bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
‘To teach or not to teach?’ Factors that motivate and constrain Australian emergency medicine physicians to teach medical students
Authors: Cochran Ward Elizabeth , Kwan James , Garlan Karen , Bassett Elizabeth , Klein Linda 
Published: July 2013

AbstractObjectiveClinical teaching in the ED is crucial to the education of medical students. We attempted to identify and describe Australian emergency physicians who are currently clinical teachers and to elicit the factors that motivate and constrain them to teach.MethodsAn online survey was emailed to all Advanced Trainee and Emergency Physician (Fellow) members of the ACEM.ResultsOur response rate was 28%. The 639 survey respondents were broadly representative of the total ACEM membership in level of training, gender and geographic distribution across all Australian states and territories. Although only 30% of survey respondents had a university teaching position, 74% were actively teaching medical students. Ninety per cent of all respondents agreed they would either commence teaching or increase the amount of time they contributed if they had protected teaching time. Other important facilitators were feelings of personal satisfaction and receiving continuing medical education credits. Written comments were received from 162 respondents. Qualitative analysis identified three main themes: personal, systemic and university‐related factors. Systemic and university factors were most frequently cited as barriers to teaching, whereas personal factors were motivators.ConclusionsAlthough most emergency physicians are willing to teach, systemic and university factors associated with teaching medical students acted against success of this outcome.
Oxidants, antioxidants and mitochondrial function in non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy (在非增殖性糖尿病视网膜病变中的氧化剂、抗氧化剂以及线粒体功能)
Authors: Rodríguez‐Carrizalez Adolfo Daniel , Castellanos‐González José Alberto , Martínez‐Romero Esaú César , Miller‐Arrevillaga Guillermo , Villa‐Hernández David , Hernández‐Godínez Pedro Pablo , Ortiz Genaro Gabriel , Pacheco‐Moisés Fermín Paul , Cardona‐Muñoz Ernesto Germán , Miranda‐Díaz Alejandra Guillermina 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackgroundDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is a preventable cause of visual disability. The aims of the present study were to investigate levels and behavior oxidative stress markers and mitochondrial function in non‐proliferative DR (NPDR) and to establish the correlation between the severity of NPDR and markers of oxidative stress and mitochondrial function.MethodsIn a transverse analysis, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with mild, moderate and severe non‐proliferative DR (NPDR) were evaluated for markers of oxidative stress (i.e. products of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO) catabolites) and antioxidant activity (i.e. total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity of erythrocytes). Mitochondrial function was also determined as the fluidity of the submitochondrial particles of platelets and the hydrolytic activity of F0/F1‐ATPase.ResultsLevels of LPO and NO were significantly increased in T2DM patients with severe NPDR (3.19 ± 0.05 μmol/mL and 45.62 ± 1.27 pmol/mL, respectively; P < 0.007 and P < 0.0001 vs levels in health volunteers, respectively), suggesting the presence of oxidative stress. TAC had significant decrease levels with minimum peak in severe retinopathy with 7.98 ± 0.48 mEq/mL (P < 0.0001). In contrast with TAC, erythrocyte catalase and GPx activity was increased in patients with severe NPDR (139.4 ± 4.4 and 117.13 ± 14.84 U/mg, respectively; P < 0.0001 vs healthy volunteers for both), suggesting an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants. The fluidity of membrane submitochondrial particles decreased significantly in T2DM patients with mild, moderate, or severe NPDR compared with that in healthy volunteers (P < 0.0001 for all). Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the hydrolytic activity of the F0/F1‐ATPase in T2DM patients with mild NPDR (265.07 ± 29.55 nmol/PO4; P < 0.0001 vs healthy volunteers), suggesting increased catabolism.ConclusionsPatients with NPDR exhibit oxidative deregulation with decreased membrane fluidity of submitochondrial particles and increased systemic catabolism (mitochondrial dysfunction) with the potential for generalized systemic damage in T2DM.
Use of flat panel DynaCT myelography to locate the site of CSF leak
Authors: Chu Eric , McAuliffe William 
Published: July 2013

SummarySpontaneous intracranial hypotension is often treated conservatively or with epidural blood patch. Patients who are resistant to these treatments require accurate imaging localisation of the site of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak for surgical repair. We describe two patients where MRI, CT myelography and MRI gadolinium myelography showed evidence of a large volume of epidural CSF, but failed to identify the pressure site of leak. Subsequently, DynaCT (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) accurately identified the site with confidence in both cases, confirmed at surgery. This technique of using a flat panel detector‐based, angiographic system to produce high quality, high‐contrast multiplanar CT images for detecting the source of rapid CSF leak is detailed.
Tea Bag Index: a novel approach to collect uniform decomposition data across ecosystems
Authors: Keuskamp Joost A. , Dingemans Bas J. J. , Lehtinen Taru , Sarneel Judith M. , Hefting Mariet M. 
Published: July 2013

Summary

Changes in the balance between soil carbon storage and release can significantly amplify or attenuate global warming. Although a lot of progress has been made in determining potential drivers of carbon release through large‐scale decomposition experiments, climate predictions are still hampered by data limitation at a global scale as a result of high effort and measurement costs of comparative litter decomposition studies.

We introduce an innovative, cost‐effective, well‐standardised method to gather data on decomposition rate and litter stabilisation using commercially available tea bags as standardised test kits. By using two tea types with contrasting decomposability, we can construct a decomposition curve using a single measurement in time. The acquired Tea Bag Index (TBI) consists of two parameters describing decomposition rate (k) and litter stabilisation factor (S).

The method was tested for its sensitivity and robustness in contrasting ecosystems and biomes, confirming that the TBI is sensitive enough to discriminate between these systems. Within an ecosystem, TBI is responsive to differences in abiotic circumstances such as soil temperature and moisture content. The collected k and S values are in accordance with expectations based on decomposition process literature. They are therefore interpretable within the current knowledge framework.

Tea Bag Index is a unique, multifunctional method requiring few resources and minimal prior knowledge. The standardisation and simplicity of the method make it possible to collect comparable, globally distributed data through crowdsourcing. TBI can further provide an excellent decomposition reference and has the potential to increase reliability of soil carbon flux estimates based on extrapolations of decomposition data.
Functional characterization of human CTC1 mutations reveals novel mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of the telomere disease Coats plus
Authors: Gu Peili , Chang Sandy 
Published: July 2013

SummaryCoats plus is a rare recessive disorder characterized by intracranial calcifications, hematological abnormalities, and retinal vascular defects. This disease results from mutations in CTC1, a member of the CTC1–STN1–TEN1 (CST) complex critical for telomere replication. Telomeres are specialized DNA/protein structures essential for the maintenance of genome stability. Several patients with Coats plus display critically shortened telomeres, suggesting that telomere dysfunction plays an important role in disease pathogenesis. These patients inherit CTC1 mutations in a compound heterozygous manner, with one allele encoding a frameshift mutant and the other a missense mutant. How these mutations impact upon telomere function is unknown. We report here the first biochemical characterization of human CTC1 mutations. We found that all CTC1 frameshift mutations generated truncated or unstable protein products, none of which were able to form a complex with STN1–TEN1 on telomeres, resulting in progressive telomere shortening and formation of fused chromosomes. Missense mutations are able to form the CST complex at telomeres, but their expression levels are often repressed by the frameshift mutants. Our results also demonstrate for the first time that CTC1 mutations promote telomere dysfunction by decreasing the stability of STN1 to reduce its ability to interact with DNA Polα, thus highlighting a previously unknown mechanism to induce telomere dysfunction.
Combining Naltrexone and Prazosin in a Single Oral Medication Decreases Alcohol Drinking More Effectively Than Does Either Drug Alone
Authors: Froehlich Janice C. , Hausauer Brett J. , Rasmussen Dennis D. 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundNaltrexone (NTX) is underutilized in clinical treatment settings because its efficacy is modest, and it is not effective for all alcoholics and, when it is effective, a significant number of alcoholics fail to maintain initial treatment gains and subsequently relapse to heavy drinking. This has slowed acceptance of NTX by the treatment community, and there is a clear need for additional treatments for alcoholism and alcohol use disorders. Given that NTX and prazosin can each reduce alcohol drinking in rats selectively bred for alcohol preference and high voluntary alcohol drinking (alcohol‐preferring “P” rats), we tested whether a combination of NTX + prazosin is more effective in decreasing alcohol drinking than is either drug alone.MethodsP rats were given access to a 15% (v/v) alcohol solution for 2 hours daily. Rats were fed NTX and prazosin, alone or in combination, prior to onset of the daily 2‐hour alcohol access period for 4 weeks and the effect of drug treatment on alcohol and water intake was assessed.ResultsDuring the first week of treatment, neither a low dose of NTX, nor prazosin, was effective in decreasing alcohol intake when each drug was administered alone, but combining the 2 drugs in a single medication significantly reduced alcohol intake. The combination was as effective as was a higher dose of NTX. Using a low dose of NTX in combination with prazosin may reduce the potential for undesirable side effects early in treatment which, in turn, may improve patient compliance and result in a more successful outcome when NTX is used for treating alcoholism and alcohol use disorders.ConclusionsCombining low‐dose NTX and prazosin in a single medication may be more useful than is either drug alone for treating both inpatient and outpatient alcoholics and heavy drinkers early in the treatment process.
Floristic composition, structure and regeneration status of Masha forest, south‐west Ethiopia
Authors: Assefa Abreham , Demissew Sebsebe , Woldu Zerihun 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe natural forest of Masha was studied to determine the species composition and population structure of woody species in the area. A total of 130 plant species belonging 61 families were recorded, in which family Acanthaceae was represented by 11 species followed by Rubiaceae (10) and Asteraceae (9). The composition and population structure of woody species, with diameter at breast height (DBH) >2.5 cm and height >2 m, and their regeneration were assessed in 65 sample plots of 400 m2 each. The density for trees and shrubs with DBH >2.5 cm was 1681 ind.ha−1, and the basal area of the study area was 142.6 m2 ha−1. Four community types were recognized. This forest is of international and national conservation importance given its high biodiversity. Managing the remaining forest would be an appropriate option for sustainable management of biodiversity.
Benefit finding and resilience in child caregivers
Authors: Cassidy Tony , Giles Melanie , McLaughlin Marian 
Published: July 2013

ObjectivesA substantial number of children are involved in informal caregiving and make a significant contribution to health care delivery. While this places high levels of demand on their coping resources, there is some evidence that these children find benefit in their caring role.DesignA survey design using questionnaire data collection was used with a sample of 442 children (174 boys and 268 girls) between the ages of 12 and 16.MethodsThe role of benefit finding and resilience was explored within a stress and coping model of the impact of caregiving.ResultsHierarchical multiple regression analysis (HMRA) identified resilience and benefit finding as accounting for significant amounts of variance in positive health and mediating the impact of caregiving. In regard to negative health, only benefit finding played a significant role.ConclusionsYoung caregivers do experience benefit finding and exhibit resilience although the relationship with caregiving burden was inverse. Benefit finding seems to be related to social recognition of the caregiving role and to family support.Statement of contributionWhat is already known on this subject? There is some emerging evidence that child caregivers experience some positive effects or benefits from their caring in spite of the demands of the role. However, the main focus has been on reducing negative outcomes rather than on building resilience.What this study adds? This study provides evidence that young caregivers do experience benefit finding in situations where the role demand is not overly excessive and where the role is socially recognized.
Reflecting on non‐reflective action: An exploratory think‐aloud study of self‐report habit measures
Authors: Gardner Benjamin , Tang Vinca 
Published: July 2013

ObjectivesWithin health psychology, habit – the tendency to enact action automatically as a learned response to contextual cues – is most commonly quantified using the ‘Self‐Report Habit Index’, which assesses behavioural automaticity, or measures combining self‐reported behaviour frequency and context stability. Yet, the use of self‐report to capture habit has proven controversial. This study used ‘think‐aloud’ methods to investigate problems experienced when completing these two measures.DesignCross‐sectional survey with think‐aloud study.MethodsTwenty student participants narrated their thoughts while completing habit measures applied to four health‐related behaviours (active commuting, unhealthy snacking, and one context‐free and one context‐specific variant of alcohol consumption). Data were coded using thematic analysis procedures.ResultsProblems were found in 10% of responses. Notable findings included participants lacking confidence in reporting automaticity, struggling to recall behaviour or cues, differing in interpretations of ‘commuting’, and misinterpreting items.ConclusionsWhile most responses were unproblematic, and further work is needed to investigate habit self‐reports among larger and more diverse samples, findings nonetheless question the sensitivity of the measures, and the conceptualization of habit underpinning common applications of them. We offer suggestions to minimize these problems.
Statement of contributionWhat is already known on this subject?

Habit is most commonly measured within health psychology via the Self‐Report Habit Index, or a combination of self‐reported behaviour frequency and contextual stability.

The suitability of self‐report for capturing automatic processes has been questioned.

What does this study add?

This is the first study of how people interpret and respond to self‐report habit measures.

Results show the potential for errors in recalling automaticity, cues, and behaviours.

We discuss practical and theoretical challenges to assessing habit in health behaviours.
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy in England: practice and outcomes described in the Hospital Episode Statistics database
Authors: Armitage James N. , Withington John , van der Meulen Jan , Cromwell David A. , Glass Jonathan , Finch William G. , Irving Stuart O. , Burgess Neil A. 
Published: July 2013

Objective
To investigate the postoperative outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in English National Health Service (NHS) hospitals.
Patients and Methods
We extracted records from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database for all patients undergoing PCNL between March 2006 and January 2011 in English NHS hospitals.
Outcome measures were haemorrhage, infection within the index admission, and rates of emergency readmission and in‐hospital mortality within 30 days of surgery.
Results
A total of 5750 index PCNL procedures were performed in 165 hospitals.
During the index admission, haemorrhage was recorded in 81 patients (1.4%), 192 patients (3.8%) had a urinary tract infection (UTI), 95 patients (1.7%) had fever, and 41 patients (0.7%) had sepsis.
There were 595 emergency readmissions in 518 patients (9.0%). Reasons for readmission were varied: 70 (1.2%) with UTI, 15 (0.3%) sepsis, 73 (1.3%) haematuria, 25 (0.4%) haemorrhage, and 25 (0.4%) acute urinary retention.
There were 13 (0.2%) in‐hospital deaths within 30 days of surgery.
Conclusions
Haemorrhage and infection represent relatively common and potentially severe complications of PCNL.
Mortality is extremely rare after PCNL (about one in 400 procedures overall) but almost one in 10 patients have an unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days of surgery.
Complications of PCNL may be under‐reported in the HES database and need to be corroborated using other data sources.
Analysis of oncological outcomes and renal function after laparoendoscopic single‐site (LESS) partial nephrectomy: a multi‐institutional outcome analysis
Authors: Springer Christopher , Greco Francesco , Autorino Riccardo , Rha Koon H. , Derweesh Ithaar , Cindolo Luca , Richstone Lee , Herrmann Thomas R.W. , Liatsikos Evangelos , Sun Yinghao , Fanizza Caterina , Nagele Udo , Stolzenburg Jens‐Uwe , Rais‐Bahrami Soroush , Liss Michael A. , Schips Luigi , Kassab Ahmad , Wang Linhui , Kallidonis Panagiotis , Wu Zhenjie , Young Shin Tae , Altieri Vincenzo M. , Haber Georges‐Pascal , Fornara Paolo , Kaouk Jihad H. 
Published: July 2013

Objective
To report on a large multi‐institutional series of laparoendoscopic single‐site (LESS) partial nephrectomy (PN) and analyse renal function and short‐term oncological outcomes.
Material and Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive cases of LESS‐PN performed between November 2007 and March 2012 at 11 participating institutions.
Demographic data and data on the main peri‐operative outcomes and complications were gathered and analysed.
Kidney function was evaluated by measuring serum creatinine concentration and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
Chronic kidney disease was defined in stages for each patient according to the National Kidney Foundation, Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative.
Results
A total of 190 cases were included in this analysis. The mean renal tumour size was 2.6 cm, and the mean PADUA score was 7.2.
The median operating time was 170 min with a median estimated blood loss of 150 mL. A clampless technique was used in 70 cases (36.8%) and the median warm ischaemia time (WIT) was 16.5 min.
PADUA score independently predicted the length of WIT (low vs high score: odds ratio 5.11, CI 1.50–17.41, P = 0.009; intermediate vs high score: odds ratio 5.13, CI 1.56–16.88, P = 0.007).
The overall postoperative complication rate was 14.7%. Where a clamping technique was used, a significant increase in serum creatinine concentration and a significant decrease in eGFR were observed postoperatively and at 6 months. On multivariate analysis PADUA score was the only predicting factor.
Overall survival rates were 99, 97 and 88% at 12‐, 24‐ and 36‐month follow‐up, respectively, while disease‐free survival rates were 98% at 12‐month and 97% at 24‐ and 36‐month follow‐up.
Conclusion
The study showed that LESS‐PN is effective in terms of renal function preservation and oncological control at short‐ and intermediate‐term follow‐up.
Changes in Ground‐dwelling Ant Functional Diversity are Correlated with Water‐Table Level in an Amazonian Terra Firme Forest
Authors: Baccaro Fabricio B. , Rocha Ivaneide F. , del Aguila Barbara E. G. , Schietti Juliana , Emilio Thaise , Pinto José Luiz Purri da Veiga , Lima Albertina P. , Magnusson William E. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractAreas with shallow water tables comprise a significant portion of tropical forests and have distinct forest structure and plant‐assemblage composition. It is not clear, however, how the water table regime shapes the distributions of other organisms. Here, we evaluated the influence of water‐table level on ant‐assemblage richness, abundance, and composition in a terra firme forest, in Central Amazonia. We sampled ants in ten 250 m‐long transects, regularly distributed over 5 km2 by extracting ants from 100 1‐m2 litter samples, 100 pitfall traps, and 100 sardine baits. During 1 year, the water‐table level in each transect was monitored every 15 d with a 6‐m deep dipwell. Overall the abundance of individuals and occurrence of species were lower in areas where the water table was closer to the surface (< 1 m depth) for longer periods (~ 5.5 mo). The number of ant species, however, was higher in transects where the water table was close to the surface more frequently. Changes in number of species were mainly a result of an increase in generalist species associated with a decrease in the number of specialist predators and small hypogeic generalist foragers. Although disturbance by the water table may increase local alpha diversity, only one third of generalist species seems to prefer areas with shallow water table.
MicroRNA‐26a Promotes Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis in Glioma by Directly Targeting Prohibitin
Authors: Qian Xu , Zhao Peng , Li Wei , Shi Zhu‐Mei , Wang Lin , Xu Qing , Wang Min , Liu Ning , Liu Ling‐Zhi , Jiang Bing‐Hua 
Published: July 2013

SummaryBackgrounds and AimsGlioma accounts for the majority of primary malignant brain tumors in adults. Upregulation of microRNA‐26a (miR‐26a) has been observed in glioma. However, the biological function and molecular mechanism of miR‐26a in glioma remain to be elucidated.MethodsGlioma cells stably overexpressing or down‐expressing miR‐26a were analyzed for both in vitro and in vivo biological functions. Novel target of miR‐26a was identified by bioinformatics searching and molecular biological assays. Glioma specimens and normal brain tissues were analyzed for both expression levels of miR‐26a and its target.ResultsForced expression of miR‐26a in glioma cells significantly increased both growth rate and colony formation in vitro and tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo, while reduced expression of miR‐26a played opposite roles. MiR‐26a directly targeted prohibitin (PHB) whose expression levels were downregulated in glioma specimens. The levels of miR‐26a were inversely correlated with PHB expression levels in glioma samples and strongly correlated with clinical WHO grades of glioma.ConclusionThese results reveal that miR‐26a regulates PHB and promotes glioma progression both in vitro and in vivo and that miR‐26a and its target PHB are associated with glioma development, which can be helpful in developing microRNA‐based treatment for glioma in the future.