bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Normal limits for serum thyrotropin vary greatly depending on method
Authors: Strich David , Karavani Gilad , Levin Shimon , Edri Shalom , Gillis David 
Published: November 2015

SummaryContextThyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) levels within populations do not follow Gaussian distribution, and normal limits are derived after mathematical normalization. The clinical relevance of these limits is unknown. The objective of this study was to compare upper and lower TSH limits by four data normalization methods with non‐normalized data and assess their clinical relevance.Design, patients and measurementsResults of blood samples taken by community physicians and stored in a computerized database were analysed after removing samples from patients with evidence of thyroid illness. TSH values were normalized by the Hoffmann and Tukey methods and each method with natural log transformation. Non‐normalized data for TSH in the uppermost and lowermost percentile were also calculated. Clinical relevance was determined by alterations in thyroid hormone levels at, below and above the limits for each method.ResultsThe maximal reduction from non‐normalized data for the upper normal limit (UNL) was by the Hoffman method 43% = 3·1 mIU/l). The maximal increase for the lower normal limit (LNL) was also by the Hoffman method (708% = 0·81 mIU/l). There was very limited difference in average FT3 and FT4 between patients with TSH within, below or above the normal range for all methods.ConclusionsDifferent normalization methods alter the normal limits greatly. However, in individuals without thyroid illness, thyroid hormone values are stable over a wide range of TSH levels including beyond the UNL for all methods. Indeed, there may be no true universal upper TSH cut‐off level and clinical decision‐making cannot rely on these calculated limits.
The importance of waterbirds as an overlooked pathway of invasion for alien species
Authors: Green Andy J. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe importance of waterbirds as vectors of aliens has been recognized since Darwin's time, yet research by pioneers has been forgotten during the development of modern invasion biology, which tends to overlook this means of dispersal. Waterbirds are ignored in databases of alien species and invasion pathways, making management and prevention of invasions more difficult. I summarize 22 studies that provide empirical evidence for the dispersal of alien plants and invertebrates by waterbirds in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, complementing 14 studies recently identified by Reynolds et al. (2015, Diversity and Distributions, 21, 744–754). Together, these studies provide empirical evidence for the dispersal of 79 alien plant species and eight alien invertebrates by waterbirds, including some of the worst aquatic invaders and the most widely distributed alien terrestrial plant species. Waterbirds known to be vectors include ducks, geese, swans, shorebirds, gulls, herons and rails. Aliens are usually dispersed after being ingested or becoming attached to plumage, bills or feet, but waterbirds also disperse alien species when making nests, when preying on other vectors such as fish, or even attached to leg rings. Whilst waterbirds may have a trivial role in explaining the arrival of alien species to new continents, they have a vital role in spreading aliens around once they get there. Greater focus on the role of waterbird vectors is essential if management of invasions is to be effective, and I make proposals for future research.
Selective Control of the Upper Extremity Scale: validation of a clinical assessment tool for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy
Authors: Wagner Lisa V , Davids Jon R , Hardin James W 
Published: November 2015

AimThe ability to determine the relationship between selective motor control and upper extremity function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP), and to measure the functional outcome and efficacy of interventions designed to improve selective motor control, has been limited by the lack of an objective, validated tool. The primary objective of this study is to describe the development of a clinical tool entitled Selective Control of the Upper Extremity Scale (SCUES), and present evidence of its validity and reliability.MethodContent validity was established through an expert panel (eight clinicians, mean and median of 17y of clinical experience, range 2–30y). Intra‐ and interrater reliability was determined by six occupational therapists who scored 10 participant studies. Construct validity of the SCUES was established by comparison to the spontaneous functional analysis section of the Shriners Hospitals Upper Extremity Evaluation, the Manual Ability Classification System, and the Box and Block test for 25 children with unilateral CP.ResultsThe content validity ratio values were greater than 0 (indicating >50% agreement) for 33 of the 34 items (97%), and equal or greater than 0.5 (indicating ≥75% agreement) for 26 of the 34 items (76%). Intrarater reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] >0.75) for all segments and joints of the affected extremity. Interrater reliability was excellent for all segments and joints of the affected extremity except the shoulder (ICC=0.72). The SCUES was strongly correlated with the SHUEE (Spearman's rho=0.69, p=0.003). The SCUES was not correlated with the Manual Ability Classification System (rho=−0.24, p=0.369) or the Box and Block test (rho=0.47, p=0.066).InterpretationPsychometric analysis of the SCUES revealed comparable validity to other accepted video‐based clinical assessment tools for the upper extremity in children with CP.
Suicidal ideation reported by adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes: results from Diabetes MILES—Australia
Authors: Handley T. E. , Ventura A. D. , Browne J. L. , Rich J. , Attia J. R. , Reddy P. , Pouwer F. , Speight J. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimsTo examine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation (SI) in a community‐based sample of adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.MethodsParticipants were 3338 adults aged 18–70 years with Type 1 diabetes (n = 1376) or Type 2 diabetes (non‐insulin: n = 1238; insulin: n = 724) from a national survey administered to a random sample registered with the National Diabetes Services Scheme. Depression and SI were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire, and diabetes‐specific distress with the Problem Areas In Diabetes scale. Separate logistic regression analyses by diabetes type/treatment were used to determine relative contribution to SI.ResultsOverall, we observed a SI rate of 14% in our sample. Participants with Type 2 diabetes using insulin reported more frequent depressive symptoms, and were more likely to report recent SI (19%) compared with those with either Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes not using insulin (14 and 12%, respectively). After controlling for depression, there was little difference in the prevalence of SI between diabetes types/treatments, but higher diabetes‐specific distress significantly increased the odds of SI.ConclusionsAs SI is a significant risk factor for a suicide attempt, the findings have implications for healthcare professionals, pointing to the importance of adequate screening and action plans for appropriate follow‐up of those reporting depression. Our findings are also indicative of the psychological toll of diabetes more generally, and the need to integrate physical and mental healthcare for people with diabetes.
tRNA methyltransferase homologue gene TRMT10A mutation in young adult‐onset diabetes with intellectual disability, microcephaly and epilepsy
Authors: Yew T. W. , McCreight L. , Colclough K. , Ellard S. , Pearson E. R. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractBackgroundA syndrome of young‐onset diabetes mellitus associated with microcephaly, epilepsy and intellectual disability caused by mutations in the tRNA methyltransferase 10 homologue A (TRMT10A) gene has recently been described.Case reportWe report two siblings from the fourth family reported to have diabetes mellitus as a result of a TRMT10A mutation. A homozygous nonsense mutation p.Glu27Ter in TRMT10A was identified using targeted next‐generation sequencing and confirmed by PCR/Sanger sequencing. Diabetes was diagnosed while the subjects were in their 20s and was characterized by insulin resistance. Epilepsy and intellectual disability were features in common. Mild microcephaly was present at birth but their final head circumferences were normal.ConclusionOur report provides independent confirmation of the role of TRMT10A mutations in this syndrome and expands its phenotypic description. TRMT10A sequencing should be considered in children or adults with young‐onset diabetes who have a history of intellectual disability, microcephaly and epilepsy. This report also shows the advantages of using a targeted panel to identify previously unsuspected monogenic diabetes among young‐onset non‐insulin‐dependent diabetes in the absence of obesity and autoimmunity.
Prevalence of oro‐dental pathology in a working horse population in Egypt and its relation to equine health
Authors: Salem S. E. , Townsend N. B. , Refaai W. , Gomaa M. , Archer D. C. 
Published: November 2015

SummaryReasons for performing studyOro‐dental disease can have a significant impact on equine welfare.ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of oro‐dental disease and to identify risk factors for oro‐dental disorders and poor body condition scores (BCS) in a working horse population in Egypt.Study designCross‐sectional survey.MethodsOro‐dental examination was performed on 450 working horses in 2 Egyptian provinces. Horse and management historical data were collected and horses were assigned to no/mild, moderate and severe dental disease categories based on findings on examination. Multivariable logistic regression and generalised additive models were used to identify risk factors for oral mucosal injuries and very poor/poor BCS, and to explore the relationship between age and different oro‐dental disorders.ResultsOro‐dental disease was common, with 45.3% and 8.4% of horses considered to have moderate and severe oro‐dental disease, respectively. None of these horses had previously undergone any form of proper dental examination and treatment by trained personnel. Oral mucosal injuries (64.2%) and sharp enamel points (79.8%) were most common. Oral mucosal injuries were significantly associated with increasing age (odds ratio (OR) 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.1, P = 0.03), focal dental overgrowths (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4–4.0, P = 0.002) and sharp enamel points (OR 6.3, 95% CI 3.5–11.0, P<0.001). Very poor and poor BCS were significantly associated with severe dental disease (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2–5.8, P = 0.02), horses aged 16–30 years (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.7–7.0, P = 0.001), height (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.9–0.97, P = 0.001) and packed cell volume (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.85–0.95, P<0.001).ConclusionsThere is a need for education of working horse‐owners in Egypt about the importance of oro‐dental disease and for greater availability of veterinarians with suitable training and equipment to perform dental prophylaxis and treatment. Even simple dental prophylaxis could have a significant impact on the health and welfare of this population of working horses.
Ecosystem model parameterization and adaptation for sustainable cellulosic biofuel landscape design
Authors: Field John L. , Marx Ernie , Easter Mark , Adler Paul R. , Paustian Keith 
Published: November 2015

AbstractRenewable fuel standards in the US and elsewhere mandate the production of large quantities of cellulosic biofuels with low greenhouse gas (GHG) footprints, a requirement which will likely entail extensive cultivation of dedicated bioenergy feedstock crops on marginal agricultural lands. Performance data for such systems is sparse, and non‐linear interactions between the feedstock species, agronomic management intensity, and underlying soil and land characteristics complicate the development of sustainable landscape design strategies for low‐impact commercial‐scale feedstock production. Process‐based ecosystem models are valuable for extrapolating field trial results and making predictions of productivity and associated environmental impacts that integrate the effects of spatially variable environmental factors across diverse production landscapes. However, there are few examples of ecosystem model parameterization against field trials on both prime and marginal lands or of conducting landscape‐scale analyses at sufficient resolution to capture interactions between soil type, land use, and management intensity. In this work we used a data‐diverse, multi‐criteria approach to parameterize and validate the DayCent biogeochemistry model for upland and lowland switchgrass using data on yields, soil carbon changes, and soil nitrous oxide emissions from US field trials spanning a range of climates, soil types, and management conditions. We then conducted a high‐resolution case study analysis of a real‐world cellulosic biofuel landscape in Kansas in order to estimate feedstock production potential and associated direct biogenic GHG emissions footprint. Our results suggest that switchgrass yields and emissions balance can vary greatly across a landscape large enough to supply a biorefinery in response to variations in soil type and land‐use history, but that within a given land base both of these performance factors can be widely modulated by changing management intensity. This in turn implies a large sustainable cellulosic biofuel landscape design space within which a system can be optimized to meet economic or environmental objectives.
Sorption isotherms and thermodynamic properties of grated Parmesan cheese
Authors: Freitas Mírian Luisa Faria , Polachini Tiago Carregari , de Souza Ana Cristina , Telis‐Romero Javier 
Published: November 2015

SummaryThis study focuses on isotherms, isosteric heat of sorption and enthalpy–entropy mechanism of water sorption of grated Parmesan cheese at simulating conditions of storage and drying processes. Isotherms were determined by gravimetric method using different saturated salt solutions. Samples were submitted to different temperatures, and several models were used to fit experimental data, GAB and modified GAB being those which best represented experimental data in all temperature ranges. The isosteric heat of sorption was calculated by Clausius–Clapeyron equation, and higher values of integral isosteric sorption heat were verified for storage temperatures. Besides it, both conditions showed higher values of sorption heat corresponding to low water content. This phenomenon was supported by the enthalpy–entropy compensation study, which demonstrated a higher spontaneity of water sorption for storage temperatures, confirming that the lower the water content of food products is, the stronger the intermolecular bonds of water are.
Influence of starter cultures on the generation of antioxidant nitrogen compounds in Iberian dry‐fermented sausages
Authors: Fernández Margarita , Martín Alberto , Benito María José , Casquete Rocio , Recio Isidra , Córdoba María De Guía 
Published: November 2015

SummaryThe purpose of this work was to investigate the influence of a starter culture on the generation of nitrogen compounds with antioxidant activity during the ripening of Iberian dry‐fermented sausages. Starters P200S34 (P. acidilactici M200 and S. vitulus RS34) and P198S34 (P. acidilactici MS198 and S. vitulus RS34) were used to make the Iberian dry‐fermented sausages ‘salchichón’ and chorizo; then, the physicochemical and microbial properties were determined during the ripening process. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay was employed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the nitrogen extracts obtained during ripening of the sausages. This activity was correlated with the most relevant compounds detected by HPLC‐ESI‐MS in the final ripened extracts. Although a relevant part of the antioxidant activity was attributed to the predominant natural nitrogen fraction, the microbial population found in fermented sausages and the fermentation conditions significantly influenced the low molecular weight nitrogen profile and antioxidant activities. Inoculation with the starter culture P200S34 increased free amino acids and amines, such as methionine and tyramine, but other nitrogen compounds also increased the antioxidant activity of the low molecular weight nitrogen extracts. Thus, these starter cultures in Iberian sausages can contribute to delaying oxidative changes during storage.
CD74/DQA1 dimers predispose to the development of arthritis in humanized mice
Authors: David Luckey , Gokhale Ameya , Jois Seetharama , Johnson Aaron , Behrens Marshall , Luthra Harvinder , Taneja Veena 
Published: November 2015

SummaryRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with the presence of certain HLA class II genes. However, why some individuals carrying RA non‐associated alleles develop arthritis is still unexplained. The trans‐heterodimer between two RA non‐associated HLA genes can render susceptibility to develop arthritis in humanized mice, DQA1*0103/DQB1*0604, suggesting a role for DQ α chains in pathogenesis. In this study we determined the role of DQA1 in arthritis by using mice expressing DQA1*0103 and lacking endogenous class II molecules. Proximity ligation assay showed that DQA1*0103 is expressed on the cell surface as a dimer with CD74. Upon immunization with type II collagen, DQA1*0103 mice generated an antigen‐specific cellular and humoral response and developed severe arthritis. Structural modelling suggests that DQA1*0103/CD74 form a pocket with similarity to the antigen binding pocket. DQA1*0103 mice present type II collagen‐derived peptides that are not presented by an arthritis‐resistant DQA1*0103/DQB1*0601 allele, suggesting that the DQA1*0103/CD74 dimer may result in presentation of unique antigens and susceptibility to develop arthritis. The present data provide a possible explanation by which the DQA1 molecule contributes to susceptibility to develop arthritis.
Impact of a large deletion in the neuraminidase protein identified in a laninamivir‐selected influenza A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2) variant on viral fitness in vitro and in ferrets
Authors: Ann Julie , Abed Yacine , Beaulieu Edith , Bouhy Xavier , Joly Marie‐Hélène , Dubé Karen , Carbonneau Julie , Hamelin Marie‐Eve , Mallett Corey , Boivin Guy 
Published: November 2015

Viral fitness of a laninamivir‐selected influenza A/Brisbane/10/2007‐like (H3N2) isolate (LRVp9) containing a 237‐amino acid neuraminidase deletion and a P194L hemagglutinin mutation was evaluated in vitro and in ferrets. LRVp9 and the wild‐type (WT) virus showed comparable replication kinetics in MDCK‐ST6GalI cells. Cultured virus was recovered between days 2 and 5 post‐infection in nasal washes (NW) from the 4 WT‐infected ferrets whereas no virus was recovered from the LRVp9‐infected animals. There was a ≥1 log reduction in viral RNA copies/μl of NW for LRVp9 compared to WT at most time points. The large neuraminidase deletion compromises viral infectivity in vivo.
On My Own: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study of Mothers of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Taiwan
Authors: Hsu Yu‐Chien , Tsai Shu‐Ling , Hsieh Mei‐Hui , Jenks Michael S. , Tsai Chang‐Hsiung , Hsu Min‐Tao 
Published: November 2015

BackgroundThere has been a dramatic increase in autism around the world. However, little is known about the impact of the Taiwanese primogeniture system on mothers of children with ASD. Greater knowledge is needed to understand the life experiences of Taiwanese mothers with ASD children when a healthy male descendent is expected.Materials and MethodsResearch follows the hermeneutic phenomenological approach with in‐depth interviews and participant observation (Agar, Speaking of Ethnography. Sage, California, 1986). The researchers collected and analysed stories from seven mothers who are the major caregivers of their school‐aged autistic children.ResultsThe data revealed the following themes that represented the mothers' experiences: taking the blame, my world was turned upside down, a child‐centred life and two lives as one.ConclusionsThe findings provide a deeper understanding of common expectations of, and behaviours directed towards, Taiwanese mothers of children with autism. This offers healthcare professionals ways of reconceptualizing therapeutic practice, thus benefitting these mothers.
Modelling the potential distribution, net primary production and phenology of common ragweed with a physiological model
Authors: Leiblein‐Wild Marion Carmen , Steinkamp Jörg , Hickler Thomas , Tackenberg Oliver 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimCommon ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) is a medically relevant invasive species of great public interest due to its highly allergenic pollen. We aimed at modelling its potential range, its net primary production (NPP) and important phenological stages.LocationEurope and North America.MethodsWe developed a new physiological model for common ragweed and applied it to simulate the species′ potential distribution (calibrated with the native range), NPP and phenology in North America and Europe. Based on this model, we investigated which regions are suitable for ragweed growth in Europe and simulated the timing of phenological stages that determine pollen release.ResultsThe model predicted the observed distribution of ragweed in North America well. The application to Europe suggests that large parts of Europe are climatically suitable for ragweed growth and reproduction. The highest potential NPP was predicted in southern‐central and south‐eastern Europe and southern France, roughly corresponding with hotspots of atmospheric pollen load, but also indicating a higher potential than currently achieved in western Europe and along parts of the northern edge of its distribution. The predicted time of pollen releases in Europe corresponded well with measurements from pollen traps.Main conclusionsThe results suggest that our mechanistic model adequately represents physiological and ecological characteristics that determine the potential distribution, productivity and phenology of common ragweed. The model could be used for predicting the potential distribution and performance of ragweed in the future under climate change and might thus contribute to improved longer term predictions of exposure to allergenic pollen.