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enacted and implied stigma for dementia in a community in south‐west Nigeria
Authors: Adebiyi Akindele O. , Fagbola Motunrayo A. , Olakehinde Olaide , Ogunniyi Adesola 
Published: November 2015

AbstractBackgroundDementia is a chronic progressive disease that mostly affects the elderly. There is often a stigma surrounding dementia patients because of poor awareness about the disease. In Nigeria, this stigma and related attitudes have not been fully explored. In this study, we assessed the attitude of people towards demented individuals in a transitional community in Nigeria.MethodsThe study used a mixed methods approach. Focused group discussions exploring the concept of dementia were conducted among six community groups, and quantitative data was obtained from an interviewer‐administered questionnaire. A total of 313 respondents were selected with a cluster sampling technique.ResultsOnly 212 respondents (67.7%) were aware of dementia. ‘Memory loss disease’, ‘ageing disease’, ‘disease of insanity’, ‘brain disorder’, ‘disease of forgetfulness’, and ‘dull brain’ are the common names used to describe dementia in the community. Enacted stigma was evident as 36% of respondents felt dementia was associated with shame and embarrassment in the community. Implied stigma was evident in another third that opined that demented individuals would prefer not to know or let others know that they have the disease. Also, 28% were of the opinion that people do not take those with dementia seriously. Of the 22 (10.4%) that reported having received structured information about dementia, 16 (72.7%) got the information from health facilities. Qualitative data revealed the presence of enacted stigma in the community as some referred to affected individuals by derogatory names such as ‘madman’. Some statements from the focus group discussion participants also gave useful insights into the scorn with which demented individuals are sometimes treated.ConclusionThe presence of enacted and implied stigma related to dementia within the community calls for concern. More research efforts are needed to unravel the burden of stigma within communities and best practice for stigma‐reducing interventions.
Pregnancy‐Induced ISG‐15 and MX‐1 Gene Expression is Detected in the Liver of Holstein–Friesian Heifers During Late Peri‐Implantation Period
Authors: Meyerholz MM , Mense K , Knaack H , Sandra O , Schmicke M 
Published: November 2015

ContentsThe bovine embryonic signal interferon‐τ (IFN‐τ) produced by the trophoblast is known to pass through the uterine fluid towards the endometrium and further into the maternal blood, where IFN‐τ induces specific expression of interferon‐stimulated gene expression (ISG), for example in peripheral leucocytes. In sheep, it was shown experimentally by administration of IFN‐τ that ISG is also detectable in the liver. The objective was to test whether ISG can be detected in liver biopsy specimens from Holstein–Friesian heifers during early pregnancy. Liver biopsies were taken on day 18 from pregnant and non‐pregnant heifers (n = 19), and the interferon‐stimulated protein 15 kDa (ISG‐15) and myxovirus‐resistance protein‐1 (MX‐1) gene expression was detected. The expression of both MX‐1 (p: 24.33 ± 7.40 vs np: 9.00 ± 4.02) and ISG‐15 (p: 43.73 ± 23.22 vs 7.83 ± 3.63) was higher in pregnant compared to non‐pregnant heifers (p < 0.05). In conclusion, pregnancy induced ISG‐15 and MX‐1 gene expression in the liver already at day 18 in cattle.
Practice Trends in the Use of Extracorporeal Treatments for Poisoning in Four Countries
Authors: Ghannoum Marc , Lavergne Valery , Gosselin Sophie , Mowry James B. , Hoegberg Lotte C. G. , Yarema Mark , Thompson Margaret , Murphy Nancy , Thompson John , Purssell Roy , Hoffman Robert S. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractExtracorporeal treatments (ECTRs) such as hemodialysis (HD), enhance the elimination of a small number of toxins. Changes in overdose trends, prescribing practices, antidotes, and dialysis techniques may alter the indications and rates of ECTR use over time. This study analyzed trends in ECTR for poisonings in four countries. A retrospective study of national poison center databases from the United States, Denmark, United Kingdom, and five regional databases within Canada was performed. All cases of patients receiving an ECTR were included. ECTR cases were totalled annually and reported as annual rates per 100,000 exposures with stratification per types of ECTR and toxins. The data collection varied by countries. United States, 1985–2014; United Kingdom, 2011–2013; Denmark, 2005–2014, and regions of Canada as follows: Alberta, 1991–2015; Saskatchewan, 2001–2015; Nova Scotia‐PEI, 2006–2015; Quebec, 2008–2014; Ontario‐Manitoba, 2009–2015; British Columbia, 2012–2015. During the study period, the total number of ECTRs and rates per 100,000 exposures, respectively, were: United States, 40,258 and 65.7; United Kingdom, 343 and 232.6; Denmark, 616 and 305.5; Canada, 2709 and 177.5; case rates increased over time for the United States, Denmark, and Canada, but decreased in the United Kingdom. Across the United States and Denmark, HD was the preferred modality used. Toxins for which ECTR was most often used were: United States, ethylene glycol; Canada, methanol; United Kingdom, ethylene glycol; Denmark, salicylates. A high number of ECTRs were performed for atypical toxins such as acetaminophen and benzodiazepines. These data demonstrate a growing use of HD for poisoning with significant regional variations in the overall rates and indications.
Agreeing on Efficient Emissions Reduction
Authors: Bos Olivier , Roussillon Béatrice , Schweinzer Paul 
Published: November 2015

AbstractWe propose a simple contest‐based mechanism providing incentives to reduce harmful emissions to their efficient level without infringing upon productive efficiency. Participation in the most stylized form of the scheme is voluntary and individually rational; all rules are mutually agreeable and are unanimously adopted if proposed. The scheme balances its budget and requires no principal. In a perhaps more realistic stochastic output version, which could potentially inform policy decisions, we show that the transfers required by the efficient mechanism create a mutual insurance motive that can serve as an effective rationale for the (gradual) formation of international environmental agreements.
Identifying Laffer Bounds: A Sufficient‐Statistics Approach with an Application to Germany
Authors: Lorenz Normann , Sachs Dominik 
Published: November 2015

AbstractWe derive a simple sufficient‐statistics test for whether a nonlinear tax‐transfer system is second‐best Pareto efficient. If it is not, then it is beyond the top of the Laffer curve and there exists a tax cut that is self‐financing. The test depends on the income distribution, extensive and intensive labor supply elasticities, and income effect parameters. A tax‐transfer system is likely to be inefficient if marginal tax rates are quickly falling in income. We apply this test to the German tax‐transfer system, and we find that the structure of effective marginal tax rates is likely to be inefficient in the region where transfers are phased out.
Tackling and Mitigating Health Inequalities – Policymakers and Practitioners ‘Talk and Draw’ their Theories
Authors: Mackenzie Mhairi , Hastings Annette , Babbel Breannon , Simpson Sarah , Watt Graham 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn the context of a long‐standing academic acceptance of the socially structured nature of health inequalities, there has been a growing literature that critically examines policies that aim to reduce them. This has demonstrated inadequate policy assessment of the nature of the problem of health inequalities and correspondingly partial solutions that privilege interventions that focus on individual lifestyle solutions over more structural approaches. Much of the research that has been undertaken in this field to explore competing theories of inequalities has analyzed national policy documents or the views of senior policy advisers rather than practitioners.This study uses Raphael’s ‘seven discourses of the social determinants of health’ to understand the implicit theories of health inequalities of both practitioners and policymakers working within a single health care system as they talk about different policy typologies. To help penetrate potentially well‐rehearsed discourses about health inequalities, it tests a visual method of stimulating discussion about how different types of policy might operate to narrow/widen existing gaps in outcomes. Building on Raphael, it finds that individuals’ theories of health inequalities contain co‐existing although not synthesized material and behavioural explanations and that, although the social patterning of material disadvantage was recognized, the role of power and politics is underplayed. Variations between participants did not align with role (policy/practice) and using visual methods to represent the impact of different policy types on health inequalities, though challenging for participants, stimulated reflection about a subject matter that has otherwise become rather stagnant.
Association of HLA‐DRB1 alleles with susceptibility to mixed connective tissue disease in Polish patients
Authors: Paradowska‐Gorycka A. , Stypińska B. , Olesińska M. , Felis‐Giemza A. , Mańczak M. , Czuszynska Z. , Zdrojewski Z. , Wojciechowicz J. , Jurkowska M. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractMixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a systemic autoimmune disease, originally defined as a connective tissue inflammatory syndrome with overlapping features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) and systemic sclerosis (SSc), characterized by the presence of antibodies against components of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1snRNP). The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of (high‐resolution‐typed) DRB1 alleles in a cohort of Polish patients with MCTD (n = 103). Identification of the variants potentially associated with risk and protection was carried out by comparison with the DKMS Polish Bone Marrow Donor Registry (41306 alleles). DRB1*15:01 (odds ratio (OR): 6.06; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.55–8.06), DRB1*04 (OR: 3.69; 95% CI 2.69–5.01) and *09:01 (OR: 8.12; 95% CI 2.15–21.75) were identified as risk alleles for MCTD, while HLA‐DRB1*07:01 allele was found to be protective (OR: 0.50; 95% CI 0.28–0.83). The carrier frequency of the DRB1*01 was higher in MCTD patients compared with controls, although the differences were not statistically significant. Our results confirm the modulating influence of HLA‐DRB1 genotypes on development of connective tissue diseases such as MCTD.
STRUCTURAL, OPERATIONAL AND MARKET RELATED FEATURES AMONG HOUSING DEVELOPERS IN MALAYSIA
Authors: Kamaruddeen A.M. , Yussof N. , Said I. 
Published: November 2015

In advancing our knowledge of the Malaysian housing industry, this paper presents the characteristics among housing developers operating in Malaysia. Despite the stream of research on organizations, limited attention has been directed towards the extent of the formalization, centralization, adhocracy culture, market orientation; level of transformational leadership and organizational learning; environmental uncertainty and market competition among housing developers in Malaysia. We used a proportionate stratified random sampling to collect data from micro, small, large and public listed housing developers in Peninsular Malaysia. We received 183 out of 504 questionnaires distributed, yielding 36.3 percent response rate. While formalization and government support were found to be low; centralization, adhocracy culture, organizational learning and environmental uncertainty were found to be moderate, while market orientation, transformational leadership and market competition were found to be high among the housing developers. Our findings provide a new impetus for a better understanding of the characteristics of housing developers operating in Malaysia. It can also provide a foreground for comparison with the housing industries in other countries.
THE IMPACT OF GREEN MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY IN ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING IN BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY IN MALAYSIA
Authors: Md Taib Mohd Yazid , Mohamed Udin Zulkifli , Hj Abdul Ghani Abdullah 
Published: November 2015

This paper is aim to investigating the impact of green management (GM) and technology (GT)in the electrical and electronics industry. Environmental issues, pollution and corruption due to wrong doing. This questionnaire survey-based paper was a cross sectional approach. The samples were derived by simple random sampling from the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing report of 2013/2014. A pilot test data of 40 respondents was collected and tested using factor analysis, construct validity and reliability. The data obtained and used in this survey were self-reporting by respondent from the respective industry. The outcome, suggested that GM and GT should be holistically implemented. This paper contributed to the body of knowledge through identifying the relationship between GM and GT practices in Business Sustainability.
Equidistribution of primitive rational points on expanding horospheres
Authors: Einsiedler Manfred , Mozes Shahar , Shah Nimish , Shapira Uri 
Published: November 2015

We confirm a conjecture of Marklof regarding the limiting distribution of certain sparse collections of points on expanding horospheres. These collections are obtained by intersecting the expanded horosphere with a certain manifold of complementary dimension and turns out to be of arithmetic nature. This result is then used along the lines suggested by Marklof to give an analogue of a result of Schmidt regarding the distribution of shapes of lattices orthogonal to integer vectors.
Amine neurotransmitters, inflammation and epithelial sodium transport
Authors: Soares‐da‐Silva Patrício , Cabral José Miguel , Magalhães Diogo , Fraga Sónia , Magro Fernando 
Published: November 2015

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?
The present work reviews the roles of renal and intestinal dopamine and 5‐HT in the maintenance of fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. The role of inflammatory agents at the intestinal level that affect fluid and electrolyte homeostasis is also addressed.

What advances does it highlight?
General mechanisms of epithelial cell ion transport in the gastrointestinal tract and kidney share considerable similarities, particularly with regard to basolateral Na+,K+‐ATPase as a driving force for the movement of numerous substrates across the cell membrane.

The physiological importance of the renal actions of monoamines (dopamine, noradrenaline and 5‐HT) mainly depends on the sources of the amines in the kidney and on their availability to activate the amine‐specific receptors. Dopamine and 5‐HT are also relatively abundant in the mucosal cell layer of the intestine, and recent evidence suggests their physiological relevance in regulating electrolyte transport. The gastrointestinal tract can be an important site for the loss of water and electrolytes, in the presence of intestinal inflammation. General mechanisms of epithelial cell ion transport in the gastrointestinal tract and kidney share considerable similarities with regard to basolateral Na+,K+‐ATPase as a driving force for the movement of numerous substrates across the cell membrane. The present work reviews the roles of renal and intestinal dopamine and 5‐HT in the maintenance of fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. The role of inflammatory agents at the intestinal level that affect fluid and electrolyte homeostasis is also addressed.
Acute resistance exercise activates rapamycin‐sensitive and ‐insensitive mechanisms that control translational activity and capacity in skeletal muscle
Authors: West Daniel W. D. , Baehr Leslie M. , Marcotte George R. , Chason Courtney M. , Tolento Luis , Gomes Aldrin V. , Bodine Sue C. , Baar Keith 
Published: November 2015

Key points
Ribosome biogenesis is the primary determinant of translational capacity, but its regulation in skeletal muscle following acute resistance exercise is poorly understood.
Resistance exercise increases muscle protein synthesis acutely, and muscle mass with training, but the role of translational capacity in these processes is unclear.
Here, we show that acute resistance exercise activated pathways controlling translational activity and capacity through both rapamycin‐sensitive and ‐insensitive mechanisms.
Transcription factor c‐Myc and its downstream targets, which are known to regulate ribosome biogenesis in other cell types, were upregulated after resistance exercise in a rapamycin‐independent manner and may play a role in determining translational capacity in skeletal muscle.
Local inhibition of myostatin was also not affected by rapamycin and may contribute to the rapamycin‐independent effects of resistance exercise.
AbstractThis study aimed to determine (1) the effect of acute resistance exercise on mechanisms of ribosome biogenesis, and (2) the impact of mammalian target of rapamycin on ribosome biogenesis, and muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and degradation. Female F344BN rats underwent unilateral electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve to mimic resistance exercise in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. TA muscles were collected at intervals over the 36 h of exercise recovery (REx); separate groups of animals were administered rapamycin pre‐exercise (REx+Rapamycin). Resistance exercise led to a prolonged (6–36 h) elevation (30–50%) of MPS that was fully blocked by rapamycin at 6 h but only partially at 18 h. REx also altered pathways that regulate protein homeostasis and mRNA translation in a manner that was both rapamycin‐sensitive (proteasome activity; phosphorylation of S6K1 and rpS6) and rapamycin‐insensitive (phosphorylation of eEF2, ERK1/2 and UBF; gene expression of the myostatin target Mighty as well as c‐Myc and its targets involved in ribosome biogenesis). The role of c‐Myc was tested in vitro using the inhibitor 10058‐F4, which, over time, decreased basal RNA and MPS in a dose‐dependent manner (correlation of RNA and MPS, r2 = 0.98), even though it had no effect on the acute stimulation of protein synthesis. In conclusion, acute resistance exercise stimulated rapamycin‐sensitive and ‐insensitive mechanisms that regulate translation activity and capacity.
Monte Carlo validation of the TrueBeam 10XFFF phase–space files for applications in lung SABR
Authors: Teke Tony , Duzenli Cheryl , Bergman Alanah , Viel Francis , Atwal Parmveer , Gete Ermias 
Published: November 2015

Purpose:To establish the clinical acceptability of universal Monte Carlo phase–space data for the 10XFFF (flattening filter free) photon beam on the Varian TrueBeam Linac, including previously unreported data for small fields, output factors, and inhomogeneous media. The study was particularly aimed at confirming the suitability for use in simulations of lung stereotactic ablative radiotherapy treatment plans.Methods:Monte Carlo calculated percent depth doses (PDDs), transverse profiles, and output factors for the TrueBeam 10 MV FFF beam using generic phase–space data that have been released by the Varian MC research team were compared with in‐house measurements and published data from multiple institutions (ten Linacs from eight different institutions). BEAMnrc was used to create field size specific phase–spaces located underneath the jaws. Doses were calculated with DOSXYZnrc in a water phantom for fields ranging from 1 × 1 to 40 × 40 cm2. Particular attention was paid to small fields (down to 1 × 1 cm2) and dose per pulse effects on dosimeter response for high dose rate 10XFFF beams. Ion chamber measurements were corrected for changes in ion collection efficiency (Pion) with increasing dose per pulse. MC and eclipse anisotropic analytical algorithm (aaa) calculated PDDs were compared to Gafchromic film measurement in inhomogeneous media (water, bone, lung).Results:Measured data from all machines agreed with Monte Carlo simulations within 1.0% and 1.5% for PDDs and in‐field transverse profiles, respectively, for field sizes >1 × 1 cm2 in a homogeneous water phantom. Agreements in the 80%–20% penumbra widths were better than 2 mm for all the fields that were compared. For all the field sizes considered, the agreement between their measured and calculated output factors was within 1.1%. Monte Carlo results for dose to water at water/bone, bone/lung, and lung/water interfaces as well as within lung agree with film measurements to within 2.8% for 10 × 10 and 3 × 3 cm2 field sizes. This represents a significant improvement over the performance of the eclipse aaa.Conclusions:The 10XFFF phase–space data offered by the Varian Monte Carlo research team have been validated for clinical use using measured, interinstitutional beam data in water and with film dosimetry in inhomogeneous media.
Farmers knowledge and perception on maize stem borers and their indigenous control methods in south western region of Cameroon
Authors: Oben Esther Obi , Ntonifor Nelson Neba , Kekeunou Sevilor , Abbeytakor Martin Nkwa 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Background
Agriculture is a major contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Cameroon, The South West region of Cameroon is known for its potential in the production of major agricultural commodities, but farmers’ yields from various speculations are low, dwindling over time due to some major constraints. Maize production is hampered by adverse socio-economic factors, several pests and diseases as well as high rainfall with low solar radiation. Lepidopterous maize stem borers are a major threat to increase maize production. Therefore we hypothesized that the farmers of the South West region: (1) also perceived stem borers as an important pest of maize; (2) they have their own indigenous methods of control; (3) they use chemical pesticides because they have no alternative, but would prefer plant materials if these were standardized.

Methods
A semi-structured questionnaire survey was administered in four villages: Maumu, Lower Bokova, Ekona and Bonduma. A total of 151 (male and female) farmers were randomly interviewed to document farmers’ perception on stem borers, and their use of indigenous knowledge to manage key pests of maize.

Results
Stem borers were present throughout the maize growing areas in the Fako division and ranked as one of the most important pests of the crop. Most farmers (82.1 %) perceived that stem borers caused significant damage on maize and were responsible for yield reductions in the crop. The increased impact of these pests was due to improper/untimely use of expensive conventional insecticides given the lack of a cheaper alternative method of control. About 50 % of respondent admitted not having any indigenous knowledge of stem borer control, while only 20 % had tried plant products. The most relevant indigenous stem borer control was the use of wood ash. Most (90 %) of the respondent would prefer plant-based insecticides in future because they are safer, cheaper and readily available.

Conclusions
Farmers’ knowledge would contribute in understanding the activities of stem borers and use of plant insecticides. Research is therefore needed to standardize the methods of using plant-based products and also identify the active ingredients of these plants to ensure their effectiveness against maize stem borers and other pests.