bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Traditional Chinese medicinal herbal tea consumption, self‐reported somatization, and alexithymia
Authors: Chio Pit Hoi , Zaroff Charles M. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractIntroductionSomatic presentations of distress are common cross‐culturally, although perhaps more so in Asian cultures. Somatic presentations of distress may be associated with alexithymia, a difficulty in experiencing and expressing emotions. Although the constructs of somatization and alexithymia have been examined in depth both within and across cultures, there is minimal information on culture‐specific behaviors utilized to cope with stress in individuals who tend to somaticize distress or are alexithymic. The current report investigates the association between somatization and alexithymia, and a culture‐specific behavior of traditional Chinese medicinal herbal tea consumption, in a nonclinical, young adult sample.MethodsA sample of 222 undergraduate university students of Chinese ethnicity completed self‐report measures of somatization and the related construct of somatosensory amplification, alexithymia, and attitude toward the consumption of herbal tea possessing traditional Chinese medicinal value.ResultsAfter controlling for gender, alexithymia was significantly correlated with somatization (r[220] = 0.29, P < 0.05) and somatosensory amplification (r[220] = 0.19, P < 0.05). Attitudes toward herbal tea consumption were significantly correlated with somatosensory amplification (r[220] = 0.16, P < 0.05).DiscussionThe connection between alexithymia and somatization was confirmed in the current report in a nonclinical sample. A culture‐specific behavior (consumption of traditional Chinese medicinal herbal tea) was significantly associated with somatosensory amplification. Potential etiologies and implications of the current findings are discussed.
Simple faecal preparation and efficacy of frozen inoculum in faecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection – an observational cohort study
Authors: Satokari R. , Mattila E. , Kainulainen V. , Arkkila P. E. T. 
Published: October 2014

SummaryBackgroundFaecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (rCDI). The finding of suitable donor, donor screening and preparation of faecal transplants are challenging in clinical work.AimTo develop a practical protocol for preparing frozen transplants and to compare the efficacy of previously frozen and fresh faeces in treating rCDI.MethodsTwo healthy volunteers acted as universal donors for the frozen faecal preparations, which were prepared by suspending faeces into physiological saline, adding glycerol to a final concentration of 10% and storing at −80 °C. We compared the outcomes of patients with rCDI who had undergone FMT at colonoscopy and received infusion of previously prepared, freeze‐stored faeces (n = 23) or fresh faeces from individual (n = 15) or universal donors (n = 11) (total n = 49). Clinical failure was defined as persistent or recurrent symptoms with a positive C. difficile toxin stool test, and a need for new therapy.ResultsAt 12 weeks post‐FMT, symptoms were resolved in 22 of 23 patients receiving previously frozen faeces, and in all 11 or 14 of 15 patients receiving fresh faeces from the universal or individual donors respectively (totally 25 of 26; P = ns, success rate 96%). Mild transient fever appeared for two patients receiving frozen faeces, but no other significant side effects were observed. 42 patients were followed up for a year post‐FMT and the success rate was 88% in both fresh and frozen faeces groups.ConclusionsPreparation of frozen transplants simplifies the practical aspects of faecal microbiota transplantation without loss of efficacy or safety.
A Unification of Models for Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies without a Gold Standard
Authors: Liu Yulun , Chen Yong , Chu Haitao 
Published: October 2014

Summary
Several statistical methods for meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy studies have been discussed in the presence of a gold standard. However, in practice, the selected reference test may be imperfect due to measurement error, non-existence, invasive nature, or expensive cost of a gold standard. It has been suggested that treating an imperfect reference test as a gold standard can lead to substantial bias in the estimation of diagnostic test accuracy. Recently, two models have been proposed to account for imperfect reference test, namely, a multivariate generalized linear mixed model (MGLMM) and a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) model. Both models are very flexible in accounting for heterogeneity in accuracies of tests across studies as well as the dependence between tests. In this article, we show that these two models, although with different formulations, are closely related and are equivalent in the absence of study-level covariates. Furthermore, we provide the exact relations between the parameters of these two models and assumptions under which two models can be reduced to equivalent submodels. On the other hand, we show that some submodels of the MGLMM do not have corresponding equivalent submodels of the HSROC model, and vice versa. With three real examples, we illustrate the cases when fitting the MGLMM and HSROC models leads to equivalent submodels and hence identical inference, and the cases when the inferences from two models are slightly different. Our results generalize the important relations between the bivariate generalized linear mixed model and HSROC model when the reference test is a gold standard.
Changes in Elephant Abundance Affect Forest Composition or Regeneration?
Authors: Omeja Patrick A. , Jacob Aerin L. , Lawes Michael J. , Lwanga Jeremiah S. , Rothman Jessica M. , Tumwesigye Charles , Chapman Colin A. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractWhile overall numbers of African elephant have declined dramatically in recent times, some populations are now confined to protected areas and are locally overabundant—an undesirable situation for both biodiversity conservation and elephants. In forested protected areas, options to manage elephants are limited because it is difficult to safely approach animals, yet it is vital that these populations are managed because browsing by elephants can dramatically alter forest ecosystems. Using data collected over 50 yr in Kibale National Park, Uganda, we examine the prediction that increasing elephant numbers and associated changes in their foraging behavior have caused a shift in tree community composition. Although the relative abundance of elephants increased significantly between 1996 and 2010, the population structure of their preferred tree food species did not change, nor did tree community composition change in favor of species able to re‐sprout after elephant damage. Furthermore, over the last 50 yr Kibale elephants have not become more selective foragers, as would be expected if more nutritious tree species were declining. However, elephants are more abundant in disturbed areas dominated by shrubs and grasses and appear to have arrested forest succession in these areas. At their current abundance, elephants have not selectively altered the composition of intact old growth forest, but they do inhibit the regeneration of disturbed areas.
Canopy Openness Enhances Diversity of Ant–Plant Interactions in the Brazilian Amazon Rain Forest
Authors: Dáttilo Wesley , Dyer Lee 
Published: October 2014

AbstractIn closed‐canopy tropical forest understory, light availability is a significant determinant of habitat diversity because canopy structure is highly variable in most tropical forests. Consequently, variation in canopy cover affects the composition and distribution of plant species via creating variable light environments. Nevertheless, little is known about how variation in canopy openness structures patterns of plant–animal interactions. Because of the great diversity and dominance of ants in tropical environments, we used ant–plant interactions as a focal network to evaluate how variation in canopy cover influences patterns of plant–insect interactions in the Brazilian Amazon rain forest. We observed that small increases in canopy openness are associated with increased diversity of ant–plant interactions in our study area, and this change is independent of plant or ant species richness. Additionally, we found smaller niche overlap for both ants and plants associated with greater canopy openness. We hypothesize that enhanced light availability increases the breadth of ant foraging sources because variation in light availability gives rise to plant resources of different quality and amounts. Moreover, greater light availability promotes vegetative growth in plants, creating ant foraging ‘bridges’ between plants. In sum, our results highlight the importance of environmental heterogeneity as a determinant of ant–plant interaction diversity in tropical environments.
Soil and Geographic Distance as Determinants of Floristic Composition in the Azuero Peninsula (Panama)
Authors: Garibaldi Cristina , Nieto‐Ariza Beatriz , Macía Manuel J. , Cayuela Luis 
Published: October 2014

AbstractMany studies analyzing the relative contribution of soil properties versus distance‐related processes on plant species composition have focused on lowland tropical forests. Very few have investigated two forest types simultaneously, to contrast ecological processes that assemble the communities. This study analyses—at the landscape scale—the relative contribution of soil and distance on lowland and submontane tropical forests, which co‐occur in two reserves of the Azuero peninsula (Panama). Floristic inventories and soil sampling were conducted in 81 0.1‐ha plots clustered in 27 sites, and data were analyzed using Mantel tests, variance partitioning and non‐metric multidimensional scaling. The largest differences in floristic composition occurred between reserves in both forest types. Soil variation and geographic distance were important determinants of floristic composition, but their effects were highly correlated; together they explained 7–25 percent and 46–50 percent of the variation in lowland and submontane forests, respectively. Soil variables that had the best correlations with floristic composition were iron, zinc, and silt content in lowland, and calcium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and sand content in submontane forests. The studied forests showed a high beta diversity that seems to be related primarily with soils and, secondarily, with dispersal limitation and stochastic events. The results reveal a response of tree assemblages to environmental gradients, which are particularly conspicuous in Panama. The effects of limited dispersal seem to be more important in submontane than in lowland forests, probably as a result of higher isolation.
Should anastomotic assessment with flexible sigmoidoscopy be routine following laparoscopic restorative left colorectal resection?
Authors: Kamal T. , Pai A. , Velchuru V. R. , Zawadzki M. , Park J. J. , Marecik S. J. , Abcarian H. , Prasad L. M. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAimThe aim of the study was to evaluate the value of routine intra‐operative flexible sigmoidoscopy (IOFS) for left‐sided anastomotic integrity and to determine the safest step after a positive leak test.MethodAll consecutive patients undergoing left‐sided colorectal resections for benign and malignant disease between August 2005 and April 2011 were included. Data regarding procedure, type of anastomosis and outcomes of IOFS were collected. A positive intra‐operative leak test resulted in redoing the anastomosis and repeating the leak test.ResultsA total of 415 consecutive patients underwent hand‐assisted laparoscopic colorectal resection with a colorectal/ileoanal anastomosis. All patients underwent IOFS. Seventeen patients had abnormality on IOFS. Fifteen patients had a positive air leak test. One patient had anastomotic bleeding. There was one stapler misfiring. Fourteen anastomoses were redone without diversion. One patient required diversion to protect the ileoanal anastomosis and another had already been diverted. Minor bleeding from the staple line in one patient resolved without intervention; however, he had a postoperative anastomotic leak needing surgical intervention. None of the patients who had a takedown and refashioning of the anastomosis following a positive leak on IOFS had postoperative anastomotic leakage or bleeding. Our overall anastomotic leak rate was 2.1%.ConclusionsIntra‐operative flexible sigmoidoscopy for restorative colorectal resection is safe and reliable and should be performed routinely to assess anastomotic integrity and bleeding. Refashioning the anastomosis after formal takedown would obviate the risk of leakage and is our recommended method of managing intra‐operative leaks.
Study of shrinkage of cutaneous surgical specimens
Authors: Blasco‐Morente Gonzalo , Garrido‐Colmenero Cristina , Pérez‐López Israel , Carretero‐García Simplicio , Martín‐Castro Aurelio , Arias‐Santiago Salvador , Tercedor‐Sánchez Jesús 
Published: October 2014

BackgroundThe assessment of discrepancies between surgical and histopathological measurements of specimens is important in order to avoid repeat surgery and unnecessary follow‐ups.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to quantify the degree, time and influential factors of shrinkage of cutaneous surgical specimens.MethodsData of 111 patients were gathered on age, sex, localization, diagnosis and specimen width and length before surgical excision (in vivo), at 5 min postsurgery (ex vivo) and after 24 h of fixation in 10% buffered formalin (postfixation).ResultsThe length and width were significantly lower in the postfixation vs. in vivo specimens, with a mean shrinkage of 17.0% in the length (p < 0.01) and 9.5% in the width (p < 0.01). 81.8% and 92.3% of the total shrinkage in length and weight was observed between in vivo and ex vivo measurements. No significant differences were observed as a function of sex, age or diagnosis. A greater shrinkage in length between in vivo and postfixation was found in specimens from the trunk.LimitationsThe most of the skin samples were diseased.ConclusionThe largest proportion of specimen shrinkage occurred within 5 min of its excision and the shrinkage was greater in specimens from the trunk.
Sex ratios and Ophryocystis elektroscirrha infection levels of Danaus plexippus during spring migration through Oklahoma, USA
Authors: McCoshum Shaun M. , Baum Kristen A. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractMonarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), have a multiple brood migration in the spring as they move between their overwintering grounds and summer breeding grounds. In Oklahoma, USA, monarchs produce at least one generation in the spring, which develops and continues the northward migration, leaving Oklahoma without a breeding population during the hot summer months. Female monarchs leave the overwintering grounds prior to males, but it is not clear whether females re‐colonize areas along the migration route prior to, or at the same time as males. Male‐to‐female ratios are 1:1 at emergence, but studies have identified a male‐biased sex ratio in the field. Both males and females are susceptible to infection by the obligate protozoan parasite, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha McLaughlin & Myers (OE), which reduces flight abilities and life spans of infected individuals. We examine sex ratios during the spring migration through Oklahoma and whether sex ratios or OE infection estimates vary with capture technique (active or passive). Our data suggest populations are male‐biased during the 1st week of spring migration in Oklahoma, but shift to female‐biased by the 3rd week in both cool and warm springs. Therefore, males may leave southern areas prior to females or migrate longer distances per day. Active sampling (i.e., netting) did not bias sex compared to passive sampling (i.e., sticky traps). Significantly fewer OE‐carrying monarchs (with two or more spores) were captured via netting than by sticky traps which may be caused by sticky trap glue affecting tape sampling effectiveness, but there was no difference in the number of heavily infected individuals (more than 100 spores). Therefore, data from netted monarchs may underestimate OE infection rates within populations.
Computational Analysis of Oxide Ion Conduction in Orthorhombic Perovskite Structured La0.9A0.1InO2.95 (A = Ca, Sr and Ba)
Authors: Yoon Mi‐Young , Hwang Kuk‐Jin , Byeon Dae‐Seop , Kim Joosun , Hwang Hae‐Jin , Jeong Seong‐Min 
Published: October 2014

Oxide ion conduction in orthorhombic perovskite structured oxides, La0.9A0.1InO2.95 (A = Ca, Sr and Ba) is analyzed using molecular dynamics simulation. Factors influencing oxide ion conductivity of the compositions considered are analyzed using radial distribution function, bond energies between dopant and oxide ions, and the diffusion path. It is known that perovskite oxides with smaller ion size mismatch between host and dopant ions have higher electrical conductivities. However, exceptions exist, such as a La0.9A0.1InO2.95 (A = Ca, Sr and Ba) system, where high electrical conductivities occur with large ion size mismatches. Based on this study, a dopant with smaller ion than host ion results in the formation of strong ionic bonds with oxide ions, suggesting that the A‐site dopant should be larger than the host ion for forming weaker O–A bonds. Consequently, the trade‐off between ion size mismatch and O–A bond needs to be considered for enhancing oxide ion conductivity of perovskite oxides.
Variation in EU External Policies as a Virtue: EU Rule of Law Promotion in the Neighbourhood
Authors: Burlyuk Olga 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe scholarship on European Union external relations ties good performance to enhanced coherence across EU policies, often understood as uniformity, and interprets any sign of variation as incoherence and double standards. This article challenges the virtuousness of such uniformity in the case of EU rule of law promotion in the neighbourhood and examines the parameters of the possible and the necessary. The findings reveal that variation in EU rule of law conceptions is inherent to the EU approach and inevitable due to the nature of the rule of law concept and the studied political context. Moreover, this variation in itself does not entail incoherence of EU rule of law promotion, as a shared understanding of the core meaning of the rule of law frames EU efforts across cases, and is even desirable for effective rule of law promotion, under law and development theory and practice.
Communication Skills Curriculum for Foreign Medical Graduates in an Internal Medicine Residency Program
Authors: Ramaswamy Ravishankar , Williams Alicia , Clark Elizabeth M. , Kelley Amy S. 
Published: October 2014

Effective communication is an important aspect of caring for the elderly, who are more likely to have multimorbidity, limited health literacy, and psychosocial barriers to care. About half of Internal Medicine (IM) trainees in the United States are foreign medical graduates, and may not have been exposed to prior communication skills education. This novel communication skills curriculum for IM interns aimed to increase trainees’ confidence and use of specific communication tools with older adults, particularly in delivering bad news and conducting family meetings. The workshop consisted of two interactive sessions in a small group with two learners and one or two facilitators, during the 4‐week geriatrics block in IM internship training year. Twenty‐three IM interns at an urban Veterans Affairs Medical Center were surveyed at the beginning and at the end of the 4‐week block and 3 months after completion of the workshop about their knowledge, confidence, and skill in communication and asked about challenges to effective communication with older adults. The primary outcome measure was change in self‐reported confidence and behavior in communication at 4 weeks. On a 4‐point Likert scale, there was average improvement of 0.70 in self‐reported confidence in communication, which was sustained 3 months after completion of the workshop. Participants reported several patient, physician, and system barriers to effective communication. Communication skills education in a small‐group setting and the opportunity for repeated practice and self‐reflection resulted in a sustained increase in overall confidence in IM interns in communication with older adults and may help overcome certain patient‐ and physician‐specific communication barriers.
Testing and modelling the effects of climate on the incidence of the emergent nut rot agent of chestnut Gnomoniopsis castanea
Authors: Lione G. , Giordano L. , Sillo F. , Gonthier P. 
Published: October 2014

Gnomoniopsis castanea is an emerging fungal pathogen causing nut rot of sweet chestnut, Castanea sativa. This study was aimed at testing and modelling the effects of climate on disease incidence. Up to 120 ripe nuts were collected in 2011 from trees in each of 12 sites located in the northwest of Italy. The incidence of G. castanea in each site was expressed as the number of infected nuts out of the total number of nuts sampled (%), determined by combining the results of morphological identification of isolates obtained from nuts, and their typing through a newly developed taxon‐specific molecular assay. Disease incidence ranged from 20 to 93%, depending on site. Geostatistical analyses revealed that, despite the clustering of sites (P < 0·05), disease incidence was not spatially autocorrelated (P > 0·05). This finding suggests that the disease is influenced by site‐dependent factors whose scale (c. 7·5–15·6 km) is consistent with the climate variability throughout the sampling region. Multivariate analyses on maximum, mean and minimum temperatures and on rainfall showed that warmer temperatures were associated with higher levels of disease incidence. The temperatures of months before nut harvesting were selected as predictors for partial least squares regression (PLSR) models (GnoMods) of G. castanea incidence. External validation on data collected either on sites or in years not used for model fitting showed the good predictive abilities of the GnoMods (Spearman's ρobs/pred > 0·72, P < 0·05). The above findings support a relationship between climate and incidence of G. castanea, providing statistical tools to forecast disease incidence at site level.
Changes in schemas of patients with severe borderline personality disorder: The Oulu BPD study
Authors: Leppänen Virpi , Kärki Anna , Saariaho Tom , Lindeman Sari , Hakko Helinä 
Published: October 2014

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a relatively common and severe psychiatric disorder that can impair quality of life in many ways. The aim of this study was to determine whether a combined treatment model for BPD patients, utilising major principles from schema‐focused therapy (SFT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), could be more effective in relieving early maladaptive schemas of BPD patients, compared to treatment as usual (TAU). This study is a part of the Oulu BPD study conducted at mental health care services run by Oulu city social and health care services. The study is a multisite, randomized controlled trial conducted over a one year period, involving two groups of patients with severe BPD: (1) Community Treatment By Experts (CTBE) patients (n = 18) receiving the combined treatment model, and 2) TAU patients (n = 27). The patients' schemas were assessed using the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ‐L3a) before and after one year of treatment. The results reveal that CTBE patients who attended the combined treatment model showed a statistically significant reduction in eight out of 18 early maladaptive schemas, while patients receiving treatment as usual did not demonstrate any significant changes in schemas. The cognitive therapeutic treatment model can be applied for clinical use in public mental health settings using existing professionals, and appears to produce positive changes in patients with BPD.