bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Living with hepatitis C: a phenomenological study
Authors: Hill Rebekah , Pfeil Michael , Moore Jenny , Richardson Barbara 
Published: May 2014

Aims and objectivesTo explore the experience of adults living with hepatitis C over time.BackgroundHepatitis C virus is a growing problem affecting thousands of people worldwide. The majority of individuals infected develop chronic liver disease, but treatment is not always successful, leaving many to live with the virus indefinitely. Experiences of living with hepatitis C are poorly understood yet essential to meet the needs of an increasing number of affected people.DesignA qualitative study using a descriptive phenomenological methodology.MethodsUnstructured interviews were conducted with 23 hepatitis C‐positive individuals in the East of England; participants were interviewed twice within a year.ResultsData analysis revealed six themes of the experience of living with hepatitis C: hepatitis C and self; hepatitis C, self and others; self and handling hepatitis C; self and handling hepatitis C treatment issues; living with the consequences of hepatitis C; self, hepatitis C and thoughts of the future.ConclusionsDiagnosis of hepatitis C can disrupt people's sense of identity and trigger a life transition. A complex range of factors create uncertainty for people living with hepatitis C. Many struggle to make a healthy transition to life with the condition, instead living in a state of sustained uncertainty.Relevance to clinical practiceNurses working within a chronic care framework of ongoing advice and support can improve experiences for those living with hepatitis C. Practice aimed at reducing both the disruptive effect of the diagnosis and the uncertainties it creates can help facilitate a transition to life with the disease.
The Same‐Different Method: Positive Effects of Reduced Memory Load Versus Negative Effects of Uncontrolled τ‐Criterion Variation, Using Forced‐Choice Methods as a Comparison
Authors: Olivas Ricardo , Lopez‐Malo Aurelio , Angulo Ofelia , O'Mahony Michael 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThe positive effects of reduced memory load for the same‐different method were tested against the negative effects of judge τ‐criterion variation, using the forced‐choice triangle, duo‐trio and ABX methods for comparison. The tests were carried out under nonlaboratory conditions in an everyday dining area, with mango juices as the stimuli. A control experiment involving sequential sensitivity analysis was performed to monitor carry‐over effects. The results of the main experiment showed no significant differences in the low d′ values for the forced‐choice methods, while a zero value was recorded for the same‐different method. This was due to variability in the τ‐criterion causing the overall value to be large enough to elicit, for sufficiently confusable stimuli, more incorrect than correct responses, when the two stimuli in the test were different.Practical ApplicationsSometimes it is required that difference tests be performed without the attribute change being described to the judges, leaving them to discover the change in attribute for themselves. In this case, the more statistically powerful methods, such as the 2‐AFC and 3‐AFC, are unsuitable. This leaves the much less powerful triangle, duo‐trio and ABX methods as the most commonly used candidates, although their reduced power implies greater cost. Before the recent emergence of the statistically more powerful unspecified tetrad method as a potential candidate of choice, the long version of the same‐different method was seen as the most powerful alternative. It has the advantage of a lesser memory load because only pairs of stimuli are assessed. However, the same‐different method has the disadvantage of uncontrolled τ‐criterion variation. There is a possibility that when data are pooled over a sample of consumers, the variance in τ‐criteria among those judges might sometimes become large enough to cause problems. As long as the stimuli are sufficiently confusable, it might elicit a value large enough for incorrect responses to outnumber the correct responses, when the pairs in the test were different. The required Thurstonian analysis would then automatically record zero d′ values. Although this has not generally been regarded as a serious problem for the method, it would seem to be worthy of investigation. Such experiments are important for providing sensory professionals with information that enables them to make decisions regarding which methods are appropriate for their particular needs, when measuring discrimination.
Body weight, meat quality and blood metabolite responses to carbohydrate administration in the drinking water during pre‐slaughter feed withdrawal in broilers
Authors: Kop‐Bozbay C. , Ocak N. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryThis study was conducted to determine weights of body (BW), carcass (CW), gastrointestinal tract (GTW), meat quality and some blood metabolite responses to corn starch, saccharose or glucose administration in the drinking water during pre‐slaughter feed withdrawal (FW) in broilers. On day 42 of age, 200 broilers (Ross 308) were allocated randomly to five treatments with four replicates. During a 10‐h FW, control broilers (C) were provided with non‐treated water and the standard finisher diet ad libitum, whereas fasted broilers provided with non‐treated (NFW) or treated water, 3 g glucose (G), saccharose (S) or corn starch (CS)/L. Eight birds (four males and four females) per treatment were slaughtered. Birds receiving non‐treated or treated water had lower BW and higher carcass yield than the full‐fed broilers. The full‐fed broilers had higher absolute and relative GTW than the fasted birds. Broilers consumed more readily treated water compared with non‐treated water. While the a* value of breast meat from CS birds was higher than that from NFW, the b* value of that was higher than S and C birds. The c* values of breast meat from S birds were lower compared with that from the CS treatment. The thigh meat from NFW broilers had higher h* value than that from C and G broilers. The thigh meats of C and CS broilers had higher c* value than that of G birds. The full‐fed broilers had higher plasma triglyceride concentration than NFW, S and G birds. The full‐fed broilers had higher plasma uric acid and uric acid nitrogen concentrations than S birds. These results show that carbohydrate administration in the drinking water cannot be a good alternative for the FW period before slaughter due to the fact that the carbohydrates do not reduce BW losses and do not lead to increases in meat quality.
Three new species of fleas belonging to the genus Macrostylophora from the three‐striped ground squirrel, Lariscus insignis, in Java
Authors: DURDEN L. A. , BEAUCOURNU J.‐C. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThree new species of fleas belonging to the genus Macrostylophora (Siphonaptera, Ceratophyllidae) are described from the three‐striped ground squirrel, Lariscus insignis, from Tjibodas, West Java (Jawa Barat), Indonesia at an elevation of 1500 m. Macrostylophora larisci sp. n. is described from three male specimens, Macrostylophora debilitata sp. n. is described from one male and Macrostylophora wilsoni sp. n. is described from one female. Non‐genital morphological characters of the female specimen, including ctenidial spine shapes and lengths, show that it is not the corresponding female for either M. larisci sp. n. or M. debilitata sp. n. It is unusual for three different species of congeneric fleas to parasitize the same host species in the same geographical location. These three new species represent the first known records of Macrostylophora from Java and they could be enzootic vectors between rodents of flea‐borne zoonotic pathogens such as Rickettsia typhi and Yersinia pestis, both of which are established on Java. A list is provided of the 43 known species and 12 subspecies of Macrostylophora together with their known geographical distributions and hosts. A map depicting the distributions of known Indonesian (and Bornean) species of Macrostylophora is also included.
Nurses' evaluations of the CPOT use at 12‐month post‐implementation in the intensive care unit
Authors: Gélinas Céline , Ross Melody , Boitor Madalina , Desjardins Sylvie , Vaillant Francine , Michaud Cécile 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACTBackgroundPerforming routine pain assessments with all intensive care unit (ICU) patients is strongly recommended in clinical practice guidelines. As many ICU patients are unable to self‐report, the Critical‐Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) is one of the two behavioural pain scales suggested for clinical use. Still, no study has described the evaluations of its use in ICU daily practice.ObjectiveTo describe the nurses' evaluation of the feasibility, clinical relevance and satisfaction with the CPOT use 12 months after its implementation in the ICU.MethodA descriptive design was used. It was conducted in the medical‐surgical ICU of a university affiliated setting at Greenfield Park (Québec, Canada). A self‐administered evaluation questionnaire including four sections (i.e. feasibility, clinical relevance, satisfaction and socio‐demographic information) was completed by ICU nurses who were all trained to use the CPOT. The questionnaires were completed anonymously.ResultsA total of 38 ICU nurses returned their completed questionnaire (63% participation rate). Regarding its feasibility, the majority rated the CPOT as quick to use, simple to understand and easy to complete (92–100%). According to clinical relevance, close to 70% of ICU nurses acknowledged that the CPOT had influenced their practice, but lower results (<50%) were found for effective communication of pain assessment findings with the physicians and other health professionals. More than 80% of ICU nurses were satisfied with its daily use.ConclusionThe CPOT use was deemed feasible and relevant in daily practice as per the nurses' evaluations but did not allow an effective communication with other ICU care team members.Relevance to clinical practiceTraining should be offered to all members of the ICU care team, and other implementation strategies should be explored as well to ensure optimal uptake of a pain assessment approach which impacts on their decision‐making process for pain management.
Factors associated with post‐intensive care unit adverse events: a clinical validation study
Authors: Elliott Malcolm , Page Karen , Worrall‐Carter Linda 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACTBackgroundMany patients discharged from intensive care units (ICU) have complex care needs, placing them at risk of an adverse event in a ward environment. Currently, there is limited understanding of factors associated with these events in the post‐intensive care population. A recent study explored intensive care liaison nurses' opinions on factors associated with these events; 25 factors were identified, highlighting the multifaceted nature of post‐intensive care adverse events.AimThis study aimed to clinically validate 25 factors intensive care liaison nurses believe are associated with post‐intensive care adverse events, to determine the factors' relevance and importance to clinical practice.DesignProspective, clinical validation study.MethodData were prospectively collected on a convenience sample of 52 patients at 4 tertiary referral hospitals in an Australian capital city. All patients had experienced an adverse event after intensive care discharge.ResultsEach of the 25 factors contributed to adverse events in at least 6 patients. The factors associated with the most adverse events were those that related to the patient such as illness severity and co‐morbidities.ConclusionClinical care and research should focus on modifiable factors in care processes to reduce the risk of future adverse events in post‐intensive care patients.Relevance to clinical practiceMany patients are at risk of post‐ICUadverse events due to the contribution of non‐modifiable factors. However, by focusing on modifiable factors in care processes, the risk of post‐ICUadverse events may be reduced.
Diet, sun, and lifestyle as determinants of vitamin D status
Authors: Lips Paul , van Schoor Natasja M. , de Jongh Renate T. 
Published: May 2014

Vitamin D status can be assessed by measuring concentrations of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). Sunlight is the most important source of vitamin D and stimulates the production of vitamin D3 in the skin during the summer, depending on age, skin pigmentation, clothing style, and sunscreen use. Seasonal variation in serum 25(OH)D is between 10 and 20 nmol/L in adults and almost absent in nursing home residents. Sunscreen use decreases, but does not abolish, vitamin D production in the skin. Clothing style has a large influence on vitamin D production. Furthermore, vitamin D status can be improved by ingestion of fatty fish and the fortification of milk or orange juice. A high dietary calcium intake has a vitamin D–sparing effect, because it increases the half‐life of 25(OH)D. A combination of sunlight exposure, nutrition, food fortification, and supplements is desirable to obtain sufficient vitamin D status in the population of most countries throughout the year.
Safety and Outcomes of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Abandoned Pacemaker and Defibrillator Leads
Authors: HIGGINS JOHN V. , GARD JOSEPH J. , SHELDON SETH H. , ESPINOSA RAUL E. , WOOD CHRISTOPHER P. , FELMLEE JOEL P. , CHA YONG‐MEI , ASIRVATHAM SAMUEL J. , DALZELL CONNIE , ACKER NANCY , WATSON ROBERT E. , FRIEDMAN PAUL A. 
Published: May 2014

IntroductionAbandoned cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) leads remain a contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, largely due to in vitro data showing endocardial heating secondary to the radiofrequency field. We tested the hypothesis that abandoned CIED leads do not pose an increased risk of clinical harm for patients undergoing MRI.MethodsThis single‐center retrospective study examined the outcomes of patients who had device generators removed before MRI, rendering the device leads abandoned. Information was gathered through chart review. Data collected included lead model, pacing threshold before MRI, anatomic region examined, threshold data after generator reimplantation, and clinical patient outcome.ResultsPatients (n = 19, 11 men and eight women) ranged in age from 19 to 85 at the time of MRI. There was a mean of 1.63 abandoned leads at the time of imaging; none of the leads were MRI conditional. Of the three implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads, two of three were dual coil. Most (31/35) of the scans performed were of the central nervous system, including head and spinal imaging. There were no adverse events associated with MRI in any of these patients with abandoned leads within 7 days of the scan. No lead malfunctions or clinically significant change in pacing thresholds were noted with generator reimplantation.ConclusionThe use of MRI in patients with abandoned cardiac device leads appears feasible when performed under careful monitoring, with no adverse events, although the experience is small. MRI did not affect the function of leads that were subsequently reconnected to a cardiac device.
A reassessment of the role of sucrose synthase in the hypoxic sucrose‐ethanol transition in Arabidopsis
Authors: SANTANIELLO ANTONIETTA , LORETI ELENA , GONZALI SILVIA , NOVI GIACOMO , PERATA PIERDOMENICO 
Published: May 2014

AbstractPlants under low‐oxygen availability adapt their metabolism to compensate for the lower ATP production that arises from the limited respiratory activity in mitochondria. Anaerobic glycolysis requires continuous fuelling of carbon units, also provided from sucrose. The anaerobic catabolism of sucrose is thought to require the activity of sucrose synthase, being this enzymatic reaction more energetically favourable than that of invertase. The role of sucrose synthases (SUS) for aerobic sucrose catabolism in Arabidopsis has been recently questioned since SUS mutants fail to show altered phenotype or metabolic profile. In the present paper, we analysed the role of SUS1 and SUS4, both induced by low oxygen, in plant survival and ethanol production. The results showed that mutants lacking both SUS were as tolerant to low oxygen as the wild type in most of the experimental conditions tested. Only under conditions of limiting sugar availability the requirement of SUS1 and SUS4 for ethanol production was evident, although partly compensated by invertase activities, as revealed by the use of a double mutant lacking the two major cytosolic invertases. We conclude that, contrary to general belief, the sucrose synthase pathway is not the preferential route for sucrose metabolism under hypoxia.
Protein phosphatases PP2A, PP4 and PP6: mediators and regulators in development and responses to environmental cues
Authors: LILLO CATHRINE , KATAYA AMR R. A. , HEIDARI BEHZAD , CREIGHTON MARIA T. , NEMIE‐FEYISSA DUGASSA , GINBOT ZEKARIAS , JONASSEN ELSE M. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThe three closely related groups of serine/threonine protein phosphatases PP2A, PP4 and PP6 are conserved throughout eukaryotes. The catalytic subunits are present in trimeric and dimeric complexes with scaffolding and regulatory subunits that control activity and confer substrate specificity to the protein phosphatases. In Arabidopsis, three scaffolding (A subunits) and 17 regulatory (B subunits) proteins form complexes with five PP2A catalytic subunits giving up to 255 possible combinations. Three SAP‐domain proteins act as regulatory subunits of PP6. Based on sequence similarities with proteins in yeast and mammals, two putative PP4 regulatory subunits are recognized in Arabidopsis. Recent breakthroughs have been made concerning the functions of some of the PP2A and PP6 regulatory subunits, for example the FASS/TON2 in regulation of the cellular skeleton, B′ subunits in brassinosteroid signalling and SAL proteins in regulation of auxin transport. Reverse genetics is starting to reveal also many more physiological functions of other subunits. A system with key regulatory proteins (TAP46, TIP41, PTPA, LCMT1, PME‐1) is present in all eukaryotes to stabilize, activate and inactivate the catalytic subunits. In this review, we present the status of knowledge concerning physiological functions of PP2A, PP4 and PP6 in Arabidopsis, and relate these to yeast and mammals.
Identification of quantitative trait loci and a candidate locus for freezing tolerance in controlled and outdoor environments in the overwintering crucifer Boechera stricta
Authors: HEO JAE‐YUN , FENG DONGSHENG , NIU XIAOMU , MITCHELL‐OLDS THOMAS , VAN TIENDEREN PETER H. , TOMES DWIGHT , SCHRANZ M. ERIC 
Published: May 2014

AbstractDevelopment of chilling and freezing tolerance is complex and can be affected by photoperiod, temperature and photosynthetic performance; however, there has been limited research on the interaction of these three factors. We evaluated 108 recombinant inbred lines of Boechera stricta, derived from a cross between lines originating from Montana and Colorado, under controlled long day (LD), short‐day (SD) and in an outdoor environment (OE). We measured maximum quantum yield of photosystem II, lethal temperature for 50% survival and electrolyte leakage of leaves. Our results revealed significant variation for chilling and freezing tolerance and photosynthetic performance in different environments. Using both single‐ and multi‐trait analyses, three main‐effect quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified. QTL on linkage group (LG)3 were SD specific, whereas QTL on LG4 were found under both LD and SD. Under all conditions, QTL on LG7 were identified, but were particularly predictive for the outdoor experiment. The co‐localization of photosynthetic performance and freezing tolerance effects supports these traits being co‐regulated. Finally, the major QTL on LG7 is syntenic to the Arabidopsis C‐repeat binding factor locus, known regulators of chilling and freezing responses in Arabidopsis thaliana and other species.
Potato plants ectopically expressing Arabidopsis thaliana CBF3 exhibit enhanced tolerance to high‐temperature stress
Authors: DOU HAIOU , XV KUNPENG , MENG QINGWEI , LI GANG , YANG XINGHONG 
Published: May 2014

AbstractCBF3, a known cold‐inducible gene that encodes a transcription factor, was isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana and introduced into the potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. ‘luyin NO.1’) under the control of the CaMV35S promoter or the rd29A promoter. Our results revealed that temperature of 40 °C or higher can significantly induce AtCBF3 expression. After heat stress, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), the maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) (Fv/Fm) and the accumulation of the D1 protein were higher in the transgenic lines than in the wild‐type (WT) line. Moreover, compared with the WT line, O2●− and H2O2 accumulation in the transgenic lines were reduced. A Q‐PCR assay of a subset of the genes involved in photosynthesis and antioxidant defence further verified the above results. Interestingly, under heat stress conditions, the accumulation of heat‐shock protein 70 (HSP70) increased in the WT line but decreased in the transgenic lines. These results suggest that potato plants ectopically expressing AtCBF3 exhibited enhanced tolerance to high temperature, which is associated with improved photosynthesis and antioxidant defence via induction of the expression of many stress‐inducible genes. However, this mechanism may not depend upon the regulatory pathways in which HSP70 is involved.
Multimodality systematic approach to mediastinal lymph node staging in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Saettele Timothy M. , Ost David E. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractEstablishing an accurate diagnosis and stage for non‐small cell lung cancer has important implications for treatment and prognosis. Ideally, the process should be performed in a way that maximizes the information from each procedure while minimizing the risk to the patient. The concepts of decision analysis and Bayes' theorem form a basis to develop the strategy. In this framework, the pre‐test probability of malignancy is estimated in the lung nodule or mass, the regional lymph nodes and in distant sites. Invasive diagnostic tests are performed in sites with a pre‐test probability greater than the testing threshold, beginning with those sites that would yield the highest stage, if positive. Modalities are chosen that are able to biopsy the suspicious sites and present the least amount of risk to the patient. Following each test, the post‐test probability of malignancy is calculated to determine if it crosses the testing or test‐treatment thresholds. The process continues with further tests until a diagnosis and stage are established.