bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Early and late maternal effects on hatching phenology of heterocypris incongruens (crustacea: Ostracoda)
Authors: Rossi Valeria , Albini Dania , Pellegri Valerio , Menozzi Paolo 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTIn ephemeral ponds, the hatching asynchrony of resting eggs may be adaptive and the result of a maternal bet‐hedging strategy. A mother can influence the progeny phenology through conditions experienced during life cycle even in early development stages. We investigated the consequences of a hatching delay for offspring and compared early and late maternal effects in a clonal lineage ofHeterocypris incongruens. We used females from genetically identical, 40 months old, resting eggs that hatched, asynchronically, after a first (FI) or a second (SI) inundation event. Maternal origin (FI or SI) was considered an early effect involving the maternal response to hatching stimuli during the embryological dormant stage. Maternal age at deposition and egg size were considered late effects that account for maternal conditions during active stage. We compared size and development time of eggs produced by FI and SI females under laboratory condition (24°C 12:12 L:D photoperiod). Maternal origin affected development time to adulthood which was later in FI than in SI females, and fecundity that was higher in FI than in SI females. SI eggs were smaller than FI eggs: size was affected by maternal age at deposition and was directly related to the egg development time. Development time varied from 1 to 117 days and was shorter in SI eggs than in FI eggs. Our results showed that maternal response during embryological stage affects the performance in successive active stages and suggested that hatching asynchrony may be considered a risk spread strategy.J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 382–391, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Feeding performance of king Mackerel,Scomberomorus cavalla
Authors: Ferguson Amber R. , Huber Daniel R. , Lajeunesse Marc J. , Motta Philip J. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTFeeding performance is an organism's ability to capture and handle prey. Although bite force is a commonly used metric of feeding performance, other factors such as bite pressure and strike speed are also likely to affect prey capture. Therefore, this study investigated static bite force, dynamic speeds, and predator and prey forces resulting from ram strikes, as well as bite pressure of the king mackerel,Scomberomorus cavalla, in order to examine their relative contributions to overall feeding performance. Theoretical posterior bite force ranged from 14.0–318.7 N. Ram speed, recorded with a rod and reel incorporated with a line counter and video camera, ranged from 3.3–15.8B L/s. Impact forces on the prey ranged from 0.1–1.9 N. Bite pressure, estimated using theoretical bite forces at three gape angles and tooth cross‐sectional areas, ranged from 1.7–56.9 MPa. Mass‐specific bite force for king mackerel is relatively low in comparison with other bony fishes and sharks, with relatively little impact force applied to the prey during the strike. This suggests that king mackerel rely on high velocity chases and high bite pressure generated via sharp, laterally compressed teeth to maximize feeding performance.J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 399–413, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Post‐MDGs and Africa's Development Conundrum
Authors: Ayittey George 
Published: April 2015

AbstractSince the 1960s, the international community and bodies have devised various mega‐plans to boost aid and help pull Africa out of its economic miasma. They all came to grief. In 2000, came another—the Millennium Development Goals—with the primary goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by 2015. Only a handful of ‘small’ African countries are expected to make it. In the post‐Millennium Development Goals era, it is recommended that Africa should go back to the basics and do first things first by focusing on the traditional and informal sectors of the economy where the vast majority of the poor are found. It is pointless to talk about halving of poverty, for example, when Africa cannot feed itself. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of the Comprehensive Cervical Dystonia Rating Scale: Methodology
Authors: Comella Cynthia L. , Fox Susan H. , Bhatia Kailash P. , Perlmutter Joel S. , Jinnah Hyder A. , Zurowski Mateusz , McDonald William M. , Marsh Laura , Rosen Ami R. , Waliczek Tracy , Wright Laura J. , Galpern Wendy R. , Stebbins Glenn T. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractWe present the methodology utilized for development and clinimetric testing of the Comprehensive Cervical Dystonia (CD) Rating scale, or CCDRS. The CCDRS includes a revision of the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS‐2), a newly developed psychiatric screening tool (TWSTRS‐PSYCH), and the previously validated Cervical Dystonia Impact Profile (CDIP‐58). For the revision of the TWSTRS, the original TWSTRS was examined by a committee of dystonia experts at a dystonia rating scales workshop organized by the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. During this workshop, deficiencies in the standard TWSTRS were identified and recommendations for revision of the severity and pain subscales were incorporated into the TWSTRS‐2. Given that no scale currently evaluates the psychiatric features of cervical dystonia (CD), we used a modified Delphi methodology and a reiterative process of item selection to develop the TWSTRS‐PSYCH. We also included the CDIP‐58 to capture the impact of CD on quality of life. The three scales (TWSTRS2, TWSTRS‐PSYCH, and CDIP‐58) were combined to construct the CCDRS. Clinimetric testing of reliability and validity of the CCDRS are described. The CCDRS was designed to be used in a modular fashion that can measure the full spectrum of CD. This scale will provide rigorous assessment for studies of natural history as well as novel symptom‐based or disease‐modifying therapies.
Patient‐reported goal achievement following onabotulinumtoxinA treatment in patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity
Authors: Chartier‐Kastler Emmanuel , Rovner Eric , Hepp Zsolt , Khalaf Kristin , Ni Quanhong , Chancellor Michael 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAimsTo identify the self‐reported treatment goals of patients with urinary incontinence (UI) due to neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO), determine whether patients achieved their goals following onabotulinumtoxinA treatment, and assess impact of neurogenic disease (multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury) and/or clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) on goal achievement.MethodsData from two Phase III studies of onabotulinumtoxinA 200U (n = 227) or placebo (n = 241) in NDO patients (≥14 UI episodes/week; inadequately managed by anticholinergics) were pooled for analysis. At baseline, patients listed their top two qualitative treatment goals, which were distributed into eight subcategories. Six weeks post‐treatment, patients rated whether they achieved their goals (5‐point Likert scale). The frequency distribution of goals, the proportion of patients who achieved their goals, and goal achievement by etiology and use/non‐use of CIC were assessed.ResultsAt baseline, the most common goals were “be dry” (37.9%), “reduce other urinary symptoms” (26.4%), and “improve quality of life/sleep/emotions” (21.4%). Significantly higher proportions of onabotulinumtoxinA‐treated patients achieved their overall goals versus placebo (62.0% vs. 17.2%; P <  0.001). OnabotulinumtoxinA treatment resulted in higher goal achievement in all goal categories, regardless of etiology. CIC use did not negatively impact patients’ overall goal achievement; significantly higher proportions of onabotulinumtoxinA‐treated patients versus placebo achieved their goals regardless of baseline catheterization use or de novo CIC during the first 6 weeks of the study.ConclusionsThe majority of patients with UI due to NDO achieved their self‐determined treatment goals following onabotulinumtoxinA 200U therapy, regardless of etiology or CIC use. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:595–600, 2016. © 2015 The Authors. Neurourology and Urodynamics, published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
New video discarding policies for improving UDP performance over wired/wireless networks
Authors: Darabkh Khalid A. , Awad Abeer M. , Khalifeh Ala' F. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryMultimedia communication over wired and wireless networks becomes a compulsory need for many recent applications. To effectively react to the tremendous demand of video streaming over the Internet, videos are usually compressed by utilizing spatial and temporal redundancy. It is noteworthy to mention that compressing videos may degrade their quality if it is not investigated properly. In other words, as a consequence of exploiting redundancies, frame dependencies emanate, which make discarding frames, because of occupying the whole capacity of network elements, have severe implications on the video quality. Furthermore, transmitting videos over capacity‐limited links owing to error‐prone channels, power constraints and bandwidth variations will severely affect the video quality. Additionally, as the current coding schemes are characterized by being able to afford high compression efficiency, sensitivity to packet losses becomes untolerated. Therefore, insuring the perceived quality of the delivered videos to be always high in spite of aforementioned challenges is the primary focus of current researchers. In this paper, we propose efficient and novel video discarding policies that mainly aim to reduce the number of frames being lost through substitution of those frames that are very difficult or even impossible to decode at the receiver side. This is accomplished by controlling and maintaining the buffer occupancy of network elements. Our proposed policies are evaluated in terms of frameput, rate of non‐decodable frames, peak signal‐to‐noise ratio, structural similarity index and average buffer occupancy. Our proposed policies behave very well and achieve a remarkable enhancement over what is closely connected in the literature. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
EPSPS gene amplification in glyphosate‐resistant Bromus diandrus
Authors: Malone Jenna M , Morran Sarah , Shirley Neil , Boutsalis Peter , Preston Christopher 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDGlyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world and has been intensively used to control B. diandrus, a problematic weed of crops and pastures in southern Australia.RESULTSResistance to glyphosate was identified in two populations of B. diandrus that were nearly fivefold more resistant to glyphosate than wild‐type plants. Both populations contained EPSPS gene amplification, with resistant plants having an average of around 20‐fold the number of copies of EPSPS compared with susceptible plants. EPSPS expression was also increased in resistant plants of both populations; however, expression levels were not correlated with the number of EPSPS copies. Amplification of only one of the four EPSPS genes present in B. diandus was detected. Investigation into the inheritance of glyphosate resistance found no segregation in the F2 generation. Every individual in the F2 populations contained between three and 30 copies of EPSPS; however, on average they contained fewer copies compared with the parent resistant population.CONCLUSIONSGlyphosate resistance in B. diandrus is due to EPSPS gene amplification. Resistance is heritable but complex. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Lean quality improvement model for quality practices in software industry in Pakistan
Authors: Shah Faisal Tehseen , Shamail Shafay , Ahmad Akhtar Niaz 
Published: April 2015

AbstractImplementation of quality and achieving quality culture in small and medium software houses (SMSH) have been a subject of discussion among the industry. The existing software process improvement frameworks are too heavy for SMSH. There is a need of lean quality models that will help SMSH in establishing quality culture with minimal effort and resources. The objective of this research study is to map the environment and culture of SMSH in Pakistan towards quality improvement and process improvement by implementing total quality management philosophy. A lean quality improvement model (LQIM) consisting of four quality constructs and 10 quality practices has been proposed. The LQIM is validated using good fit indices in structural equation modeling. At the end, implementation of the proposed LQIM is explained using the Deming's philosophy of plan, do, check, act cycle for continuous process improvement. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessing Parental Knowledge About Thalassemia in a Thalassemia Center of Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Maheen Humaira , Malik Farrukh , Siddique Barera , Qidwai Asim 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThalassemia is the leading haemoglobinopathy after sickle cell anemia that accounts for 1.5 % of the global population. In Pakistan, every 1–4 per 1000 infants suffers from Thalassemia. Regardless of being a population “at high risk” for Thalassemia major, evidence suggest that Pakistanis possess poor knowledge of the disease. The present study aimed to assess parents’ accurate knowledge about Thalassemia disease at Afzaal Memorial Thalassemia Foundation in Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 172 parents of existing patients who were receiving regular blood transfusion from the center were included in the study. Parents’ knowledge was assessed via a pre‐tested and validated Thalassemia knowledge questionnaire. Findings show that 40 % of the sample showed lower knowledge scores about Thalassemia. Among different ethnic origins, Urdu speaking respondents showed a higher average score of correct knowledge about Thalassemia major (21.6 ± 4.41) as compared to the Siraiki (17.9 ± 4.48) and the Pathans (17.2 ± 4.34). These latter two ethnic groups also showed poor knowledge about Thalassemia minor. Generally parents provided correct answers about treatment of Thalassemia major. The findings suggest targeted interventions are required for high risk ethnic groups. Thalassemia education programs should be offered to extended family members of existing patients by all Thalassemia centers. High risk ethnic groups (Siraiki and Pathan) need rigorous interventions, and Thalassemia worker program should be introduced nationwide.
Relationship of Age on Enjoyment of Physical Activity in Upper Extremity Illness
Authors: Jayakumar Prakash , Overbeek Celeste L. , Ring David C. 
Published: April 2015

Background Orthopaedic surgeons often work under the assumption that patients over 60 are low-demand individuals. This study addressed the primary null hypothesis that older age does not correlate with the enjoyment of physical activities in patients with upper extremity illness. Secondary analyses sought factors associated with enjoyment of physical activity, activity level and magnitude of disability. Methods A cohort of 98 new and follow-up outpatients with upper extremity illnesses completed a measure of enjoyment of physical activity (Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES)), were categorized into one of three levels of activity after interview, and completed measures of general disability (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function CAT), upper extremity-specific disability (Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) score), coping responses to pain (PROMIS Pain Interference CAT), and symptoms of depression (PROMIS Depression CAT). Results Greater enjoyment of physical activity correlated with older age ( r=0.29, p=0.0039) but not with other explanatory variables. The final multivariable model of factors associated with greater physical activity included older age and male sex. The final multivariable model of factors associated with diminished PROMIS Physical Function included greater PROMIS Pain Interference, male sex, other pain conditions, and separated/divorced and single marital status and accounted for 34 % of the variance. Conclusions Enjoyment of physical activity does not decrease with age. Patient-specific expectations, goals and preferences for physical activity should be assessed prior to decision-making on treatment. Level of Evidence: Level IV, Prognostic Study case series
Selective fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A radiographic evaluation of risk factors for imbalance
Authors: Studer D. , Awais A. , Williams N. , Antoniou G. , Eardley-Harris N. , Cundy P. 
Published: April 2015

Study design Retrospective database, chart and medical imaging review. Objectives To report on the outcome and evaluate possible risk factors for postoperative complications following selective spinal fusion in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Materials and methods All patients with AIS who underwent either a selective thoracic or selective thoracolumbar/lumbar spinal fusion at our institution from January 2001 to December 2011 inclusive were included in this study. The minimum postoperative follow-up period of all patients was 2 years. Results During the 11-year study period, 157 patients with AIS underwent surgery for their progressive spinal deformity. Thirty patients (19 %) had a selective spinal fusion, with 16 patients (group A) having a selective thoracic, and 14 patients (group B) having a selective thoracolumbar/lumbar spinal arthrodesis. In both groups the main postoperative complications were adding-on (25 % group A, 36 % group B) and coronal decompensation (25 % group A, 29 % group B). In group A, no statistically significant risk factors for postoperative complications were identified. In group B, global coronal balance was identified as a significant risk factor for adding-on. Patients with adding-on had significantly higher coronal balance scores (mean 3.6) than those who did not experience adding-on (mean 1.9) ( p = 0.03). In addition, those with adding-on had a significantly smaller bending lumbar Cobb angle (mean 15) than those without adding-on (mean 31.6) ( p = 0.015). None of the patients who underwent selective spinal fusion required revision surgery. Conclusion Although the complication rate after performing a selective spinal fusion is high, the revision rate remains low and the debate whether or not to perform a selective spinal fusion will continue.
Results of screening for cervical cancer among pregnant and non‐pregnant women in Brazil
Authors: Xavier‐Júnior José C.C. , Vale Diama B. , Vieira Luiz F.F. , Lima Marcelo T. , Zeferino Luiz C. , Dufloth Rozany M. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo compare cervical cytology test results among pregnant and non‐pregnant women, and to assess associations with age, screening history, and onset of sexual intercourse.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted of cervical smears obtained from women aged 18–34 years in the Campinas region of Brazil between January 2000 and December 2009. Eligible participants had not undergone cytological screening within the previous year and had no history of precursor lesions or cervical cancer. Multinomial logistic regression was performed for different age groups, with high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) as the endpoint.ResultsOverall, 3072 (0.4%) of 861 353 non‐pregnant women and 135 (0.4%) of 37 568 pregnant women had HSILs. Odds of HSIL among pregnant and non‐pregnant women did not differ in any age group. An increased age at first sexual intercourse among pregnant women reduced odds of HSILs in all age groups (odds ratio 0.9 [95% confidence interval 0.8–0.9] for all). Among women aged 21–24 years, 25–29 years, and 30–34 years, some associations were identified between an interval of less than 5 years since previous screening and reduced odds of HSILs.ConclusionMandatory cervical cytology screening does not seem to be necessary for pregnant women; protocols in place for non‐pregnant women should be followed.
Impact of the Baltimore Experience Corps Trial on cortical and hippocampal volumes
Authors: Carlson Michelle C. , Kuo Julie H. , Chuang Yi‐Fang , Varma Vijay R. , Harris Greg , Albert Marilyn S. , Erickson Kirk I. , Kramer Arthur F. , Parisi Jeanine M. , Xue Qian‐Li , Tan Eriwn J. , Tanner Elizabeth K. , Gross Alden L. , Seeman Teresa E. , Gruenewald Tara L. , McGill Sylvia , Rebok George W. , Fried Linda P. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIntroductionThere is a substantial interest in identifying interventions that can protect and buffer older adults from atrophy in the cortex and particularly, the hippocampus, a region important to memory. We report the 2‐year effects of a randomized controlled trial of an intergenerational social health promotion program on older men's and women's brain volumes.MethodsThe Brain Health Study simultaneously enrolled, evaluated, and randomized 111 men and women (58 interventions; 53 controls) within the Baltimore Experience Corps Trial to evaluate the intervention impact on biomarkers of brain health at baseline and annual follow‐ups during the 2‐year trial exposure.ResultsIntention‐to‐treat analyses on cortical and hippocampal volumes for full and sex‐stratified samples revealed program‐specific increases in volumes that reached significance in men only (P's ≤ .04). Although men in the control arm exhibited age‐related declines for 2 years, men in the Experience Corps arm showed a 0.7% to 1.6% increase in brain volumes. Women also exhibited modest intervention‐specific gains of 0.3% to 0.54% by the second year of exposure that contrasted with declines of about 1% among women in the control group.DiscussionThese findings showed that purposeful activity embedded within a social health promotion program halted and, in men, reversed declines in brain volume in regions vulnerable to dementia.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT0038.
The aqueous phase of Alzheimer's disease brain contains assemblies built from ∼4 and ∼7 kDa Aβ species
Authors: Mc Donald Jessica M. , O'Malley Tiernan T. , Liu Wen , Mably Alexandra J. , Brinkmalm Gunnar , Portelius Erik , Wittbold William M. , Frosch Matthew P. , Walsh Dominic M. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIntroductionMuch knowledge about amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation and toxicity has been acquired using synthetic peptides and mouse models, whereas less is known about soluble Aβ in human brain.MethodsWe analyzed aqueous extracts from multiple AD brains using an array of techniques.ResultsBrains can contain at least four different Aβ assembly forms including: (i) monomers, (ii) a ∼7kDa Aβ species, and larger species (iii) from ∼30‐150 kDa, and (iv) >160 kDa. High molecular weight species are by far the most prevalent and appear to be built from ∼7 kDa Aβ species. The ∼7 kDa Aβ species resist denaturation by chaotropic agents and have a higher Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio than monomers, and are unreactive with antibodies to Asp1 of Ab or APP residues N‐terminal of Asp1.DiscussionFurther analysis of brain‐derived ∼7 kDa Aβ species, the mechanism by which they assemble and the structures they form should reveal therapeutic and diagnostic opportunities.
TAMIS with partial excision of mesorectum and primary closure of rectal wound using vloc
Authors: Alves Filho Eduardo Fonseca , de Oliveira Costa Paulo Frederico , de Carvalho Alexandre Lopes 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Background Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery has proven to be a viable alternative in the treatment of rectal tumors; however, rectal wound closure can be challenging. We describe our experience with this procedure using the vloc suture device.
Resume Eight successful Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery with primary wound closure using vloc were performed in 5 men, 62 years mean age; all cases had pre-operative diagnosis of adenoma with high-grade dysplasia. The surgical anatomic–pathologic results showed 6 adenomas with high-grade dysplasia and 2 well differentiated adenocarcinomas, limited to the upper third of the submucosa (pT1SM1) without lymphatic or vascular invasion. All lesions were resected with negative margins. No patient reported during follow-up rectal pain, fecal incontinence or bleeding.
Conclusion The use of vloc in rectal wound closure during Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery is secure and facilitates the procedure.