bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biases in comparative analyses of extinction risk: mind the gap
Authors: González‐Suárez Manuela , Lucas Pablo M. , Revilla Eloy 
Published: May 2012

Summary1. Comparative analyses are used to address the key question of what makes a species more prone to extinction by exploring the links between vulnerability and intrinsic species’ traits and/or extrinsic factors. This approach requires comprehensive species data but information is rarely available for all species of interest. As a result comparative analyses often rely on subsets of relatively few species that are assumed to be representative samples of the overall studied group.2. Our study challenges this assumption and quantifies the taxonomic, spatial, and data type biases associated with the quantity of data available for 5415 mammalian species using the freely available life‐history database PanTHERIA.3. Moreover, we explore how existing biases influence results of comparative analyses of extinction risk by using subsets of data that attempt to correct for detected biases. In particular, we focus on links between four species’ traits commonly linked to vulnerability (distribution range area, adult body mass, population density and gestation length) and conduct univariate and multivariate analyses to understand how biases affect model predictions.4. Our results show important biases in data availability with c.22% of mammals completely lacking data. Missing data, which appear to be not missing at random, occur frequently in all traits (14–99% of cases missing). Data availability is explained by intrinsic traits, with larger mammals occupying bigger range areas being the best studied. Importantly, we find that existing biases affect the results of comparative analyses by overestimating the risk of extinction and changing which traits are identified as important predictors.5. Our results raise concerns over our ability to draw general conclusions regarding what makes a species more prone to extinction. Missing data represent a prevalent problem in comparative analyses, and unfortunately, because data are not missing at random, conventional approaches to fill data gaps, are not valid or present important challenges. These results show the importance of making appropriate inferences from comparative analyses by focusing on the subset of species for which data are available. Ultimately, addressing the data bias problem requires greater investment in data collection and dissemination, as well as the development of methodological approaches to effectively correct existing biases.
The distribution of large herbivore hotspots in relation to environmental and anthropogenic correlates in the Mara region of Kenya
Authors: Bhola Nina , Ogutu Joseph O. , Said Mohamed Y. , Piepho Hans‐Peter , Olff Han 
Published: May 2012

Summary1. The distributions of large herbivores in protected areas and their surroundings are becoming increasingly restricted by changing land use, with adverse consequences for wildlife populations.2. We analyse changes in distributions of herbivore hotspots to understand their environmental and anthropogenic correlates using 50 aerial surveys conducted at a spatial resolution of 5 × 5 km2 (n = 289 cells) in the Mara region of Kenya during 1977–2010. We compare the distributions across seasons, land use types (protection, pastoralism and agro‐pastoralism) and 10 species with different body sizes and feeding styles.3. Small herbivores that are the most susceptible to predation and dependent on high‐quality forage concentrate in the greenest and wet areas and close to rivers in Masai pastoral ranches in both seasons. Livestock grazing creates conditions favouring small herbivores in these ranches, including high‐quality short grasses and better visibility, implying facilitation. But in the reserve, they concentrate in browner, drier and flatter areas and farther from rivers, suggesting facilitation by large grazers in the wet season, or little competition with migratory herbivores occupying the reserve in the dry season.4. In the wet season, medium herbivores concentrate in similar areas to small herbivores in the ranches and reserve. However, in the dry season, they stay in the reserve, and also concentrate in green and wet areas close to rivers when migrants occur in the reserve. As such areas typically have higher predation risk, this suggests facilitation by the migrants by absorbing most predation pressure or, alternatively, competitive displacement by the migrants from preferred habitats.5. Large herbivores, which suffer the least predation, depend on bulk forage and are the most likely to engender conflicts with people, concentrate in the reserve all year. This suggests attraction to the taller and denser grass and perceived greater safety in the reserve in both seasons.6. These results reveal how predation risk, forage quantity and quality, water, competition with and facilitation by livestock interact with individual life‐history traits, seasons and land use in shaping the dynamics of herbivore hotspots in protected and human‐dominated savannas.
Quality of life in colorectal cancer patients with diarrhoea after surgery: a longitudinal study
Authors: Pan Li‐Hui , Tsai Yun‐Fang 
Published: May 2012

Aims and objectives.  The purposes of this study were to examine how quality of life in colorectal cancer patients with diarrhoea changes with time after surgery and to identify variables influencing patients’ quality of life three months following surgery.Backgrounds.  Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Literature that focuses on the impact of the basic attributes, disease characteristics and diarrhoea distress on the quality of life in diarrhoea patients is quite rare.Design.  Survey.Methods.  A longitudinal study design was employed with a three‐month tracking period. Data were collected in structured, one‐on‐one interviews at one week and one, two and three months after surgery. Variance and effects of quality of life were analysed by repeated‐measures analysis of variance and generalised estimating equation.Results.  Results showed that colorectal cancer patients (n = 35) with diarrhoea after surgery will over time be gradually satisfied with their overall quality of life. Physical health satisfaction is lowest at 1 week after surgery, and it will over time gradually increase. Satisfaction with mental health has the lowest score and does not improve with time. Satisfaction with social relationships is highest between one week and two months after surgery. Satisfaction of environmental relationship will improve with time after surgery. The study results also indicate that patients with lower quality of life satisfaction are younger, women, have had R hemicolectomy and experience higher diarrhoea distress.Conclusions.  Colorectal cancer patients with diarrhoea after surgery will become more satisfied with their overall quality of life with time. Physical and environmental satisfaction will all improve with time. Younger patients will be more dissatisfied with their social and environmental health. More severe diarrhoea distress will impact patients’ quality of life the most.Relevance to clinical practice.  These results can serve as reference for clinical care providers to patients with colorectal cancer after surgery.
Corrupted cultures in mental health inpatient settings. Is restraint reduction the answer?
Authors: PATERSON B. , MCINTOSH I. , WILKINSON D. , MCCOMISH S. , SMITH I. 
Published: May 2012

Accessible summary
Restraint in mental health is a sensitive area of practice.
If permitted, restraint in mental health seems to have a tendency to be used excessively.
We need to understand better why this tends to happen in order to prevent it.
AbstractThe early years of the 21st century have seen successful efforts in a number of countries to reduce the use of restraint in services for people with mental health problems. An underlying emphasis on ‘cultural change’ is characteristic of such initiatives reflecting, it appears, the re‐emergence of interest in the therapeutic milieu. Such efforts have though lacked a comprehensive explanation of how organizational culture plays a role in the development of the excessive use of restraint, which seems to respond to such initiatives. This paper seeks to address that deficit and draws in particular on the concepts of corrupted culture, institutional violence, trauma, parallel processing and contemporary research on restraint and seclusion reduction. In doing so it examines whether restraint reduction initiatives represent part of the solution to the problem of corruption, which is intrinsically associated with the legitimatization of coercion.
Supporting children whose parent has a mental health problem: an assessment of the education, knowledge, confidence and practices of registered psychiatric nurses in Ireland
Authors: HOULIHAN D. , SHAREK D. , HIGGINS A. 
Published: May 2012

Accessible summary
Although it is recognized that mental health practitioners should support the children of parents who have a mental health problem, these children are often forgotten or ignored in practice. This study examined nurses' knowledge, confidence and practice in relation to these children.
The findings showed that the nurses had relatively low levels of education, knowledge, confidence and supportive clinical practices when it came to children whose parent has a mental health problem.
There is an urgent need for education on family‐focused care, and the development of guidelines and child focused services if the needs of parents and children are to be met.
AbstractHealth professionals, including nurses, stand accused of ignorance or oversight of children whose parent experience a mental health problem. Psychiatric nurses are in an ideal position to respond to children's needs and support their parents in a proactive and sensitive manner. The aim of this study was to explore psychiatric nurses' education, knowledge, confidence and practice with regard to the support needs of children whose parent has a mental health problem. This study employed a self‐completion anonymous survey design with a sample of registered psychiatric nurses from one integrated mental health service in Ireland. The sample reported relatively low levels of education, knowledge, confidence and supportive clinical practice when it came to children whose parent has a mental health problem. There is an urgent need for education on family‐focused care, and the development of guidelines and child focused services if the needs of parents and children are to be met.
Empathic curiosity: resolving goal conflicts that generate emotional distress
Authors: MCEVOY P. , BAKER D. , PLANT R. , HYLTON K. , MANSELL W. 
Published: May 2012

Accessible Summary
Empathic curiosity is underpinned by the core skills of empathetic listening.
The value of this type of listening may be reinforced when speak to people about their salient concerns, as they perceive them in the current flow of their conscious thoughts.
This can be facilitated by linking curious questions to the non‐verbal disruptions in their body posture and conversational flow.
Adopting this type of approach may help people to reflect upon and re‐organize conflicting goals that can be a source of significant emotional distress.
AbstractThe quality of the therapeutic alliance between therapist and client is consistently identified as a key component of cognitive behavioural interventions. However, relatively little is known about the causal mechanisms that generate the effects that are ascribed to the therapeutic alliance. This paper outlines how one such causal mechanism, empathic curiosity, may operate. The explanation is rooted in control theory, a theory that explains the link between our experiences and our goal‐directed behaviour. Empathic curiosity is underpinned by the core skills of empathic listening and maintaining a curious attitude. From a control theory perspective, the value of this type of listening may be reinforced when speak to people about their salient concerns, as they perceive them in the current flow of their conscious thoughts. This can be facilitated by linking curious questions to the non‐verbal disruptions in their body posture and conversational flow. The approach is illustrated using three case examples. In all three examples, the clients involved were able to reflect upon and re‐organize conflicting goals that had been a source of significant emotional distress.
The influence of staff training on the violence prevention and management climate in psychiatric inpatient units
Authors: BJÖRKDAHL A. , HANSEBO G. , PALMSTIERNA T. 
Published: May 2012

Accessible summary
Violence prevention and management is an important part of inpatient psychiatric nursing because both patients and staff need to feel safe and secure.
The Bergen model is a violence prevention and management staff‐training programme that is based on the three essential staff factors of the City model: positive appreciation of patients, emotional regulation and effective structure.
Based on the City model, we developed a 13‐item questionnaire in order to find out how patients and staff rated the violence prevention and management climate on psychiatric wards where the staff was trained according to the Bergen model compared with wards where the staff was not trained.
The result showed that the staff on trained wards had a more positive perception of the violence prevention and management climate on four of the items and the patients on one item.
AbstractViolence prevention and management is an important part of inpatient psychiatric nursing and specific staff training is regarded essential. The training should be based on primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. In Stockholm, Sweden, the Bergen model is a staff‐training programme that combines this preventive approach with the theoretical nursing framework of the City model that includes three staff factors: positive appreciation of patients, emotional regulation and effective structure. We evaluated this combination of the Bergen and City models on the violence prevention and management climate in psychiatric inpatient wards. A 13‐item questionnaire was developed and distributed to patients and staff in 41 wards before the staff was trained and subsequently to 19 of these wards after training. Data analyses included factor analysis, Fisher's exact test and Mann–Whitney U‐test. The result showed that the staff on trained wards had a more positive perception of four of the items and the patients of one item. These items reflected causes of patient aggression, ward rules, the staff's emotional regulation and early interventions. The findings suggest that a focus on three levels of prevention within a theoretical nursing framework may promote a more positive violence prevention and management climate on wards.
Pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone following intra‐articular, intravenous, intramuscular, and oral administration in horses and its effects on endogenous hydrocortisone
Authors: SOMA L. R. , UBOH C. E. , LIU Y. , LI X. , ROBINSON M. A. , BOSTON R. C. , COLAHAN P. T. 
Published: May 2012

Soma, L. R., Uboh, C. E., Liu, Y., Li, X., Robinson, M .A., Boston, R. C., Colahan, P. T. Pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone following intra‐articular, intravenous, intramuscular, and oral administration in horses and its effects on endogenous hydrocortisone.J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 36, 181–191.This study investigated and compared the pharmacokinetics of intra‐articular (IA) administration of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP) into three equine joints, femoropatellar (IAS), radiocarpal (IAC), and metacarpophalangeal (IAF), and the intramuscular (IM), oral (PO) and intravenous (IV) administrations. No significant differences in the pharmacokinetic estimates between the three joints were observed with the exception of maximum concentration (Cmax) and time to maximum concentration (Tmax). Median (range)Cmaxfor the IAC, IAF, and IAS were 16.9 (14.6–35.4), 23.4 (13.5–73.0), and 46.9 (24.0–72.1) ng/mL, respectively. TheTmaxfor IAC, IAF, and IAS were 1.0 (0.75–4.0), 0.62 (0.5–1.0), and 0.25 (0.08–0.25) h, respectively. Median (range) elimination half‐lives for IA and IM administrations were 3.6 (3.0–4.6) h and 3.4 (2.9–3.7) h, respectively. A 3‐compartment model was fitted to the plasma dexamethasone concentration–time curve following the IV administration of DSP; alpha, beta, and gamma half‐lives were 0.03 (0.01–0.05), 1.8 (0.34–2.3), and 5.1 (3.3–5.6) h, respectively. Following the PO administration, the median absorption and elimination half‐lives were 0.34 (0.29–1.6) and 3.4 (3.1–4.7) h, respectively. Endogenous hydrocortisone plasma concentrations declined from a baseline of 103.8 ± 29.1–3.1 ± 1.3 ng/mL at 20.0 ± 2.7 h following the administration of DSP and recovered to baseline values between 96 and 120 h for IV, IA, and IM administrations and at 72 h for the PO.
DNA packaging bias and differential expression of gene transfer agent genes within a population during production and release of the Rhodobacter capsulatus gene transfer agent, RcGTA
Authors: Hynes Alexander P. , Mercer Ryan G. , Watton David E. , Buckley Colleen B. , Lang Andrew S. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryRhodobacter capsulatus produces a gene transfer agent (GTA) called RcGTA. RcGTA is a phage‐like particle that packages R. capsulatus DNA and transfers it to other R. capsulatus cells. We quantified the relative frequency of packaging for each gene in the genome by hybridization of DNA from RcGTA particles to an R. capsulatus microarray. All genes were found within the RcGTA particles. However, the genes encoding the RcGTA particle were under‐packaged compared with other regions. Gene transfer bioassays confirmed that the transfer of genes within the RcGTA structural cluster is reduced relative to those of other genes. Single‐cell expression analysis, by flow cytometry analysis of cells containing RcGTA‐reporter gene fusion constructs, demonstrated that RcGTA gene expression is not uniform within a culture. This phenomenon was accentuated when the constructs were placed in a strain lacking a putative lysis gene involved in RcGTA release; a small subpopulation was found to be responsible for ∼ 95% of RcGTA activity. We propose a mechanism whereby high levels of RcGTA gene transcription in the most active RcGTA‐producing cells cause a reduction in their packaging frequency. This subpopulation's role in producing and releasing the RcGTA particles explains the lack of observed cell lysis in cultures.
Ca2+ transients in submucous neurons during the colonic migrating motor complex in the isolated murine large intestine
Authors: Okamoto T. , Bayguinov P. O. , Broadhead M. J. , Smith T. K. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackground  The colonic migrating motor complex (CMMC) is a spontaneous, rhythmic, and neurally mediated motor pattern generated by myenteric neurons, which can propel fecal pellets in mice. Our aim was to determine whether submucous neurons were also activated during the CMMC.Methods  The isolated murine colon was opened and sections of mucosa were removed to expose the submucous ganglia, which were then loaded with Fluo‐4.Key Results  Colonic migrating motor complexes, which occurred spontaneously or by mechanically stimulating the mucosa, were identified by displacement of the tissue (duration = 23.3 s). Between CMMCs, spontaneous Ca2+ transients (frequency = 0.9 Hz) were observed in 55% (n = 8) of submucous neurons. During the CMMC, 98% (seven ganglia, n = 7) of submucous neurons within the same ganglion exhibited rapid Ca2+ transients (1.6 Hz) superimposed on a sustained rise in Ca2+ (duration ∼23 s) that occurred 1.7 s following the mucosal stimulus; whereas other neurons exhibited a similar, but delayed response that occurred either at 7 or 13 s following the stimulus. The activity in submucous neurons was correlated with activity in adjacent nerve varicosities. Ondansetron (1 mm; 5‐HT3 antagonist) significantly reduced the frequency and duration of the Ca2+ transient responses.Conclusions & Inferences  Activity in the submucous neurons appears to be secondary to that in the myenteric plexus and appears to be generated largely by activity in myenteric descending (serotonergic) interneurons. During the CMMC, there is likely to be an increase in secretion to lubricate and facilitate fecal pellet propulsion.
Origin and modulation of circular smooth muscle layer contractions in the porcine esophagus
Authors: Lecea B. , Gallego D. , Farré R. , Clavé P. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackground  The origin and modulation mechanisms controlling timing and amplitude of esophageal body peristalsis are not fully understood. We aimed to characterize the neurotransmitters involved in the origin and modulation of circular smooth muscle esophageal body (EB) contractions.Methods  Responses of porcine EB strips to electrical stimulation of motor neurons (MNs) were assessed in organ baths and with microelectrodes. The effect of antagonists of inhibitory (L‐NAME 1 mmol L−1, MRS2179 10 μmol L−1) and excitatory neurotransmitters (atropine 1 μmol L−1; SR140333 1 μmol L−1‐NK1ra‐, GR94800 1 μmol L−1‐NK2ra‐) and of ganglionic neurotransmitters (hexamethonium 100 μmol L−1, ondansetron 1 μmol L−1, NF279 10 μmol L−1) were characterized.Key Results  Electrical field stimulation (EFS) induced a frequency‐dependent off‐contraction (16.8 ± 0.8 g) following a latency period. Latency was significantly reduced by L‐NAME (−66.1 ± 4.1%) and MRS2179 (−25.9 ± 5.6%), and strongly increased by atropine (+36.8 ± 5.8%). Amplitude was reduced by L‐NAME (−69.9 ± 10.4%), MRS2179 (−34.1 ± 6.0%), atropine (−42.3 ± 4.7%), hexamethonium (−18.9 ± 3.3%), NF279 (−20.7 ± 3.5%), ondansetron (−16.3 ± 3.2%), GR94800 (−28.0 ± 4.8%) SR140333 (−20.9 ± 7.1%), and α‐chymotrypsin (−31.3 ± 7.0%). The EFS induced a monophasic nitrergic inhibitory junction potential.Conclusions & Inferences  Our results suggest that timing (latency) and amplitude of esophageal contractions are determined by a balance of complex interactions between excitatory and inhibitory MNs. Latency depends on the activation of inhibitory MNs releasing NO and a minor purinergic contribution through P2Y1 receptors, and excitatory MNs releasing ACh. Amplitude depends on a major contribution of excitatory MNs releasing ACh and tachykinins, and also on inhibitory MNs releasing NO, ATP or related purines, and peptidergic neurotransmitters acting as strong modulators of the excitatory neuroeffector transmission.
Systematic review of diagnostic criteria for IBS demonstrates poor validity and utilization of Rome III
Authors: Dang J. , Ardila‐Hani A. , Amichai M. M. , Chua K. , Pimentel M. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackground  In the absence of a clear biomarker for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), clinical criteria are used. In this study, we conduct a systematic review to examine the validation and utilization of IBS criteria.Methods  A systematic review was performed in two stages. The first was a review of literature from 1978 validating IBS diagnostic criteria. The second stage of review was to select studies published in IBS between 1992 and 2011. This time period was divided into three segments (Rome I era from 1992 to 1999, Rome II era from 2000 to 2006, and Rome III era from 2007 to 2011). The number and type of study (RCT or other) and criteria used were evaluated for each era.Key Results  The first stage of the systematic review identified only 14 published studies validating diagnostic tests for IBS (with three studies evaluating more than one criterion). There were eight validations for Manning, three validations for Kruis, four validations for Rome I, three validations for Rome II, and no validation for Rome III. In the second review of utilization of Rome criteria, only 25.7% of published IBS papers used Rome III criteria during the Rome III era (Rome II was used most in 64.8% of studies).Conclusions & Inferences  This review identified that comparator groups varied widely between studies making comparison of criteria impossible. Manning criteria are the most valid and accurate criteria. More importantly, Rome III is not validated and is poorly adopted in clinical research trial enrollment.