bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment and management of the communication difficulties of children with cerebral palsy: a UK survey of SLT practice
Authors: Mary Watson Rose , Pennington Lindsay 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundCommunication difficulties are common in cerebral palsy (CP) and are frequently associated with motor, intellectual and sensory impairments. Speech and language therapy research comprises single‐case experimental design and small group studies, limiting evidence‐based intervention and possibly exacerbating variation in practice.AimsTo describe the assessment and intervention practices of speech–language therapist (SLTs) in the UK in their management of communication difficulties associated with CP in childhood.Methods & ProceduresAn online survey of the assessments and interventions employed by UK SLTs working with children and young people with CP was conducted. The survey was publicized via NHS trusts, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and private practice associations using a variety of social media. The survey was open from 5 December 2011 to 30 January 2012.Outcomes & ResultsTwo hundred and sixty‐five UK SLTs who worked with children and young people with CP in England (n = 199), Wales (n = 13), Scotland (n = 36) and Northern Ireland (n = 17) completed the survey. SLTs reported using a wide variety of published, standardized tests, but most commonly reported assessing oromotor function, speech, receptive and expressive language, and communication skills by observation or using assessment schedules they had developed themselves. The most highly prioritized areas for intervention were: dysphagia, alternative and augmentative (AAC)/interaction and receptive language. SLTs reported using a wide variety of techniques to address difficulties in speech, language and communication. Some interventions used have no supporting evidence. Many SLTs felt unable to estimate the hours of therapy per year children and young people with CP and communication disorders received from their service.Conclusions & ImplicationsThe assessment and management of communication difficulties associated with CP in childhood varies widely in the UK. Lack of standard assessment practices prevents comparisons across time or services. The adoption of a standard set of agreed clinical measures would enable benchmarking of service provision, permit the development of large‐scale research studies using routine clinical data and facilitate the identification of potential participants for research studies in the UK. Some interventions provided lack evidence. Recent systematic reviews could guide intervention, but robust evidence is needed in most areas addressed in clinical practice.
Spherical Photography and Virtual Tours for Presenting Crime Scenes and Forensic Evidence in New Zealand Courtrooms
Authors: Tung Nicole D. , Barr Jason , Sheppard Dion J. , Elliot Douglas A. , Tottey Leah S. , Walsh Kevan A. J. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThe delivery of forensic science evidence in a clear and understandable manner is an important aspect of a forensic scientist's role during expert witness delivery in a courtroom trial. This article describes an Integrated Evidence Platform (IEP) system based on spherical photography which allows the audience to view the crime scene via a virtual tour and view the forensic scientist's evidence and results in context. Equipment and software programmes used in the creation of the IEP include a Nikon DSLR camera, a Seitz Roundshot VR Drive, PTGui Pro, and Tourweaver Professional Edition. The IEP enables a clear visualization of the crime scene, with embedded information such as photographs of items of interest, complex forensic evidence, the results of laboratory analyses, and scientific opinion evidence presented in context. The IEP has resulted in significant improvements to the pretrial disclosure of forensic results, enhanced the delivery of evidence in court, and improved the jury's understanding of the spatial relationship between results.
Mentoring in surgical training
Authors: Rashid Prem , Narra Maruthi , Woo Henry 
Published: February 2015

AbstractSurgical mentors have helped trainees develop fulfilling and academically productive careers, while supervisors are formally assigned to impart skills and oversee training. This paper reviews the comparative roles of the supervisor and mentor and how they overlap, while exploring the impact of the ‘unknown’ mentor. While the supervisor's role in directing the student is formally recognized, the mentee will personally select a mentor who successfully models the career and life balance to which the mentee aspires. The unknown mentor is known only to the mentee. The mentee's commitment to communicating with both mentor and supervisor is crucial to success. Better processes can be used to guide the mentor relationship. Confusion between the two roles – mentor and supervisor – is due to their complementary nature as well as an overlap in roles. Both remain essential to the growth and development of the surgical trainee. The unknown mentor could give detached advice and guidance to the student, while acting as a positive role model.
Mechanisms of airway hyper‐responsiveness in asthma: the past, present and yet to come
Authors: Chapman D. G. , Irvin C. G. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryAirway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR) has long been considered a cardinal feature of asthma. The development of the measurement of AHR 40 years ago initiated many important contributions to our understanding of asthma and other airway diseases. However, our understanding of AHR in asthma remains complicated by the multitude of potential underlying mechanisms which in reality are likely to have different contributions amongst individual patients. Therefore, the present review will discuss the current state of understanding of the major mechanisms proposed to contribute to AHR and highlight the way in which AHR testing is beginning to highlight distinct abnormalities associated with clinically relevant patient populations. In doing so we aim to provide a foundation by which future research can begin to ascribe certain mechanisms to specific patterns of bronchoconstriction and subsequently match phenotypes of bronchoconstriction with clinical phenotypes. We believe that this approach is not only within our grasp but will lead to improved mechanistic understanding of asthma phenotypes and we hoped to better inform the development of phenotype‐targeted therapy.
No increases in the rate of undescended testis in Hungary during the last 50 years: A population‐based study
Authors: Mavrogenis Stelios , Ács Nándor , Czeizel Andrew E. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractUndescended testis (cryptorchidism) is a common structural birth defect, i.e. congenital abnormality of the male genital organs and increasing trend in its birth prevalence was reported in some countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the recorded annual birth prevalence of isolated undescended testis (IUT) in the population‐based large dataset of the Hungarian Congenital Abnormality Registry for the period between 1962 and 2011, i.e. during the last 50 years. Cases with IUT reported after births were evaluated, and their annual rate per 1000 live‐births was calculated. The rates of cases with IUT were compared with the so‐called true rate of IUT measured in a previous clinical‐epidemiological study based on the personal examination of 10 203 newborn infants. The birth prevalence of cases with recorded IUT in Hungary was lower than expected based on the true rate of IUT. Thus the two waves in the rate of IUT were connected with the different completeness of reporting. In conclusion the birth prevalence of cases with IUT in Hungary did not indicate a real increasing trend during the last 50 years.
Untangling knots between autophagic targets and candidate drugs, in cancer therapy
Authors: Xie Tao , Li Si‐Jia , Guo Ming‐Rui , Wu Yue , Wang Hang‐Yu , Zhang Ke , Zhang Xue , Ouyang Liang , Liu Jie 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAutophagy is an evolutionarily conserved lysosomal mechanism implicated in a wide variety of pathological processes, such as cancer. Autophagy can be regulated by a limited number of autophagy‐related genes (Atgs) such as oncogenic Bcl‐2/Bcl‐XL, mTORC1, Akt and PI3KCI, and tumour suppressive proteins PI3KCIII, Beclin‐1, Bif‐1, p53, DAPKs, PTEN and UVRAG, which play their crucial roles in regulating autophagy‐related cancer. As autophagy has a dual role in cancer cells, with tumour‐promoting and tumour‐suppressing properties, it has become an attractive target for a series of emerging small molecule drugs. In this review, we reveal new discoveries of related small molecules or chemical compounds that can regulate autophagic pathways and lead to pro‐death or pro‐survival autophagy, in different types of cancer. We discuss the knots between autophagic targets and candidate drugs, in the hope of shedding new light on exploiting new anti‐tumour small molecule drugs for future cancer therapy.
Decrease in circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells during short‐term systemic normobaric hypoxia
Authors: Yilmaz Atilla , Ratka Josi , Rohm Ilonka , Pistulli Rudin , Goebel Bjorn , Asadi Yahya , Petri Alexander , Kiehntopf Michael , Figulla Hans R. , Jung Christian 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundDuring exposure to high altitude, the immune system is altered. During hypoxia, an increase in interleukin (IL)‐6 and high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), and an increase in natural killer cells and decrease in T cells in blood was shown. However, the impact of hypoxia on dendritic cells has not been investigated yet.Material and methodsTwelve healthy volunteers were subjected to a transient normobaric hypoxia for 6·5 h simulating an oxygen concentration at 5500 m. During exposure to hypoxia, blood samples were collected and analysed by flow cytometrical cell sorting (FACS) for circulating myeloid (mDCs) and plasmacytoid (pDCs) DCs. Serum levels of IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α were analysed. In a cell culture hypoxia chamber, blood samples were subjected to the same hypoxia and analysed regarding DCs.ResultsExposure to normobaric hypoxia induced a significant decrease in circulating pDCs about 45% (P = 0·001) but not of mDC compared to baseline normoxia. Furthermore, we observed a significant increase of TNF‐α about 340% (P = 0·03) and of IL‐6 about 286% (P = 0·002). In cell culture experiments exposure of blood to hypoxia led to no significant changes in DCs, so that a direct cytotoxic effect was excluded. During hypoxia, we observed a transient increase in stromal‐derived factor 1 (SDF‐1) which is important for pDC tissue recruitment.ConclusionsWe show a significant decrease in circulating pDCs during hypoxia in parallel to a pro‐inflammatory response. Further studies are necessary to evaluate whether the decrease in circulating pDCs might be the result of an enhanced tissue recruitment.
Effect of opicapone on levodopa pharmacokinetics, catechol‐O‐methyltransferase activity and motor fluctuations in patients with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Ferreira J. J. , Rocha J.‐F. , Falcão A. , Santos A. , Pinto R. , Nunes T. , Soares‐da‐Silva P. 
Published: February 2015

Background and purposeOpicapone (OPC) is a novel third generation catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor that enhances levodopa availability. This study investigated the effects of OPC in comparison with placebo on levodopa pharmacokinetics, tolerability and safety, COMT activity and motor response to levodopa in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with motor fluctuations.MethodsThis was a randomized, multicentre, double‐blind and placebo‐controlled study in four parallel groups of PD patients treated with standard‐release 100/25 mg levodopa/carbidopa or levodopa/benserazide and with motor fluctuations (wearing‐OFF phenomenon). Subjects were sequentially assigned to be administered, once‐daily, up to 28 days (maintenance phase), placebo (n = 10) or 5 (n = 10), 15 (n = 10) and 30 mg (n = 10) OPC. Two levodopa tests were performed, one at baseline and another following the maintenance phase. Subjects kept a diary to record motor fluctuations (ON/OFF periods) throughout the study.ResultsIn relation to placebo, levodopa exposure (AUC0–6) increased 24.7%, 53.9% and 65.6% following 5, 15 and 30 mg OPC, respectively. Maximum COMT inhibition (Emax) ranged from 52% (5 mg OPC) to 80% (30 mg OPC). The study was not designed to detect any significant differences in motor performance, but the exploratory analysis performed shows improvement in various motor outcomes, including a dose‐dependent change in absolute OFF time corresponding to a percentage decrease of 4.16% (P > 0.05), 29.55% (P > 0.05) and 32.71% (P < 0.05) with 5, 15 and 30 mg OPC, respectively. Treatments were generally well tolerated and safe.ConclusionsOPC is a promising new COMT inhibitor that significantly decreased COMT activity, increased systemic exposure to levodopa and improved motor response.
Reference genes for gene expression analysis in proliferating and differentiating human keratinocytes
Authors: Lanzafame Manuela , Botta Elena , Teson Massimo , Fortugno Paola , Zambruno Giovanna , Stefanini Miria , Orioli Donata 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAbnormalities in keratinocyte growth and differentiation have a pathogenic significance in many skin disorders and result in gene expression alterations detectable by quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR). Relative quantification based on endogenous control (EC) genes is the commonly adopted approach, and the use of multiple reference genes from independent pathways is considered a best practice guideline, unless fully validated EC genes are available. The literature on optimal reference genes during in vitro calcium‐induced differentiation of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) is inconsistent. In many studies, the expression of target genes is compared to that of housekeeping genes whose expression, however, significantly varies during keratinocyte differentiation. Here, we report the results of our investigations on the expression stability of 15 candidate EC genes, including those commonly used as reference in expression analysis by qRT‐PCR, during NHEK calcium‐induced differentiation. We demonstrate that YWHAZ and UBC are extremely stable genes, and therefore, they represent optimal EC genes for expression studies in proliferating and calcium‐induced differentiating NHEK. Furthermore, we demonstrate that YWHAZ/14‐3‐3‐zeta is a suitable reference for quantitative comparison of both transcript and protein levels.
Keratinocyte differentiation and upregulation of ceramide synthesis induced by an oat lipid extract via the activation of PPAR pathways
Authors: Chon Su‐Hyoun , Tannahill Ruth , Yao Xiang , Southall Michael D. , Pappas Apostolos 
Published: February 2015

AbstractActivation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs) has been shown to have an important role in skin barrier function by regulating differentiation and lipid synthesis in keratinocytes. Oat (Avena sativa) has long been used as a soothing agent to relieve skin irritations, and the clinical benefits of topical oat formulations have been proven; however, the mechanistic understanding of oat's mode of action remains unknown. We investigated whether an oat lipid extract could activate PPARs and subsequently increase epidermal lipid synthesis and differentiation markers. Primary human epidermal keratinocytes and transformed cell lines were treated with PPAR agonists and oat lipid extracts to investigate the PPAR agonism. PPAR target genes and epidermal differentiation markers were analysed using quantitative real‐time PCR and HPTLC analysis. Oat lipid extract demonstrated robust dual agonism for PPARα and PPARβ/δ, and increased direct PPAR target gene induction in primary human keratinocytes. In addition, oat oil treatment increased both receptor expression and, consistent with the literature on PPARs, oat oil treatment resulted in a significant upregulation of differentiation genes (involucrin, SPRRs and transglutaminase 1) and ceramide processing genes (β‐glucocerebrosidase, sphingomyelinases 3 and ABCA12). Further, oat oil treatment in keratinocytes significantly increased ceramide levels (70%), suggesting a functional translation of PPAR activation by oat oil in keratinocytes. Taken together, these results demonstrate that oat lipids possess robust dual agonistic activities for PPARα and PPARβ/δ, increase their gene expression and induce differentiation and ceramide synthesis in keratinocytes, which can collectively improve skin barrier function.
Changes in soil carbon stocks under perennial and annual bioenergy crops
Authors: Ferchaud Fabien , Vitte Guillaume , Mary Bruno 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBioenergy crops are expected to provide biomass to replace fossil resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks are of primary importance. The aim of this study was to measure changes in SOC stocks in bioenergy cropping systems comparing perennial (Miscanthus × giganteus and switchgrass), semi‐perennial (fescue and alfalfa), and annual (sorghum and triticale) crops, all established after arable crops. The soil was sampled at the start of the experiment and 5 or 6 years later. SOC stocks were calculated at equivalent soil mass, and δ13C measurements were used to calculate changes in new and old SOC stocks. Crop residues found in soil at the time of SOC measurements represented 3.5–7.2 t C ha−1 under perennial crops vs. 0.1–0.6 t C ha−1 for the other crops. During the 5‐year period, SOC concentrations under perennial crops increased in the surface layer (0–5 cm) and slightly declined in the lower layers. Changes in δ13C showed that C inputs were mainly located in the 0–18 cm layer. In contrast, SOC concentrations increased over time under semi‐perennial crops throughout the old ploughed layer (ca. 0–33 cm). SOC stocks in the old ploughed layer increased significantly over time under semi‐perennials with a mean increase of 0.93 ± 0.28 t C ha−1 yr−1, whereas no change occurred under perennial or annual crops. New SOC accumulation was higher for semi‐perennial than for perennial crops (1.50 vs. 0.58 t C ha−1 yr−1, respectively), indicating that the SOC change was due to a variation in C input rather than a change in mineralization rate. Nitrogen fertilization rate had no significant effect on SOC stocks. This study highlights the interest of comparing SOC changes over time for various cropping systems.
Adherence to prophylaxis and quality of life in children and adolescents with severe haemophilia A
Authors: García‐Dasí M. , Aznar J. A. , Jiménez‐Yuste V. , Altisent C. , Bonanad S. , Mingot E. , Lucía F. , Giménez F. , López M. Fernanda , Marco P. , Pérez R. , Fernández M. Á. , Paloma M. J. , Galmes B. , Herrero S. , García‐Talavera J. A. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryTreatment adherence in adolescents with chronic diseases is around 50%, and failure is more common in preventive therapy. In haemophilia, contradictory results are reported by the published studies. The objective of this study was to evaluate adherence with factor VIII (FVIII) prophylaxis in Spanish patients with severe haemophilia A between age 6 and 20 years. Data were collected retrosp‐ectively in the previous 2 years. The primary endpoint was the absolute adherence index (AAI), and the endpoints were related to clinical status, age, prophylaxis regimen, responsibility for factor administration and quality of life (QoL), assessed by the Haemo‐QoL questionnaires. A total of 78 patients from 14 Spanish hospitals were recruited. Adherence ranged between −64.4 and 66.7 (mean −3.08). No differences were observed between children and adolescents (7.11 vs. 6.39; P = 0.809). A statistically significant association (P < 0.010) between infra adherent group and target joint was found, as was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.010) between the number of bleeding episodes experienced by the adherent group (mean 1.4) and by infra adherents (mean 4.5). There was no significant difference between AAI and prophylactic regimen (6.35 vs. 6.96, P = 0.848), neither between AAI and the person responsible for factor administration (5.57 vs. 8.79, P = 0.326). The Haemo‐QoL scores (8–12 years) were related to adherence level (P < 0.05). Adherence was approximately ideal and patients perceived a high QoL. Because of the repercussions for compliance, it is essential to work during puberty on emotional and self‐acceptance aspects of the disease, as well as coping, and the patient's family, school and health team relationships.
FUTURE BY HISTORY: RETHINKING PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY
Authors: Rüsen Jörn 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTPhilosophy of history has a threefold dimension: material, formal, and functional, which have largely been conceptualized as mutually exclusive. It is high time to mediate them into a coherent relationship, and Rohbeck's book is a decisive step toward such a new philosophy of history.The book is divided into three parts: the first deals with the relationship between history and the future, the second analyzes the relationship between history and ethics, and the third synthesizes these two aspects into a pragmatics of history. With regard to the first part, historical thinking is based on a perception of temporal otherness related to the past. Rohbeck prolongs the time perspective by bridging this time gap into the future. As to the second, Rohbeck replaces teleology by ethics. Teleology includes ethics but limits its scope to a one‐sided development. Ethics allows many more options. Finally, who is the agent for historical ethics? Rohbeck proposes the “generation” as the basic actor in historical change and the addressee of ethical commitment.At the end of his work, Rohbeck draws consequences for the idea of philosophy of history from his idea of historical ethics. He shows that history has a new perspective if it is viewed through the lens of ethical elements in the fundamental relationship between past, present, and future.Of course, many questions follow this fascinating new version of the old philosophy of history. I raise only three of them: (1) What synthesizes the three dimensions of time into one and the same history? (2) Did we not learn from historicism that values in ethics have an inbuilt temporality? This argument does not run against the idea of an ethics of history, but should sharpen its genuine historical character. (3) Who is the agent of this change: who brings it about and at the same is subjected to it? An anonymous sum of generations in space and time is not a convincing answer. We need an integrative idea that covers the vast field of experience of the human world in space and time and that covers the strong commitment to universal values. In this respect it would be worthwhile to pick up the idea of humankind as it was conceptualized as the red thread of history in traditional, modern philosophy of history.