bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Invasive cane toad triggers chronic physiological stress and decreased reproductive success in an island endemic
Authors: Narayan Edward J. , Jessop Tim S. , Hero Jean‐Marc 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Understanding the mechanisms that afford invasive species their ecological success as important agents of global change is key to addressing their biodiversity impacts. Species invasions that occur on small islands are especially detrimental and suggest that invaders intensify their ecological impacts by exploiting novel ecological functions. However, it remains unknown whether such strong impacts are also a consequence of an invader's indirect effect (e.g. causing physiological stress or reproductive failure) on island species. Therefore, it is valuable to quantify the physiological mechanisms through which invasive species can exert indirect effects on the performance, and ultimately the fitness of island endemics.

In this study, we investigated whether the invasive cane toad (Rhinella marina) caused indirect competitive impacts on the endemic Fijian ground frog (Platymantis vitiana) on the small (60 ha) Viwa Island, Fiji. We used large (4 × 10 000 m2), natural and replicated enclosures to monitor ground frog stress hormone levels, reproductive hormone cycle, body condition, breeding and survival in the presence/absence of the cane toad. We conducted monthly sampling to analyse annual patterns in testosterone for males, estradiol and progesterone for females, corticosterone for both sexes and body condition of ground frogs in replicated enclosures or natural habitats with high/low cane toad densities. We also measured survival and reproductive success of ground frogs in enclosures.

Results showed that in both enclosures and natural habitats with high cane toad densities, ground frogs had a significant reduction in body condition, increased urinary corticosterone metabolites and suppressed sex steroid metabolites. Most importantly, annual field surveys showed significant reduction in ground frog reproductive success (fewer eggs were laid in enclosures with toads present); however, survival was not severely reduced.

Our study clearly demonstrated that on small islands, invasive species may exploit broader ecological roles with strong indirect effects that amplify their impacts beyond those seen on continents. Overall, the effects of cane toad competition had the capacity to strongly reduce ground frog reproductive success. We strongly advocate management actions that either minimize invasion or limit the strength of invasive–native species interactions (e.g. through habitat conservation) to prevent further extinctions on islands.
Estradiol alters the chemosensitive cardiac afferent reflex in female rats by augmenting sympathoinhibition and attenuating sympathoexcitation
Authors: Pinkham Maximilian I , Barrett Carolyn J 
Published: March 2015

SummaryThe chemosensitive cardiac vagal and sympathetic afferent reflexes are implicated in driving pathophysiological changes in sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in cardiovascular disease states. This study investigated the impact of sex and ovarian hormones on the chemosensitive cardiac afferent reflex. Experiments were performed in anaesthetized, sinoaortic baroreceptor denervated male, female and ovariectomized female (OVX) Wistar rats with either intact cardiac innervation or bilateral vagotomy. To investigate the chemosensitive cardiac afferent reflexes renal SNA, heart rate (HR) and arterial pressure (AP) were recorded before and following application of capsaicin onto the epicardial surface of the left ventricle. Compared to males, ovary‐intact females displayed similar cardiac afferent reflex mediated changes in renal SNA albeit with a reduced maximum sympathetic reflex driven increase in renal SNA. In females, ovariectomy significantly attenuated the cardiac vagal afferent reflex mediated inhibition of renal SNA (renal SNA decreased 2 ± 17% in OVX versus −50 ± 4% in ovary‐intact females, P < 0.05) and augmented cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex mediated sympathoexcitation (renal SNA increased 91 ± 11% in OVX vs 62 ± 9% in ovary‐intact females, P < 0.05) so that overall increases in reflex driven sympathoexcitation were significantly enhanced. Chronic estradiol replacement, but not progesterone replacement, begun at time of ovariectomy restored cardiac afferent reflex responses to be similar as ovary‐intact females. Vagal denervation eliminated all group differences. The current findings show ovariectomy in female rats, mimicking menopause in women, results in greater chemosensitive cardiac afferent reflex driven sympathoexcitation and does so, at least partly, via the loss of estradiols actions on the cardiac vagal afferent reflex pathway.
Changes in Volatile Compounds and Some Physicochemical Properties of European Cranberrybush (Viburnum opulus L.) During Ripening Through Traditional Fermentation
Authors: Yilmaztekin Murat , Sislioglu Kubra 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe changes in volatile compounds and some physicochemical properties of European Cranberrybush (Viburnum opulus L.) were investigated during traditional fermentation. Using the principal component analysis (PCA), relations between volatile compounds and fermentation were associated with dynamics of these compounds. In total, 58 volatile compounds were identified, 3‐methylbutanoic acid (25.4% to 66.4% of identified volatile compounds) being the major constituent in raw, 2‐, 3‐, and 4‐mo fermented European Cranberrybush fruits, while 2‐octanone was dominant in 1‐mo fermented sample with a 30% of the total identified volatiles. The amount of total volatile compounds was increased in the 1st month of fermentation and then decreased gradually in the following months. Acids were the dominant volatile compounds in raw and 3‐ to 4‐mo fermented European Cranberrybush. Ketones and alcohols had the highest percentage in total volatile compounds in the 2nd and 3rd months of fermentation, respectively.
The longer term impact of a novel rural mental health recruitment strategy: A quasi‐experimental study
Authors: Sutton Keith P. , Maybery Darryl , Patrick Kent J. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIntroductionThis study examines the longer term impact of the Gippsland Mental Health Vacation School program, an initiative designed to orientate preregistration allied health and nursing students to rural mental health employment and career opportunities.MethodsStudent participants from vacation schools held from July 2010 to August 2013 were invited to complete on‐line surveys prior to, immediately following and 6 months after the event. Participant rating of Interest in rural work, mental health work and rural mental health work and responses to the student attitudes to rural practice and life questionnaire were analyzed using repeated measure analyses of variance.ResultsThere was a large and significant positive increase in pre to post scores for student interest and attitudes to working in and career in the rural mental health sector. These gains in interest and attitudes fell away by approximately 50% in the six months following the program. The changes in attitudes toward rural work remained significant six months after the program, while attitudes to rural life at six months following the program were not‐significantly different to the preprogram scores.ConclusionsThe findings highlight that although a short term program designed to attract students to rural mental health work can positively change participants' interest in and attitudes toward rural work and life, the change diminishes over time. However, interest in rural work and career and rural work attitudes generally maintain significant improvement in the longer term. These differential findings have important implications for developing strategies to overcome rural mental health workforce shortages.
Allergic conjunctivitis: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Leonardi A. , Piliego F. , Castegnaro A. , Lazzarini D. , La Gloria Valerio A. , Mattana P. , Fregona I. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryBackgroundOcular allergy is a common disease in daily practice.ObjectivesA cross‐sectional study was conducted to evaluate clinical aspects of and therapeutic approaches to ocular allergy in Italy.MethodsOf the 3685 patients affected by ocular allergy and enrolled by 304 ophthalmologists nationally, 3545 were eligible to be included in the statistical analysis. A questionnaire was administered in office to record demographic data, comorbidities, trigger factors, number of conjunctivitis episodes, and past treatments. Signs and symptoms were graded according to their severity, frequency, and duration.ResultsMean age of enrolled patients was 38 ± 19 years. Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (55% of patients) was equally distributed among the different age groups, while perennial allergic conjunctivitis (18%) increased with age and vernal keratoconjunctivitis (9%) was more frequent under the age of 18. Itching and redness were reported in 90% and 85%, respectively; lid skin involvement was observed in 22% of cases and keratitis in 11%. Pollen sensitivities were indicated as the most frequent triggers; however, exposure to non‐specific environmental conditions, pollutants, and cigarette smoke was frequently reported. Only 35% of patients underwent a diagnostic evaluation of specific allergic sensitization, with positive allergy tests found in 82% of this subset. With regard to treatment, topical decongestants were used in 43% of patients, corticosteroids in 41%, antihistamines in 29%, systemic antihistamines in 27%, and mast cell stabilizers in 15%.ConclusionThis survey provided useful epidemiological information regarding the clinical characteristics and treatment options of a large cohort of patients affected by different forms of ocular allergy.Clinical relevanceAn understanding of ocular allergic disease, its incidence, demographics, and treatment paradigms provides important information towards understanding its pharmacoeconomics and burden on the national health system.
Cell-penetrable mouse forkhead box protein 3 alleviates experimental arthritis in mice by up-regulating regulatory T cells
Authors: Liu Xia , Ji Baoju , Sun Mengyi , Wu Weijiang , Huang Lili , Sun Aihua , Zong Yangyong , Xia Sheng , Shi Liyun , Qian Hui , Xu Wenrong , Shao Qixiang 
Published: March 2015

Summary
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have potential applications in clinical disease therapy, such as autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection. However, their numbers are limited. Forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) is a key transcription factor that controls Treg development and function. Here, we generated a cell-permeable fusion protein, protein transduction domain (PTD)-conjugated mouse FoxP3 protein (PTD-mFoxP3), and evaluated whether PTD-mFoxp3 can alleviate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. As expected, PTD-mFoxP3 was transduced into cells effectively, and inhibited T cell activation and attenuated the cell proliferation. It decreased interleukin (IL) 2 and interferon (IFN)-γ expression, and increased IL-10 expression in activated CD4+CD25− T cells. PTD-mFoxP3-transduced CD4+CD25− T cells attenuated proliferation of activated CD4+CD25− T cells. In addition, PTD-mFoxP3 blocked the Th17 differentiation programme in vitro and down-regulated IL-17 production from T cells by modulating induction and levels of retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt). Intra-articular delivery of PTD-mFoxP3 delayed disease incidence remarkably and alleviated autoimmune symptoms of CIA mice. Moreover, protective effects of PTD-mFoxP3 were associated with regulating the balance of T helper type 17 (Th17) and Tregs. These results suggest that PTD-mFoxP3 may be a candidate for RA therapy.
Fast Rendering of Image Mosaics and ASCII Art
Authors: Markuš Nenad , Fratarcangeli Marco , Pandžić Igor S. , Ahlberg Jörgen 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAn image mosaic is an assembly of a large number of small images, usually called tiles, taken from a specific dictionary/codebook. When viewed as a whole, the appearance of a single large image emerges, i.e. each tile approximates a small block of pixels. ASCII art is a related (and older) graphic design technique for producing images from printable characters. Although automatic procedures for both of these visualization schemes have been studied in the past, some are computationally heavy and cannot offer real‐time and interactive performance. We propose an algorithm able to reproduce the quality of existing non‐photorealistic rendering techniques, in particular ASCII art and image mosaics, obtaining large performance speed‐ups. The basic idea is to partition the input image into a rectangular grid and use a decision tree to assign a tile from a pre‐determined codebook to each cell. Our implementation can process video streams from webcams in real time and it is suitable for modestly equipped devices. We evaluate our technique by generating the renderings of a variety of images and videos, with good results. The source code of our engine is publicly available.
Investigation of a Novel PLGA/CaP Scaffold in the Healing of Tooth Extraction Sockets to Alveolar Bone Preservation in Humans
Authors: Araujo‐Pires Ana Claudia , Mendes Vanessa Cristina , Ferreira‐Junior Osny , Carvalho Paulo Sérgio Perri , Guan Limin , Davies John Edward 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBackgroundIt is expected that 40% to 60% of initial alveolar bone volume will be lost up to 6 months after tooth extraction. OsteoScafTM (TRT, Toronto, ON, Canada) (poly (DL‐lactide‐co‐glycololide/calcium phosphate [PLGA/CaP] scaffold) is a novel bone substitute material and represents a promising alternative for maintaining alveolar bone integrity in this clinical scenario.PurposeHere it was hypothesized that OsteoScaf would reduce alveolar bone lost after tooth extraction in patient, acting as a clot‐retention device.Material and MethodsA total of 10 patients (32 sockets) were included in the study, of which 16 sockets were grafted with OsteoScaf and 16 were used as control (coagulum alone). Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed both immediately following extraction and also at 120 days postoperatively, at which time biopsy samples were also harvested for histological analyses.ResultsQuantitative analysis of CBCT showed less bone resorption in the OsteoScaf groups, being 10.5% to 14.4% less bone lost in the center of the socket, 15.4% in the buccal region, and 12.6% in the palatal. Qualitative histological analysis showed new bone tissue in direct apposition to the scaffold – demonstrating its osteoconductive nature.ConclusionOsteoScaf diminished the expected bone lost during the postextraction remodeling of the alveolar bone ridge at 120 days postextraction.
Providing an extended use of an otological‐specific outcome instrument to derive cost‐effectiveness estimates of treatment
Authors: Frew E.J. , Harrison M. , Rossello Roig M. , Martin T.P.C. 
Published: March 2015

ObjectivesAlthough quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) are increasingly being used by decision‐makers to make comparisons of cost‐effectiveness, there are no otological‐specific outcome measures that fit within this QALY framework. This study had two main objectives. The first was to provide a means to derive QALYs from a condition‐specific otological instrument (Cambridge Otology Quality of Life, COQOL), and the second was to assess the convergent validity, or degree of correlation, between the COQOL and SF‐6D, an established QALY instrument.DesignLongitudinal cohort study designed to assess the convergent validity between SF‐6D and COQOL and to generate a mapping function to enable SF‐6D values to be predicted from the COQOL responses.SettingCambridge University Hospital, UK.ParticipantsA total of 207 patients attending a routine outpatient general otology clinic.Main outcome measuresSF‐6D and the COQOL instrument completed at baseline and again 3 months later.ResultsConvergent validity was demonstrated with mean SF‐6D values decreasing linearly with increasing severity on the COQOL instrument. Overall, the correlation between the COQOL scores and the SF‐6D values was moderate and statistically significant (r = 0.490, P = <0.001). A simple mapping model based on an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression function predicted SF‐6D values from the COQOL data with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Further validation using the follow‐up 3‐month data confirmed the prediction power of this mapping model.ConclusionsThis study provides a method for estimating QALYs from condition‐specific COQOL data and provides the opportunity for the cost‐effectiveness of otological treatment to be measured and placed within the national QALY framework.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone contact allergy: an occupational perspective
Authors: Urwin Rachel , Warburton Katharine , Carder Melanie , Turner Susan , Agius Raymond , Wilkinson S Mark 
Published: March 2015

SummaryBackgroundSensitivity to either methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)/methylisothiazolinone (MI) or MI has increased, with a reported frequency of up to 11.1% among dermatitis patients, the main context being allergic contact dermatitis caused by MCI or MCI/MI in personal care products. Case reports have described occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by MI in paints and within the beauty industry.Patients/materials/methodsThis study identified incident cases of occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by MCI/MI and or MI reported from 1996 to 2012 to a UK‐wide surveillance scheme (EPIDERM), with the aim of identifying changes in incidence over the study period.ResultsThe data show an increase in occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by MCI/MI and or MI from 1996 to 2012 of 4.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–6.9] per annum. Analysis by industry showed a 3.8% (95% CI: −0.3 to 8.0) per annum increase in those exposed to personal care products in the workplace as a primary exposure [healthcare workers, 8.1% (95% CI: 2.1–14.4) per annum; beauty workers, 6.6% (95% CI: −2.2 to 16.2) per annum; hairdressers, 1.5% (95% CI: −4.7 to 8.1) per annum]. There was a 6.3% (95% CI: 1.8–10.9) per annum increase for manufacturing workers. A statistically significant rise in the frequency of occupational allergic contact dermatitis was shown to be attributable to MCI/MI and or MI between 1996 and 2012.ConclusionThe findings support recommendations for a review of the regulations relating to MCI/MI and/or MI in cosmetic and personal care products and in industrial settings.
Spatial Spillovers from Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta in China
Authors: Tanaka Kiyoyasu , Hashiguchi Yoshihiro 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis paper examines the spatial externality from foreign direct investment on domestic firms. Using Chinese firm‐level data for 2004, and after accounting for an endogeneity problem, we find that foreign firms generate a significantly positive spillover effect on the regional productivity of domestic firms in similar counties and industries. Estimating a spatial‐autoregressive model, we further show that such local spillovers could transmit to domestic firms in other counties and industries through interactions among domestic firms. However, these spatial multiplier effects decline with distance, thereby reducing the foreign direct investment spillover effects for domestic firms in distant locations.
Health Status and Earnings of Migrant Workers from Rural China
Authors: Qin Lijian , Chen Chien‐Ping , Liu Xun , Wang Chenggang , Jiang Zhongyi 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe migration of rural laborers into cities for employment has been one of the main driving forces of China's economic growth over the past three decades. Based on a dataset collected by the Ministry of Agriculture of China from 2003 to 2007, this paper examines the impact of health on the earnings of migrant workers engaging in physically‐intensive work requiring good health. Our findings indicate that a poor health status not only weakens the incentive of rural laborers to participate in the migrant labor force but also significantly reduces their earnings. A migrant worker in poor health only earns 67 percent of what a healthy worker makes. Among all the human capital characteristics and family economic factors, health status is the most influential on earnings for less educated workers. Labor productivity has a greater impact on earnings than the annual number of days that a person works. Ongoing health‐care reforms aimed at the improvement of the health‐care services available to rural laborers are urged to help reduce poverty in rural China.
Impact of Childcare and Eldercare on Off‐farm Activities in Rural China
Authors: Qiao Fangbin , Rozelle Scott , Zhang Linxiu , Yao Yi , Zhang Jian 
Published: March 2015

AbstractUsing individual data collected in rural China and adopting Heckman's two‐step function, we examined the impact of childcare and eldercare on laborers' off‐farm activities. Our study finds that having school‐aged children has a negative impact on rural laborers' migration decisions and a positive impact on their decision to work in the local off‐farm employment market. As grandparents can help to take care of young children, the impact of preschoolers is insignificant. Having elderly family to care for decreases the income earned by female members of the family. Although both men and women are actively engaged in off‐farm employment today in rural China, this study shows that women are still the primary care providers for both children and the elderly. Therefore, reforming public school enrollment and high school/college entrance examination systems so that migrant children can stay with their parents, this will help rural laborers to migrate to cities. The present study also calls for more public services for preschoolers and the elderly in rural China.
Valproate‐induced enuresis: a prospective study
Authors: Yamak Wissam R , Hmaimess Ghassan , Makke Yamane , Sabbagh Sandra , Arabi Maher , Beydoun Ahmad , Nasreddine Wassim 
Published: March 2015

AimThe aim of this study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of secondary enuresis in children initiated on valproate treatment.MethodThis was a prospective study conducted in children aged 5 to 12 years with suspected newly diagnosed epilepsy and maintained on valproate for at least 1 month. Adverse events spontaneously reported by parents were recorded at each follow‐up visit. In addition, we specifically asked about enuresis and other side effects known to occur with valproate treatment. We assessed the frequency of enuresis and its association with a number of variables.ResultsSeventy‐two children (43 males and 29 females) with a mean age of 8 years 7 months (range 5–12y) were included in this study. Secondary enuresis developed in 17 (24%) of these children after, on average, 19.8 days of exposure to valproate. The data obtained from a multivariate analysis indicate that age was the only significant factor in predicting the development of enuresis. Enuresis ceased in all children after discontinuation of valproate use, and in 10 out of 11 children still on the drug.InterpretationSecondary enuresis is a common adverse event associated with valproate use in children, which is not usually spontaneously reported and is reversible in most cases.