bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The differential impact of a classroom‐based, alcohol harm reduction intervention, on adolescents with different alcohol use experiences: A multi‐level growth modelling analysis
Authors: McKay Michael , Sumnall Harry , McBride Nyanda , Harvey Séamus 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTWhile evidence has accumulated suggesting that prevention initiatives may have a limited impact on alcohol use behaviour, reviews suggest that interventions with most potential for behavioural change are interactive and developmental in design. The School Health and Alcohol Harm Reduction Project (SHAHRP) is an example of such an intervention. Researchers are increasingly attempting to understand the differential effects of programmes in population subgroups. The present study is a secondary analysis of data from a non‐randomised trial of SHAHRP, a classroom‐based alcohol education intervention, involving school children (aged 13–16 years old) in the United Kingdom. Results showed that there were significant positive changes in knowledge about and attitudes towards alcohol in baseline abstainers, supervised drinkers and unsupervised drinkers. Significant positive behavioural effects in terms of amounts consumed, frequency of drinking and self‐reported alcohol related harms, were observed almost exclusively among baseline unsupervised drinkers. These behavioural effects support those previously observed in Australia and suggest that the intervention is a viable health promotion tool in the UK.
Risk factors for 1‐year mortality in patients with intermediate‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma treated solely with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization
Authors: Lin Chih‐Lin , Hsieh Chia‐Feng , Chen Tom , Lin Tsung‐Jung , Huang Ting‐Chang , Lee Hsi‐Chang , Chen Kuan‐Yang , Liao Li‐Ying , Wang Chung‐Kwe 
Published: August 2014

SummaryBackground/aimsTranscatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a main therapy for patients with intermediate‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of our study was to determine the risk factors for 1‐year mortality in patients treated solely with TACE.MethodsA total of 123 patients with intermediate‐stage HCC treated solely with TACE were recruited from Ren‐ai Branch, Taipei City hospital during the period from January 1998 to June 2013. Baseline characteristics and factors associated with 1‐year mortality were analyzed.ResultsThere were 94 men (76.4%) and 29 women (23.6%) among 123 newly diagnosed intermediate‐stage HCC patients treated solely with TACE. The mean age was 63 ± 11 years (range, 31–92 years). The 1–5‐year overall cumulative survival rates were 65.9%, 46%, 33.2%, 22%, and 18.4% [median: 23 months, 95% confidence interval (CI): 16.4–29.6 months], respectively. Of these, 42 (34.1%) and 81 (65.9%) patients had survival time shorter (Group 1) and longer (Group 2) than 1 year, respectively. There were no significant differences in sex, age, hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus positive rate and tumor number between Group 1 and Group 2 patients. Compared to Group 2, Group 1 patients had a significantly larger mean maximum tumor size (6.8 ± 3.2 cm vs. 5.3 ± 3.1 cm, p = 0.024), lower serum albumin level (3.4 ± 0.45 g/dL vs. 3.6 ± 0.46 g/dL, p = 0.011), higher serum bilirubin level (1.52 ± 1.07 mg/dL vs. 1.07 ± 0.59 mg/dL, p = 0.023), higher ratio of serum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) > 400 ng/mL (52.4% vs. 24.7%, p = 0.003), and higher ratio of Child‐Turcotte‐Pugh (CTP) class B cirrhosis (26.2% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis revealed that AFP level > 400 ng/mL [hazard ratio (HR): 2.663, 95% CI: 1.143–6.205, p = 0.023], CTP class B cirrhosis (HR: 4.69, 95% CI: 1.399–15.715, p = 0.012) and tumor size (HR: 1.153 for each 1 cm increase, 95% CI: 1.015–1.310, p = 0.029) were independently associated with 1‐year mortality.ConclusionOne‐year mortality in patients with intermediate‐stage HCC treated solely with TACE is not uncommon. High serum AFP level (> 400 ng/mL), CTP class B cirrhosis, and tumor size are independent risk factors for 1‐year mortality in those patients.
Do Textured Insoles Affect Postural Control and Spatiotemporal Parameters of Gait and Plantar Sensation in People With Multiple Sclerosis?
Authors: Kalron Alon , Pasitselsky Diana , Greenberg‐Abrahami Michal , Achiron Anat 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBackgroundBalance and gait deficits are common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Physical interventions directed at improving balance and walking abilities have been implemented using various approaches. Nonetheless, no mode of training has been universally agreed upon.ObjectivesTo determine whether textured insoles have immediate effects on postural control and spatiotemporal parameters of gait and plantar sensation in people with people with MS and to explore effects 4 weeks after insole wear as to whether any immediate effects are maintained over time.DesignWithin‐subject experimental study with a 4‐week intervention phase.SettingsMultiple Sclerosis Center, Center of Advanced Technologies in Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel‐Hashomer, Israel.ParticipantsTwenty‐five relapsing‐remitting patients diagnosed with MS, 16 women and 9 men, aged 49.6 years (standard deviation = 6.5 years).InterventionTextured insoles customized according to foot size and adapted to the participant's casual shoes.Main outcome measuresSpatiotemporal parameters of gait and center of pressure (CoP) excursions during static postural control were studied using the Zebris FDM‐T Treadmill. Light‐touch and pressure‐sensation thresholds were determined using the Semmes‐Weinstein monofilaments test.ResultsTextured insoles did not alter static postural control parameters when examined with eyes open. Examination during the eyes‐closed task demonstrated an immediate reduction in the CoP path length (298.4 mm, standard error = 49.7 mm, versus 369.9 mm, SE = 56.3 mm; P = .04) and sway rate (12.0 mm/s, standard error = 1.4 mm/s, versus 15.1 mm/s, standard error = 1.6 mm/s; P = .03) after insertion of the textured insoles compared to casual shoes alone. These findings were maintained at termination of the insole 4‐week intervention period. In terms of spatiotemporal parameters of gait, differences were not observed between casual shoes and shoes with textured insoles at baseline. Likewise, no differences were observed between initial and concluding gait trials. Significant differences in plantar sensitivity measures were not observed after the insole 4‐week intervention phase.ConclusionsAlthough there were improvements in some aspects of balance, the efficacy of textured insoles in the MS population remains unclear.
The singularity expansion method and near-trapping of linear water waves
Authors: Meylan Michael H. , Fitzgerald Colm J. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe problem of near-trapping of linear water waves in the time domain for rigid bodies or variations in bathymetry is considered. The singularity expansion method (SEM) is used to give an approximation of the solution as a projection onto a basis of modes. This requires a modification of the method so that the modes, which grow towards infinity, can be correctly normalized. A time-dependent solution, which allows for possible trapped modes, is introduced through the generalized eigenfunction method. The expression for the trapped mode and the expression for the near-trapped mode given by the SEM are shown to be closely connected. A numerical method that allows the SEM to be implemented is also presented. This method combines the boundary element method with an eigenfunction expansion, which allows the solution to be extended analytically to complex frequencies. The technique is illustrated by numerical simulations for geometries that support near-trapping.
Effects of tea intake on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Liu Gang , Mi Xue-Nan , Zheng Xin-Xin , Xu Yan-Lu , Lu Jie , Huang Xiao-Hong 
Published: August 2014

The effect of tea intake on blood pressure (BP) is controversial. We performed a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials to determine the changes in systolic and diastolic BP due to the intake of black and green tea. A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register up to May 2014. The weighted mean difference was calculated for net changes in systolic and diastolic BP using fixed-effects or random-effects models. Previously defined subgroup analyses were performed to explore the influence of study characteristics. A total of twenty-five eligible studies with 1476 subjects were selected. The acute intake of tea had no effects on systolic and diastolic BP. However, after long-term tea intake, the pooled mean systolic and diastolic BP were lower by − 1·8 (95 % CI − 2·4, − 1·1) and − 1·4 (95 % CI − 2·2, − 0·6) mmHg, respectively. When stratified by type of tea, green tea significantly reduced systolic BP by 2·1 (95 % CI − 2·9, − 1·2) mmHg and decreased diastolic BP by 1·7 (95 % CI − 2·9, − 0·5) mmHg, and black tea showed a reduction in systolic BP of 1·4 (95 % CI − 2·4, − 0·4) mmHg and a decrease in diastolic BP of 1·1 (95 % CI − 1·9, − 0·2) mmHg. The subgroup analyses showed that the BP-lowering effect was apparent in subjects who consumed tea more than 12 weeks (systolic BP − 2·6 (95 % CI − 3·5, − 1·7) mmHg and diastolic BP − 2·2 (95 % CI − 3·0, − 1·3) mmHg, both P< 0·001). The present findings suggest that long-term ( ≥ 12 weeks) ingestion of tea could result in a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic BP.
Hotspots and gaps in the world collection of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneumL.)
Authors: GHAMKHAR K. , NICHOLS P. G. H. , ERSKINE W. , SNOWBALL R. , MURILLO M. , APPELS R. , RYAN M. H. 
Published: August 2014

SUMMARYSubterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneumL.) is the most important annual pasture legume in the winter-dominant rainfall areas of Southern Australia. Systematic germplasm collections of subterranean clover from its centre of origin have been made since the 1950s, particularly by Australian scientists, in order to broaden the genetic base of the species. The present study reports on a meta-analysis of the distribution of the world collection of subterranean clovers and their relationships to eco-geographic variables of the collection sites in their native habitat. Diversity hotspots (areas rich in number of accessions and containing a high diversity of sub-species) and also gaps (areas with particular traits un- or under-represented in collections) were identified. This was achieved using a stratified data system to evaluate eco-geographical and agro-morphological data which incorporated three tiers of information for the subterranean clover collection: (1) information from each collection site, including ecological data; (2) information on the phenotypic diversity within each collection site; and (3) plant agro-morphological data from each sample grown under controlled conditions. Correlations were found between some eco-geographic conditions and agronomic performance. These included correlations between latitude and flowering time, mean temperature in winter and winter productivity and precipitation in summer and seed dormancy. The present study concluded that subterranean clover versatility is greater than suggested in the past. The results of the current analysis provide a guide for future collecting missions to specific regions towards areas of maximum diversity (hotspots) and unknown diversity (gaps).
The Steklov spectrum of surfaces: asymptotics and invariants
Authors: GIROUARD ALEXANDRE , PARNOVSKI LEONID , POLTEROVICH IOSIF , SHER DAVID A. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractWe obtain precise asymptotics for the Steklov eigenvalues on a compact Riemannian surface with boundary. It is shown that the number of connected components of the boundary, as well as their lengths, are invariants of the Steklov spectrum. The proofs are based on pseudodifferential techniques for the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator and on a number–theoretic argument.
Hydropolitics and Inter-Jurisdictional Relationships in China: The Pursuit of Localized Preferences in a Centralized System
Authors: Moore Scott 
Published: August 2014

AbstractInter-jurisdictional water resource issues constitute a growing political and economic challenge in China. This article examines three such cases of hydropolitics, namely large dam construction, water resource allocation, and downstream water pollution, through the lens of central–local relations. It argues that the hydropolitics in China are characterized by the pursuit of localized preferences within the constraints imposed by a centralized political system. In each case, the primary actors are sub-national administrative units, who adopt various competitive strategies to pursue their own localized interests at the expense of neighbouring jurisdictions. This article argues that although vertical control mechanisms in the Chinese system effectively limit central–local preference divergence, they do little to contain horizontal conflicts between sub-national administrative units. The paucity of formal inter-jurisdictional dispute resolution mechanisms is a major barrier to meeting water resource challenges, and inter-jurisdictional collective action problems are likely to pose growing difficulties for the Chinese political system.
The legacy of a crowded ocean: indicators, status, and trends of anthropogenic pressures in the California Current ecosystem
Authors: ANDREWS KELLY S. , WILLIAMS GREGORY D. , SAMHOURI JAMEAL F. , MARSHALL KRISTIN N. , GERTSEVA VLADLENA , LEVIN PHILLIP S. 
Published: August 2014

SUMMARYAs human population size and demand for seafood and other marine resources increase, understanding the influence of human activities in the ocean and on land becomes increasingly critical to the management and conservation of marine resources. In order to account for human influence on marine ecosystems while making management decisions, linkages between various anthropogenic pressures and ecosystem components need to be determined. Those linkages cannot be drawn until it is known how different pressures have been changing over time. This paper identifies indicators and develops time series for 22 anthropogenic pressures acting on the USA's portion of the California Current ecosystem. Time series suggest that seven pressures have decreased and two have increased over the short term, while five pressures were above and two pressures were below long-term means. Cumulative indices of anthropogenic pressures suggest a slight decrease in pressures in the 2000s compared to the preceding few decades. Dynamic factor analysis revealed four common trends that sufficiently explained the temporal variation found among all anthropogenic pressures. This reduced set of time series will be a useful tool to determine whether links exist between individual or multiple pressures and various ecosystem components.
The status and ecology of the last wild population of Madagascar Pochard Aythya innotata
Authors: BAMFORD ANDREW J. , SAM THE SEING , RAZAFINDRAJAO FELIX , ROBSON HANNAH , WOOLAVER LANCE G. , RENÉ de ROLAND LILY ARISON 
Published: August 2014

SummaryOne of the rarest birds in the world, the Madagascar Pochard Aythya innotata was thought to be extinct until a small population was found in 2006. Little is known about this diving duck as it had not been studied prior to its decline and disappearance. Its rediscovery provided the opportunity to study this species in the wild for the first time and to assess the viability of this last remaining population. The population is small, fluctuating around 25 individuals, and mainly utilises two small volcanic lakes in the far north of Madagascar. Nesting occurs on only one of these lakes, Matsaborimena. Nest success (76% in 2007–2008) and hatching success (89% in 2007–2008) are both comparable to other Aythya species, but fledging success (4% in 2011–2012) is extremely low. Duckling mortality rates peak between 14 and 21 days old. We propose that starvation is the major cause of duckling mortality. Examination of faecal samples and stable isotope analysis of feathers and potential food items provide evidence that adult pochards are insectivorous, favouring caddis fly larvae. Macroinvertebrate density in the benthos of Matsaborimena is low. Adults spend 38% of daylight hours foraging, mainly in the shallowest water. However Matsaborimena is steep-sided and has no areas shallow enough for diving ducklings to feed. We conclude that these lakes are not good breeding habitat for this species. The Madagascar Pochard’s persistence here and not at other sites is probably due to a lack of the human-induced habitat degradation that has impacted many other wetlands in Madagascar.
Lack of genetic structure in Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusfrom the Iberian coast. What’s wrong with the endangered north-western population?
Authors: VIDAL MARÍA , HERNÁNDEZ MARÍA A. , LUIS ANTONIO , DOMÍNGUEZ JESÚS 
Published: August 2014

SummaryCoastal wader species are sensitive to anthropogenic activity and habitat change along the coastal edge, which has been responsible for the decline in the populations of these birds. Correct management requires knowledge of the pattern and scale of genetic variation within and among populations as well as the relationships between population dynamics and genetic structure. We investigated these factors in the Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusfrom the Iberian coast to determine the degree of vulnerability of the endangered north-western population. We analysed the genetic structure and gene flow using a 631-bp fragment of the mitochondrial (mtDNA) control region and eight microsatellite markers in 113 unrelated individuals from 31 Iberian beaches. The results do not support the recent decline hypothesis because there was no evidence of a bottleneck, but they do support a population expansion along the Atlantic coast. We found no genetic structure or isolation-by-distance, in agreement with results recently observed on a continental scale. However, explanations for high continental gene flow, such as temporary breeding habitats and high breeding dispersal, do not seem to apply to the Galician population. Galician Kentish Plovers breed solely on beaches, a suitable and more predictable habitat during the breeding period than ephemeral inland wetlands, and female movements during the breeding period are uncommon, mainly due to the extremely low hatching success. This study suggests a demographic connectivity between Portuguese and Galician populations that is referred to as source-sink population dynamics, in which individuals dispersing from Portugal support the Galician coastal population. This dispersal pattern highlights the importance of supranational management plans to protect endangered species.
Global models of planet formation and evolution
Authors: Mordasini C. , Mollière P. , Dittkrist K.-M. , Jin S. , Alibert Y. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractDespite the strong increase in observational data on extrasolar planets, the processes that led to the formation of these planets are still not well understood. However, thanks to the high number of extrasolar planets that have been discovered, it is now possible to look at the planets as a population that puts statistical constraints on theoretical formation models. A method that uses these constraints is planetary population synthesis where synthetic planetary populations are generated and compared to the actual population. The key element of the population synthesis method is a global model of planet formation and evolution. These models directly predict observable planetary properties based on properties of the natal protoplanetary disc, linking two important classes of astrophysical objects. To do so, global models build on the simplified results of many specialized models that address one specific physical mechanism. We thoroughly review the physics of the sub-models included in global formation models. The sub-models can be classified as models describing the protoplanetary disc (of gas and solids), those that describe one (proto)planet (its solid core, gaseous envelope and atmosphere), and finally those that describe the interactions (orbital migration and N-body interaction). We compare the approaches taken in different global models, discuss the links between specialized and global models, and identify physical processes that require improved descriptions in future work. We then shortly address important results of planetary population synthesis like the planetary mass function or the mass–radius relationship. With these statistical results, the global effects of physical mechanisms occurring during planet formation and evolution become apparent, and specialized models describing them can be put to the observational test. Owing to their nature as meta models, global models depend on the results of specialized models, and therefore on the development of the field of planet formation theory as a whole. Because there are important uncertainties in this theory, it is likely that the global models will in future undergo significant modifications. Despite these limitations, global models can already now yield many testable predictions. With future global models addressing the geophysical characteristics of the synthetic planets, it should eventually become possible to make predictions about the habitability of planets based on their formation and evolution.
Holocene variations in peatland methane cycling associated with the Asian summer monsoon system
Authors: Zheng Yanhong , Singarayer Joy S. , Cheng Peng , Yu Xuefeng , Liu Zhao , Valdes Paul J. , Pancost Richard D. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractAtmospheric methane concentrations decreased during the early to middle Holocene; however, the governing mechanisms remain controversial. Although it has been suggested that the mid-Holocene minimum methane emissions are associated with hydrological change, direct evidence is lacking. Here we report a new independent approach, linking hydrological change in peat sediments from the Tibetan Plateau to changes in archaeal diether concentrations and diploptene δ13C values as tracers for methanogenesis and methanotrophy, respectively. A minimum in inferred methanogenesis occurred during the mid-Holocene, which, locally, corresponds with the driest conditions of the Holocene, reflecting a minimum in Asian monsoon precipitation. The close coupling between precipitation and methanogenesis is validated by climate simulations, which also suggest a regionally widespread impact. Importantly, the minimum in methanogenesis is associated with a maximum in methanotrophy. Therefore, methane emissions in the Tibetan Plateau region were apparently lower during the mid-Holocene and partially controlled by interactions of large-scale atmospheric circulation.
Understanding functional miRNA–target interactions in vivo by site-specific genome engineering
Authors: Bassett Andrew R. , Azzam Ghows , Wheatley Lucy , Tibbit Charlotte , Rajakumar Timothy , McGowan Simon , Stanger Nathan , Ewels Philip Andrew , Taylor Stephen , Ponting Chris P. , Liu Ji-Long , Sauka-Spengler Tatjana , Fulga Tudor A. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractMicroRNA (miRNA) target recognition is largely dictated by short ‘seed’ sequences, and single miRNAs therefore have the potential to regulate a large number of genes. Understanding the contribution of specific miRNA–target interactions to the regulation of biological processes in vivo remains challenging. Here we use transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 technologies to interrogate the functional relevance of predicted miRNA response elements (MREs) to post-transcriptional silencing in zebrafish and Drosophila. We also demonstrate an effective strategy that uses CRISPR-mediated homology-directed repair with short oligonucleotide donors for the assessment of MRE activity in human cells. These methods facilitate analysis of the direct phenotypic consequences resulting from blocking specific miRNA–MRE interactions at any point during development.