bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Cambridge Otology Quality of Life Questionnaire: an otology‐specific patient‐recorded outcome measure. A paper describing the instrument design and a report of preliminary reliability and validity
Authors: Martin T.P.C. , Moualed D. , Paul A. , Ronan N. , Tysome J.R. , Donnelly N.P. , Cook R. , Axon P.R. 
Published: October 2014

ObjectiveThe Cambridge Otology Quality of Life Questionnaire (COQOL) is a patient‐recorded outcome measurement (PROM) designed to quantify the quality of life of patients attending otology clinics.DesignItem‐reduction model. A systematically designed long‐form version (74 items) was tested with patient focus groups before being presented to adult otology patients (n. 137). Preliminary item analysis tested reliability, reducing the COQOL to 24 questions. This was then presented in conjunction with the SF‐36 (V1) questionnaire to a total of 203 patients. Subsequently, these were re‐presented at T + 3 months, and patients recorded whether they felt their condition had improved, deteriorated or remained the same. Non‐responders were contacted by post. A correlation between COQOL scores and patient perception of change was examined to analyse content validity.SettingTeaching hospital and university psychology department.ParticipantsAdult patients attending otology clinics with a wide range of otological conditions.Main outcome measurementsItem reliability measured by item–total correlation, internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Validity measured by correlation between COQOL scores and patient‐reported symptom change.ResultsReliability: the COQOL showed excellent internal consistency at both initial presentation (α = 0.90) and 3 months later (α = 0.93). Validity: One‐way analysis of variance showed a significant difference between groups reporting change and those reporting no change in quality of life (F(2, 80) = 5.866, P < 0.01).ConclusionsThe COQOL is the first otology‐specific PROM. Initial studies demonstrate excellent reliability and encouraging preliminary criterion validity: further studies will allow a deeper validation of the instrument.
Elevated temperatures interact with habitat quality to undermine survival of ectotherms in climatic refugia
Authors: Penk Marcin , Donohue Ian , Récoules Vincent , Irvine Kenneth 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAimLarge‐scale effects of climatic fluctuations can be masked by local microclimatic variability, allowing species to retain fragments of their original ranges. However, downscaling predicted ecological effects of climate change to local scales and individual species comprises a key knowledge gap. As temperature modifies both abiotic and biotic processes, the fate of refugial populations may depend on interactions of temperature with susceptibility of organisms to other factors, rather than on the impact of temperature alone. To explore this, we examined whether temperature regulates the sensitivity to hypoxia of an aquatic glacial relict, Mysis salemaai, an opossum shrimp.LocationLoughs Oughter, Allen and Derg (field surveys) and Dublin (laboratory experiments), Ireland.MethodsWe used laboratory experiments to determine thermal sensitivity of M. salemaai and quantify the effect of temperature on survival and regulation of aerobic metabolism in progressive hypoxia. The resulting temperature and oxygen sensitivity thresholds were then validated in the field.ResultsSurvival of M. salemaai in reduced oxygen conditions was significantly lower at higher temperatures, even though the tested temperature range did not cause mortality on its own. Results of respiration assays suggest that this was a consequence of impaired capacity at elevated temperatures for regulating oxygen uptake in hypoxic conditions.Main conclusionsOur findings demonstrate that biological effects of climate warming can depend more strongly on interactions of temperature with other factors than on the effects of elevated temperatures alone. Understanding species‐specific responses to such interactions is essential to predict future distribution patterns, mitigate threats and prioritize conservation measures aimed at preserving global biodiversity.
Dynamic spatial interactions between the native invader Brown‐headed Cowbird and its hosts
Authors: Barnagaud Jean‐Yves , Papaïx Julien , Gimenez Olivier , Svenning Jens‐Christian 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAimWe investigated the contribution of parasitism by the Brown‐headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) to its host population dynamics at a subcontinental scale. We predicted that the growth rate of cowbirds would be most strongly related to the abundance of forest insectivorous hosts and that landscape fragmentation would have opposite effects on the parasite and its hosts. Furthermore, due to the species' sedentarity and low rates of adult dispersal, we expected that cowbird population dynamics would be structured at local, rather than large spatial scales.LocationThe Great Plains, United States.MethodsWe modelled jointly the population dynamics of cowbird and its 58 most common hosts, accounting for effects of landscape fragmentation and cowbird dispersal. We used Bayesian inference to evaluate this model on 76 routes of the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), surveyed each year from 2001 to 2011. We then analysed covariations between the demographic dynamics of cowbirds and their hosts in a multivariate ecological trait space.ResultsContrary to most of its hosts, the cowbird had positive growth rates in man‐disturbed, fragmented landscapes, which covaried at small spatial scales. The large‐scale effects of parasitism were limited, as few host species affected, or were affected by cowbird growth rates. However, significant cowbird–host relationships were structured by ecological traits: cowbird growth rates were most increased by the abundance of ecological generalists, while hosts were affected by cowbird abundance irrespective of their position in the functional space.Main conclusionsCowbirds parasitize opportunistically the hosts occurring in disturbed landscapes. The large‐scale effects of nest parasitism therefore depend probably on landscape structure and other environmental factors operating at local scales. We suggest that efforts to counter the local and continental declines of many passerine species should include parasitism among the biotic components of landscape disturbance.
China's One‐Child Policy: Some Unintended Consequences
Authors: Howden David , Zhou Yang 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThis paper gives a brief overview of China's family planning policy which, although recently relaxed, still controls a large swath of the population. Unofficially known as the ‘one‐child policy’, it resulted from the social strife of the 1970s coupled with a Malthusian pessimism concerning the capability of the still largely closed and isolated Chinese economy to care for itself. We discuss the motivations for the policy, the unfortunate demographic future that it will create, and some policy reforms that can be undertaken today.
The Effect of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation on Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Durmaz Tahir , Ayhan Hüseyin , Keleş Telat , Aslan Abdullah Nabi , Kasapkara Hacı Ahmet , Sarı Cenk , Bilen Emine , Akar Bayram Nihal , Akçay Murat , Bozkurt Engin 
Published: October 2014

Background and AimPulmonary hypertension (PH) is common in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). The prognostic effect of PH in high‐risk patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of TAVI in patients with PH and to determine the effect of TAVI on PH.Methods and ResultsTAVI was performed in 70 patients (mean age, 77.6 years; 51 females and 19 males) between July 2011 and December 2012, in our hospital. The patients were divided into three groups based on their systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) values. Group 1 comprised patients with sPAP values <40 mmHg; group 2 included patients with sPAP values ranging from 40 to 59 mmHg; and group 3 included patients with sPAP values >60 mmHg. Seventy percent of the patients were in groups 2 and 3. After TAVI, the sPAP values of the patients in groups 2 and 3 were significantly decreased (47.4 ± 4.6 and 36.6 ± 6.3, P < 0.001 and 64.5 ± 4.7 and 43.2 ± 9.2, P < 0.001, respectively). However, this reduction was sustained for 6 months in group 2 (P = 0.006), whereas the reduction lost its statistical significance (P = 0.07) after 1 month in group 3 (64.5 ± 4.7 and 40.8 ± 8.0, P = 0.001). Significant differences between the sPAP values in all three groups before the procedure were sustained after TAVI (P ≤ 0.001) and after the 1st month (P = 0.02); however, no statistically significant difference was observed after the 6th month (P = 0.06).ConclusionIn this study, we demonstrated that TAVI could be reliably and successfully performed in PH patients with severe AS and that TAVI results in a permanent and significant reduction in sPAP.
High‐fat diet‐ and angiotensin II‐induced aneurysm concurrently elicits splenic hypertrophy
Authors: Gopal Kaliappan , Nagarajan Perumal , Shankar Esaki M. , Kamarul Tunku , Kumar Jerald M. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractBackgroundAngiotensin II (Ang II) and high‐fat diet are implicated in causing pathological changes in the vascular endothelium, brain, kidney and liver. The association of aneurysm leading to histopathological changes in the splenic compartment remains elusive. Further, the salubrious credentials of antioxidants, especially α‐tocopherol and β‐carotene in the resolution of splenic pathology have not been investigated.MethodsFour‐month‐old Apoe−/− mice were used in the induction of aneurysm by infusing Ang II, and subsequently were orally administered with α‐tocopherol and β‐carotene‐enriched diet for 60 days.ResultsWe observed splenomegaly in Ang II‐infused aneurysm and high‐fat diet‐supplemented mice as compared to normal mice. These observations were further confirmed through histopathological investigations, demonstrating splenic follicular hypertrophy. We observed a remarkable decrease in the size of spleen in α‐tocopherol and β‐carotene‐treated Apoe−/− mice as compared with Ang II‐treated animals. Furthermore, no marked changes in the histopathological splenic sections were seen in the β‐carotene‐treated group. However, hyperplasia and proliferation of immature lymphocytes in the follicles were observed in the α‐tocopherol‐treated animals. We found that CD4+ T‐cell levels were increased in the high‐fat diet group relative to the control group and were decreased in the β‐carotene‐treated animals.ConclusionsOur study provides evidence that Ang II infusion and high‐fat supplementation induces abdominal aortic aneurysm that has pathological implications to the spleen. The use of β‐carotene but not α‐tocopherol as an antioxidant markedly ameliorates the pathological changes in spleen.
Global analysis of plasticity in turgor loss point, a key drought tolerance trait
Authors: Bartlett Megan K. , Zhang Ya , Kreidler Nissa , Sun Shanwen , Ardy Rico , Cao Kunfang , Sack Lawren 
Published: October 2014

AbstractMany species face increasing drought under climate change. Plasticity has been predicted to strongly influence species' drought responses, but broad patterns in plasticity have not been examined for key drought tolerance traits, including turgor loss or ‘wilting’ point (πtlp). As soil dries, plants shift πtlpby accumulating solutes (i.e. ‘osmotic adjustment’). We conducted the first global analysis of plasticity in Δπtlpand related traits for 283 wild and crop species in ecosystems worldwide. Δπtlpwas widely prevalent but moderate (−0.44MPa), accounting for 16% of post‐drought πtlp. Thus, pre‐drought πtlpwas a considerably stronger predictor of post‐drought πtlpacross species of wild plants. For cultivars of certain crops Δπtlpaccounted for major differences in post‐drought πtlp. Climate was correlated with pre‐ and post‐drought πtlp, but not Δπtlp. Thus, despite the wide prevalence of plasticity, πtlpmeasured in one season can reliably characterise most species' constitutive drought tolerances and distributions relative to water supply.
Phylogenetic conservatism in plant‐soil feedback and its implications for plant abundance
Authors: Anacker Brian L. , Klironomos John N. , Maherali Hafiz , Reinhart Kurt O. , Strauss Sharon Y. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractWe examined whether plant‐soil feedback and plant‐field abundance were phylogenetically conserved. For 57 co‐occurring native and exotic plant species from an old field in Canada, we collected a data set on the effects of three soil biota treatments on plant growth: net whole‐soil feedback (combined effects of mutualists and antagonists), feedback with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) collected from soils of conspecific plants, and feedback withGlomus etunicatum, a dominant mycorrhizal fungus. We found phylogenetic signal in both net whole‐soil feedback and feedback withAMFof conspecifics; conservatism was especially strong among native plants but absent among exotics. The abundance of plants in the field was also conserved, a pattern underlain by shared plant responses to soil biota. We conclude that soil biota influence the abundance of close plant relatives in nature.
Mating ecology explains patterns of genome elimination
Authors: Gardner Andy , Ross Laura 
Published: October 2014

AbstractGenome elimination – whereby an individual discards chromosomes inherited from one parent, and transmits only those inherited from the other parent – is found across thousands of animal species. It is more common in association with inbreeding, under male heterogamety, in males, and in the form of paternal genome elimination. However, the reasons for this broad pattern remain unclear. We develop a mathematical model to determine how degree of inbreeding, sex determination, genomic location, pattern of gene expression and parental origin of the eliminated genome interact to determine the fate of genome‐elimination alleles. We find that: inbreeding promotes paternal genome elimination in the heterogametic sex; this may incur population extinction under female heterogamety, owing to eradication of males; and extinction is averted under male heterogamety, owing to countervailing sex‐ratio selection. Thus, we explain the observed pattern of genome elimination. Our results highlight the interaction between mating system, sex‐ratio selection and intragenomic conflict.
Cerebrospinal fluid immunological biomarkers associated with axonal damage in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Villar L. M. , Picón C. , Costa‐Frossard L. , Alenda R. , García‐Caldentey J. , Espiño M. , Muriel A. , Álvarez‐Cermeño J. C. 
Published: October 2014

Background and purposeCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light protein (NFL) is a promising biomarker of axonal injury and neurodegeneration. Here CSF lymphocyte subpopulations and antibodies, potential players of neurodegeneration, are examined in relation to CSF NFL shedding in MS.MethodsCerebrospinal fluid NFL from 127 consecutive untreated MS patients was analysed. Samples from 37 age‐matched patients with other central nervous system non‐inflammatory neurological diseases (NIND) were also assessed. CD4+, CD8+, CD56+ and CD19+ cell subsets were studied by flow cytometry. Oligoclonal IgG and IgM bands (OCMB) against lipids were studied by isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting. These data were analysed in relation to clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features.ResultsA CSF NFL cut‐off value of 900 ng/l (mean + 3 SD of NIND values) was calculated. MS patients with increased NFL values showed significantly higher Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score and magnetic resonance imaging lesion number. The presence of OCMB (P < 0.0001) and elevated T and B lymphocyte counts was associated with increased levels of CSF NFL.ConclusionsHigh CSF NFL levels are associated with elevated CSF lymphocyte cell counts and intrathecal synthesis of IgM against lipids. These findings support a role for OCMB in the axonal damage of MS offering a rationale for the association of these antibodies with disability and brain atrophy progression in MS.
Quantifying temporal isolation: a modelling approach assessing the effect of flowering time differences on crop‐to‐weed pollen flow in sunflower
Authors: Roumet Marie , Cayre Adeline , Latreille Muriel , Muller Marie‐Hélène 
Published: October 2014

AbstractFlowering time divergence can be a crucial component of reproductive isolation between sympatric populations, but few studies have quantified its actual contribution to the reduction of gene flow. In this study, we aimed at estimating pollen‐mediated gene flow between cultivated sunflower and a weedy conspecific sunflower population growing in the same field and at quantifying, how it is affected by the weeds' flowering time. For that purpose, we extended an existing mating model by including a temporal distance (i.e. flowering time difference between potential parents) effect on mating probabilities. Using phenological and genotypic data gathered on the crop and on a sample of the weedy population and its offspring, we estimated an average hybridization rate of approximately 10%. This rate varied strongly from 30% on average for weeds flowering at the crop flowering peak to 0% when the crop finished flowering and was affected by the local density of weeds. Our result also suggested the occurrence of other factors limiting crop‐to‐weed gene flow. This level of gene flow and its dependence on flowering time might influence the evolutionary fate of weedy sunflower populations sympatric to their crop relative.
Loss of CD155 expression predicts poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Qu Ping , Huang Xiaojun , Zhou Xingchun , Lü Zhuomin , Liu Fang'e , Shi Zhiyong , Lü Lin , Wu Yanqiu , Chen Yibing 
Published: October 2014

AimsCD155 is an important ligand in triggering tumour rejection by immune cells. However, the expression of CD155 and its clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown.Methods and resultsWe examined the expression level of CD155 in 174 HCC tissue samples by immunohistochemical staining and in HCC cell lines by flow cytometry; 63.8% (111 of 174) of HCC tissue samples showed negative CD155 expression. When compared with adjacent peritumour tissues, HCC tissues exhibited a significantly lower expression of CD155 (P < 0.001). Flow cytometry analysis indicated that HCC cell lines had low levels of CD155 expression. Moreover, negative CD155 expression was associated significantly with higher serum α‐fetoprotein level (P = 0.016) and a higher incidence of portal vein tumour thrombus (P = 0.050). Importantly, patients with positive CD155 expression had better overall survival after surgery than those with negative CD155 expression (P = 0.005). Furthermore, Cox regression analyses showed that CD155 expression was an independent prognostic factor for HCC (P = 0.049).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that loss of CD155 expression may play an important role in the immune escape of HCC cells and thus CD155 may serve as a prognostic marker as well as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
Identification and characterization of a novel HLA‐A allele, HLA‐A*68:105, by genomic sequencing
Authors: Curcio M. , Presciuttini S. , Sciarrino R. , Fornaciari S. , Mariotti M. L. , Scatena F. 
Published: October 2014

SummaryA novel HLA‐A allele, HLA‐A*68:105, was detected by sequence‐based typing (SBT) in an Italian bone marrow donor. It differs from HLA‐A*68:01:02 at five nucleotides, three intronic, nt 699 T‐>G (intron 2), nt 705 T‐>C (intron 2) and nt 2770 G‐>A (intron 7), and two located in exon 3, at positions 726 A‐G (codon 94 Ile‐>Val) and 733 T‐G (codon 97 Arg‐>Met), respectively.
Gains in children's dental health differ by socioeconomic position: evidence of widening inequalities in southern Brazil
Authors: Kramer Paulo Floriani , Chaffee Benjamin W. , Bertelli Aline Estades , Ferreira Simone Helena , Béria Jorge Umberto , Feldens Carlos Alberto 
Published: October 2014

SummaryOral health inequalities are the measures by which equity in oral health is tracked. Despite widespread improvement in children's dental health globally, substantial socio‐economic disparities persist and may be worsening.ObjectivesQuantify 10‐year changes in child caries occurrence by socio‐economic position in a Southern Brazilian city and compare oral health inequalities over time.MethodsRepresentative surveys of dental caries in children (age <6 years) in Canoas, Brazil, were conducted in 2000 and 2010 following standardized methods. For each survey year, we calculated disparities by socio‐economic position (maternal education and family income) in age‐ and sex‐standardized caries occurrence (prevalence: dmft > 0; severity: mean dmft) using absolute measures (difference and Slope Index of Inequality) and relative measures (ratio and Relative Index of Inequality).ResultsComparing 2010 to 2000, caries occurrence was lower in all socio‐economic strata. However, reductions were more pronounced among socio‐economically advantaged groups, yielding no improvement in children's oral health disparities. Some disparity indicators were consistent with increasing inequality.ConclusionsOverall, dental caries levels among children in Canoas improved, but inequalities in disease distribution endured. Concerted public health efforts targeting socio‐economically disadvantaged groups are needed to achieve greater equity in children's oral health.
Compassion organizing: Employees' satisfaction with corporate philanthropic disaster response and reduced job strain
Authors: Watkins Marla Baskerville , Ren Run , Umphress Elizabeth E. , Boswell Wendy R. , Triana María del Carmen , Zardkoohi Asghar 
Published: October 2014

The literature on corporate social responsibility and corporate philanthropy generally focuses on how employers come to the aid of those outside the organization who have been affected by disasters. Less is known about an organization's corporate philanthropic disaster response (CPDR) directed towards their employees. We argue, based on conservation of resources (Hobfoll, 1989, Am. Psychol., 44, 513) and compassion organizing (Dutton et al., 2006, Admin. Sci. Quart., 51, 59) literatures, that employees perceive employers who provide aid to them following a natural disaster as supportive. This aid from CPDR provides support to employees and helps to restore the loss of valued resources. Accordingly, we predict that satisfaction with CPDR reduces employee psychological and physiological strain via its positive effects on perceived organizational support. We find support for our predictions using a sample of 695 Hurricane Katrina survivors. Finally, we discussed theoretical contributions and implications of this research.Practitioner points

Organizations are encouraged to fulfil their social responsibilities. Our research shows that organizations should be socially responsible not only to the general public, but also to their own employees. Responding compassionately by providing aid to an organization's own employees is an important element in carrying out their social responsibilities. In the aftermath of a severe natural disaster, employees may need to rely on their organizations to provide timely assistance. Such assistance could help them mitigate their strain, both psychologically and physiologically, aroused from the disaster they experienced.

Organizations' compassion organizing in the form of philanthropic disaster response to their employees may be beneficial to the organization. First, it shows the organization's intention to fulfil their social responsibility and to be a good and ethical citizen. Second, by providing assistance to their employees to deal with the challenge of restoring normal lives, organizations can help employees to continue working in a productive and effective way.