bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: do interferon lambda 3 polymorphisms predict the outcome of interferon‐therapy in hepatitis B infection?
Authors: Galmozzi E. , Viganò M. , Lampertico P. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryBackgroundInterferon lambda 3 (IFN‐λ3) polymorphisms are the strongest genetic predictor of outcome of hepatitis C virus infection and of response to Pegylated interferon (PegIFN)‐based therapy. Whether this holds true for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is matter of controversy.AimTo review the association between host genomics and spontaneous or interferon‐induced clearance of HBV with specific reference to the recently identified interleukin 28B gene now renamed IFN‐λ3.MethodsA literature search was performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science for English articles and abstracts using free text words and combinations of the following terms ‘IL28B’, ‘IFN lambda’, ‘genomics’, ‘hepatitis B virus’, ‘interferon’ ‘GWAS’, ‘treatment’, ‘SNPs’, ‘HLA’, ‘polymorphisms’.ResultsGenome‐wide association studies convincingly demonstrated an association between SNPs in the HLA locus and spontaneous resolution of HBV infection in subgroups of Asian patients, yet no information is available for Caucasians. The preliminary observations of an association between IFN‐λ3 SNP and virological and serological responses to IFN in both HBeAg‐positive and ‐negative patients could not be replicated by subsequent studies. Yet, majority of studies performed so far suffer several limitations in terms of sample size, selection of the patients, endpoints of therapy, treatment strategies and duration of follow‐up.ConclusionsWhile host genetics is associated with an increased likelihood of spontaneous clearance of HBV among genotype B/C patients, the relationship between IFN‐λ3 polymorphisms and response to IFN has not been confirmed. Further studies in large cohorts of homogeneous patients are required, before this genetic test can be recommended in clinical practice.
Integrating mobile phones into teaching and learning: A case study of teacher training through professional development workshops
Authors: Ekanayake Sakunthala Y. , Wishart Jocelyn 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThis paper presents the development and implementation of a professional development workshop series on integrating mobile phones into science teaching for a group of teachers in Sri Lanka. The series comprised a 3‐day Planning Workshop followed by implementation of the planned lessons in real classrooms and a subsequent 1‐day Reviewing Workshop. During the Planning Workshop, teachers were provided with a hands‐on‐session on the use of mobile phones in science teaching followed by collaborative lesson planning activities. The methodological approach taken to evaluating the initiative was qualitative, and data were collected using observations and fieldnotes. The data were analysed using thematic analysis techniques with the support of NVivo8 (QSR International Pty Ltd., Victoria, Australia) qualitative data analysis software. It was found that as professional development for teachers was provided separately as Planning and Reviewing Workshops, these workshops supported the teachers in recognising the educational potential of mobile phones, in learning how to use them in science teaching and learning, in changing their attitudes towards the use of mobile phones in teaching and in sharing knowledge and skills relating to mobile phone applications in science teaching and learning.
Should mobile learning be compulsory for preparing students for learning in the workplace?
Authors: Fuller Richard , Joynes Viktoria 
Published: January 2014

AbstractFrom the contexts of current social, educational and health policy, there appears to be an increasingly inevitable “mobilisation” of resources in medicine and health as the use mobile technology devices and applications becomes widespread and culturally “normed” in workplaces. Over the past 8 years, students from the University of Leeds Medical School have been loaned mobile devices and smartphones and been given access to mobile‐based resources to assist them with learning and assessments as part of clinical activity in placement settings. Our experiences lead us to suggest that educators should be focusing less on whether mobile learning should be implemented and more on developing mobile learning in curricula that is comprehensive, sustainable, meaningful and compulsory, in order to prepare students for accessing and using such resources in their working lives.
Subtyping of renal cortical neoplasms in fine needle aspiration biopsies using a decision tree based on genomic alterations detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization
Authors: Gowrishankar Banumathy , Cahill Lynnette , Arndt Alexandra E. , Al‐Ahmadie Hikmat , Lin Oscar , Chadalavada Kalyani , Chaganti Seeta , Nanjangud Gouri J. , Murty Vundavalli V. , Chaganti Raju S. K. , Reuter Victor E. , Houldsworth Jane 
Published: January 2014

ObjectivesTo improve the overall accuracy of diagnosis in needle biopsies of renal masses, especially small renal masses (SRMs), using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and to develop a renal cortical neoplasm classification decision tree based on genomic alterations detected by FISH.Patients and MethodsEx vivo fine needle aspiration biopsies of 122 resected renal cortical neoplasms were subjected to FISH using a series of seven‐probe sets to assess gain or loss of 10 chromosomes and rearrangement of the 11q13 locus. Using specimen (nephrectomy)‐histology as the ‘gold standard’, a genomic aberration‐based decision tree was generated to classify specimens. The diagnostic potential of the decision tree was assessed by comparing the FISH‐based classification and biopsy histology with specimen histology.ResultsOf the 114 biopsies diagnostic by either method, a higher diagnostic yield was achieved by FISH (92 and 96%) than histology alone (82 and 84%) in the 65 biopsies from SRMs (<4 cm) and 49 from larger masses, respectively. An optimized decision tree was constructed based on aberrations detected in eight chromosomes, by which the maximum concordance of classification achieved by FISH was 79%, irrespective of mass size. In SRMs, the overall sensitivity of diagnosis by FISH compared with histopathology was higher for benign oncocytoma, was similar for the chromophobe renal cell carcinoma subtype, and was lower for clear‐cell and papillary subtypes. The diagnostic accuracy of classification of needle biopsy specimens (from SRMs) increased from 80% obtained by histology alone to 94% when combining histology and FISH.ConclusionThe present study suggests that a novel FISH assay developed by us has a role to play in assisting in the yield and accuracy of diagnosis of renal cortical neoplasms in needle biopsies in particular, and can help guide the clinical management of patients with SRMs that were non‐diagnostic by histology.
The Impact of Placing Adolescent Males into Foster Care on Education, Income Assistance, and Convictions
Authors: Warburton William P. , Warburton Rebecca N. , Sweetman Arthur , Hertzman Clyde 
Published: January 2014

AbstractUnderstanding the causal impacts of taking at‐risk youth into government care is part of the evidence base for policy. Two sources of exogenous variation affecting alternative subsets of the at‐risk population provide causal impacts interpreted as local average treatment effects. Placing 16‐ to18‐year‐old males into care decreases or delays high school graduation, increases income assistance receipt, and has alternative effects on criminal convictions depending upon the instrument employed. This suggests that asking whether more or fewer children should be taken into care is insufficient; it also matters which, and how, children are taken into care.
The Entry‐Deterring Effects of Inflexible Regulation
Authors: Espínola‐Arredondo Ana , Muñoz‐Garcia Félix , Bayham Jude 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThis paper investigates the signalling role of tax policy in promoting, or hindering, the ability of a monopolist to practise entry deterrence. We show that environmental policy can facilitate the incumbent firm's concealment of information from potential entrants, thus deterring entry, and yet entail welfare improvements. Furthermore, we demonstrate that entry deterrence is more likely to arise when environmental regulation cannot be rapidly revised across time if market conditions change (inflexible regimes) than when regulatory agencies can adjust environmental policy over time.
Continuity and Change in the Home Literacy Environment as Predictors of Growth in Vocabulary and Reading
Authors: Sénéchal Monique , LeFevre Jo‐Anne 
Published: January 2014

One hundred and ten English‐speaking children schooled in French were followed from kindergarten to Grade 2 (Mage: T1 = 5;6, T2 = 6;4, T3 = 6;11, T4 = 7;11). The findings provided strong support for the Home Literacy Model (Sénéchal & LeFevre, ) because in this sample the home language was independent of the language of instruction. The informal literacy environment at home predicted growth in English receptive vocabulary from kindergarten to Grade 1, whereas parent reports of the formal literacy environment in kindergarten predicted growth in children's English early literacy between kindergarten and Grade 1 and growth in English word reading during Grade 1. Furthermore, 76% of parents adjusted their formal literacy practices according to the reading performance of their child, in support of the presence of a responsive home literacy curriculum among middle‐class parents.
Association between discordant immunological response to highly active anti-retroviral therapy, regulatory T cell percentage, immune cell activation and very low-level viraemia in HIV-infected patients
Authors: Saison J , Ferry T , Demaret J , Maucort Boulch D , Venet F , Perpoint T , Ader F , Icard V , Chidiac C , Monneret G 
Published: January 2014

Summary
The mechanisms sustaining the absence of complete immune recovery in HIV-infected patients upon long-term effective highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) remain elusive. Immune activation, regulatory T cells (Tregs) or very low-level viraemia (VLLV) have been alternatively suspected, but rarely investigated simultaneously. We performed a cross-sectional study in HIV-infected aviraemic subjects (mean duration of HAART: 12 years) to concomitantly assess parameters associated independently with inadequate immunological response. Patients were classified as complete immunological responders (cIR, n = 48) and inadequate immunological responders (iIR, n = 39), depending on the CD4+ T cell count (&gt; or &lt; 500/mm3). Clinical and virological data (including very low-level viraemia) were collected. In parallel, immunophenotyping of CD4+ lymphocytes, including Treg subsets, and CD8+ T cells was performed. Percentages of activated CD4+ T cells, Tregs, effector Tregs and terminal effector Tregs were found to be significantly elevated in iIR. Neither the percentage of activated CD8+ T cells nor VLLV were found to be associated with iIR. In the multivariate analysis, nadir of CD4+ T cell count and percentage of Tregs were the only two parameters associated independently with iIR [odds ratio (OR) = 2·339, P = 0·001, and OR = 0·803, P = 0·041]. We present here the largest study investigating simultaneously the immune response to long-term HAART, activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, Treg percentages and very low-level viraemia. Causative interactions between Tregs and CD4+ T cells should now be explored prospectively in a large patients cohort.
Children's accounts of moving to a foster home
Authors: Goodyer Annabel 
Published: January 2014

AbstractLittle is known about how children themselves understand their moves to and between foster homes. The data presented in this paper come from a study that sought children's views on becoming and being a foster child. A key finding of that study was how children's accounts of being fostered illustrated a high level of anxiety and concern about their moving to live with a foster family. This paper firstly explores the key issues about looked‐after children's moves. It then describes the research study undertaken, before exploring the data generated from children's accounts of their moves to a new foster home. Lastly, there is a discussion of the implications for social work practice in this area.
Bone‐Conditioned Medium Inhibits Osteogenic and Adipogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Cells In Vitro
Authors: Peng Jianbo , Nemec Michael , Brolese Eliane , Bosshardt Dieter D. , Schaller Benoit , Buser Daniel , Gruber Reinhard 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackground and PurposeAutografts are used for bone reconstruction in regenerative medicine including oral and maxillofacial surgery. Bone grafts release paracrine signals that can reach mesenchymal cells at defect sites. The impact of the paracrine signals on osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal cells has remained unclear.Material and MethodsOsteogenesis, adipogenesis, and chondrogenesis were studied with murine ST2 osteoblast progenitors, 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes, and ATDC5 prechondrogenic cells, respectively. Primary periodontal fibroblasts from the gingiva, from the periodontal ligament, and from bone were also included in the analysis. Cells were exposed to bone‐conditioned medium (BCM) that was prepared from porcine cortical bone chips.ResultsBCM inhibited osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of ST2 and 3T3‐L1 cells, respectively, as shown by histological staining and gene expression. No substantial changes in the expression of chondrogenic genes were observed in ATDC5 cells. Primary periodontal fibroblasts also showed a robust decrease in alkaline phosphatase and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression when exposed to BCM. BCM also increased collagen type 10 expression. Pharmacologic blocking of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β receptor type I kinase with SB431542 and the smad‐3 inhibitor SIS3 at least partially reversed the effect of BCM on PPARγ and collagen type 10 expression. In support of BCM having TGF‐β activity, the respective target genes were increasingly expressed in periodontal fibroblasts.ConclusionsThe present work is a pioneer study on the paracrine activity of bone grafts. The findings suggest that cortical bone chips release soluble signals that can modulate differentiation of mesenchymal cells in vitro at least partially involving TGF‐β signaling.
A 1‐Year Prospective Clinical and Radiographic Study of Early‐Loaded Bone Level Implants in the Posterior Maxilla
Authors: Marković Aleksa , Čolić Snježana , Šćepanović Miodrag , Mišić Tijana , Ðinić Ana , Bhusal Dinesh Sharma 
Published: January 2014

AbstractPurposesThe primary aim of the study was to investigate a 1‐year success rate of early‐loaded bone level implants with a chemically modified sand‐blasted, large grit, acid‐etched surface (SLActive®, Institut Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland) in the posterior maxilla. Secondary objectives included stability of these implants and peri‐implant bone level.Materials and MethodsBone level® implants (Institut Straumann AG) inserted into premolar and/or molar maxillary sites were loaded after 6 weeks of healing. The implants were monitored for 1 year using the following outcome measures: implant success, primary and secondary stability, and peri‐implant bone level.ResultsOut of 37 implants placed in 13 patients, 36 reached sufficient stability and were early loaded, whereas one underwent a delayed loading protocol. One‐year success rate of early‐loaded implants was 100%. Implant stability at baseline was 71.7 ± 5. 6 to be steadily increased thereafter up to 1 year (80.3 ± 3.3), except at 2 weeks when a nonsignificant decrease was noticed (71.9 ± 3.9). Continuous and significant bone loss was observed, reaching 0.4 ± 0.1 mm in the first postoperative year.ConclusionBone level implants with the SLActive surface placed into low‐density bone and loaded after 6 weeks of healing can predictably achieve and maintain a successful tissue integration.
Defective ADAMTS13 synthesis as a possible consequence of NASH in an obese patient with recurrent thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Lombardi Anna Maria , Fabris Roberto , Berti de Marinis Giulia , Marson Piero , Navaglia Filippo , Plebani Mario , Vettor Roberto , Fabris Fabrizio 
Published: January 2014

AbstractObjectivesThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare and devastating hematologic disorder frequently associated with multiple organ failure and sometimes death. This syndrome is mainly associated with severe deficiency of ADAMTS13, a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin (TSP)‐1 repeats, cleaving high molecular weight von Willebrand Factor (ULVWF) multimers. Decreased plasma ADAMTS13 activity results in the accumulation of ULVWF multimers with consequent platelet activation. Recently, obesity has been considered as a potential independent risk factor for TTP, but the reason of this association is still unknown.Methods and resultsWe describe an unusual case of fatal recurrent TTP in a morbid obese female with non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and severe ADAMTS13 activity deficiency due neither to an inhibitory autoantibody nor to a gene mutation.ConclusionsVisceral obesity is associated with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and NASH: we hypothesized that these conditions can influence ADAMTS13 antigen and activity. In fact, hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the main producers of ADAMTS13, and a decrease in ADAMTS13 activity has been reported in liver disease.
Switch from tenofovir to raltegravir increases low bone mineral density and decreases markers of bone turnover over 48 weeks
Authors: Bloch M , Tong WWY , Hoy J , Baker D , Lee FJ , Richardson R , Carr A ,   TROP (Switch from Tenofovir to Raltegravir for Low Bone Density) study team
Published: January 2014

BackgroundTenofovir, particularly when given with a ritonavir‐boosted protease inhibitor (rPI), reduces bone mineral density (BMD) and increases bone turnover markers (BTMs), both of which are associated with increased fracture risk. Raltegravir has not been associated with bone loss.MethodsIn an open‐label, nonrandomized, pilot study, tenofovir was switched to raltegravir in adults also receiving a rPI for at least 6 months with a spine or hip T‐score ≤ −1.0 and plasma HIV RNA < 50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL for at least 3 months. The primary endpoint was BMD change by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Student's paired t‐test was used to compare continuous variables. Factors associated with BMD increase were assessed using linear regression.ResultsThirty‐seven patients were enrolled in the study: 97% were male, the mean age was 49 years, the mean T‐scores were −1.4 (spine) and −1.3 (total left hip), and the mean tenofovir treatment duration was 3.1 years. BMD increases were significant at weeks 24 and 48. At week 48, spine BMD increased by 3.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9, 4.0%; P < 0.0001] and left total hip BMD increased by 2.5% (95% CI 1.6, 3.3%; P < 0.0001). BTMs (N‐telopeptide, osteocalcin and bone alkaline phosphatase) all decreased significantly at week 24 (P ≤ 0.0017). There were no raltegravir‐related serious or grade 3−4 adverse events. HIV viral load remained <50 copies/mL plasma on raltegravir/rPI therapy.ConclusionsSwitching virologically suppressed HIV‐infected adults with low BMD taking an rPI from tenofovir to raltegravir was safe and significantly improved hip and spine BMD and reduced markers of bone turnover over 48 weeks.
The significance of low‐level viraemia in diverse settings: analysis of the Treat Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD) and the Australian HIV Observational Database (AHOD)
Authors: Kanapathipillai R , McManus H , Cuong DD , Ng OT , Kinh NV , Giles M , Read T , Woolley I 
Published: January 2014

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to assess the significance of low‐level viraemia (LLV) and the timing of treatment change in low/middle‐income country (L/MIC) compared with high‐income country (HIC) settings.MethodsPatients with virological control following commencement of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) were included in the study. LLV was defined as undetectable viral load (<50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL) followed by confirmed detectable viral load < 1000 copies/mL. Virological failure was defined as viral load > 1000 copies/mL. Kaplan−Meier plots of time to virological failure by prior LLV and income category were generated. Regimen changes in the setting of LLV were compared between sites. Sensitivity analysis of rates of LLV and virological failure by person‐years and number of tests was conducted for differing definitions of LLV and virological failure.ResultsA total of 1748 patients from HICs and 823 patients from L/MICs were included in the study. One hundred and ninety‐six (11.2%) HIC participants and 36 (4.4%) L/MIC participants experienced at least one episode of LLV. Of the patients who underwent regimen switch in HIC settings, the majority changed from a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)/protease inhibitor (PI) regimen to an NRTI/nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) regimen (26.8%). Very few switches were made in L/MIC settings. Rates of LLV were significantly higher for HICs compared with L/MICs per 1000 person‐years (28.6 and 9.9 per 1000 person‐years, respectively), but not in terms of the number of tests (9.4 and 7.2 per 1000 tests, respectively). Rates of virological failure per test were significantly higher for L/MICs compared with HICs (30.7 vs. 19.6 per 1000 tests, respectively; P < 0.001). LLV was a significant predictor of virological failure at 2 years in L/MICs [0.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11–0.50; P = 0.043] but not in HICs (0.13; 95% CI 0.08‐0.22; P = 0.523).ConclusionsLLV is weakly predictive of virological failure at 2 years in L/MICs but not in HICs. This suggests that interventions targeted at subjects with LLV in L/MICs would help to improve treatment outcomes.
Young people's perceptions of the responsibilities of organizations promoting financial capability
Authors: Luukkanen Laura , Uusitalo Outi 
Published: January 2014

AbstractToday's changing market environment demands financial capability even from young consumers. This article concentrates on the perceptions of young people on the roles and responsibilities of school, public, private and non‐profit sector actors in promoting financial capability among the young. The qualitative data were collected via focus group discussions among young people aged 15–26 in schools and education institutions across Finland. Educational institutions play an important role in the everyday lives of the young but tend to focus on macro‐finance issues in financial education. Banks are seen as professional actors promoting financial capability to the young, but their activities are recognized as profit driven. Public sector and non‐profit organizations are less familiar to young people as providers of financial information but are considered impartial and reliable. It is apparently difficult for young people to differentiate between the activities of the various parties offering financial advice. They would welcome finance‐related information from several actors and from different perspectives. Financial education and financial matters are only interesting to the young when topical. In order to promote a financial capability among young people, the actors involved should become more proactive and cooperate with each other.
Nonparametric cost and revenue functions under constant economies of scale: an enumeration approach for the single output or input case
Authors: Briec Walter , Kerstens Kristiaan , Van de Woestyne Ignace 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThis article shows how the linear programs needed to compute cost and revenue functions under constant returns to scale and a single output or input, respectively, can be replaced with a more efficient enumeration algorithm.