bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The contribution of neighbours to an individual's risk of typhoid outcome
Authors: CHAO D. L. , PARK J. K. , MARKS F. , OCHIAI R. L. , LONGINI I. M. , HALLORAN M. E. 
Published: May 2015

SUMMARYAn individual's risk of infection from an infectious agent can depend on both the individual's own risk and protective factors and those of individuals in the same community. We hypothesize that an individual's exposure to an infectious agent is associated with the risks of infection of those living nearby, whether their risks are modified by pharmaceutical interventions or by other factors, because of the potential for transmission from them. For example, unvaccinated individuals living in a highly vaccinated community can benefit from indirect protection, or living near more children in a typhoid-endemic region (where children are at highest risk) might result in more exposure to typhoid. We tested this hypothesis using data from a cluster-randomized typhoid vaccine trial. We first estimated each individual's relative risk of confirmed typhoid outcome using their vaccination status and age. We defined a new covariate, potential exposure, to be the sum of the relative risks of all who live within 100 m of each person. We found that potential exposure was significantly associated with an individual's typhoid outcome, and adjusting for potential exposure affected estimates of vaccine efficacy. We suggest that it is useful and feasible to adjust for spatially heterogeneous distributions of individual-level risk factors, but further work is required to develop and test such approaches.
Class and comparison: subjective social location and lay experiences of constraint and mobility
Authors: Irwin Sarah 
Published: May 2015

AbstractLay perceptions and experiences of social location have been commonly framed with reference to social class. However, complex responses to, and ambivalence over, class categories have raised interesting analytic questions relating to how sociological concepts are operationalized in empirical research. For example, prior researchers have argued that processes of class dis‐identification signify moral unease with the nature of classed inequalities, yet dis‐identification may also in part reflect a poor fit between ‘social class’ as a category and the ways in which people accord meaning to, and evaluate, their related experiences of socio‐economic inequality. Differently framed questions about social comparison, aligned more closely with people's own terms of reference, offer an interesting alternative avenue for exploring subjective experiences of inequality. This paper explores some of these questions through an analysis of new empirical data, generated in the context of recession. In the analysis reported here, class identification was common. Nevertheless, whether or not people self identified in class terms, class relevant issues were perceived and described in highly diverse ways, and lay views on class revealed it to be a very aggregated as well as multifaceted construct. It is argued that it enables a particular, not general, perspective on social comparison. The paper therefore goes on to examine how study participants compared themselves with familiar others, identified by themselves. The evidence illuminates social positioning in terms of constraint, agency and (for some) movement, and offers insight into very diverse experiences of inequality, through the comparisons that people made. Their comparisons are situated, and pragmatic, accounts of the material contexts in which people live their lives. Linked evaluations are circumscribed and strongly tied to these proximate material contexts.The paper draws out implications for theorizing lay perspectives on class, and subjective experiences of inequality.
Preventing and reducing the impacts of intimate partner violence: Opportunities for Australian ambulance services
Authors: Sawyer Simon , Coles Jan , Williams Angela , Williams Brett 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundViolence against women is pervasive worldwide, and a high proportion of the most damaging violence is perpetrated by male intimate partners. The Australian government is committed to action to prevent such violence; however, strategies require input and collaboration from all agencies engaging patients, including ambulance services. To date no Australian ambulance service has published comprehensive guidelines or strategies to improve health outcomes for intimate partner violence patients in line with national strategies.ObjectiveTo propose key actions for Australian ambulance services to undertake to reduce the impacts of intimate partner violence in line with national strategies.MethodsWe reviewed the Australian government's National Plan to reduce violence towards women and its supporting literature, and created key actions for Australian ambulance services.ResultsOur review has yielded four key actions that Australian ambulance services could undertake immediately for the benefit of intimate partner violence patients. Actions include collaboration with external agencies, education, data collection and championing values promoting zero tolerance of violence towards women.ConclusionsAustralian ambulance services are currently underserving intimate partner violence patients and must undertake immediate action. Successful strategies to address knowledge and policy gaps will require significant input and guidance from key organisations, including advocacy groups, police and EDs. It is likely that EDs will need to take the lead in creating comprehensive policies and guidelines from which ambulance services can derive their own policies. Failure to address this practice gap might result in paramedics becoming a barrier for intimate partner patients to receive appropriate care and support.
Association of BAFF and IL‐17A with subphenotypes of primary Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Deng Fengyuan , Chen Juan , Zheng Junfeng , Chen Yan , Huang Renliang , Yin Junping , Gao Xing , Lin Qingyan , Huang Chaoyang , Gao Yushan , Yu Xinhua , Liu Zuguo 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAimPrimary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease affecting exocrine glands. Both autoreactive T cells and B cells are involved in the development of pSS, but their exact contribution to the pathogenesis is not clear. Here, we aimed to investigate the association of B‐cell activating factor (BAFF) and interleukin (IL)‐17A with subphenotypes of pSS.MethodsPeripheral blood samples were collected from 31 pSS patients and 28 healthy controls. The serum levels of BAFF and IL‐17A were quantified by sandwich ELISA.ResultsThe increased circulating BAFF levels are associated with higher immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels (P = 0.0167) and anti‐Ro/SS antigen A autoantibody (P = 0.032), while the elevated circulating levels of IL‐17A are associated with lower C3 levels (P = 0.0213) and higher focus score of salivary gland tissue (P = 0.002).ConclusionOur results show that BAFF and IL‐17A are associated with different subphenotypes of pSS, suggesting both humoral and cellular immune response are involved in the pathogenesis of pSS.
Guanidinylations of albumin decreased binding capacity of hydrophobic metabolites
Authors: Rueth M. , Lemke H.‐D. , Preisinger C. , Krieter D. , Theelen W. , Gajjala P. , Devine E. , Zidek W. , Jankowski J. , Jankowski V. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAimAs post‐translational modifications of proteins may have an impact on the pathogenesis of diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (CKD), post‐translational modifications are currently gaining increasing interest. In this study, a comprehensive method for analysis of these post‐translational modifications is established for the clinical diagnostic routine.MethodsHere, we analysed albumin – the most abundant plasma protein in human – isolated from patients with CKD and healthy controls by chromatographic steps and identified by MALDI mass spectrometry. Post‐translational modifications of albumin were identified after digestion by analysing mass signal shifts of albumin peptides using pertinent mass databases.ResultsAlbumin isolated from plasma of patients with CKD but not from healthy control subjects was specifically post‐translationally modified by guanidinylation of lysines at positions 249, 468, 548, 565 and 588. After identification of guanidinylations as post‐translational modifications of albumin isolated from patients with CKD, these modifications were quantified by mass spectrometry demonstrating a significant increase in the corresponding mass signal intensities in patients with CKD compared to healthy controls. The relative amount of guanidinylation of lysine at position 468 in patients with CKD was determined as 63 ± 32% (N = 3). Subsequently, we characterized the pathophysiological impact of the post‐translational guanidinylation on the binding capacity of albumin for representative hydrophobic metabolic waste products. In vitro guanidinylation of albumin from healthy control subjects caused a decreased binding capacity of albumin in a time‐dependent manner. Binding of indoxyl sulphate (protein‐bound fraction) decreased from 82 ± 1% of not post‐translationally modified albumin to 56 ± 1% after in vitro guanidinylation (P < 0.01), whereas the binding of tryptophan decreased from 20 to 4%. These results are in accordance with the binding of indoxyl sulphate to albumin from healthy control subjects and patients with CKD (88 ± 3 vs. 74 ± 10, P < 0.01). Thus, in vitro post‐translational guanidinylation of albumin had a direct effect on the binding capacity of hydrophobic metabolites such as indoxyl sulphate and tryptophan.ConclusionWe used a mass spectrometry‐based method for the characterization of post‐translational modification and demonstrated the pathophysiological impact of a representative post‐translational modification of plasma albumin. The data described in this study may help to elucidate the pathophysiological role of protein modifications.
Responses of an ancient woodland field layer to soil translocation: methods and timing
Authors: Craig Marja , Buckley Peter , Howell Ruth 
Published: May 2015

AbstractQuestionsDo woodland field layer communities reassemble effectively after being translocated from a donor to a receptor site? Does the method of soil handling (turfing or loose‐tipping) or the season of transfer determine the outcome?LocationA deciduous ancient coppice woodland in Kent, southeast England.MethodsTwo methods of soil translocation were compared: loose‐tipping, involving stripping a layer of topsoil and re‐spreading it at a receptor site; and soil placement, in which soil turves were cut and laid intact. The operation also provided an opportunity to observe the effects of seasonal translocation, respectively, in autumn and spring. Soil compaction, texture and chemistry were assessed after translocation, while vegetation cover changes were followed over a 10‐yr period.ResultsImmediately after soil transfer, the vegetation community reverted to an earlier successional stage, with bare ground rapidly colonized by annuals and biennials, many germinating from the soil seed bank. By the third year after translocation, a perennial vegetation cover had developed comprising grasses and woodland‐edge opportunists as well as most of the original woodland species. After 10 yr, bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.) dominated the receptor sites, along with the woodland geophyte bluebell (Hyacinthoides non‐scripta), while some woodland species became less abundant. Localized soil compaction radically altered species composition. Autumn translocation promoted better immediate recovery of forest species than spring translocation, while soil placement caused less initial damage than loose‐tipping. Convergence in vegetation composition in all soil handling treatments was observed towards canopy closure.ConclusionsResults illustrate the importance of conducting translocation operations in the autumn when the vegetation is dormant and soil moisture is low, and point to the need for sensitive soil handling. After 10 yr the field layer at the receptor site still resembled that of the donor, but with differences in abundance of some individual species.
Goal linking and everyday worries in clinical work stress: A daily diary study
Authors: Verkuil Bart , Brosschot Jos F. , Gebhardt Winifred A. , Korrelboom Kees 
Published: May 2015

ObjectivesIn this study, we tested whether high levels of daily worrying are associated with linking, a tendency to overvalue the attainment of specific lower level goals for attaining higher level goals, and more specifically the attainment of experiencing happiness.MethodsThirty‐two patients suffering from work stress complaints and awaiting a stress management treatment and 31 healthy adults, who formed the comparison group, filled in a goal linking questionnaire and two widely used trait worry questionnaires. Subsequently, they reported the frequency and duration of worry during 14 consecutive days and nights.ResultsThe patients suffering from work stress complaints scored higher on the linking questionnaire and worried almost twice as much as the healthy comparison group, especially during the night‐time. Furthermore, goal linking was a stronger predictor of the frequency and duration of worry in daily life than the trait worry questionnaires and this was independent of the observed group differences in daily worry.ConclusionsThese findings provide evidence that people who believe that their happiness is strongly dependent on the attainment of specific lower level goals worry frequently in daily life. Linking seems to be at least partly responsible for the excessive worry found in high work stress.Practitioner points

Worry is elevated in patients seeking professional help for work stress complaints, compared to healthy controls

The higher levels of worry in the patient group were related to elevated tendencies to overvalue the attainment of specific lower level goals as a means to attain higher level goals (‘linking’).

It could be beneficial for high worriers to learn how to reduce linking tendencies.

No strong inferences on the direction of the association between worry and linking can be made, as we relied on correlational data in which a linking questionnaire predicted worry in daily life.
Nucleus accumbens stimulation in partial epilepsy—A randomized controlled case series
Authors: Kowski Alexander B. , Voges Jürgen , Heinze Hans‐Jochen , Oltmanns Frank , Holtkamp Martin , Schmitt Friedhelm C. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryNeuromodulative treatment options are warranted in patients with difficult‐to‐treat epilepsy. However, acquisition of controlled data on deep brain stimulation has so far been achieved only for the centromedian and anterior thalamic nucleus. In a case series of four patients with intractable partial epilepsy, a randomized controlled cross‐over protocol was used to get insight into efficacy and safety of 3‐month nucleus accumbens stimulation. Seizure frequency, neurocognitive testing, “Liverpool Seizure Severity Score,” “Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory,” “Beck Depression Inventory,” and “Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview” were obtained at every visit. In a subsequent open‐label phase, nucleus accumbens stimulation responders underwent concomitant anterior thalamic nucleus stimulation, whereas nonresponders received solely thalamic stimulation. Under nucleus accumbens stimulation, three of four patients had ≥50% reduction in frequency of disabling seizures without further improvement with additional anterior thalamic nucleus stimulation. Patient‐reported outcome and neurocognitive testing remained unchanged. Accumbens stimulation is safe and seems to be a suitable option in intractable partial epilepsy. The current findings require substantiation by an adequately powered multicenter study.
Predictors of long‐term quality of life after pediatric epilepsy surgery
Authors: Puka Klajdi , Smith Mary Lou 
Published: May 2015

SummaryObjectiveThis study examined the influence of seizures, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), intelligence quotient (IQ), and symptoms of depression and anxiety on health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) 4–11 years after pediatric epilepsy surgery.MethodsParticipants were 109 patients with childhood‐onset intractable epilepsy; 71 had undergone surgery on average 6.9 years before this study. Patients and their parents completed questionnaires assessing HRQOL and internalizing behavior, a measure of depression and anxiety symptoms.ResultsSimilar rates of recent seizure freedom were found for surgical and nonsurgical patients, although surgical patients had achieved seizure freedom sooner and with fewer AEDs. Few differences were found between surgical and nonsurgical patients. Differences emerged when comparing patients with continued seizures and those who had been seizure‐free in the 12 months preceding the study. Almost all HRQOL ratings were enhanced in seizure‐free patients. Internalizing behavior (anxiety/depression) mediated the relationship between seizure freedom and better HRQOL, where seizure freedom led to better ratings of anxiety/depression, which in turn led to better ratings of HRQOL. AED use was found to be associated with social functioning, medication effects, and seizure worry. IQ and duration of follow‐up were not found to independently influence HRQOL.SignificanceThe findings highlight the integral role of depression and anxiety symptoms in determining HRQOL; seizure control seems to play a secondary role. This study expands this relationship to individuals who have a history of intractable childhood epilepsy. The findings highlight the importance of managing depression and anxiety in improving the HRQOL and reducing seizure burden on patients.
Consequences of extensive habitat fragmentation in landscape‐level patterns of genetic diversity and structure in the Mediterranean esparto grasshopper
Authors: Ortego Joaquín , Aguirre María P. , Noguerales Víctor , Cordero Pedro J. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAnthropogenic habitat fragmentation has altered the distribution and population sizes in many organisms worldwide. For this reason, understanding the demographic and genetic consequences of this process is necessary to predict the fate of populations and establish management practices aimed to ensure their viability. In this study, we analyse whether the spatial configuration of remnant semi‐natural habitat patches within a chronically fragmented landscape has shaped the patterns of genetic diversity and structure in the habitat‐specialist esparto grasshopper (Ramburiella hispanica). In particular, we predict that agricultural lands constitute barriers to gene flow and hypothesize that fragmentation has restricted interpopulation dispersal and reduced local levels of genetic diversity. Our results confirmed the expectation that isolation and habitat fragmentation have reduced the genetic diversity of local populations. Landscape genetic analyses based on circuit theory showed that agricultural land offers ~1000 times more resistance to gene flow than semi‐natural habitats, indicating that patterns of dispersal are constrained by the spatial configuration of remnant patches of suitable habitat. Overall, this study shows that semi‐natural habitat patches act as corridors for interpopulation gene flow and should be preserved due to the disproportionately large ecological function that they provide considering their insignificant area within these human‐modified landscapes.
Morphological and genomic comparisons of Hawaiian and Japanese Black‐footed Albatrosses (Phoebastria nigripes) using double digest RADseq: implications for conservation
Authors: Dierickx Elisa G. , Shultz Allison J. , Sato Fumio , Hiraoka Takashi , Edwards Scott V. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractEvaluating the genetic and demographic independence of populations of threatened species is important for determining appropriate conservation measures, but different technologies can yield different conclusions. Despite multiple studies, the taxonomic status and extent of gene flow between the main breeding populations of Black‐footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), a Near‐Threatened philopatric seabird, are still controversial. Here, we employ double digest RADseq to quantify the extent of genomewide divergence and gene flow in this species. Our genomewide data set of 9760 loci containing 3455 single nucleotide polymorphisms yielded estimates of genetic diversity and gene flow that were generally robust across seven different filtering and sampling protocols and suggest a low level of genomic variation (θ per site = ~0.00002–0.00028), with estimates of effective population size (Ne = ~500–15 881) falling far below current census size. Genetic differentiation was small but detectable between Japan and Hawaii (FST ≈ 0.038–0.049), with no FST outliers. Additionally, using museum specimens, we found that effect sizes of morphological differences by sex or population rarely exceeded 4%. These patterns suggest that the Hawaiian and Japanese populations exhibit small but significant differences and should be considered separate management units, although the evolutionary and adaptive consequences of this differentiation remain to be identified.
Regulation of RPTPα–c‐Src signalling pathway by miR‐218
Authors: Lai Xueping , Chen Qin , Zhu Changhong , Deng Rong , Zhao Xian , Chen Cheng , Wang Yanli , Yu Jianxiu , Huang Jian 
Published: May 2015

Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha (RPTPα), an activator of Src family kinases, is found significantly overexpressed in human cancer tissues. However, little is known about the regulation of RPTPα expression. miRNAs target multiple genes and play important roles in many cancer processes. Here, we identified a miRNA, miR‐218 that binds directly to the 3′‐UTR of RPTPα. Ectopic overexpression of miR‐218 decreased RPTPα protein leading to decreased dephosphorylation of c‐Src and decreased tumour growth in vitro and in vivo. A feedback loop between c‐Src and miR‐218 was revealed where c‐Src inhibits transcription of SLIT2, which intronically hosts miR‐218. These results show a novel regulatory pathway for RPTPα–c‐Src signalling.
Does a decision aid for prostate cancer affect different aspects of decisional regret, assessed with new regret scales? A randomized, controlled trial
Authors: van Tol‐Geerdink Julia J. , Leer Jan Willem H. , Wijburg Carl J. , van Oort Inge M. , Vergunst Henk , van Lin Emile J. , Witjes J. Alfred , Stalmeier Peep F. M. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo develop and validate new regret scales and examine whether a decision aid affects different aspects of regret in the treatment choice for prostate cancer.MethodsThis was a multicentre trial (three sites) with imbalanced randomization (1 : 2). From 2008 to 2011, patients with localized prostate cancer were randomized 1 : 2 to usual care (N = 77) or usual care plus a decision aid presenting risks and benefits of different treatments (N = 163). The treatments were surgery and (external or interstitial) radiotherapy. Regret was assessed before, and 6 and 12 months after treatment, using the Decisional regret scale by Brehaut et al. (Medical Decision Making, 23, 2003, 281), and three new scales focusing on process, option and outcome regret. The relation between decision aid and regret was analysed by anova.ResultsThe concurrent validity of the new regret scales was confirmed by correlations between regret and anxiety, depression, decision evaluation scales and health‐related quality of life. With a decision aid, patient participation was increased (P = 0.002), but regret was not. If anything, in patients with serious morbidity the decision aid resulted in a trend to less option regret and less Brehaut regret (P = 0.075 and P = 0.061, with effect sizes of 0.35 and 0.38, respectively). Exploratory analyses suggest that high‐risk patients benefitted most from the decision aid.ConclusionThe new regret scales may be of value in distinguishing separate aspects of regret. In general, regret was not affected by the decision aid. In patients with serious morbidity, a trend to lower option regret with a decision aid was observed.