bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cost‐effectiveness of a disease management program for early childhood caries
Authors: Samnaliev Mihail , Wijeratne Rashmi , Grace Kwon Eunhae , Ohiomoba Henry , Wai Ng Man 
Published: July 2014

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the cost‐effectiveness of a pilot disease management (DM) program aimed at preventing early childhood caries among children younger than 5 years.MethodsTheDMprogram was implemented in theBostonChildren'sHospital‐based dental practice in 2008. Health care costs were obtained from the hospital finance department and non‐health care costs were estimated through a parent survey. The measure of effectiveness was avoided hospital‐based visits for restorative treatment or extractions. Incremental costs (2011US$) and effectiveness were estimated from a health care system, societal, and public payer perspectives over 3, 6, and 12 months, by comparingDMparticipants (n = 395) to a historical comparison group (n = 123) using generalized linear models. Bootstrapping and other sensitivity analyses were used to incorporate uncertainty in the analyses.ResultsThe DM program was associated with a reduction in societal costs of $20 (p= 0.85), $215 (p= 0.24), and $669 (p< 0.01) per patient and a reduction in the number of hospital‐based visits for restorative treatment or extractions by 0.44 (p< 0.01), 0.42 (p< 0.01), and 0.45 (p< 0.01) per patient over 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. The probability of it being less costly and more effective was 61.5 percent, 81.9 percent, and 98.6 percent over 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Consistent results were observed from a health care system and public payer perspectives.ConclusionsTheDMprogram appears cost‐effective and has the potential to reduce health care costs. Our results justify a multicenter trial to evaluate theDMprogram on a larger scale.
Hanicella moenia, gen. et sp. nov., a ribbon‐forming diatom (Bacillariophyta) with complex girdle bands, compared to Microtabella interrupta and Rhabdonema cf. adriaticum: implications for Striatellales, Rhabdonematales, and Grammatophoraceae, fam. nov.
Authors: Lobban Christopher S. , Ashworth Matt P. 
Published: July 2014

Tropical benthic diatoms are poorly known but constitute a rich resource for studies of diatom morphology and phylogeny. A remarkable tabellarioid ribbon‐forming diatom with a very distinctive pattern of plastid distribution and unique valve and girdle band characters is described from Guam (Mariana Islands) as a new genus and species, Hanicella moenia. We were able to study the ultrastructure and ontogeny of the girdle bands, to compare several other genera in the Striatellales and the Rhabdonematales with numerous septate copulae and hyaline, nonseptate pleurae, and to evaluate their phylogenetic relationships. The last‐formed two copulae of Microtabella interrupta have distended septa, the last interlocking with the other via a transverse ridge between two unique “ligules.” The fourth pleura of Hanicella is a delicate, fimbriate band. Views of developing copulae of H. moenia indicated that the septum was formed by ingrowth from the sides rather than from the apex; this blurs the distinction between septate and scalariform valvocopulae. Phylogenetic results (i) confirmed that the Striatellales and Striatellaceae, consisting of Striatella and Pseudostriatella, are unrelated to clades containing Hyalosira, Microtabella, Hanicella, and Rhabdonema; and (ii) showed that the fRhabdonemataceae is close to, but separate from, the strongly supported Hanicella/Microtabella/Grammatophora clade, for which we propose Grammatophoraceae fam. nov. Formal genus and species descriptions of H. moenia are given and we also propose to restore Hyalosira interrupta to Microtabella with an emended genus description.
The actin‐bundling protein L‐plastin: a novel local inflammatory marker associated with periodontitis
Authors: Öztürk V. Ö. , Emingil G. , Osterwalder V. , Bostanci N. 
Published: July 2014

Background and ObjectiveL‐plastin, an actin‐bundling protein, is exclusively expressed in leukocytes and plays a crucial role in immune‐mediated events. Periodontitis is a common infectious inflammatory disease that destroys the tooth‐supporting tissues. Recent findings using proteomic technologies have demonstrated that L‐plastin is one of the few molecules consistently present in the inflammatory exudate of the gingiva in periodontal disease, but not in health. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate in detail the local and systemic role of this molecule in different forms of periodontitis.Material and MethodsA total of 61 subjects who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were recruited, including 21 with chronic periodontitis, 20 generalized aggressive periodontitis and 20 nonperiodontitis control subjects. Gingival tissue biopsies, gingival crevicular fluid, as well as serum and saliva, were obtained. Immunohistochemistry and quantitative real‐time PCR were employed to evaluate the localization and mRNA expression, respectively, of L‐plastin. L‐plastin levels in gingival crevicular fluid, saliva and serum were measured using ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using nonparametric methods.ResultsSubjects with chronic periodontitis and generalized aggressive periodontitis exhibited significantly higher tissue L‐plastin gene expression and gingival crevicular fluid levels than did subjects in the control group but there was no significant difference between the two forms of periodontitis. Within gingival tissue, L‐plastin was confined to the inflammatory infiltrate. There was no statistically significant difference between serum and salivary L‐plastin levels among the three study groups.ConclusionThe elevated gingival tissue expression and gingival crevicular fluid levels of L‐plastin in both forms of periodontitis may denote the localized involvement of this novel molecule in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Residents’ Willingness‐to‐Pay for Attributes of Rural Health Care Facilities
Authors: Allen James E. , Davis Alison F. , Hu Wuyang , Owusu‐Amankwah Emmanuel 
Published: July 2014

AbstractContextAs today's rural hospitals have struggled with financial sustainability for the past 2 decades, it is critical to understand their value relative to alternatives, such as rural health clinics and private practices.PurposeTo estimate the willingness‐to‐pay for specific attributes of rural health care facilities in rural Kentucky to determine which services and operational characteristics are most valued by rural residents.MethodologyWe fitted choice experiment data from 769 respondents in 10 rural Kentucky counties to a conditional logit model and used the results to estimate willingness‐to‐pay for attributes in several categories, including hours open, types of insurance accepted, and availability of health care professionals and specialized care.FindingsAcceptance of Medicaid/Medicare with use of a sliding fee scale versus acceptance of only private insurance was the most valued attribute. Presence of full diagnostic services, an emergency room, and 24‐hour/7‐day‐per‐week access were also highly valued. Conversely, the presence of specialized care, such as physical therapy, cancer care, or dialysis, was not valued. In total, respondents were willing to pay $225 more annually to support a hospital relative to a rural health clinic.ConclusionRural Kentuckians value the services, convenience, and security that rural hospitals offer, though they are not willing to pay more for specialized care that may be available in larger medical treatment centers. The results also inform which attributes might be added to existing rural health facilities to make them more valuable to local residents.
Native and exotic plant species respond differently to wildfire and prescribed fire as revealed by meta‐analysis
Authors: Alba Christina , Skálová Hana , McGregor Kirsty F. , D'Antonio Carla , Pyšek Petr 
Published: July 2014

AbstractQuestionsWildfire is a natural disturbance that shapes vegetation characteristics worldwide, while prescribed fire is increasingly used to modify vegetation composition and structure. Due to invasion of many ecosystems by exotic species, a concern of land managers is whether wildfire and prescribed fire alter plant communities in favour of exotics. We assessed the global literature describing community‐level responses of native and exotic species groups to wildfire and prescribed fire and characterized the geographic and temporal scope of the data to inform research needs.LocationPredominantly the United States of America and Australia.MethodsWe used meta‐analysis to (1) test whether native and exotic species composition (richness or diversity) and performance (cover, density and biomass) differ in response to wildfire and prescribed fire, and (2) assess how the composition and performance of these species groups vary with time elapsed since fire and habitat types.ResultsMost community‐level research on how native and exotic species respond to fire has been conducted in the US and Australia, typically over short time scales, and with a focus on temperate forest and grassland ecosystems. Prescribed fire benefited native composition over short time scales (<1 yr) but, on average, had no effect on native performance, nor on exotic composition or performance. In contrast, wildfire consistently enhanced exotic composition and performance over all time scales, while having no effect on native species composition and significantly reducing native performance. Additionally, responses varied by habitat: native species groups responded positively to prescribed fire in heathlands and to a lesser extent in temperate grasslands, while responding negatively to wildfire in arid shrublands and heathlands, and to a more modest degree in tropical savannas. Exotic species groups responded positively to wildfire in arid shrublands, temperate forests and heathlands.ConclusionsThis quantitative assessment of the literature revealed strong evidence for a positive response of exotics to wildfire, coupled with a striking near‐absence of negative responses. The assessment additionally suggests that while prescribed fire does benefit native composition, on average, it does not appear to greatly facilitate native performance; however site‐specific variation in how communities responded to fire was pronounced, underscoring the importance of local assessments in determining mechanistic drivers and management policy.
Two‐year outcomes in initial survivors with acute liver failure: results from a prospective, multicentre study
Authors: Fontana Robert J. , Ellerbe Caitlyn , Durkalski Valerie E. , Rangnekar Amol , Reddy Rajender K. , Stravitz Todd , McGuire Brendan , Davern Timothy , Reuben Adrian , Liou Iris , Fix Oren , Ganger Daniel R. , Chung Raymond T. , Schilsky Mike , Han Steven , Hynan Linda S. , Sanders Corron , Lee William M. ,   the US Acute Liver Failure Study Group
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackground & AimsThe long‐term clinical outcomes in initial survivors with acute liver failure (ALF) are not well known. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the 2‐year clinical outcomes among initial survivors and liver transplant (LT) recipients that were alive 3 weeks after enrolment in the Acute Liver Failure Study Group (ALFSG).MethodsOutcomes in adult ALFSG patients that were enrolled between 1998 and 2010 were reviewed.ResultsTwo‐year patient survival was significantly higher in the 262 LT recipients (92.4%) compared to the 306 acetaminophen (APAP) spontaneous survivors (SS) (89.5%) and 200 non‐APAP SS (75.5%) (P < 0.0001). The causes of death were similar in the three groups but the time to death was significantly longer in the LT recipients (P < 0.0001). Independent predictors of 2‐year mortality in the APAP group were a high serum phosphate level and patient age (c‐statistic = 0.65 (0.54, 0.76)), patient age and days from jaundice to ALF onset in the non‐APAP group (c‐statistic = 0.69 (0.60, 0.78)), and patient age, days from jaundice, and higher coma grade in the LT recipients (c‐statistic = 0.74 (0.61, 0.87)). The LT recipients were significantly more likely to be employed and have a higher educational level (P < 0.05).ConclusionsTwo‐year outcomes in initial survivors of ALF are generally good but non‐APAP patients have a significantly lower survival which may relate to pre‐existing medical comorbidities. Spontaneous survivors with APAP overdose experience substantial morbidity during follow‐up from ongoing psychiatric and substance abuse issues.
Central origin of parkinsonian rigidity examined with thalamic activities on their temporal relationships
Authors: Narabayashi Yohsuke , Oshima Tomokazu 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackgroundParkinsonian rigidity is alleviated by thalamotomy targeting the thalamic nucleus ventralis lateralis. Detecting there the exaggerated 13–27‐Hz β‐band activities, we hypothesized that these activities centrally drove rigidity.AimTo test this hypothesis, we examined the temporal relationships of rigidity with β‐band activities.MethodsIn 20 patients with Parkinson's disease, we monitored the thalamic local field potentials and multiple unit spikes with the electromyograms of neck and limb muscles.ResultsThe resting state of muscles with exaggerated tonic discharges in electromyograms was regarded to represent rigidity. The compound muscle spikes as such were accompanied by or synchronized with the thalamic β‐band activities when the thalamic recording sites somatotopically met the muscles of interest. The β‐band activities consisted of the negative‐going deflection of local field potentials and negativity‐dominant multiple unit spikes. The β‐band local field potentials led to the muscle spikes in spontaneous initiation and development of rigidity, as well as in the cyclic sequence of β‐band activities and electromyograms. The paired β‐band local field potentials and muscle spikes were moderately correlated in amplitude. During the observation, the grade of rigidity spontaneously fluctuated. Accordingly, the phase coincidence of β‐band local field potentials and muscle spikes occurred contingently. When the β‐band and tremor‐locked 3–7‐Hz τ‐range activities coexisted at the recording site, different groups of thalamic neurons led to rigidity and tremor, respectively, as their peripheral outcomes.ConclusionThe results suggest that the thalamic β‐band hyperactivities contingently drive rigidity in support for the central origin hypothesis of rigidity.
Civic Fusion: Moving from Certainty through Not Knowing to Curiosity
Authors: Podziba Susan L. 
Published: July 2014

Civic fusion occurs when people bond across passionate difference to solve a shared public problem. It requires bringing people close together under conditions that enable them to bond, even as their polarizing beliefs remain intact. In managing multiparty multi‐issue negotiations, public policy mediators help disparate, passionate parties negotiate actionable agreements. To achieve and sustain civic fusion, interested parties recognize and acknowledge confining assumptions and move through a continuum in which their certainty about each other and their presumed solutions is challenged and transforms to uncertainty and then to curiosity.They connect across common public goals and find mutual understanding and respect for the interests of others as they come to understand and accept the opportunities and limitations that are inherent to their complex situations. A steady stream of new understandings moves people beyond their long‐held perspectives to foster productive negotiations and build innovative solutions. Ultimately, the parties generate sustainable consensus agreements even as they retain their deeply held and often opposing values and beliefs.
Activation of the endogenous nociceptin system by selective nociceptin receptor agonist SCH 221510 produces antitransit and antinociceptive effect: a novel strategy for treatment of diarrhea‐predominant IBS
Authors: Fichna J. , Sobczak M. , Mokrowiecka A. , Cygankiewicz A. I. , Zakrzewski P. K. , Cenac N. , Sałaga M. , Timmermans J.‐P. , Vergnolle N. , Małecka‐Panas E. , Krajewska W. M. , Storr M. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackgroundDiarrhea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS‐D) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, defined by the presence of loose stools and abdominal pain. In search for a novel anti‐IBS‐D therapy, here we investigated the nociceptin receptor (NOP)‐dependent effects in the GI tract.MethodsA novel potent and selective NOP agonist SCH 221510 was used in the study. The effect of NOP activation on mouse intestinal motility was characterized in vitro and in vivo, in physiological conditions and in animal models of hypermotility and diarrhea. Well‐established mouse models of visceral pain were used to characterize the antinociceptive effect of the NOP activation. To provide additional evidence that the endogenous nociceptin system is a relevant target for IBS, NOP expression and nociceptin levels were quantified in serum and colonic biopsies from IBS‐D patients.Key ResultsSCH 221510 produced a potent NOP‐mediated inhibitory effect on mouse intestinal motility in vitro and in vivo in physiological conditions. The NOP agonist displayed an antidiarrheal and analgesic action after oral administration in animal models mimicking the symptoms of IBS‐D. Studies on human samples revealed a strong decrease in endogenous nociceptin system expression in IBS‐D patients compared with healthy controls.Conclusions & InferencesCollectively, mouse and human data suggest that the endogenous nociceptin system is involved in IBS‐D and may become a target for anti‐IBS‐D treatments using potent and selective synthetic NOP agonists.
Prevalence of esophageal motility abnormalities increases with longer disease duration in adult patients with eosinophilic esophagitis
Authors: van Rhijn Bram D. , Oors Jac M. , Smout Andreas J. P. M. , Bredenoord Albert J. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackgroundDuring the natural course of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), the risk for esophageal stricture formation increases. It remains unknown whether motility abnormalities in EoE also develop over time. We aimed to determine the relationship between disease duration, clinical characteristics, and manometric pattern of EoE patients.MethodsWe compared esophageal high‐resolution manometry (HRM) measurements of 31 adult EoE patients with HRM data from 31 GERD controls and 31 healthy controls. Subsequently, we assessed differences in disease duration and clinical characteristics between EoE patients with normal and those with abnormal esophageal motility.Key ResultsIn EoE patients, peristaltic integrity was more frequently failed (12 vs 6%) or weak (27 vs 15%; p < 0.001) compared with healthy controls; however, this pattern was also seen in GERD controls (failed 14%, weak 27%). We found no differences regarding symptoms and signs of EoE between EoE patients with normal (42%) and abnormal motility (58%). However, disease duration was longer in EoE patients with abnormal motility than in those with normal motility (13 (6–18) years vs 4 (1–11) years; p < 0.05). In EoE, but not GERD, disease duration was identified as a risk factor for abnormal motility (OR for each year 1.142; 95% CI 1.004–1.299), and with longer disease duration, the prevalence of abnormal motility increased from 36% (duration 0–5 years) to 83% (duration ≥16 years; p < 0.05).Conclusions & InferencesWeak and failed peristaltic integrity are more often present in adult EoE patients than in healthy controls. The prevalence of manometric abnormalities in EoE patients increases with longer disease duration.
Seed dispersal in heterogeneous landscapes: linking field observations with spatially explicit models
Authors: Lavabre Jessica E. , Stouffer Daniel B. , Sanz Rúben , Bascompte Jordi 
Published: July 2014

Seed dispersal by animals drives persistence and colonization of the majority of fleshy‐fruited plants. Different factors have been identified as important in shaping patterns of seed deposition. These factors include habitat heterogeneity, movement patterns of frugivore species, and their feeding behavior. Most studies, however, have analysed the effect of one factor at the time, either with a modelling approach or from field observations. Here, we combine empirical data with spatially‐explicit models to explore the contribution of habitat availability and patterns of frugivore post‐feeding flight distances to the spatial patterns of seed dispersal.We found that both factors, distance from the mother tree and microhabitat identity, were shaping those patterns. Our results show that seed dispersal is tremendously heterogeneous and complex in space. The observed seed shadow is not the result of a single process but instead an intricate combination of distance and habitat selection. We suggest that the apparent combination of processes results from the simultaneous effects of distinct functional groups of frugivores.
Identifying a rapid bolus dose of dexmedetomidine (ED50) with acceptable hemodynamic outcomes in children
Authors: Dawes Joy , Myers Dorothy , Görges Matthias , Zhou Guohai , Ansermino J Mark , Montgomery Carolyne J. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryBackgroundDexmedetomidine is a highly sensitive, specific α2 adrenoceptor agonist with anxiolytic, sedative, and analgesic effects. Administration is recommended as a loading dose infused over 10 min. Clinical experience and a previous study suggested a shorter time frame might be used without causing adverse hemodynamic effects.ObjectiveTo determine the dexmedetomidine dose that can be given as a rapid 5 s bolus to healthy children during total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) without causing significant hemodynamic effects.MethodsASA I–II children, aged 5–9 years, having elective surgery under TIVA were recruited. The up‐and‐down sequential study design was employed to determine the effective dose of dexmedetomidine, starting at 0.3 mcg·kg−1 with 0.1 mcg·kg−1 intervals, which caused no hemodynamic response in half the subjects (ED50). Positive responses were defined as mean blood pressure (MAP) and/or heart rate (HR) changes ≥30% from baseline. Three parametric estimators and one nonparametric estimator were used to determine the ED50.ResultsTwenty‐one subjects with median age 7.1 (range 5.4–9.5) years and median weight 23.6 (range 16.2–36.7) kg were recruited. A maximum median HR decrease of 20 b·min−1 occurred at 50 s and a maximum median MAP increase of 12.5 mmHg occurred at 100 s after bolus dose administration. Fifteen subjects (71%) had a HR <60 b·min−1 while one subject had a HR <40 b·min−1 (minimum 35 b·min−1) for 60 s following the dexmedetomidine bolus. Four estimators led to an ED50 estimate for dexmedetomidine of 0.49 mcg·kg−1 [95% CI 0.26–0.80 mcg·kg−1].ConclusionThe ED50 of dexmedetomidine administered over 5 s without significant hemodynamic compromise is 0.49 mcg·kg−1. Further work is needed to determine the ‘safe’ (ED5 or less) and effective dose for desired perioperative clinical outcomes.