bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ecological effects of extreme climatic events on riverine ecosystems: insights from Australia
Authors: Leigh Catherine , Bush Alex , Harrison Evan T. , Ho Susie S. , Luke Laurisse , Rolls Robert J. , Ledger Mark E. 
Published: December 2014

Summary

Climate extremes and their physical impacts – including droughts, fires, floods, heat waves, storm surges and tropical cyclones – are important structuring forces in riverine ecosystems. Climate change is expected to increase the future occurrence of extremes, with potentially devastating effects on rivers and streams. We synthesise knowledge of extremes and their impacts on riverine ecosystems in Australia, a country for which projected changes in event characteristics reflect global trends.

Hydrologic extremes play a major structuring role in river ecology across Australia. Droughts alter water quality and reduce habitat availability, driving organisms to refugia. Extreme floods increase hydrological connectivity and trigger booms in productivity, but can also alter channel morphology and cause disturbances such as hypoxic blackwater events.

Tropical cyclones and post‐cyclonic floods damage riparian vegetation, erode stream banks and alter water quality. Cyclone‐induced delivery of large woody debris provides important instream habitat, although the wider ecological consequences of tropical cyclones are uncertain.

Wildfires destroy catchment vegetation and expose soils, increasing inputs of fine sediment and nutrients to streams, particularly when followed by heavy rains.

Research on the impacts of heat waves and storm surges is scarce, but data on temperature and salinity tolerances, respectively, may provide some insight into ecological responses.

We identify research gaps and hypotheses to guide future research on the ecology of extreme climate events in Australia and beyond. A range of phenomenological, experimental and modelling approaches is needed to develop a mechanistic understanding of the ecological impact of extreme events and inform prediction of responses to future change.
Effect of age and residential status on the predictive performance of CURB‐65 score
Authors: Ma H. M. , Ip M. , Woo J. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe CURB‐65 score was designed to predict 30‐day mortality and decide the site of care of pneumonia. It is uncertain how age and residential status affect the accuracy of CURB‐65 score in older patients.AimThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of age and residential status on the performance of CURB‐65 score in predicting 30‐day all‐cause mortality of pneumonia in older patients.MethodsWe used combined data from two prospective observational cohorts of adult patients with pneumonia. Older patients aged ≥ 65 years were analysed.ResultsOf 1644 patients, 1200 were living in the community and 464 residing in nursing homes. The 30‐day mortality rates of community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) and nursing home‐acquired pneumonia (NHAP) were 10.7% and 14.2% respectively. In each age group of CAP and NHAP, mortality increased with pneumonia severity. Mortality decreased with advancing age in NHAP, and the reverse was true for CAP. In NHAP but not CAP, the proportion of highly severe pneumonia (CURB‐65 score ≥ 3) was lower in older patients. The overall predictive performance of CURB‐65 score was comparable in CAP and NHAP. The accuracy deteriorated with advancing age in NHAP but not CAP. Using the cut‐off score of ≥3 (highly severe pneumonia), the CURB‐65 score achieved high negative predictive values (>90%) in CAP and NHAP.ConclusionsAdvancing age adversely affected the predictive performance of CURB‐65 score in NHAP but not CAP. The score was not helpful in guiding the site of care at admission in older patients with pneumonia.
High frequency of enterovirus D68 in children hospitalised with respiratory illness in Norway, autumn 2014
Authors: Bragstad Karoline , Jakobsen Kirsti , Rojahn Astrid E. , Skram Marius K. , Vainio Kirsti , Holberg‐Petersen Mona , Hungnes Olav , Dudman Susanne G. , Kran Anne‐Marte B. 
Published: December 2014

ObjectivesAn unexpectedly high proportion of children were admitted for severe respiratory infections at the Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Norway, during September and October, 2014. In light of the ongoing outbreak of enterovirus‐D68 (EV‐D68) in North America a real‐time RT‐PCR for screening of enterovirus and enterovirus D68 was established.DesignWe developed a duplex real‐time RT‐PCR for rapid screening of enterovirus D68. The method target the 5′ non‐translated region (NTR) of the HEV genome at a location generally used for enterovirus detection.SampleNasopharyngeal samples (n = 354), from children <15 years of age, received for respiratory virus analysis in OUH during September 1st and October 31nd, 2014, were tested for enterovirus and screened for enterovirus D68.Main outcome measures and resultsThe duplex real‐time RT‐PCR method was an efficient tool for rapid screening for EV‐D68 in respiratory specimens. Enterovirus was detected in 66 (22%) of 303 pediatric nasopharyngeal samples collected from children hospitalised with acute respiratory infection within the two‐month period. Out of these, 33 (50%) were EV‐D68. EV‐D68 was associated with acute flaccid paralysis in one child.ConclusionsAn unexpectedly high proportion of children admitted for severe respiratory infections at the Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Norway, were diagnosed with EV‐ D68 during September 1st and October 31nd, 2014. These results emphasise that greater vigilance is required throughout Europe as enteroviruses are cause of severe respiratory disease.
Theory and (in) Practice: The Problem of Integration in Art and Design Education
Authors: Rintoul Jenny 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThis paper examines the relationship between art ‘theory’ and art ‘practice’ in British art education at post‐compulsory level, with a focus on the ways in which theory is framed and delivered and what this means for its integration. Drawing upon constructions of knowledge and approaches to integration as a technique and integration as a philosophy, suggestions are made on ways of organising theory in relation to studio practice. Theory is discussed here in terms of its common label in British Further and Higher Education: Critical and Contextual Studies (CCS), and particular reference is made to data drawn from research into practices of CCS on the BTEC Extended Diploma in Art and Design in 2008–10. Through the data, three dominant models of CCS are proposed and examined in order to identify the problem of integration and to make suggestions on what it means to integrate CCS in an art and design course.
Concept clarification of grief in mothers of children with an addiction
Authors: Zucker Donna M. , Dion Kimberly , McKeever Roxanna P. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAimTo report an analysis of the concept of grief in mothers of children with an addiction.BackgroundThe concept of grief in this context is poorly understood and often synonymously used with concepts depression, loss and chronic sorrow. In the US, the core concept grief has been recently revised by both NANDA and the DSM‐V in efforts to better understand and characterize the concept. The plethora of literature on grief worldwide often characterizes grief as a response to a death.DesignConcept analysis.Data sourcesSearch terms ‘parental grief’ and ‘substance abuse’ yielded 30 articles. A second review using terms ‘grief’ and ‘substance abuse’ yielded 323 articles, in PsychInfo, CINAHL, PubMed databases from 1980–2013. Limits for articles in English and for the terms ‘death’ and ‘child’ yielded 13 usable articles.MethodsThe hybrid model of concept analysis, using a theoretical phase, an empirical phase and a final phase when a clarified definition of grief emerged.ResultsDefinitions in the literature and defining characteristics of grief outline bio‐psycho‐social aspects of the concept. For one mother grief was accompanied by recurring feelings of sadness across time, while for the other mother grief was seen as coping, after having passed through a variety of stages of grief. For both, grief was seen to fall on a continuum.ConclusionsGrief is a universal concept and has a trajectory. Case study data have been essential in clarifying understandings of grief as experienced by mothers of addicted children and will provide direction for meaningful and tailored interventions.
bFGF attenuates endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial injury on myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion via activation of PI3K/Akt/ERK1/2 pathway
Authors: Wang Zhouguang , Wang Yue , Ye Junming , Lu Xianghong , Cheng Yi , Xiang Lijun , Chen Li , Feng Wenke , Shi Hongxue , Yu Xichong , Lin Li , Zhang Hongyu , Xiao Jian , Li Xiaokun 
Published: December 2014

AbstractExtensive research focused on finding effective strategies to prevent or improve recovery from myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been shown to have therapeutic potential in some heart disorders, including ischaemic injury. In this study, we demonstrate that bFGF administration can inhibit the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondrial dysfunction induced in the heart in a mouse model of I/R injury. In vitro, bFGF exerts a protective effect by inhibiting the ER stress response and mitochondrial dysfunction proteins that are induced by tert‐Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) treatment. Both of these in vivo and in vitro effects are related to the activation of two downstream signalling pathways, PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2. Inhibition of these PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 pathways by specific inhibitors, LY294002 and PD98059, partially reduces the protective effect of bFGF. Taken together, our results indicate that the cardioprotective role of bFGF involves the suppression of ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in ischaemic oxidative damage models and oxidative stress‐induced H9C2 cell injury; furthermore, these effects underlie the activation of the PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 signalling pathways.
A multicenter prospective study on the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori‐negative and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs‐negative idiopathic peptic ulcers in Japan
Authors: Kanno Takeshi , Iijima Katsunori , Abe Yasuhiko , Yagi Makoto , Asonuma Sho , Ohyauchi Motoki , Ito Hirotaka , Koike Tomoyuki , Shimosegawa Tooru 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBackground and AimThe prevalence of Helicobacter pylori‐negative and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug‐negative peptic ulcers, commonly known as idiopathic peptic ulcers (IPUs), has been reported to be very low (0.9–2.6%) in Japan based on data from the 1990s. However, recent trends have yet to be been reported. Herein, we present a multicenter prospective analysis between 2012 and 2013 investigating current trends in the prevalence and characteristics of IPUs in Japan.MethodsClinical data of all peptic ulcer subjects detected via endoscopy at four participating hospitals were prospectively collected between April 2012 and March 2013. Enrolled subjects were classified according to H. pylori infection status and intake of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the risk factors for IPUs.ResultsOf 382 enrolled patients with peptic ulcers, 46 (12%) were judged to have IPUs. Compared with those with simple H. pylori‐positive ulcers, patients with IPUs were significantly older (P < 0.02) and more often had underlying comorbidities such as hypertension (P < 0.02) and hyperlipidemia (P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the presence of multiple underlying diseases was the only significant risk factor for IPUs, with an odds ratio of 3.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.3–11.1).ConclusionsThis study revealed that the prevalence of IPUs in patients with peptic ulcers in Japan is 12%, much higher than previously reported. Presence of multiple underlying comorbid diseases, rather than aging itself, is an important risk factor for IPUs.
Associations Between Fibrin D‐Dimer, Markers of Inflammation, Incident Self‐Reported Mobility Limitation, and All‐Cause Mortality in Older Men
Authors: Wannamethee S. Goya , Whincup Peter H. , Lennon Lucy , Papacosta Olia , Lowe Gordon D. 
Published: December 2014

ObjectivesTo examine the independent relationships between fibrin D‐dimer, interleukin 6 (IL‐6), C‐reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen and incident mobility limitation and mortality.DesignProspective.SettingGeneral practice in 24 British towns.ParticipantsMen aged 60 to 79 without prevalent heart failure followed up for an average of 11.5 years (N = 3,925).MeasurementsAll‐cause mortality (n = 1,286) and self‐reported mobility disability obtained at examination in 1998 to 2000 and in a postal questionnaire 3 to 5 years later in 2003.ResultsHigh D‐dimer (top vs lowest tertile: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.46, 95% confidence interval = 1.02–2.05) and IL‐6 (aOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.01–2.02) levels (but not CRP or fibrinogen) were associated with greater incident mobility limitation after adjustment for confounders and prevalent disease status. IL‐6, CRP, fibrinogen, and D‐dimer were significantly associated with total mortality after adjustment for confounders. Only D‐dimer and IL‐6 predicted total mortality independent of each other and the other biomarkers. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) was 1.16 (95% CI = 1.10–1.22) for a standard deviation increase in log D‐dimer and 1.10 (95% CI = 1.04–1.18) for a standard deviation increase in log IL‐6. D‐dimer was independently related to vascular and nonvascular mortality, and IL‐6 was independently related to vascular mortality. Risks of mobility limitation and mortality were greatest in those with a combination of high D‐dimer and IL‐6 levels.ConclusionD‐dimer and IL‐6 are associated with risk of mobility limitation and mortality in older men without heart failure. The findings suggest that coagulation leads to functional decline and mortality s that inflammation does not explain.
Association Between Self‐Reported Sleep Duration and Serum Vitamin D Level in Elderly Korean Adults
Authors: Kim Jeong Hong , Chang Jung Hyun , Kim Dong Young , Kang Ju Wan 
Published: December 2014

ObjectivesTo investigate the association between self‐reported sleep duration and serum vitamin D level in elderly Korean adults.DesignCross‐sectional data analysis.SettingKorean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010.ParticipantsNoninstitutionalized adults aged 60 to 80 (N = 1,614).MeasurementsThe confounding variables were serum 25‐hydroxy vitamin D level, age, sex, body mass index, smoking history, alcohol consumption, and self‐reported daily sun exposure and sleep duration. Self‐reported daily sleep duration was divided into four groups: Q1 (≤4 hours), Q2 (5–6 hours), Q3 (7–8 hours), and Q4 (≥9 hours).ResultsMean serum vitamin D levels of subjects in the Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups were 44.18, 48.08, 48.83, and 51.78 nmol/L, respectively. On multivariate linear regression analysis, subjects in the Q2 (B = 3.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.42–7.19), Q3 (B = 4.89, 95% CI = 1.54–8.24), and Q4 (B = 5.18, 95% CI = 0.78–9.58) groups had significantly higher serum vitamin D levels than subjects in the Q1 group.ConclusionSerum vitamin D level is positively associated with self‐reported daily sleep duration in elderly Korean individuals. These results suggest that inadequate sleep duration may be associated with lower vitamin D levels in elderly adults.
Health Outcomes Associated with Polypharmacy in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Fried Terri R. , O'Leary John , Towle Virginia , Goldstein Mary K. , Trentalange Mark , Martin Deanna K. 
Published: December 2014

ObjectivesTo summarize evidence regarding the health outcomes associated with polypharmacy, defined as number of prescribed medications, in older community‐dwelling persons.DesignSystematic review of MEDLINE (OvidSP 1946 to May, Week 3, 2014).SettingCommunity.ParticipantsObservational studies examining health outcomes according to number of prescription medications taken.MeasurementsAssociation between number of medications and health outcomes. Because of the importance of comorbidity as a potential confounder of the relationship between polypharmacy and health outcomes, articles were assessed regarding the quality of their adjustment for confounding.ResultsOf the 50 studies identified, the majority that were rated good in terms of their adjustment for comorbidity demonstrated relationships between polypharmacy and a range of outcomes, including falls, fall outcomes, fall risk factors, adverse drug events, hospitalization, mortality, and measures of function and cognition. However, a number of these studies failed to demonstrate associations, as did a substantial proportion of studies rated fair or poor.ConclusionData are mixed regarding the relationship between polypharmacy, considered in terms of number of medications, and adverse outcomes in community‐dwelling older persons. Because of the challenge of confounding, randomized controlled trials of medication discontinuation may provide more‐definitive evidence regarding this relationship than observational studies can provide.
Factors Mediating the Effects of a Depression Intervention on Functional Disability in Older African Americans
Authors: Gitlin Laura N. , Szanton Sarah L. , Huang Jin , Roth David L. 
Published: December 2014

ObjectivesTo determine factors mediating the effects of a depression intervention for older African Americans on functional disability and, secondarily, whether functional improvements mediate intervention effects on depressive symptoms.DesignStructural equation modeling to examine mediators in a secondary analysis of a randomized trial with 4‐month follow‐up.SettingPhiladelphia region.ParticipantsCommunity‐dwelling African Americans (≥55) with depressive symptoms living in an urban area (N = 208).InterventionUp to 10 one‐hour sessions over 4 months conducted by licensed social workers who provided care management, referrals and linkages, stress reduction techniques, depression knowledge and symptom recognition, and behavioral activation techniques.MeasurementsMain outcome was self‐reported functional difficulty level for 18 basic activities. Mediators included depression severity (Patient Health Questionnaire), depression knowledge and symptom recognition, behavioral activation, and anxiety.ResultsAt 4 months, the intervention had positive effects on functional difficulty and all mediators (P < .001). Separate structural equation models indicated that two factors (reduced depressive symptoms (23.5% mediated) and improved depression knowledge and symptom recognition (52.9% mediated)) significantly mediated the intervention's effect on functional disability. Enhancing behavioral activation and decreasing anxiety were not found to mediate improvements in functional disability. The two significant mediators jointly explained 62.5% of the intervention's total effect on functional disability. Functional improvement was not found to mediate the intervention's effect on depressive symptoms.ConclusionThis multicomponent depression intervention for African Americans has an effect on functional disability that is driven primarily by enhancing symptom recognition and decreasing depressive symptoms. Reduction of functional difficulties did not account for improvements in depressive symptoms. Nonpharmacological treatments for depressive symptoms that enhance symptom recognition in older African Americans can also reduce their functional difficulties with daily living activities.
Associations Between Inflammation and Cognitive Function in African Americans and European Americans
Authors: Windham B. Gwen , Simpson Brittany N. , Lirette Seth , Bridges John , Bielak Lawrence , Peyser Patricia A. , Kullo Iftikhar , Turner Stephen , Griswold Michael E. , Mosley Thomas H. 
Published: December 2014

ObjectivesTo examine associations between specific inflammatory biomarkers and cognitive function in African Americans (AAs) and European Americans (EAs) with prevalent vascular risk factors.DesignCross‐sectional analysis using generalized estimating equations to account for familial clustering; standardized β‐coefficients, adjusted for age, sex, and education are reported.SettingCommunity cohort study in Jackson, Mississippi, and Rochester, Minnesota.ParticipantsGenetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA)–Genetics of Microangiopathic Brain Injury (GMBI) Study participants.MeasurementsAssociations between inflammation (high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)‐6, soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 1 and 2 (sTNFR1, sTNFR2)) and cognitive function (global, processing speed, language, memory, and executive function) were examined in AAs and EAs (N = 1,965; aged 26–95, 64% women, 52% AA, 75% with hypertension).ResultsIn AAs, higher sTNFR2 was associated with poorer cognition in all domains (global: −0.11, P = .009; processing speed: −0.11, P < .001; language: −0.08, P = .002; memory: −0.09, P = .008; executive function: −0.07, P = .03); sTNFR1 was associated with slower processing speed (−0.08, P < .001) and poorer executive function (−0.08, P = .008); higher CRP was associated with slower processing speed (−0.04, P = .024), and higher IL6 was associated with poorer executive function (−0.07, P = .02). In EA, only higher sTNFR1 was associated with slower processing speed (−0.05, P = .007). Associations were not found between cognition and sTNFR2, CRP, or IL6 in EA.ConclusionIn a population with high vascular risk, adverse associations between inflammation and cognitive function were especially apparent in AAs, primarily involving markers of TNFα activity.
A combined oral contraceptive affects mucosal SHIV susceptibility factors in a pigtail macaque (Macaca nemestrina) model
Authors: Dietz Ostergaard Sharon , Butler Katherine , Ritter Jana M. , Johnson Ryan , Sanders Jeanine , Powell Nathaniel , Lathrop George , Zaki Sherif R. , McNicholl Janet M. , Kersh Ellen N. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBackgroundInjectable hormonal contraception may increase women's risk of HIV acquisition and can affect biological risk factors in animal models of HIV. We established, for the first time, a model to investigate whether combined oral contraceptives (COC) alter SHIV susceptibility in macaques.MethodsSeven pigtail macaques were administered a monophasic levonorgestrel (LNG)/ethinyl estradiol (EE) COC at 33% or 66% of the human dose for 60 days. Menstrual cycling, vaginal epithelial thickness, and other SHIV susceptibility factors were monitored for a mean of 18 weeks.ResultsMean vaginal epithelial thicknesses were 290.8 μm at baseline and 186.2 μm during COC (P = 0.0141, Mann–Whitney U‐test). Vaginal pH decreased from 8.5 during treatment to 6.5 post‐treatment (0.0176 two‐tailed t‐test). Measured microflora was unchanged.ConclusionsCOC caused thinning of the vaginal epithelium and vaginal pH changes, which may increase SHIV susceptibility. 0.033 mg LNG + .0066 mg EE appeared effective in suppressing ovulation.
Fifty years in neonatology
Authors: Manley Brett J , Doyle Lex W , Davies Mark W , Davis Peter G 
Published: December 2014

AbstractNeonatology, the care and study of newborn infants, is a 'young' specialty. Over the last 50 years, there have been many advances in the way that neonatologists care for newborn infants, particularly those born preterm, leading to dramatic improvements in mortality. To illustrate these advances, we describe four eras in neonatology from the point of view of the junior hospital doctor.