bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Apparent digestibility, rumen fermentation and nitrogen balance in Tibetan and fine-wool sheep offered forage-concentrate diets differing in nitrogen concentration
Authors: ZHOU J. W. , MI J. D. , DEGEN A. A. , GUO X. S. , WANG H. C. , DING L. M. , QIU Q. , LONG R. J. 
Published: May 2015

SUMMARYA comparative study of the effect of dietary nitrogen (N) content [Low: 11·0; Medium-Low (MLow): 16·7; Medium-High (Mhigh): 23·1; High: 29·2 N g/kg dry matter (DM)] on apparent digestibilities, rumen fermentation and N balance was conducted in coarse wool Tibetan sheep and Gansu Alpine fine-wool sheep at Wushaoling in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. It was hypothesized that responses would differ between breeds and that responses would favour Tibetan over fine-wool sheep at low N intakes. Eight wethers [four Tibetan sheep and four fine-wool sheep, 20–24 months old; body weight ± standard deviation was 52 ± 3·2 kg] were used in two concurrent 4 × 4 Latin square designs. Dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre digestibilities were higher in Tibetan than fine-wool sheep when fed the Low, MLow and High N diets while N retention was higher when the animals were fed the Low and MLow N diets. Tibetan sheep had a higher rumen pH than fine-wool sheep; however, total volatile fatty acids were similar between breeds. Molar proportions of acetate were higher but propionate and butyrate lower in Tibetan than fine-wool sheep. In addition, Tibetan sheep had higher concentrations of ruminal free amino acid-N and soluble protein-N than fine-wool sheep. Plasma and saliva urea-N concentrations were higher in Tibetan than fine-wool sheep when supplied with the Low N diet. It was concluded that Tibetan sheep were better able to cope with low N feed than fine-wool sheep because of the higher N retention and higher DM and fibre digestibilities with Low and MLow diets.
Identification and characterization of immunodominant linear epitopes on the antigenic region of a serine protease in newbornTrichinellalarvae
Authors: Yang Y. , Vallée I. , Lacour S.A. , Boireau P. , Cheng S.P. , Liu M.Y. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAn immunodominant serine protease ofTrichinella spiralisnamed NBL1 showed encouraging potential in early diagnosis of trichinellosis in pigs and elicited protective immune responses during infection of animals. To further define serological reagents for diagnostic use, the specific epitopes on NBL protein recognized by the antibody responses of different susceptible hosts need to be defined. The present study described comprehensive mapping of immunodominant linear epitopes in the antigenic region (NBL-C, the C-terminal part of the protein) using various serum samples obtained from three kinds of hosts – pig, wild boar and mice. We identified six peptides which were commonly recognized by sera from pigs experimentally infected withTrichinellaand pigs immunized with rNBL1-C; five and four peptides were recognized by sera from wild boars and mice infected withTrichinella,respectively. Three peptides (NBL1-6, -7 and -9) were commonly recognized by antisera in all three hosts, which share the sequence PSSGSRPTYP. We also found that one peptide (NBL1-12) was only recognized by antibodies from pigs immunized with rNBL1-C. The identification of specific epitopes targeted by the host antibody response is important both for understanding the natural response to infection and for the development of subunit vaccines and diagnostic tools for trichinellosis.
Immune responses in children infected with the pinwormEnterobius vermicularisin central Greece
Authors: Patsantara G.G. , Piperaki E.-T. , Tzoumaka-Bakoula C. , Kanariou M.G. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractPrevious studies have suggested an immunomodulatory and even protective role forEnterobius vermicularis, the least pathogenic human intestinal helminth. Here, in a study using haematological and serological parameters, we tested a total of 215 children from central Greece, with a mean age of 8.39, of whom 105 (48.84%) were infected withE. vermicularisand 110 (51.16%) were matched healthy controls. In particular, we analysed eosinophil counts (EO), serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), total and specific serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and the ECP/EO ratio. The atopic status and the potential occurrence of clinically expressed allergic diseases were both taken into account. Eosinophils, ECP and IgE were found to be higher in infected than in uninfected children, indicating a type-2 immune response activation during infection. Atopic infected children exhibited higher IgE levels compared to non-atopic ones. EO and ECP were found to be lower in atopic children who had a history of allergic disease than in those with no such history. The type-2 oriented immune response elicited againstE. vermiculariscould contribute to a balanced activation of the immune system in the examined children. Interestingly, although the atopic children showed a stronger activation, they did not exhibit any symptoms and, moreover, there seemed to be some indication of immunosuppression in those children with a positive history of allergic disease.
Necrotising (malignant) otitis externa in the UK: a growing problem. Review of five cases and analysis of national Hospital Episode Statistics trends
Authors: Chawdhary G , Liow N , Democratis J , Whiteside O 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackground:Necrotising (malignant) otitis externa is a severe infection causing temporal bone osteomyelitis. Although rare, our experience (reported herein) shows local doubling of cases in 2013. Hospital Episodes Statistics data for England over 14 years also indicate increased incidence nationally. Specific learning points in management are also discussed.Methods:A retrospective review was conducted of patients admitted in 2013 to Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK (catchment population, 450 000). In addition, the UK Government Hospital Episodes Statistics data were interrogated.Results:There were five cases of necrotising (malignant) otitis externa in 2013, representing a local doubling on previous years. The mean age of patients was 82 years. All cultures grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa; no isolates were antibiotic resistant. All patients responded to systemic anti-pseudomonals on clinical, biochemical and radiological parameters. Hospital Episodes Statistics data showed a six-fold increase in the number of cases from 1999 (n = 67) to 2013 (n = 421).Conclusion:Our experience suggests increasing necrotising (malignant) otitis externa incidence, and retrospective analysis of Hospital Episodes Statistics data supports this observation. Necrotising (malignant) otitis externa poses challenges in management, as exemplified in our cases, requiring a high index of suspicion and early aggressive treatment to achieve cure.
Débrouillardise: certifying ‘conflict-free’ minerals in a context of regulatory pluralism in South Kivu, DR Congo
Authors: Müller-Koné Marie 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis article explores the relationship between transnational governance initiatives for ‘conflict-free’ certification in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the regulatory pluralism one finds on the ground. Efforts in certifying artisanal gold mining are scrutinised by analysing how three different gold mining sites in the DRC's South Kivu province are governed. Most artisanal mining in the DRC is usually referred to as ‘informal’ – a term associated with non-state actors. Instead, the article introduces the idea of a mode of governing that follows the principle of ‘débrouillardise’, which combines different rule systems and state and non-state regulators. It argues that ‘conflict-free’ governance will need to improvise viaad hocagreements on the legal status of mining sites among state authorities, economic actors and international monitors. The act of declaring mining sites legal will provide for the semblance of a ‘conflict-free’ status and a unitary state system of rule, while in practice, the plurality of regulatory authority will not be reversed.
Translocation of problem predators: is it an effective way to mitigate conflict between farmers and cheetahsAcinonyx jubatusin Botswana?
Authors: Boast Lorraine K. , Good Kyle , Klein Rebecca 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe translocation of predators believed to be preying on livestock is often perceived as a more humane and desirable method of removal than lethal control. However, the survival of translocated predators and the effectiveness of translocation in reducing conflict at the removal site are often not documented. We assessed farmers’ perceptions of the efficacy of translocation at reducing livestock and game-stock losses in Botswana, and determined the post-release survival of translocated cheetahsAcinonyx jubatus, the most threatened large felid in Africa. Eighteen percent of translocated cheetahs survived 1 year (n = 11). The low survival rate was thought to be related to homing behaviour and wide-ranging movements post release. The majority of farmers who had translocated a problem predator from their farm within the 12 months prior to the study perceived that the translocation was ineffective at reducing stock losses, both in the short (59.1%) and long term (63.6%, n = 22). At least one of the monitored cheetahs continued to predate livestock after release. In light of the low survival, significant financial costs and failure to reduce stock losses, we conclude that the translocation of problem cheetahs in Botswana should no longer be conducted, and that conflict mitigation methods should focus on techniques that promote coexistence of predators and humans.
Continuing mortality of vultures in India associated with illegal veterinary use of diclofenac and a potential threat from nimesulide
Authors: Cuthbert Richard J. , Taggart Mark A. , Saini Mohini , Sharma Anil , Das Asit , Kulkarni Mandar D. , Deori Parag , Ranade Sachin , Shringarpure Rohan N. , Galligan Toby H. , Green Rhys E. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe collapse of South Asia's Gyps vulture populations is attributable to the veterinary use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac. Vultures died after feeding on carcasses of recently-medicated animals. The governments of India, Nepal and Pakistan banned the veterinary use of diclofenac in 2006. We analysed results of 62 necropsies and 48 NSAID assays of liver and/or kidney for vultures of five species found dead in India between 2000 and 2012. Visceral gout and diclofenac were detected in vultures from nine states and three species: Gyps bengalensis, Gyps indicus and Gyps himalayensis. Visceral gout was found in every vulture carcass in which a measurable level of diclofenac was detected. Meloxicam, an NSAID of low toxicity to vultures, was found in two vultures and nimesulide in five vultures. Nimesulide at elevated tissue concentrations was associated with visceral gout in four of these cases, always without diclofenac, suggesting that nimesulide may have similar toxic effects to those of diclofenac. Residues of meloxicam on its own were never associated with visceral gout. The proportion of Gyps vultures found dead in the wild in India with measurable levels of diclofenac in their tissues showed a modest and non-significant decline since the ban on the veterinary use of diclofenac. The prevalence of visceral gout declined less, probably because some cases of visceral gout from 2008 onwards were associated with nimesulide rather than diclofenac. Veterinary use of nimesulide is a potential threat to the recovery of vulture populations.
Robert Mossman, Endurance and the Weddell Sea ice
Authors: Burton Robert , King John C. 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTBefore Shackleton arrived at South Georgia aboard Endurance on 5 November 1914 he was aware that the vessel might meet bad pack-ice in the Weddell Sea. This had been forecast on the basis of climate analysis by Robert Mossman, the meteorologist on the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition (1902–1904), who was currently working at the Argentine Meteorological Office. Mossman was interested in teleconnections linking meteorological and oceanic conditions in widely separated places and had studied the links between the Weddell Sea and South America. Mossman's Antarctic data were mainly records from the Orcadas station in the South Orkneys which had operated continuously from 1903. He found a correlation between extensive pack-ice in the Weddell Sea and plentiful rain in a belt across South America that included Buenos Aires. The experiences of Endurance supported this. Modern studies of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) broadly confirm Mossman's conclusions.
Phi-features reloaded: An event-related potential study on person and number agreement processing
Authors: ZAWISZEWSKI ADAM , SANTESTEBAN MIKEL , LAKA ITZIAR 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTLinguistic analysis claims that verb agreement is composed of distinct phi-features such as person and number, but are these different phi-features processed distinctly or similarly? We used a sentence grammaticality task to explore the electrophysiological responses of Basque speakers when processing subject–verb person and number phi-feature agreement violations. We generated grammatical structures (grammatical control) and ungrammatical structures in which the verb disagreed with the subject in person (person violation), in number (number violation), or in both person and number features (person+number violation). Behavioral data revealed that, overall, participants were faster and more accurate detecting person and person+number violations than violations involving only number. Event-related potential responses revealed a N400–P600 pattern for all violation types. Person and person+number violations elicited larger P600 effects than number violations. These findings reveal different costs related to the processing of person and number phi-feature agreement and indicate that these features are distinct components of agreement computation.
Partisanship and tax competition in the American states
Authors: Davis John C. , Nicholson-Crotty Sean 
Published: May 2015

AbstractExisting research identifies partisan differences in taxing choices made by state governments. Research has also found that, even when controlling for intrastate characteristics such as party, jurisdictions respond to the taxing decisions of their neighbours, particularly when citizens can easily cross-border shop. These studies treat political and competitive factors as independent influences on taxes. We suggest they are more likely to interact in taxing decisions. We argue that the political costs of cross-border shopping are higher for Republicans, and the threat of it should have a greater negative impact on taxes when that party controls major state policy-making institutions. Our analyses of state cigarette taxes between 1980 and 2011 confirm that a higher threat of cross-border shopping has a larger negative impact on taxes under Republican governors. We conclude that, by missing the interaction between partisanship and the threat of fiscal mobility, previous work misestimates key influences on tax competition.
A qualitative study of nursing assistants' awareness of person-centred approaches to dementia care
Authors: HUNTER PAULETTE V. , HADJISTAVROPOULOS THOMAS , KAASALAINEN SHARON 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTRecently, the number of education programmes addressing person-centred approaches to long-term residential dementia care has increased, and nursing assistants (NAs) are often the target audience. The effectiveness of employee education programmes is actively debated, and our objective is to contribute to this discussion by exploring the knowledge NAs acquire through practice. We examined approaches to person-centred care generated during a series of interviews with NAs, and compared these to the content of five frameworks for person-centred dementia care. Our results suggest that although NAs acquire significant knowledge about person-centred dementia care during the course of their work, application of person-centred care strategies varies across NAs. We propose ways of enhancing NA education in order to address gaps in knowledge. We also recommend sustained attention to organisational factors that contribute to variability in practice.
Optimization of laser acceleration of protons from mixed structure nanotarget
Authors: Mirzanejhad Saeed , Sohbatzadeh Farshad , Joulaei Atefeh , Babaei Javad , Shahabei Khadijeh 
Published: May 2015

AbstractIn this study, ion acceleration from thin planar diamond-like carbon (DLC) and polystyrene (PS) foils irradiated by ultraintense (a0 = 200) and ultrashort (15 fs) laser pulses is investigated numerically. The effects of target composition and thickness on the acceleration of protons and carbon ions are reported by 1D3V particle-in-cell simulation code and compared with the analytical models of ion acceleration. In the analytical formalism, the acceleration criterion of ions with different charge-to-mass ratio (q/m) is obtained. This criterion is related to the potential difference through the electrostatic shock distortion and its velocity. According to this result, charged particles with large q/m ratio have a good chance to accelerate in front of the electrostatic shock field. It is shown that mono-energetic proton bunch with energies >1.5 GeV is produced by 20 nm DLC foil supported by 10 nm hydrogen layer. Finally nanometer PS foil is examined and 2.33 Gev protons with ~1.5% energy spread are obtained for 50 nm thickness.
EQUALITY VERSUS PRIORITY: HOW RELEVANT IS THE DISTINCTION?
Authors: Fleurbaey Marc 
Published: May 2015

Abstract:This paper questions the distinction between egalitarianism and prioritarianism, arguing that it is important to separate the reasons for particular social preferences from the contents of these preferences, that it is possible to like equality and separability simultaneously, and that some egalitarians and prioritarians may therefore share the same social preferences (though for different reasons). The case of risky prospects, for which Broome has proposed an interesting example meant to show that egalitarians and prioritarians cannot share the same preferences, is scrutinized. The levelling down objection is also examined.
EVIDENCE INFORMED DECISION MAKING: THE USE OF “COLLOQUIAL EVIDENCE” AT NICE
Authors: Sharma Tarang , Choudhury Moni , Kaur Bindweep , Naidoo Bhash , Garner Sarah , Littlejohns Peter , Staniszewska Sophie 
Published: May 2015

Objectives:Colloquial evidence (CE) has been described as the informal evidence that helps provide context to other forms of evidence in guidance development. Despite challenges around quality, and the potential biases, the use of CE is becoming increasingly important in assessments where scientific literature is sparse and to also capture the experience of all stakeholders in discussions, including that of experts and patients. We aimed to ascertain how CE was being used at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).Methods:Relevant data corresponding to the use of CE was extracted from all NICE technical and process manuals by two reviewers and quality assured and analyzed by a third reviewer. This was considered in light of the results of a focused literature review and a combined checklist for quality assessment was developed.Results:At NICE, CE is utilised across all guidance producing programmes and at all stages of development. CE could range from information from experts and patient/carers, grey literature (including evidence from websites and policy reports) and testimony from stakeholders through consultation. Six tools for critical appraisal of CE were available from the literature and a combined best practice checklist has been proposed.Conclusions:As decisions often need to be made in areas where there is a lack of published scientific evidence, CE is employed. Therefore to ensure its appropriateness the development of a validated CE data quality check-list to assist decision makers is essential and further research in this area is a priority.
SOCIO-ETHICAL ISSUES IN PERSONALIZED MEDICINE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS OF GENE EXPRESSION PROFILING TESTS FOR BREAST CANCER PROGNOSIS
Authors: Ali-Khan Sarah E. , Black Lee , Palmour Nicole , Hallett Michael T. , Avard Denise 
Published: May 2015

Objectives: There have been multiple calls for explicit integration of ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) in health technology assessment (HTA) and addressing ELSI has been highlighted as key in optimizing benefits in the Omics/Personalized Medicine field. This study examines HTAs of an early clinical example of Personalized Medicine (gene expression profile tests [GEP] for breast cancer prognosis) aiming to: (i) identify ELSI; (ii) assess whether ELSIs are implicitly or explicitly addressed; and (iii) report methodology used for ELSI integration.Methods: A systematic search for HTAs (January 2004 to September 2012), followed by descriptive and qualitative content analysis.Results: Seventeen HTAs for GEP were retrieved. Only three (18%) explicitly presented ELSI, and only one reported methodology. However, all of the HTAs included implicit ELSI. Eight themes of implicit and explicit ELSI were identified. “Classical” ELSI including privacy, informed consent, and concerns about limited patient/clinician genetic literacy were always presented explicitly. Some ELSI, including the need to understand how individual patients’ risk tolerances affect clinical decision-making after reception of GEP results, were presented both explicitly and implicitly in HTAs. Others, such as concern about evidentiary deficiencies for clinical utility of GEP tests, occurred only implicitly.Conclusions: Despite a wide variety of important ELSI raised, these were rarely explicitly addressed in HTAs. Explicit treatment would increase their accessibility to decision-makers, and may augment HTA efficiency maximizing their utility. This is particularly important where complex Personalized Medicine applications are rapidly expanding choices for patients, clinicians and healthcare systems.
Clostridium difficile in Crete, Greece: epidemiology, microbiology and clinical disease
Authors: SAMONIS G. , VARDAKAS K. Z. , TANSARLI G. S. , DIMOPOULOU D. , PAPADIMITRIOU G. , KOFTERIDIS D. P. , MARAKI S. , KARANIKA M. , FALAGAS M. E. 
Published: May 2015

SUMMARYWe studied the epidemiology and microbiology of Clostridium difficile and the characteristics of patients with C. difficile infection (CDI) in Crete in three groups of hospitalized patients with diarrhoea: group 1 [positive culture and positive toxin by enzyme immunoassay (EIA)]; group 2 (positive culture, negative toxin); group 3 (negative culture, negative toxin). Patients in group 1 were designated as those with definitive CDI (20 patients for whom data was available) and matched with cases in group 2 (40 patients) and group 3 (40 patients). C. difficile grew from 6% (263/4379) of stool specimens; 14·4% of these had positive EIA, of which 3% were resistant to metronidazole. Three isolates had decreased vancomycin susceptibility. Patients in groups 1 and 2 received more antibiotics (P = 0·03) and had more infectious episodes (P = 0·03) than patients in group 3 prior to diarrhoea. Antibiotic administration for C. difficile did not differ between groups 1 and 2. Mortality was similar in all three groups (10%, 12·5% and 5%, P = 0·49). CDI frequency was low in the University Hospital of Crete and isolates were susceptible to metronidazole and vancomycin.