bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving access to supportive cancer care through an eHealth application: a qualitative needs assessment among cancer survivors
Authors: Lubberding Sanne , van Uden‐Kraan Cornelia F , Te Velde Elisabeth A , Cuijpers Pim , Leemans C René , Verdonck‐de Leeuw Irma M 
Published: February 2015

Aims and objectivesTo gain insight into cancer survivors' needs towards an eHealth application monitoring quality of life and targeting personalised access to supportive care.BackgroundSupportive care in cancer addresses survivors' concerns and needs. However, many survivors are not taking advantage of supportive care provided. To enable cancer survivors to benefit, survivors' needs must be identified timely and effectively. An eHealth application could be a solution to meet patients' individual supportive care needs.DesignA qualitative approach.MethodsThirty cancer survivors (15 head and neck and 15 breast cancer survivors) participated. The majority were female (n = 20·67%). The mean age was 60 (SD 8·8) years. Mean time interval since treatment was 13·5 months (SD 10·5). All interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. During the interviews, participants were asked about their unmet needs during follow‐up care and a potential eHealth application. Data were analyzed independently by two coders and coded into key issues and themes.ResultsCancer survivors commented that they felt unprepared for the post‐treatment period and that their symptoms often remained unknown to care providers. Survivors also mentioned a suboptimal referral pattern to supportive care services. Mentioned advantages of an eHealth application were as follows: insight into the course of symptoms by monitoring, availability of information among follow‐up appointments, receiving personalised advice and tailored supportive care.ConclusionsCancer survivors identified several unmet needs during follow‐up care. Most survivors were positive towards the proposed eHealth application and expressed that it could be a valuable addition to follow‐up cancer care.Relevance to clinical practiceStudy results provide care providers with insight into barriers that impede survivors from obtaining optimal supportive care. This study also provides insight into the characteristics needed to design, build and implement an eHealth application targeting personalised access to supportive care from the survivors' perspective. Future studies should address the viewpoints of care providers, and investigate the usability of the eHealth application prototype to facilitate implementation.
Impact of Apolipoprotein E4 Polymorphism on the Gray Matter Volume and the White Matter Integrity in Subjective Memory Impairment without White Matter Hyperintensities: Voxel‐Based Morphometry and Tract‐Based Spatial Statistics Study under 3‐Tesla MRI
Authors: Lee Young‐Min , Ha Ji‐Kyung , Park Je‐Min , Lee Byung‐Dae , Moon EunSoo , Chung Young‐In , Kim Ji‐Hoon , Kim Hak‐Jin , Mun Chi‐Woong , Kim Tae‐Hyung , Kim Young‐Hoon 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to compare gray matter (GM) volume and white matter (WM) integrity in Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE ε4) carriers with that of ApoE ε4 noncarriers using the voxel‐based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate the effect of the ApoE ε4 on brain structures in subjective memory impairment (SMI) without white matter hyperintensities (WMH).METHODSAltogether, 26 participants with SMI without WMH were finally recruited from the Memory impairment clinics of Pusan National University Hospital in Korea. All participants were ApoE genotyped (ApoE ε4 carriers: n = 13, matched ApoE ε4 noncarriers: n = 13) and underwent 3‐tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including 3‐dimensional volumetric images for GM volume and DTI for WM integrity.RESULTSApoE ε4 carriers compared with noncarriers in SMI without WMH showed the atrophy of GM in inferior temporal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, anterior cingulum, middle frontal gyrus, and precentral gyrus and significantly lower fractional anisotropy WM values in the splenium of corpus callosum and anterior corona radiate.CONCLUSIONOur findings suggest that the ApoE ε4 is associated with both atrophy of GM volume and disruption of WM integrity in SMI without WMH.
Middle Cerebral Artery Residual Contrast Stagnation on Noncontrast CT Scan Following Endovascular Treatment in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients
Authors: Payabvash Seyedmehdi , Qureshi Mushtaq H. , Taleb Shayandokht , Pawar Swaroop , Qureshi Adnan I. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEWe evaluated the relationship between middle cerebral artery (MCA) residual contrast stagnation on immediate postprocedural noncontrast CT scan and intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) after endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke patients.METHODSThe clinical and imaging data from patients with acute unilateral MCA M1 occlusion who underwent endovascular treatment over a 3.5‐year period were reviewed. Bilateral M1 segments were selected on the first postangiography CT scan, and average attenuation was determined in Hounsfield units (HU); the difference between average HU values was calculated. Postprocedural CT scans were also evaluated for presence of IPH, defined as hyperdensity persisting on follow‐up CT scans obtained >24‐hours postprocedure.RESULTSOf 80 patients included in our series; 10/80 developed IPH on immediate postprocedural CT scan. Patients with IPH had a higher (ipsilateral‐contralateral) M1 residual attenuation difference (P < .001). An average ipsilateral M1 attenuation which was ≥5 HU greater than contralateral artery had a 3.8 times increase in relative risk of IPH (95% confidence interval: 2‐7.1).CONCLUSIONOn immediate postprocedural noncontrast CT scan of stroke patients with acute MCA M1 occlusion after endovascular treatment, higher residual contrast stagnation in the affected MCA, compared to contralateral artery, is associated with an increased risk of IPH.
Noninvasive Qureshi Grading Scheme Predicts 90‐Day mRS in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Shin Dong‐Ick , Lee Hyung‐Suk , Baek Shin‐Hye , Lee Sang‐Soo , Lee Sung Hyun , Saver Jeffrey L. , Liebeskind David S. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDThe Qureshi grading scheme is an effective classification system for evaluating the severity of acute arterial occlusion. However, this scheme is of limited utility because it is based on invasive angiography. In this study, we assessed whether a relationship between a noninvasive Qureshi score, based on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or computed tomography angiography (CTA), and 90‐day functional outcome could be observed in patients with acute ischemic stroke.METHODSA stroke neurologist evaluated all patients with acute ischemic stroke who presented to the emergency room within 12 hour of symptom onset. Two neurologists independently assessed the noninvasive Qureshi score from initial MRA or CTA. We assessed the relationship between the noninvasive Qureshi grading scheme and clinical outcome on day 90.RESULTSOf a total 125 patients, 75 underwent MRA and 50 underwent CTA. Interobserver reliability showed good agreement (κ = .62). The noninvasive Qureshi score for MRA or CTA and that for CTA alone were directly associated with a good 90‐day functional outcome (odds ratio, .672; P = .016 and odds ratio, .511; P = .042).CONCLUSIONSThe noninvasive Qureshi scheme using MRA or CTA provides meaningful information about long‐term functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Bioprospecting of Saprobe Fungi from the Semi‐Arid North‐East of Brazil for the Control of Anthracnose on Sorghum
Authors: Resende Renata Sousa , Milagres Cristiane Aparecida , Rezende Danielle , Aucique‐Perez Carlos Eduardo , Rodrigues Fabrício Ávila 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAnthracnose, caused by the hemiotrophic fungus Colletotrichum sublineolum, is one of the most important diseases affecting sorghum production worldwide. The main goal of this study was to select saprobe fungi from the semi‐arid north‐east of Brazil that could increase sorghum resistance to anthracnose and investigate this increased resistance at both physiological and biochemical levels. Plants were sprayed with Curvularia inaequalis, Gonytrichum macroladum, Memnoniella levispora, Pithomyces chartarum, Periconia hispidula, Phaeoisaria clematidia, Dictyochaeta heteroderae, Sarcopodium circinatum, Periconia byssoides, Moorella speciosa, Stachybotrys chartarum, Pseudobotrytis terrestres, Memnoniella echinata, Stachybotrys globosa and Gonytrichum clamydosporium 24 h before inoculation with C. sublineolum. Plants sprayed with water served as the control treatment. The area under the anthracnose progress curve was significantly reduced in comparison with the control treatment only for plants sprayed with C. inaequalis. Therefore, C. inaequalis was selected for physiological and biochemical evaluations. The peroxidases, chitinases and β‐1,3‐glucanases activities were significantly higher for plants sprayed with C. inaequalis and inoculated with C. sublineolum than for plants not sprayed with C. inaequalis and inoculated with C. sublineolum. There was no apparent decrease in the values of net carbon assimilation rate, stomatal conductance to water vapour or transpiration rate for plants sprayed with C. inaequalis and infected by C. sublineolum in comparison with plants not sprayed with C. inaequalis and infected by C. sublineolum. In conclusion, sorghum resistance against C. sublineolum infection was greatly potentiated by C. inaequalis without any apparent change in the photosynthetic capacity of the infected plants.
Chikusetsu saponin IVa regulates glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation: implications in antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects
Authors: Li Yuwen , Zhang Tiejun , Cui Jia , Jia Na , Wu Yin , Xi Miaomiao , Wen Aidong 
Published: February 2015

Abstract

Objectives
The aim of this study is to investigate antidiabetic effects and molecular mechanisms of the chemical Chikusetsu saponin IVa (CHS) that isolated from root bark of Aralia taibaiensis, which has multiple pharmacological activity, such as relieving rheumatism, promoting blood circulation to arrest pain and antidiabetic action.

Methods
Rats with streptozotocin/nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin-resistant myocytes were used. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase were quantified by immunoblotting. Assays of glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1) activity were performed.

Key findings
Chronic oral administration of CHS effectively decreases blood glucose, triglyceride, free fatty acid (FFA) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in T2DM rats. In both normal and insulin-resistant C2C12 myocytes, CHS activates AMPK, and increases glucose uptake or fatty acid oxidation through enhancing membrane translocation of GLUT4 or CPT-1 activity respectively. Knockdown of AMPK significantly diminishes the effects of CHS on glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation.

Conclusions
CHS is a novel AMPK activator that is capable of bypassing defective insulin signalling and could be useful for the treatment of T2DM or other metabolic disorders.
Degradation parameters of amaranth, barley and quinoa in alpacas fed grass hay
Authors: Nilsen B. , Johnston N. P. , Stevens N. , Robinson T. F. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryThis study was conducted to determine the compartment 1 (C1) characteristics of alpacas (fistulated male, 7 ± 1.5 years old, 61 ± 5 kg BW) fed grass hay (GH) supplemented with amaranth (AM), quinoa (Q) and barley (B) grains. Alpacas were provided water ad libitum while housed in metabolism crates. The GH and GH plus treatments were fed at 0700 every day. Treatment periods were for 14 days in which GH or GH plus one of the grain treatments were randomly allocated. On day 14, volatile fatty acids (VFA), pH and ammonia nitrogen (NH3‐N) were determined at 1, 3, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 24 h post‐feeding. C1 degradation of each feed component was also determined with the alpacas being fed GH only and the samples incubated for 0, 2, 4, 8, 14, 24, 48 and 72 h. Dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and crude protein (CP) were determined and were divided into three categories: a = immediately soluble; b = the non‐soluble but degradable; and u = non‐degradable/unavailable, potential extent of degradation (PE), degradation rate (c) and effective degradation (ED). C1 passage rate was determined using acid detergent insoluble ash as a marker and was calculated to be 5.5%∙h‐1. Total DM intake was highest (p < 0.05) for B and resulted in a higher (p < 0.05) CP intake. GH and AM were different in mean pH (6.81 and 6.66, respectively). B NH3‐N was greater (p < 0.05) than the other treatments. Total VFA was greatest (p < 0.05) for AM, with the greatest composition differences being a shift form acetate percentage to butyrate. DM, NDF and CP degradation was different across the treatments, where PE and ED were higher (p < 0.05) for the grain treatments. The pseudo‐grains AM and Q had similar C1 degradation characteristics to B.
Feeding obese dogs during weight loss is on average cost‐neutral
Authors: German A. J. , Luxmore J. , Holden S. L. , Morris P. J. , Biourge V. 
Published: February 2015

OBJECTIVESThe cost of feeding a purpose‐formulated weight loss diet may deter owners of obese dogs from proceeding with a weight loss programme. The current study aimed to compare average food costs during weight loss with those before weight loss.MATERIALS AND METHODSAverage daily food costs, for before and during weight loss, were calculated in 22 obese dogs that had successfully completed weight management.RESULTSThe median food cost before weight loss was £0 · 52/day (£0 · 24–3 · 31/day), for main meal only, and £0 · 64/day (£0 · 26–3 · 31/day) for main meal and additional food (table scraps and treats). The median food cost during weight loss was £0 · 90/day (£0 · 26–1 · 36/day), and no additional food was given. The average daily feeding costs during weight loss did not differ from pre‐weight‐loss costs, either with (P = 0 · 425) or without (P = 0 · 222) the additional food included.CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEKnowledge that average diet costs do not significantly differ from food costs prior to weight loss may help veterinarians to persuade owners to enrol obese dogs in a weight management programme.
Cushion plants can have a positive effect on diversity at high elevations in the Himalayan Hengduan Mountains
Authors: Chen Jianguo , Schöb Christian , Zhou Zhuo , Gong Qiangbang , Li Xinhui , Yang Yang , Li Zhimin , Sun Hang 
Published: February 2015

AbstractQuestionsWhat is the community‐level consequence of biotic processes, in particular the importance of facilitation, in determining patterns of diversity in alpine plant communities of the Himalayan Hengduan Mountains? Does facilitation intensity change with environmental severity, and are these changes due to environmental severity or nurse trait effects?LocationEleven alpine plant communities dominated by cushion plants in the Himalayan Hengduan Mountains, within the mountain system of south‐central China.MethodsWe determined plant species richness and abundance in habitats created by cushions and cushion‐free areas, and assessed the cushion effects on species richness and abundance with rarefaction curves and the relative interaction index, respectively. We examined the relationship between cushion effects on diversity and habitat severity and tested if changes in the net cushion effects along the severity gradient were due to a change in the performance of species without cushions (environmental severity effect) and/or with cushions (nurse trait‐mediated effect).ResultsThe presence of cushion plants increased species richness and abundance in most studied plant communities. The net facilitation effect of cushions increased with increasing habitat severity, an effect that could be attributed mainly to a reduction in species richness in cushion‐free areas with increasing severity. However, the changes in magnitude of facilitation of particular cushion species growing in high and low severity habitats could be attributed to both environmental severity and neighbour trait effects. Despite the overall positive effect of cushion plants on plant species richness, not all cushion species contributed to higher species richness. The deviation of individual cushion species from the general pattern of increasing facilitation with increasing severity indicated the species specificity of facilitation depends on the traits of nurse species.ConclusionThe presence of cushion plants generally increased species richness in alpine plant communities of the Himalayan Hengduan Mountains, with the importance of the cushion effect increasing with habitat severity due to a buffering effect by cushions of the negative effect of habitat severity on species richness observed in cushion‐free areas. This indicates the pivotal role of facilitative interactions among plant species in supporting high diversity in these severe environments.
Does body size predict foraging effort? Patterns of material investment in spider orb webs
Authors: Gregorič M. , Kuntner M. , Blackledge T. A. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBody size affects almost all aspects of animals' resource use, and its scaling syntheses are well established in most biological fields. In contrast, how behavioral variation scales with body size is understudied. Understanding how body size influences behavior is important as behavior responds more readily to natural selection than many other traits, and foraging effort is a critical behavioral trait. Web spiders are good models for studying foraging effort because webs are physical records of behaviors. Variability in web architectures is well documented, but how spider size scales with foraging effort and web performance is virtually unknown. Here, we investigate behavioral allometry at three phylogenetic scales – broadly across orb‐weaving spiders, among a recent radiation of species, and among individuals within species. Conducting a meta‐analysis across a wide range of orb weavers, we investigate how foraging effort scales with body size by measuring effort as the volumes of the three silk gland secretions used for building orb webs. We show that volumes of web material scale negatively allometrically with body size, and suggest silk investment is an important limiting factor in evolution of web performance and body size. To assess whether such broad evolutionary trends exist at finer phylogenetic scales, we investigated how foraging effort scales with body size in a group of five closely related Zygiella s.l. species (Araneidae). We find that the general scaling pattern across orb weavers is only partially confirmed. Finally, we examine patterns among individuals within each of the Zygiella species. We find different patterns of silk use in relation to body size, and show that both web architecture and silk investment need to be quantified to estimate total foraging effort. In conclusion, we find support for the prediction that behavioral traits scale differently to body size at different phylogenetic scales and at the individual level.
Macroeconomic Effects of Public‐Sector Unions
Authors: Vasilev Aleksandar 
Published: February 2015

AbstractMotivated by the highly unionized public sectors, the high public shares in total employment, and the public‐sector wage premia observed in Europe, this paper examines the importance of public‐sector unions for macroeconomic theory. The model generates cyclical behavior in hours and wages that is consistent with data behavior in an economy with highly unionized public sector, namely Germany during the period 1970–2007. The union model is an improvement over a model with exogenous public employment. In addition, endogenously determined public wage and hours add to the distortionary effect of contractionary tax reforms by generating greater tax rate changes, thus producing higher welfare losses.
Sexual reproduction and early life‐history traits of the Mediterranean soft coral Alcyonium acaule
Authors: Teixidó Núria , Bensoussan Nathaniel , Gori Andrea , Fiorillo Ida , Viladrich Núria 
Published: February 2015

AbstractUnderstanding processes that contribute to a better comprehension of the population dynamics of long‐lived species is critical for the maintenance and potential recovery of such species. Despite the abundance of soft corals in Mediterranean rocky reefs, little information exists on their life histories and reproductive patterns. In this study, we assessed the main reproductive characteristics and early life‐history traits of the long‐lived soft coral Alcyonium acaule. The sex ratio was 1:1; the smallest fertile colonies were one finger in size (2.1 ± 0.6 cm in height), and both colony and polyp fertility increased with colony size. Likewise, the number of eggs and spermary sacs per polyp increased significantly with colony size, whereas the diameter of the female and male sexual products did not. Over 6 years of observations (2007–2012), spawning occurred primarily in July, after the seawater reached 20 °C, in a single spawning episode per year. Approximately 80% of female colonies released eggs, which were retained on the surface of the mother colony by mucous strings for up to a few days. High fertilization rates were observed during spawning in 2008 and 2009 (94.9% and 87.0%, respectively). The timing of development was ~24 h for the blastulae, ~48–72 h for the planulae and 8–22 days for metamorphosis into primary polyps. Survivorship of planulae was relatively high (~50% at 45 days after release), but only 24% of larvae metamorphosed into primary polyps, and their survivorship was moderate after 2 months (65% in 2008 and 74% in 2009). Asexual reproduction was negligible, indicating that sexual reproduction is the main mechanism supporting the maintenance and recovery of populations.
Fe and O isotope composition of meteorite fusion crusts: Possible natural analogues to chondrule formation?
Authors: Hezel Dominik C. , Poole Graeme M. , Hoyes Jack , Coles Barry J. , Unsworth Catherine , Albrecht Nina , Smith Caroline , Rehkämper Mark , Pack Andreas , Genge Matthew , Russell Sara S. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractMeteorite fusion crust formation is a brief event in a high‐temperature (2000–12,000 K) and high‐pressure (2–5 MPa) regime. We studied fusion crusts and bulk samples of 10 ordinary chondrite falls and 10 ordinary chondrite finds. The fusion crusts show a typical layering and most contain vesicles. All fusion crusts are enriched in heavy Fe isotopes, with δ56Fe values up to +0.35‰ relative to the solar system mean. On average, the δ56Fe of fusion crusts from finds is +0.23‰, which is 0.08‰ higher than the average from falls (+0.15‰). Higher δ56Fe in fusion crusts of finds correlate with bulk chondrite enrichments in mobile elements such as Ba and Sr. The δ56Fe signature of meteorite fusion crusts was produced by two processes (1) evaporation during atmospheric entry and (2) terrestrial weathering. Fusion crusts have either the same or higher δ18O (0.9–1.5‰) than their host chondrites, and the same is true for Δ17O. The differences in bulk chondrite and fusion crust oxygen isotope composition are explained by exchange of oxygen between the molten surface of the meteorites with the atmosphere and weathering. Meteorite fusion crust formation is qualitatively similar to conditions of chondrule formation. Therefore, fusion crusts may, at least to some extent, serve as a natural analogue to chondrule formation processes. Meteorite fusion crust and chondrules exhibit a similar extent of Fe isotope fractionation, supporting the idea that the Fe isotope signature of chondrules was established in a high‐pressure environment that prevented large isotope fractionations. The exchange of O between a chondrule melt and an 16O‐poor nebula as the cause for the observed nonmass dependent O isotope compositions in chondrules is supported by the same process, although to a much lower extent, in meteorite fusion crusts.