bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Parents' experiences when their child is undergoing an elective colonoscopy
Authors: Vejzovic Vedrana , Bramhagen Ann‐Cathrine , Idvall Ewa , Wennick Anne 
Published: April 2015

AbstractPurposeThe purpose was to illuminate parents' experiences when their children are undergoing an elective colonoscopy performed using polyethylene glycol‐based regimes for bowel preparation.Design and MethodsIndividual interviews with 12 parents were performed and analysed using content analysis.ResultsThe parents' experiences were structured into one theme: “Charged with conflicting emotions” with three categories: “Being forced to force,” “Losing one's sense of being a parent” and “Standing without guidance.”Practice ImplicationsUnderstanding parents' experiences can help healthcare staff guide parents in helping their children undergo a colonoscopy.
Cost‐effectiveness of sofosbuvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C‐infected patients
Authors: Cure S. , Guerra I. , Dusheiko G. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryThe efficacy of treatment for hepatitis C genotype 1 infection has significantly improved with the introduction of first‐generation protease inhibitors. However, there remains a need for effective treatments for patients infected with other genotypes, for nonresponders and patients unsuitable for interferon. Sofosbuvir is the first nucleotide polymerase inhibitor with pan‐genotypic activity. Sofosbuvir‐based regimens have resulted in >90% sustained virological response across treatment‐naïve genotype 1–6 patients in five phase III clinical trials of sofosbuvir administered with ribavirin or pegylated interferon and ribavirin. This analysis evaluates the cost‐effectiveness of sofosbuvir within the current licensed indication, for genotype 1–6 in the UK. A Markov model followed a cohort of 10 000 patients over lifetime, with approximately 20% initiating treatment for compensated cirrhosis. Sofosbuvir‐regimens were compared to telaprevir, boceprevir, pegylated interferon and ribavirin, or no treatment. Costs and outcomes were discounted at 3.5%. The cost perspective utilized costs applicable to the National Health Service in the UK. Sofosbuvir proved to be cost‐effective in most patient populations with incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs) at £11 836/QALY and £7292/QALY against telaprevir and boceprevir, respectively. In genotype 3, sofosbuvir had a weighted ICER of £18 761/QALY. Sofosbuvir‐based regimens are a cost‐effective option for the majority of hepatitis C‐infected patients in the United Kingdom although the incremental cost‐effectiveness varies by genotype and regimen. Sofosbuvir and ribavirin is an alternative regimen for patients unsuitable for interferon.
Differences in performance and transcriptome‐wide gene expression associated with Rhagoletis (Diptera: Tephritidae) larvae feeding in alternate host fruit environments
Authors: Ragland Gregory J. , Almskaar Kristin , Vertacnik Kim L. , Gough Harlan M. , Feder Jeffrey L. , Hahn Daniel A. , Schwarz Dietmar 
Published: April 2015

AbstractHost race formation, the establishment of new populations using novel resources, is a major hypothesized mechanism of ecological speciation, especially in plant‐feeding insects. The initial stages of host race formation will often involve phenotypic plasticity on the novel resource, with subsequent genetically based adaptations enhancing host‐associated fitness differences. Several studies have explored the physiology of the plastic responses of insects to novel host environments. However, the mechanisms underlying evolved differences among host races and species remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate a reciprocal larval performance difference between two closely related species of Rhagoletis flies, R. pomonella and R. zephyria, specialized for feeding in apple and snowberry fruit, respectively. Microarray analysis of fly larvae feeding in apples versus snowberries revealed patterns of transcriptome‐wide differential gene expression consistent with both plastic and evolved responses to the different fruit resources, most notably for detoxification‐related genes such as cytochrome p450s. Transcripts exhibiting evolved expression differences between species tended to also demonstrate plastic responses to fruit environment. The observed pattern suggests that Rhagoletis larvae exhibit extensive plasticity in gene expression in response to novel fruit that may potentiate shifts to new hosts. Subsequent selection, particularly selection to suppress initially costly plastic responses, could account for the evolved expression differences observed between R. pomonella and R. zephyria, creating specialized races and new fly species. Thus, genetically based ecological adaptations generating new biodiversity may often evolve from initial plastic responses in gene expression to the challenges posed by novel environments.
Transcriptional dynamics of Phytophthora infestans during sequential stages of hemibiotrophic infection of tomato
Authors: Zuluaga Andrea P. , Vega‐Arreguín Julio C. , Fei Zhangjun , Ponnala Lalit , Lee Sang Jik , Matas Antonio J. , Patev Sean , Fry William E. , Rose Jocelyn K. C. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryHemibiotrophic plant pathogens, such as the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, employ a biphasic infection strategy, initially behaving as biotrophs, where minimal symptoms are exhibited by the plant, and subsequently as necrotrophs, feeding on dead plant tissue. The regulation of this transition and the breadth of molecular mechanisms that modulate plant defences are not well understood, although effector proteins secreted by the pathogen are thought to play a key role. We examined the transcriptional dynamics of P. infestans in a compatible interaction with its host tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) at three infection stages: biotrophy; the transition from biotrophy to necrotrophy; and necrotrophy. The expression data suggest a tight temporal regulation of many pathways associated with the suppression of plant defence mechanisms and pathogenicity, including the induction of putative cytoplasmic and apoplastic effectors. Twelve of these were experimentally evaluated to determine their ability to suppress necrosis caused by the P. infestans necrosis‐inducing protein PiNPP1.1 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Four effectors suppressed necrosis, suggesting that they might prolong the biotrophic phase. This study suggests that a complex regulation of effector expression modulates the outcome of the interaction.
Serum antibody levels correlate with oral fungal cell numbers and influence the patients' response to chronic paracoccidioidomycosis
Authors: de Carli Marina Lara , Cardoso Beatriz Cristina Bachião , Malaquias Luiz Cosme Cotta , Nonogaki Suely , Pereira Alessandro Antônio Costa , Sperandio Felipe Fornias , Hanemann João Adolfo Costa 
Published: April 2015

SummaryParacoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a neglected fungal disease that elicits an important granulomatous inflammatory reaction which aims to isolate the fungi and resolve the infection; besides the innate cellular response, the patients' sera may contain different levels of antibodies directed against PCM's pathogenic agent: Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb). The aim of the study was to assess the distinct serum antibody levels of 19 chronic PCM patients and to associate these levels to the granulomatous inflammatory response and presence of fungi in oral lesions caused by Pb. The presence of Pb was detected and counted within oral tissues using immunohistochemistry; antibody levels were classified as negative, low‐grade, moderate or high‐grade groups. The Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn's test were used to verify possible associations among the groups. Interestingly, lower antibody titres were associated with lesser numbers of Pb, which favours the cellular response over the humoral response to fight PCM. On the other hand, negative serological results were linked to a higher presence of Pb in the tissues, indicating that a deficient humoral response supports the fungal proliferation. The number of Pb was conveniently associated with the level of serum antibodies, showing that the humoral immune response is required, however, not solely responsible to restrain the dissemination of Pb.
Bottlenecks in carotenoid biosynthesis and accumulation in rice endosperm are influenced by the precursor–product balance
Authors: Bai Chao , Capell Teresa , Berman Judit , Medina Vicente , Sandmann Gerhard , Christou Paul , Zhu Changfu 
Published: April 2015

SummaryThe profile of secondary metabolites in plants reflects the balance of biosynthesis, degradation and storage, including the availability of precursors and products that affect the metabolic equilibrium. We investigated the impact of the precursor–product balance on the carotenoid pathway in the endosperm of intact rice plants because this tissue does not normally accumulate carotenoids, allowing us to control each component of the pathway. We generated transgenic plants expressing the maize phytoene synthase gene (ZmPSY1) and the bacterial phytoene desaturase gene (PaCRTI), which are sufficient to produce β‐carotene in the presence of endogenous lycopene β‐cyclase. We combined this mini‐pathway with the Arabidopsis thaliana genes AtDXS (encoding 1‐deoxy‐D‐xylulose 5‐phosphate synthase, which supplies metabolic precursors) or AtOR (the ORANGE gene, which promotes the formation of a metabolic sink). Analysis of the resulting transgenic plants suggested that the supply of isoprenoid precursors from the MEP pathway is one of the key factors limiting carotenoid accumulation in the endosperm and that the overexpression of AtOR increased the accumulation of carotenoids in part by up‐regulating a series of endogenous carotenogenic genes. The identification of metabolic bottlenecks in the pathway will help to refine strategies for the creation of engineered plants with specific carotenoid profiles.
Assessing potato tuber diel growth by means of X‐ray computed tomography
Authors: Pérez‐Torres Eduardo , Kirchgessner Norbert , Pfeifer Johannes , Walter Achim 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe formation and development of belowground organs is difficult to study. X‐ray computed tomography (CT) provides the possibility to analyse and interpret subtle volumetric changes of belowground organs such as tubers, storage roots and nodules. Here, we report on the establishment of a method based on a voxel dimension of 240 μm and precision (standard deviation) of 30 μL that allows interpreting growth differences among potato tubers happening within 3 h. Plants were not stressed by the application of X‐ray radiation, which was shown both by morphological comparison with control plants and by analysis of lipid peroxidation as a measure of oxidative stress. Diel (24 h) tuber growth fluctuations of three potato genotypes were monitored in soil‐filled pots of 10 L. In contrast to the results from previous reports, most tubers grew at similar rates during day and night. Tuber growth was not related to the developmental stage of plants and tubers. Pronounced differences were observed between average growth rates in different tubers within a plant. These results are discussed in the context of restrictions of past methods to study tuber growth and in the context of their potential for the characterization of the formation and development of other belowground plant organs.
Growth rate hypothesis and efficiency of protein synthesis under different sulphate concentrations in two green algae
Authors: Giordano Mario , Palmucci Matteo , Raven John A. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe growth rate hypothesis (GRH) predicts a positive correlation between growth rate and RNA content because growth depends upon the protein synthesis machinery. The application of this hypothesis to photoautotrophic organisms has been questioned. We tested the GRH on one prasinophycean, Tetraselmis suecica, and one chlorophycean, Dunaliella salina, grown at three sulphate concentrations. Sulphate was chosen because its concentration in the oceans increased through geological time and apparently had a role in the evolutionary trajectories of phytoplankton. Cell protein content and P quota were positively related to the RNA content (r = 0.62 and r = 0.74, respectively). The correlation of the RNA content with growth rates (r = 0.95) indicates that the GRH was valid for these species when growth rates were below 0.82 d−1.
Nationwide survey of Cockayne syndrome in Japan: Incidence, clinical course and prognosis
Authors: Kubota Masaya , Ohta Sayaka , Ando Aki , Koyama Akiko , Terashima Hiroshi , Kashii Hirofumi , Hoshino Hideki , Sugita Katsuo , Hayashi Masaharu 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIn the first nationwide survey of Cockayne syndrome (CS) in Japan, the incidence of CS was estimated to be 2.77 per million births (95%CI: 2.19–3.11) and the prevalence was approximately 1 in 2 500 000. A total of 47 CS patients (24 surviving and 23 deceased) were identified. Based on clinical course, these 47 patients were classified into CS type 1 (n = 41; 21 surviving, 20 deceased), CS type 2 (n = 2; all deceased), CS type 3 (n = 3; all surviving), and CS/xeroderma pigmentosum type D (n = 1, deceased). In the 41 CS type 1 patients, seven findings (i.e. failure to thrive; photosensitivity; deafness; characteristic facial appearance of CS [sunken eyes]; foot joint contracture; intellectual disability; and basal ganglia calcification on computed tomography [CT]) were observed in >90% of patients. Of these, failure to thrive, photosensitivity, and intellectual disability (language delays) developed before 2 or 3 years of age, whereas deafness, sunken eyes, and basal ganglia calcification on CT occurred later. Features such as bodyweight and height stagnation, language delay, abnormal nutritional pathways (tube feeding), and renal failure were more prominent in the 20 deceased CS type 1 patients than in the 21 surviving CS type 1 patients. Of the 20 deceased CS type 1 patients, nine developed severe renal failure during the terminal stages of their condition. The present findings suggest that the clinical course of CS includes a diverse range of symptoms, but each type has characteristic symptoms. In addition, the management of renal failure and nutrition are very important for ensuring good quality of life throughout the long‐term course of CS.
Epidemiology, medical genetics, diagnosis and treatment of harlequin ichthyosis in Japan
Authors: Shibata Akitaka , Akiyama Masashi 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIchthyoses are a group of disorders marked by whitish, brown or dark‐brown scales on the skin of almost the whole body. Harlequin ichthyosis (HI) is the most severe form. Neonatal death from HI was once common. Due to intensive neonatal care and, probably, to the early introduction of oral retinoids, HI outcome has improved. For definitive diagnosis and the exclusion of other disorders, such as lamellar ichthyosis, which also shows a collodion baby phenotype, it is helpful to refer to electron microscopy of abnormal or absent lamellar granules and a heavy accumulation of lipid droplets in the keratinocytes. ATP‐binding cassette transporter A12 (ABCA12) is known as the causative gene of HI. Severe ABCA12 deficiency results in malformation of intercellular lipid layers in the cornified layers and leads to epidermal lipid barrier disruption. In HI patients, at least one mutation on each allele must be a truncation or deletion mutation to cause serious loss of ABCA12 function. Identification of the gene underlying HI has enabled DNA‐based prenatal diagnosis for HI at the earlier stages of pregnancy with low risk. There are no curative treatments for HI. Abca12‐deficient mice were created as a model of HI. Treatment of the model mice with retinoid or steroid has not been successful.
Young romance in China: Effects of family, attachment, relationship confidence, and problem solving
Authors: DEITZ SHARON L. , ANDERSON JARED R. , JOHNSON MATTHEW D. , HARDY NATHAN R. , ZHENG FUMING , LIU WENLI 
Published: April 2015

AbstractGuided by the development of early adult romantic relationships (DEARR) model (Bryant & Conger, 2002), this study sought to examine associations between family dysfunction and relationship satisfaction via the mechanisms of anxious and avoidant attachment, relationship confidence, and problem solving in a sample of Chinese young adults (N = 189). Structural equation model results and bootstrap tests of indirect effects indicated several indirect pathways from family dysfunction to relationship satisfaction for Chinese young adults. Follow‐up moderation analyses suggest that men's relationship satisfaction is more intrapersonally driven whereas women's satisfaction is largely determined by interpersonal interaction. The present results provide additional support for the cross‐cultural applicability of DEARR model. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future exploration are discussed.
The Economic Value of Market Information for Farmers in Developing Economies
Authors: Chen Ying‐Ju , Tang Christopher S. 
Published: April 2015

In developing countries, farmers lack information for making informed production, manufacturing/selling decisions to improve their earnings. To alleviate poverty, various non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) and for‐profit companies have developed different ways to distribute information about market price, crop advisory and farming technique to farmers. We investigate a fundamental question: will information create economic value for farmers? We construct a stylized model in which farmers face an uncertain market price (demand) and must make production decisions before the market price is realized. Each farmer has an imprecise private signal and an imprecise public signal to estimate the actual market price. By examining the equilibrium outcomes associated with a Cournot competition game, we show that private signals do create value by improving farmers' welfare. However, this value deteriorates as the public signal becomes available (or more precise). In contrast, in the presence of private signals, the public signal does not always create value for the farmers. Nevertheless, both private and public signals will reduce price variation. We also consider two separate extensions that involve non‐identical private signal precisions and farmers' risk‐aversion, and we find that the same results continue to hold. More importantly, we find that the public signal can reduce welfare inequality when farmers have non‐identical private signal precisions. Also, risk‐aversion can dampen the value created by private or public information.
Non-Parametric Inference for Density Modes
Authors: Genovese Christopher R. , Perone-Pacifico Marco , Verdinelli Isabella , Wasserman Larry 
Published: April 2015

SummaryWe derive non-parametric confidence intervals for the eigenvalues of the Hessian at modes of a density estimate. This provides information about the strength and shape of modes and can also be used as a significance test. We use a data-splitting approach in which potential modes are identified by using the first half of the data and inference is done with the second half of the data. To obtain valid confidence sets for the eigenvalues, we use a bootstrap based on an elementary symmetric polynomial transformation. This leads to valid bootstrap confidence sets regardless of any multiplicities in the eigenvalues. We also suggest a new method for bandwidth selection, namely choosing the bandwidth to maximize the number of significant modes. We show by example that this method works well. Even when the true distribution is singular, and hence does not have a density (in which case cross-validation chooses a zero bandwidth), our method chooses a reasonable bandwidth.
The Succession Crisis in European Agriculture
Authors: Burton Rob J.F. , Fischer Heike 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThis article addresses the issues raised by Chiswell and Lobley concerning our publication ‘Understanding Farm Succession as Socially Constructed Endogenous Cycles'. Our response rebuts Chiswell and Lobley's criticisms of the article and assembles evidence from the literature to suggest that in a number of countries and regions of Europe, farm succession failure is at crisis levels. We suggest that the primary source of Chiswell and Lobley's optimism is the international FARMTRANSFERS survey, which they interpret as providing a positive assessment of farm transfer within the family. We present an alternative interpretation of their conclusions.
Modeling the Potential Risk of Building Vulnerability towards Tsunami Hazard in Ulak Karang and Pasir Jambak Sub-District, Padang
Authors: Honesti Leli , Abd Majid Muhd Zaimi , Djali Nazwar , Muchlian Meli 
Published: April 2015

Padang was destroyed by tsunamis generated by the earthquakes in the history of Padang. As an area located in a coastal region, its buildings in Padang face major vulnerability against a tsunami. The objectives of this study are to develop the potential impact model of building vulnerability toward tsunami hazard and to compare the building damage levels based on water inundation, internal, and external factors in Ulak Karang and Pasir Jambak sub-districts. The objective of this research is also to give recommendation to government in making planning strategies for reducing and managing the tsunami risk on building vulnerability. There are three stages of modeling; first stage in this study is simulating an eartquake model for two study areas to estimate the maximum inundation. The second stage of modeling is implementing the spatial analysis of building vulnerability based on the field surveys and GIS. The third stage to conlude is developing the Relative Vulnerability Index (RVI) scores of buildings by mapping the building vulnerability toward tsunami hazard and giving several alternatives to develop a risk management plan in a coastal community. The result shows that Ulak Karang sub-district is determined to be more vulnerable than Pasir Jambak sub-district because many buildings near the coastline of Ulak Karang sub-district are made of timber and are arranged close to each other. Moreover, many buildings in Ulak Karang sub-district, especially along the river, are made of traditional brick. Although near Pasir Jambak coastline many buildings are made of timber, but the buildings are not close to each other. There are several alternatives to increase resilience of buildings in a coastal zone, namely: 1) regulation for buildings that have RVI: 4 and 5; 2) building codes; 3) vertical evacuation structures; 4) land use zones; 5) sea walls along the coastlines; 6) natural barriers and 7) early warning system.
Review of Radio Resource Management For IMT-Advanced System
Authors: Ismail M. K. , Isa A. A. M. , Johal M. S. 
Published: April 2015

This paper provides a review of radio resource management technologies that can be used or proposed for OFDMA-based IMT-Advanced system. IMT-Advanced specifications significantly enhanced the existing IMT 2000 standard which are represented by LTE-Advanced and mobile WiMAX as the main successful candidates. One of the key components for OFDMA is Radio Resource Management (RRM) which is used to manage radio resources for the air interface in a cellular network. The main purpose of RRM is to utilize the available radio resources efficiently. The RRM tools such as power control, handover, packet scheduling, resource allocation and, load and admission control are needed to be controlled to maximize the performance efficiency in the wireless networks. By controlling these RRM tools, we are able to maximize the number of users in the network and let the users experience the best Quality of Service (QoS) and throughput.