bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment and long‐term follow‐up of distichiasis, with special reference to the Friesian horse: A case series
Authors: Hermans H. , Ensink J. M. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryReasons for performing studyDistichiasis is very uncommon in horses and treatment options and outcome remain unknown.ObjectivesTo describe treatment and long‐term follow‐up of distichiasis in the horse.Study designRetrospective clinical study.MethodsCase records of horses admitted for diagnosis and treatment of uni‐ or bilateral distichiasis between 2003 and 2012 were reviewed. Long‐term (>6 months after last treatment) follow‐up was by telephone conversation with the owner or referring veterinarian. Data were analysed using a Chi‐squared test.ResultsEighteen cases were identified, of which 17 were Friesians. All horses had signs of corneal irritation or ulceration concurrent with distichiasis. In total, 29 eyes were affected with distichiasis of which 23 had clinical signs. All corneas were stained with fluorescein and 13 had fluorescein positive defects (45%). The lower eyelid was affected more often. Two different electrocautery devices were used for treatment. The complications were slight scarring of the eyelids (100%) and clinical recurrence (54%). Successful resolution of the clinical signs after one treatment occurred in 46% of the horses and in 77% of the horses satisfactory long‐term results were found after a mean of 2 treatments (range: 1– 6 treatments). There was significant correlation between number of hairs and recurrence (P<0.002).ConclusionsThere is a breed predisposition of distichiasis in the Friesian horse. In Friesian horses that present with uni‐ or bilateral corneal irritation or corneal ulceration, careful examination of the eyelid margins should be performed to diagnose distichiasis. Electrocautery is a valid and successful therapeutic modality which is minimally invasive, inexpensive, has a low complication rate and is easy to perform in the standing sedated horse. The recurrence rate is low in horses with less than 5 distichiae.
Nitrogen deposition weakens plant–microbe interactions in grassland ecosystems
Authors: Wei Cunzheng , Yu Qiang , Bai Edith , Lü Xiaotao , Li Qi , Xia Jianyang , Kardol Paul , Liang Wenju , Wang Zhengwen , Han Xingguo 
Published: August 2013

AbstractSoil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stoichiometry is a main driver of ecosystem functioning. Global N enrichment has greatly changed soil C : N ratios, but how altered resource stoichiometry influences the complexity of direct and indirect interactions among plants, soils, and microbial communities has rarely been explored. Here, we investigated the responses of the plant‐soil‐microbe system to multi‐level N additions and the role of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and inorganic N stoichiometry in regulating microbial biomass in semiarid grassland in northern China. We documented a significant positive correlation betweenDOCand inorganic N across the N addition gradient, which contradicts the negative nonlinear correlation between nitrate accrual andDOCavailability commonly observed in natural ecosystems. Using hierarchical structural equation modeling, we found that soil acidification resulting from N addition, rather than changes in the plant community, was most closely related to shifts in soil microbial community composition and decline of microbial respiration. These findings indicate a down‐regulating effect of high N availability on plant–microbe interactions. That is, with the limiting factor for microbial biomass shifting from resource stoichiometry to soil acidity, N enrichment weakens the bottom‐up control of soil microorganisms by plant‐derived C sources. These results highlight the importance of integratively studying the plant‐soil‐microbe system in improving our understanding of ecosystem functioning under conditions of global N enrichment.
Influences of Solid Loadings on the Microstructures and the Optical Properties of Yb:YAG Ceramics
Authors: Ba Xuewei , Li Jiang , Pan Yubai , Zeng Yanping , Liu Wenbin , Jiang Benxue , Liu Jing 
Published: August 2013

Transparent Y2.85Yb0.15Al5O12 ceramics were prepared using an aqueous tape casting and vacuum sintering method. The rheological properties were measured by a rheometer. The results indicate high quality tapes, and ceramics can be obtained by increasing the solid loading of the corresponding slurries. The densities of the tapes increase from 2.42 to 2.69 g/cm3 by increasing the solid loadings from 35 to 50 vol%. The corresponding green body densities range from 52.7 to 57.1% of the theoretical. The solid loading suitable for fabricating transparent Yb:YAG ceramics should be higher than 45 vol%.
Antipathogenic activity and preservative effect of levan (β‐2,6‐fructan), a multifunctional polysaccharide
Authors: Byun Bo Young , Lee Su‐Jin , Mah Jae‐Hyung 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThe objective of this study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of levan compounds, including high‐molecular‐weight levan, low‐molecular‐weight levan and difructose dianhydride IV (DFA IV). The levans exhibited broad antibacterial spectra against foodborne pathogenic bacteria, in a concentration‐dependent manner. From comparison with simple saccharides, often regarded as by‐products of levan production, it turned out that the antibacterial activity of levans was primarily caused by themselves. The strongest effect was observed with low‐molecular‐weight levan as compared to the others, and oligosaccharides as well. The low‐molecular‐weight levan was therefore applied to bread making. The bread samples inoculated with pathogenic bacteria were divided into two groups: bread with sugar alone (control) and bread with both sugar and levan (treatment). It was found from the in situ test that the viability of pathogenic bacteria in bread was reduced by the addition of low‐molecular‐weight levan. Therefore, levan compounds have potential as alternative sweeteners for reduction in pathogenic contamination.
Positron Annihilation in Off‐Stoichiometric and Ta‐Doped Zn2TiO4
Authors: Guagliardo Paul R. , Vance Eric R. , Lumpkin Gregory R. , Blackford Mark G. , Sudarshan Kathi , Davis Joel , Samarin Sergey , Williams James F. 
Published: August 2013

While Zn vacancies are regarded as the charge compensators in Ti‐rich Zn2TiO4, no evidence of cation vacancies in essentially single‐phase samples containing up to 13 wt% excess TiO2 was evident from positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). Nor was there strong evidence of cation vacancies in Ta‐doped samples targeted to contain either tetrahedral or octahedral vacancies, although there was a small increase in the lifetime as the doping level increased and the structure changed from cubic to tetragonal.
Effect of CMAS Deposits on MOCVD Coatings in the System Y2O3–ZrO2: Phase Relationships
Authors: Eils Nadine K. , Mechnich Peter , Braue Wolfgang 
Published: August 2013

Three metal‐organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) coatings (ZrO2, Y2O3·ZrO2, Y2O3) were studied in contact with model CMAS to investigate the microstructural evolution and phase formation. The MOCVD coatings were covered with CMAS powder deposits and annealed for 1 h at 1250°C, respectively. The ZrO2 coating was completely infiltrated by CMAS, whereas the yttria containing coatings show a higher resistance against CMAS infiltration. This is explained by the formation of a continuous oxyapatite layer in the reaction zone of the coating and the CMAS deposit. The Y2O3·ZrO2 coating shows the best infiltration resistance despite the fact that the Y2O3–CMAS sample is the only completely crystallized. As crystallization products, oxyapatite, melilite, anorthite as well as new garnets bearing all available cations were formed. The garnet phase was confirmed by XRD and TEM. EDS measurements were used to calculate structural formula A3B2T3O12 (A = Ca, Y, Zr; B = Mg, Al; T = Al, Si).
The Social Information Processing Model as a Framework for Explaining Frequent Aggression in Adults with Mild to Moderate Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review of the Evidence
Authors: Larkin Peter , Jahoda Andrew , MacMahon Ken 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundThere is an established evidence base con‐cerning the use of anger management interventions with violent offenders who have intellectual disabilities. However, there has been limited research investigating the role of social cognitive factors underpinning problems of aggression. Psychosocial sources of agg‐ression in the non‐disabled population are generally discussed using Social Information Processing (SIP) models.MethodA systematic review of the available evidence was carried out to establish whether SIP offers a useful explanatory model for understanding the contribution of social cognitive factors to problems of aggression presented by people with intellectual disabilities.Results and conclusionsWhilst research relating to the SIP model remains sparse for this population, there was evidence for different patterns of processing between aggressive and non‐aggressive individuals. Group diff‐erences included interpretation of emotional cues, inter‐personal attributions and beliefs about the outcomes of aggressive behaviour. The future direction of SIP research with people who have intellectual disabilities is discussed, along with the possibility of using this framework to help build on current initiatives to develop individually tailored interventions to work at a cognitive level with those who are aggressive and offend.
‘Counterfeit Deviance’ Revisited
Authors: Griffiths Dorothy , Hingsburger Dave , Hoath Jordan , Ioannou Stephanie 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundThe field has seen a renewed interest in exploring the theory of ‘counterfeit deviance’ for persons with intellectual disability who sexually offend. The term was first presented in 1991 by Hingsburger, Griffiths and Quinsey as a means to differentiate in clinical assessment a subgroup of persons with intellectual disability whose behaviours appeared like paraphilia but served a function that was not related to paraphilia sexual urges or fantasies. Case observations were put forward to provide differential diagnosis of paraphilia in persons with intellectual disabilities compared to those with counterfeit deviance. The brief paper was published in a journal that is no longer available and as such much of what is currently written on the topic is based on secondary sources.MethodThe current paper presents a theoretical piece to revisit the original counterfeit deviance theory to clarify the myths and misconceptions that have arisen and evaluate the theory based on additional research and clinical findings. The authors also propose areas where there may be a basis for expansion of the theory.ResultsThe theory of counterfeit deviance still has relevance as a consideration for clinicians when assessing the nature of a sexual offence committed by a person with an intellectual disability. Clinical differentiation of paraphilia from counterfeit deviance provides a foundation for intervention that is designed to specifically treat the underlying factors that contributed to the offence for a given individual.DiscussionCounterfeit deviance is a concept that continues to provide areas for consideration for clinicians regarding the assessment and treatment of an individual with an intellectual disability who has sexually offended. It is not and never was an explanation for all sexually offending behavior among persons with intellectual disabilities.
A Comparison of Anger in Offenders and Non‐Offenders Who have Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Nicoll Matthew , Beail Nigel 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundThere is growing evidence of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy to treat anger in offenders with intellectual disabilities. The aim is to lower anger levels; the rationale is that this will reduce recidivism. However, the hypothesis that anger levels amongst offenders are higher than non‐offenders has not been tested.MethodThe study utilizes a case‐comparison design to examine whether levels of anger are higher amongst people with intellectual disabilities who have offended in comparison with those who have not offended. Anger levels are compared for 29 offenders with intellectual disabilities and 27 non‐offenders with intellectual disabilities (all male).ResultsNo differences were found between offenders and non‐offenders on measures of anger. The offending group was shown to have higher levels of aggression.ConclusionsResults suggest that there is no difference in levels of anger between offender and non‐offenders to begin with. The limitations of the study are discussed, but the implication of the study questions the legitimacy of the rationale to utilize anger treatment to reduce recidivism in offenders with intellectual disabilities.
Men with Intellectual Disabilities who have Attended Sex Offender Treatment Groups: A Follow‐Up
Authors: Heaton Kathryn M. , Murphy Glynis H. 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundThere have been a number of studies of treatment for men with intellectual disabilities and sexually abusive behaviour but few follow‐up studies. Our aim was to follow up men with intellectual disabilities who had attended group cognitive behavioural treatment (CBT) for sexually abusive behaviour.MethodThirty‐four men (from seven treatment sites) were followed up. All had attended SOTSEC‐ID groups. The mean length of follow‐up, since the end of the treatment group, was 44 months (SD 28.7, range 15–106 months).ResultsThe statistically significant improvements in sexual knowledge, empathy and cognitive distortions that occurred during treatment were maintained at follow‐up. In all, 11 of the 34 (32%) men showed further sexually abusive behaviour, but only two of these men received convictions. Analyses of the variables associated with further sexually abusive behaviour indicated that a diagnosis of autism was associated with a higher likelihood of further sexually abusive behaviour.ConclusionsThis study provides some evidence of the longer‐term effectiveness of group CBT for men with intellectual disabilities and sexually abusive behaviour.
The challenge of delineating biogeographical regions: nestedness matters for Indo‐Pacific coral reef fishes
Authors: Mouillot David , De Bortoli Julien , Leprieur Fabien , Parravicini Valeriano , Kulbicki Michel , Bellwood David R. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAimThe delineation of regions is a critical procedure in biogeography, but there is still no consensus about the best approach. Traditionally, a compositional dissimilarity index and a clustering algorithm are used to partition locations into regions. However, the choice of index and algorithm may have a profound impact on the final result, particularly when locations display different levels of species richness and when they are nested within each other. Our objective was to estimate the influence of species nestedness among locations on the delineation of biogeographical regions.LocationAs a case study, we used coral reef fishes (families Chaetodontidae, Pomacentridae and Labridae) from the Indo‐Pacific, where a large richness gradient extends, often as a series of nested assemblages, from the species‐rich Indo‐Australian Archipelago (Coral Triangle) to species‐poor peripheral locations.MethodsWe used the turnover and nestedness components of the Sørensen and Jaccard dissimilarity indices to estimate the effect of nestedness on the delineation of biogeographical regions. In addition, we compared the results with those obtained using a parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE).ResultsLow Mantel correlation values revealed that the PAE method assembled locations in a very different way than methods based on dissimilarity indices for Indo‐Pacific coral reef fishes. We also found that nestedness mattered when delineating biogeographical units because, for both the Sørensen and the Jaccard indices, reef fish assemblages were grouped differently depending on whether we used the turnover component of each index or the complete index, including the nestedness component. The turnover component ignored variation in species richness attributable to differences in habitat area between locations, and permitted a delineation based solely on species replacement.Main conclusionsWe demonstrate that the choice of the component used to measure dissimilarity between species assemblages is critical, because it may strongly influence regional delineations, at least for Indo‐Pacific coral reef fishes. We conclude that the two components of the dissimilarity indices can reveal complementary insights into the role that history may have played in shaping extant patterns of biodiversity.
Decreased enteric fatty acid amide hydrolase activity is associated with colonic inertia in slow transit constipation
Authors: Zhang Shu‐Cheng , Wang Wei‐Lin , Su Peng‐Jun , Jiang Kai‐Lei , Yuan Zheng‐Wei 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundConstipation is one of the most common chronic digestive complaints. Gastrointestinal transit studies have divided it into three patterns: normal transit, slow transit constipation (STC), and outlet obstruction. It has been demonstrated that STC patients respond poorly to standard therapies, and the etiology of STC remains poorly understood. Animal studies have also shown that fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) controls intestinal motility through its putative receptors or non‐receptor‐mediated pathways. However, the role of FAAH in STC has not been elaborated.MethodsA case series was carried out on thirty‐two STC patients fulfilling the Rome II criteria and on 24 controls. All of the subjects underwent a laparotomy in Shengjing Hospital. Colonic specimens were obtained and used for FAAH expression analysis, enzyme activity assay, and cannabinoid detection.ResultsFAAH immunoreactivity occurred in the enteric neurons and in the surface epithelial and glands. The expression level and enzyme activity of FAAH in the STC group were both significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The amounts of anandamide, 2‐arachidonylglycerol, and palmitoylethanolamide, which are negatively correlated with enzyme activity, were significantly higher in the constipation group than that in the control group. In the STC group, cannabinoid receptor type 1 immunoreactivity occurred predominantly in the submucosal and myenteric fibers that were obviously strong and wave‐like in their appearance. Enteric ganglions decreased or disappeared.ConclusionsThe tone of the enteric cannabinoids system is disturbed in STC, and the decreased enteric FAAH activity contributes to colonic inertia in STC.
Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy for previously untreated solitary hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Takeda Atsuya , Sanuki Naoko , Eriguchi Takahisa , Kobayashi Takashi , Iwabutchi Shogo , Matsunaga Kotaro , Mizuno Tomikazu , Yashiro Kae , Nisimura Shuichi , Kunieda Etsuo 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackground and AimsStereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is a relatively new treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The outcomes of SABR for previously untreated solitary HCC unfit for ablation and surgical resection were evaluated.MethodsUntreated solitary HCC patients treated with SABR were retrospectively studied. Between 2005 and 2012, 221 HCC patients underwent SABR. Among them, patients with untreated solitary HCC, treated with only SABR or SABR preceded by transarterial chemoembolization, were eligible. Based on baseline liver function and liver volume receiving ≥ 20 Gy, 35–40 Gy in five fractions was prescribed to the planning target volume surface.ResultsSixty‐three patients were eligible, with a median follow‐up duration of 31.1 (range 12.0–88.1) months. No patients were lost to follow‐up. Twenty patients were treated with only SABR. In 43 patients treated with SABR preceded by transarterial chemoembolization, accumulation of lipiodol in the tumor remained complete in five, a partial defect in 38 on pre‐SABR computed tomography. The 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐year local control rates were 100%, 95%, and 92%, respectively; the intrahepatic recurrence‐free rates were 76%, 55%, and 36%, respectively; and the overall survival rates were 100%, 87%, and 73%, respectively. Grade 3 laboratory toxicities in the acute, subacute, and chronic phases were observed in 10, 9, and 13 patients, respectively, and ascites occurred in one patient.ConclusionsLocal control and overall survival after SABR for untreated solitary HCC were excellent despite the candidates being unfit for resection and ablation. SABR is safe and might be an alternative to resection and ablation.
Predictive factors for erythema nodosum and pyoderma gangrenosum in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Ampuero Javier , Rojas‐Feria María , Castro‐Fernández Manuel , Cano Cristina , Romero‐Gómez Manuel 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackground and AimTo identify predictive factors related to the development of erythema nodosum and pyoderma gangrenosum, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).MethodsEpidemiological and clinical data from 270 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 125 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) were collected between 2003 and 2011. The variables retrospectively analyzed were: gender, age at diagnosis, type of IBD (CD or UC), smoking habit, pattern of disease (IBD), location and extension, family history, previous IBD‐related surgery, other extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs), and previous biological and immunosuppressive therapy.ResultsThirty‐seven patients showed at least one cutaneous manifestation. These lesions were more frequent in women (15.4%) than in men (4.2%; P = 0.0001) and in CD (12.2%) than in UC patients (3.2%; P = 0.005). These manifestations were more frequently associated with other EIMs (25% vs 7.2%; P = 0.0001), and they were less frequent in patients who received a previous biological therapy for IBD (6.8% vs 11.2%; P = 0.1). Patients with skin manifestations were younger at diagnosis of IBD than those patients without them (26.3 ± 10 vs 32.9 ± 14.5, P = 0.008). Independent variables significantly associated with development of skin manifestations were: female (P = 0.008), previous biological therapy (P = 0.007), age at diagnosis (young, P = 0.026), type of IBD (CD, P = 0.043) and presence of other EIMs (P = 0.0001).ConclusionPredictive factors involved in the development of main cutaneous manifestations are: female, CD, young age at diagnosis of IBD, and presence of other EIMs. Early use of biological therapies prevents the development of cutaneous manifestations.