bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of delactosed whey permeate treatment on shelf‐life and antioxidant contents of strawberries
Authors: Ahmed Lubna , Martin‐Diana Ana B. , Rico Daniel , Barry‐Ryan Catherine 
Published: May 2012

SummaryThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of delactosed whey permeate (DWP) treatment on antioxidant and physicochemical properties of strawberries. Fresh strawberries treated with 3% DWP were analysed for different quality, nutritional and microbiological markers during 10 days of storage at 5 °C. The results showed that DWP treatment significantly reduced incidences of decay (70%) and numbers of total aerobic counts (∼1.4 Log10 CFU g−1) and yeast and moulds (∼1.8 Log10 CFU g−1). DWP treatment also inhibited the loss of firmness (15%) and maintained significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher levels of vitamin C, total phenols and antioxidant activity of strawberries. Sensory scores confirmed that the DWP‐treated strawberries retained a good appearance and overall quality. The aroma and colour attributes were not reduced during storage. These results suggest that DWP treatment has potential to extend the shelf‐life and maintain the quality of strawberries during storage.
Non‐medical prescribing by nurse practitioners in accident & emergency and sexual health: a comparative study
Authors: Black Adam 
Published: May 2012

black a. (2013) Non‐medical prescribing by nurse practitioners in accident & emergency and sexual health: a comparative study. Journal of Advanced Nursing69(3), 535–545. doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2648.2012.06028.xAbstractAim.  This article is a report of a study to explore the application and safety of non‐medical prescribing in an accident and emergency and sexual health department.Background.  Since 1 May 2006 non‐medical prescribers in the UK have had prescribing powers comparable with doctors. Evidence suggests that nurses give safe, competent, autonomous care packages in their scope of practice but despite the perceived benefits there is limited evidence detailing how it is specifically applied in practice.Design.  Cross‐sectional comparative design.Methods.  The study explored non‐medical prescribing in accident and emergency and sexual health retrospectively reviewing 764 nurse prescribers’ case notes. For intra‐department comparison 490 case notes from those who could not prescribe were included. Patient attendances from 1 July 2009–30 June 2010 were randomly sampled. Prescribing frequency, range of medications and diagnoses, independent episode completion, and prescribing safety was recorded.Results/findings.  Over 53·5% (n = 409) of prescribers’ patients required medication, with 99·8% (n = 568) being clinically appropriate. Analgesia was most commonly prescribed in accident and emergency (31%, n = 85) and antibiotics in sexual health (55%, n = 162). Intra‐department comparison of independent episode completion had statistically significant results using the chi‐square test in sexual health, but not in accident and emergency. The use of patient group directions in accident and emergency explains this difference. Safe prescribing practice was evident in 99·4% of cases, with a lack of documentation (n = 2) and a contraindicated prescription (n = 1) identified.Conclusion.  Nurses having access to medication facilitate safe, appropriate, and independent prescribing practice. Further research is advised in this area.
Brown bear habitat suitability in the Pyrenees: transferability across sites and linking scales to make the most of scarce data
Authors: Martin Jodie , Revilla Eloy , Quenette Pierre‐Yves , Naves Javier , Allainé Dominique , Swenson Jon E. 
Published: May 2012

Summary1. Identification of suitable habitats for small, endangered populations is important to preserve key areas for potential augmentation. However, replicated spatial data from a sufficient number of individuals are often unavailable for such populations, leading to unreliable habitat models. This is the case for the endangered Pyrenean brown bear Ursus arctos population, with only about 20 individuals surviving in two isolated groups.2. We conducted habitat suitability analyses at two spatial scales (coarse and local). Given the limited available data, we used information from the nearby Cantabrian brown bear population in Spain to develop a two‐dimensional model (human and natural variables) at a coarse scale, based on logistic regression, which we applied in the Pyrenees. At a local scale, we used bear presence in the Pyrenees to describe the population’s ecological niche and develop a habitat suitability model using presence‐only methods. We combined these models to obtain a more integrative understanding of bear requirements.3. The coarse‐scale model showed a good transferability to the Pyrenees, identifying preference for areas with high forest connectivity, masting trees, rugged terrain and shrubs and avoidance of areas with anthropogenic structures. The local‐scale model was consistent with the coarse‐scale model. Bears showed a trade‐off between food resources (scarcer at high elevations) and human presence (higher at low elevations).4. Our models illustrated that there is unoccupied good habitat for bears in the Pyrenees that could host new individuals. Combining two scales allowed us to identify areas that should be prioritized for management actions and also those that should be easier to manage for bears.5. Synthesis and applications. Our study illustrates how a nested‐scale approach, combining coarse data from a different population and fine‐scale local data, can aid in the management of small populations with limited data. This was applied to remnant brown bear populations to identify priorities for conservation management.
Senescence in immune priming and attractiveness in a beetle
Authors: DAUKŠTE J. , KIVLENIECE I. , KRAMA T. , RANTALA M. J. , KRAMS I. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAge‐related decline in immune activity is referred to as immunosenescence and has been observed for both the adaptive immune response of vertebrates and the innate immune system of invertebrates. Because maintaining a basic level of immune defence and mounting an immune response is costly, optimal investment in immune function should vary over a wide range of individual states such as the individual’s age. In this study, we tested whether the immune response and immunological priming within individuals become less efficient with age using mealworm beetles, Tenebrio molitor, as a model organism. We also tested whether ageing and immunological priming affected the odours produced by males. We found that young males of T. molitor were capable of mounting an immune response a sterile nylon monofilament implant with the potential to exhibit a simple form of immune memory through mechanisms of immune priming. Older males did not increase their immune response to a second immune challenge, which negatively affected their sexual attractiveness and remaining life span. Our results indicate that the immune system of older males in T. molitor is less effective, suggesting complex evolutionary trade‐offs between ageing, immune response and sexual attractiveness.
Effects of reflective groundcovers on ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) cropping systems
Authors: Comeau C. , Privé J.‐P. , Moreau G. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractReflective groundcovers are management tools used in temperate regions where light can be a limiting factor to crop productivity. Although their effects on crops have been extensively studied, little is known about their ecological impacts on ground‐dwelling organisms. Theoretically, reflective groundcovers add structural complexity to the system and thus have the potential to create refuges for ground‐dwelling invertebrates. At the same time, groundcovers can create abiotic conditions underneath them that could potentially cause declines in the abundance and richness of ground‐dwelling invertebrates. During the summers of 2006 and 2007, white, woven, reflective polymer groundcovers were placed in two red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) cropping systems (organic and conventional) in south‐eastern New Brunswick to assess their effects on ground beetle richness, activity density and overall assemblage structure. A total of 8723 ground beetles belonging to 23 species were collected using pitfall traps. In contrast with the combined effects of cropping systems and sampling years, the use of a groundcover accounted for a small proportion of the variance in trap catches and caused little change in ground beetle richness, activity density and overall assemblage structure. Based on these results, we suggest that reflective groundcovers constitute promising management tools to increase light environment quality in row crops without being detrimental to ground beetle species that may contribute to pest suppression.
Endoscopic mucosal resection with 0.13% hyaluronic acid solution for colorectal polyps less than 20 mm: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yoshida Naohisa , Naito Yuji , Inada Yutaka , Kugai Munehiro , Kamada Kazuhiro , Katada Kazuhiro , Uchiyama Kazuhiko , Ishikawa Takeshi , Takagi Tomohisa , Handa Osamu , Konishi Hideyuki , Yagi Nobuaki , Kokura Satoshi , Wakabayashi Naoki , Yanagisawa Akio , Yoshikawa Toshikazu 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Adequate mucosal elevation by submucosal injection is important for definitive en bloc resection and prevention of perforation during endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). The objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of 0.13% hyaluronic acid (HA) solution for high and sustained mucosal elevation during colorectal EMR.Methods:  The study was a prospective randomized controlled trial; a total of 196 patients with colon polyps of < 20 mm diameter were enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo EMR using either 0.13% HA or normal saline (NS). The primary outcome of the study was histopathologically confirmed complete resection. The secondary outcomes such as maintenance of high mucosal elevation and development of complications were also evaluated. Moreover, the relationship between complete resection and the experience of the endoscopist (veteran vs less experienced) was analyzed.Results:  Compete resection was achieved in 74 of 93 polyps (79.5%) in the 0.13% HA group and 63 of 96 polyps (65.6%) in the NS group (P < 0.05). High mucosal elevation was maintained in 83.9% of procedures in the 0.13% HA group and 54.1% in the NS group (P < 0.01). The frequency of complete resection achieved by less‐experienced endoscopists was higher in the 0.13% HA group (79.3%) than in the NS group (62.1%; P < 0.05).Conclusions:  Endoscopic mucosal resection using 0.13% HA to colon polyps of less than 20 mm diameter is more effective than NS for complete resection and maintenance of mucosal elevation.
Prognosis of hepatitis B‐related liver cirrhosis in the era of oral nucleos(t)ide analog antiviral agents
Authors: Kim Chang Ha , Um Soon Ho , Seo Yeon Seok , Jung Jin Yong , Kim Jin Dong , Yim Hyung Joon , Keum Bora , Kim Yong Sik , Jeen Yoon Tae , Lee Hong Sik , Chun Hoon Jai , Kim Chang Duck , Ryu Ho Sang 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackground and Aim:  We investigated long‐term outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related liver cirrhosis in the era of oral nucleos(t)ide analog antiviral agents.Methods:  Between January 1999 and February 2009, a total of 240 consecutive patients who had HBV‐related cirrhosis without malignancy were treated with lamivudine and second line nucleos(t)ide analogs. The group of historical controls consisted of 481 consecutive patients with HBV‐related cirrhosis who were managed without any antiviral treatment prior to 1999.Results:  In 78% of the patients who received antiviral treatment, sustained viral suppression (serum HBV DNA < 105 copies/mL) was achieved during a mean follow‐up period of 46 months. The occurrences of death, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were less frequent in the treated cohort than in untreated historical controls, with the 5‐year cumulative incidences being 19.4% versus 43.9% (log‐rank P < 0.001), 15.4% versus 45.4% (P = 0.001), and 13.8% versus 23.4% (P = 0.074), respectively. For patients who received antiviral treatment, suboptimal viral suppression (HBV DNA > 105 copies/mL at last follow‐up) was an important independent risk factor of death (P < 0.001) and hepatic decompensation (P = 0.019), and was linked to an increased risk of HCC (P = 0.042). Although the Child–Pugh grade remained a useful prognostic factor, no significant differences were found between patients with Child–Pugh grade B and C cirrhosis at the beginning of antiviral treatment (P = 0.656).Conclusions:  Oral antiviral agents have improved the prognosis of patients with HBV‐related cirrhosis and affected the prognostic values of factors constituting the Child–Pugh system, necessitating a more efficient prognostic system.
Clinically distinct characteristics in patients younger than 40 years old with non‐cardiac chest pain
Authors: Ko Soon Young , Kim So‐I , Kim Jeong Hwan , Lee Jung Hyeon , Lee Kyung‐Ju , Hong Sung Noh , Lee Sun‐Young , Sung In‐Kyung , Park Hyung Seok , Shim Chan Sup 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Little is known about non‐cardiac chest pain (NCCP) in young patients. We aimed to examine the proportion of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in young patients with NCCP compared to the average‐aged NCCP patients and to evaluate their symptomatic characteristics and the clinical efficacy of a 2‐week proton pump inhibitor (PPI) trial.Methods:  Ninety‐six patients with NCCP ≥ 1/week were classified into the young‐aged (≤ 40 years, n = 38) and the average‐aged groups (> 40 years, n = 58). Typical reflux symptoms were assessed. The patients were defined into a GERD group and non‐GERD group according to reflux esophagitis on esophagogastroduodenoscopy and/or pathologic acid exposure on 24‐h esophageal pH monitoring. Then the patients were treated with 30 mg of lansoprazole bid for 14 days.Results:  Nine patients (23%) in the young‐aged group and 22 patients (38%) in average‐aged group were diagnosed with GERD‐related NCCP (P = 0.144). The proportion of typical reflux symptoms was higher in the GERD group compared with the non‐GERD group in both age groups. A PPI test improved symptoms in the GERD group irrespective of age, but this improvement was not observed in non‐GERD group.Conclusions:  In young NCCP patients, the prevalence of GERD was relatively low compared to average‐aged NCCP, but the difference was insignificant. The PPI test was very effective in diagnosing GERD in the NCCP patients in both age groups. Therefore, in young NCCP patients, if there is a negative response to a 2‐week PPI trial, the possibility of extra‐esophageal disease origin needs to be considered.
Serrated polyps: new classifications highlight clinical importance
Authors: Messick C. A. , Church J. , Bennett A. , Kalady M. F. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAim  Many lesions previously classified as hyperplastic polyps and therefore thought to be innocuous have been reclassified as sessile serrated adenomas/polyps (SSA/Ps), establishing their place in the serrated pathway and underscoring their malignant potential. The clinical relevance of this new nomenclature is incompletely defined. This study examines the incidence and characteristics of colorectal SSA/Ps and describes other associated colorectal neoplasia.Method  A single institution pathology database was searched for the diagnosis of SSA/Ps between January 2004 and October 2007. SSA/Ps found by colonoscopy were included. Patient demographics, SSA/P characteristics and associated colonoscopic findings were retrospectively recorded.Results  A total of 585 SSA/Ps were removed during 519 colonoscopies in 483 patients performed by 64 different endoscopists. This represented an overall incidence of SSA/Ps per colonoscopy of 2.1% in the 28 054 colonoscopies performed during the study period. The median SSA/P size was 0.8 cm (range 0.2–4.5) and 188 (69%) were ≥ 1.0 cm. Of the 585 SSA/Ps, 366 (63%) were right‐sided, 129 (22%) were in the left colon and 90 (15%) were in the rectum. Also, 439 synchronous polyps of other histology (mainly adenomas and hyperplastic polyps) were found during the same 519 colonoscopies.Conclusion  SSA/Ps are rare lesions found during colonoscopy that may coexist with small hyperplastic polyps. Because SSA/Ps are part of the serrated oncogenic pathway, all, even those appearing to be hyperplastic, should be removed or biopsied for diagnosis. Careful review of historical lesions with application of new definitions may redefine risk for malignancy.
Expression profiling of G‐protein‐coupled receptors in human urothelium and related cell lines
Authors: Ochodnický Peter , Humphreys Sian , Eccles Rachel , Poljakovic Mirjana , Wiklund Peter , Michel Martin C. 
Published: May 2012

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Urothelium emerged as a crucial integrator of sensory inputs and outputs in the bladder wall, and urothelial G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) may represent plausible targets for treatment of various bladder pathologies. Urothelial cell lines provide a useful tool to study urothelial receptor function, but their validity as models for native human urothelium remains unclear. We characterize the mRNA expression of genes coding for GPCRs in human freshly isolated urothelium and compare the expression pattern with those in human urothelial cell lines.OBJECTIVES
To characterize the mRNA expression pattern of genes coding for G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) in human freshly isolated urothelium.
To compare GPCR expression in human urothelium‐derived cell lines to explore the suitability of these cell lines as model systems to study urothelial function.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Native human urothelium (commercially sourced) and human urothelium‐derived non‐cancer (UROtsa and TERT‐NHUC) and cancer (J82) cell lines were used.
For mRNA expression profiling we used custom‐designed real‐time polymerase chain reaction array for 40 receptors and several related genes.
RESULTS
Native urothelium expressed a wide variety of GPCRs, including α1A, α1D and all subtypes of α2 and β adrenoceptors. In addition, M2 and M3 cholinergic muscarinic receptors, angiotensin II AT1 receptor, serotonin 5‐HT2A receptor and all subtypes of bradykinin, endothelin, cannabinoid, tachykinin and sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptors were detected. Nerve growth factor and both its low‐ and high‐affinity receptors were also expressed in urothelium.
In all cell lines expression of most GPCRs was markedly downregulated, with few exceptions.
In UROtsa cells, but much less in other cell lines, the expression of β2 adrenoceptors, M3 muscarinic receptors, B1 and B2 bradykinin receptors, ETB endothelin receptors and several subtypes of sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptors was largely retained.
CONCLUSIONS
Human urothelium expresses a wide range of receptors which enables sensing and integration of various extracellular signals.
Human urothelium‐derived cell lines, especially UROtsa cells, show comparable mRNA expression to native tissue for several physiologically relevant GPCRs, but lose expression of many other receptors.
The use of cell lines as model systems of human urothelium requires careful validation of suitability for the genes of interest.
Assessing Data Completeness of VGI through an Automated Matching Procedure for Linear Data
Authors: Koukoletsos Thomas , Haklay Mordechai , Ellul Claire 
Published: May 2012

AbstractNew, free and fast growing spatial data sources have appeared online, based on Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI). OpenStreetMap (OSM) is one of the most representative projects of this trend. Its increasing popularity and density makes the study of its data quality an imperative. A common approach is to compare OSM with a reference dataset. In such cases, data matching is necessary for the comparison to be meaningful, and is usually performed manually at the data preparation stage. This article proposes an automated feature‐based matching method specifically designed for VGI, based on a multi‐stage approach that combines geometric and attribute constraints. It is applied to the OSM dataset using the official data from Ordnance Survey as the reference dataset. The results are then used to evaluate data completeness of OSM in several case studies in the UK.
Towards Usability Engineering for Online Editors of Volunteered Geographic Information: A Perspective on Learnability
Authors: Jones Catherine E. , Weber Patrick 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThis article presents one of the first systematic usability investigations for a Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) editor. This research is motivated by the fact that although VGI is now widely consumed, contribution rates are lagging considerably. Compared to traditional GIS interfaces, with complex interfaces resulting in high cognitive loads and barriers to participation, VGI tools and interfaces need to be easy to use and learn to encourage and facilitate contributions. This article develops a case study of OpenStreetMap, one of the most successful VGI projects, and its default editor, Potlatch2. Ten participants with no prior experience of VGI contribution, were instructed to contribute data to OSM in a structured exercise, while being monitored using an eye tracker and audio/video screen capture software. Each participant was asked to Think Aloud, i.e. describe what they were thinking and doing as they completed the tasks. The results highlight significant usability issues impacting learnability, especially from the perspective of a new contributor: hidden functionality, lack of user feedback between interactions and the inefficient and inconsistent placement of functionality and map controls. The facilitation of VGI contributions clearly depends on designing targeted interfaces, optimized to the needs of specific levels of contributors with defined goals and expectations.
Improved adherence to modern antiretroviral therapy among HIV‐infected injecting drug users
Authors: Mann B , Milloy M‐J , Kerr T , Zhang R , Montaner J , Wood E 
Published: May 2012

ObjectivesAdherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among injecting drug users (IDUs) is often suboptimal, yet little is known about changes in patterns of adherence since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy in 1996. We sought to assess levels of optimal adherence to ART among IDUs in a setting of free and universal HIV care.MethodsData were collected through a prospective cohort study of HIV‐positive IDUs in Vancouver, British Columbia. We calculated the proportion of individuals achieving at least 95% adherence in the year following initiation of ART from 1996 to 2009.ResultsAmong 682 individuals who initiated ART, the median age was 37 years (interquartile range 31–44 years) and 248 participants (36.4%) were female. The proportion achieving at least 95% adherence increased over time, from 19.3% in 1996 to 65.9% in 2009 (Cochrane–Armitage test for trend: P < 0.001). In a logistic regression model examining factors associated with 95% adherence, initiation year was statistically significant (odds ratio 1.08; 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.13; P < 0.001 per year after 1996) after adjustment for a range of drug use variables and other potential confounders.ConclusionsThe proportion of IDUs achieving at least 95% adherence during the first year of ART has consistently increased over a 13‐year period. Although improved tolerability and convenience of modern ART regimens probably explain these positive trends, by the end of the study period a substantial proportion of IDUs still had suboptimal adherence, demonstrating the need for additional adherence support strategies.