bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of HIV/AIDS and Microfinance of Women on Income, Medical Expenditures and Schooling in Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Fofana Namizata Binaté , van Ophem Johan A. C. , Niehof Anke , Antonides Gerrit
Published: July 2014

This paper examines the issue of HIV and AIDS in relation to women, human capital and microfinance in Côte d'Ivoire. In total, 440 women and two microfinance institutions (MFIs) served as study units. The HIV epidemic negatively affected both the human and financial capital of households. The morbidity of HIV/AIDS‐affected respondents negatively influenced the level of their income. MFI credit failed to increase HIV‐positive women's income, while they faced higher medical expenditures than non‐affected women. At the household level, HIV had a negative effect on school enrolment of children. The inability of children to attend school shows the long‐term effect of HIV/AIDS on the level of education of future generations and accordingly its impact on their contribution to the development of the country.
Dental Use and Expenditures for Older Uninsured Americans: The Simulated Impact of Expanded Coverage
Authors: Manski Richard J. , Moeller John F. , Chen Haiyan , Schimmel Jody , Pepper John V. , St. Clair Patricia A.
Published: July 2014

Objective

To determine if providing dental insurance to older Americans would close the current gaps in dental use and expenditure between insured and uninsured older Americans.

Data Sources/Study Setting

We used data from the 2008 Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) supplemented by data from the 2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).

Study Design

We compared the simulated dental use and expenditures rates of newly insured persons against the corresponding rates for those previously insured.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

The HRS is a nationally representative survey administered by the Institute for Social Research (ISR). The MEPS is a nationally representative household survey sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Principal Findings

We found that expanding dental coverage to older uninsured Americans would close previous gaps in dental use and expense between uninsured and insured noninstitutionalized Americans 55 years and older.

Conclusions

Providing dental coverage to previously uninsured older adults would produce estimated monthly costs net of markups for administrative costs that comport closely to current market rates. Estimates also suggest that the total cost of providing dental coverage targeted specifically to nonusers of dental care may be less than similar costs for prior users.
Optimized Aqueous Extraction of Saponins from Bitter Melon for Production of a Saponin‐Enriched Bitter Melon Powder
Authors: Tan Sing P. , Vuong Quan V. , Stathopoulos Costas E. , Parks Sophie E. , Roach Paul D.
Published: July 2014

Bitter melon, Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae), aqueous extracts are proposed to have health‐promoting properties due to their content of saponins and their antioxidant activity. However, the optimal conditions for the aqueous extraction of saponins from bitter melon and the effects of spray drying have not been established. Therefore, this study aimed to optimize the aqueous extraction of the saponins from bitter melon, using response surface methodology, prepare a powder using spray drying, and compare the powder's physical properties, components, and antioxidant capacity with aqueous and ethanol freeze‐dried bitter melon powders and a commercial powder. The optimal aqueous extraction conditions were determined to be 40 °C for 15 min and the water‐to‐sample ratio was chosen to be 20:1 mL/g. For many of its physical properties, components, and antioxidant capacity, the aqueous spray‐dried powder was comparable to the aqueous and ethanol freeze‐dried bitter melon powders and the commercial powder. The optimal conditions for the aqueous extraction of saponins from bitter melon followed by spray drying gave a high quality powder in terms of saponins and antioxidant activity.
Reproducibility of pyrosequencing data for biodiversity assessment in complex communities
Authors: Zhan Aibin , He Song , Brown Emily A. , Chain Frédéric J.J. , Therriault Thomas W. , Abbott Cathryn L. , Heath Daniel D. , Cristescu Melania E. , MacIsaac Hugh J.
Published: July 2014

High‐throughput sequencing is rapidly becoming a popular method to profile complex communities and has generated deep insights into community biodiversity. However, the reproducibility of this method for biodiversity assessment remains largely unexplored.

Here we evaluated reproducibility by analysing 454 pyrosequenced biological replicates of two complex plankton communities collected from one freshwater port and one marine port. We also tested whether reproducibility potentially influences biodiversity estimates, notably α‐ and β‐diversity.

Our evaluation of reproducibility revealed a complex scenario, having both technical and biological significance. At the Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) level, reproducibility was 100% for high‐abundance OTUs (>100 sequences), although it was lower for low‐abundance OTUs, and sometimes <25% for singletons. BLAST searches showed that >88% of irreproducible OTUs had high sequence similarity to existing records, suggesting that some singletons may reflect rare lineages/genotypes in communities. However, spurious amplification of distantly related taxonomic groups generated mainly low‐abundance OTUs that were characterized by low reproducibility. At a broad taxonomic level (i.e. order level), reproducibility decreased as the abundance of OTUs decreased and was particularly low for distantly related taxonomic groups such as algae and protists that were not the targets of our zooplankton biodiversity survey. At a lower taxonomical level (i.e. family‐level), overall reproducibility was high (>80%) for crustaceans, the dominant group in zooplankton samples. Therefore, we suggest that random variation during both sample collection and sequencing processes can be responsible for low reproducibility. Our analyses also suggest that random sampling processes may influence both α‐ and β‐diversity estimates.

Our results add to growing evidence that caution needs to be applied when designing and interpreting experiments utilizing high‐throughput sequencing data for biodiversity assessments. Technical replicates are needed to statistically correct intra‐sample variation, while field‐based replicate samples are desirable to substantiate results. An overestimation of species diversity can occur when OTUs are uniquely characterized by spuriously amplified sequences and errors/artifacts. Therefore, careful management of low‐abundance OTUs is required to reveal unique/rare lineages. Our results suggest that further studies are needed to determine the ecological significance of low‐abundance OTUs in complex communities.
The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of oral doses of ilaprazole 10, 20 and 40 mg and esomeprazole 40 mg in healthy subjects: a randomised, open‐label crossover study
Authors: Shin J. S. , Lee J. Y. , Cho K. H. , Park H. L. , Kukulka M. , Wu J.‐T. , Kim D. Y. , Park S.‐H.
Published: July 2014

Background

Ilaprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) currently in clinical use, may provide improved acid suppression vs. other PPIs.

Aim

To compare the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles of ilaprazole and esomeprazole.

Methods

A phase 1, randomised, open‐label, single‐centre, 4‐period crossover study was conducted in 40 healthy volunteers. Ilaprazole 10, 20 or 40 mg or esomeprazole 40 mg was administered once daily for 5 days with ≥5‐day washout intervals. Pharmacokinetic blood samples and intragastric pH measurements were collected at scheduled timepoints for 24 h after dosing on Days 1 and 5.

Results

Esomeprazole 40 mg provided significantly better pH control during the initial hours (0–4 h) after a single dose, but ilaprazole (particularly 20 and 40 mg) provided significantly better pH control for the entire 24‐h period and during evening and overnight hours after single and multiple doses. Increasing ilaprazole doses resulted in dose‐proportional increases in peak plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration vs. time curve following single and multiple doses. Ilaprazole was safe and generally well tolerated; an unexpectedly high incidence of allergic eye and skin reactions were observed but were not specific to any dosing regimen. Plasma gastrin concentrations did not increase proportionately with increasing ilaprazole dose.

Conclusions

Ilaprazole provided significantly better pH control over 24 h and during evening and overnight hours compared with esomeprazole in healthy volunteers, which may translate to greater relief of night‐time heartburn in the clinical setting for patients with gastric acid‐related disorders.
Escalation to weekly dosing recaptures response in adalimumab‐treated patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis
Authors: Wolf D. , D'Haens G. , Sandborn W. J. , Colombel J.‐F. , Van Assche G. , Robinson A. M. , Lazar A. , Zhou Q. , Petersson J. , Thakkar R. B.
Published: July 2014

Background

Patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis occasionally do not respond to or lose initial response to maintenance dosing of anti‐TNF therapy.

Aim

To report the efficacy of escalation from every other week (EOW) to weekly adalimumab dosing in patients from the clinical trial ULTRA 2 (NCT00408629), by week 8 response (i.e. response after adalimumab induction therapy).

Methods

Week 52 remission, response, and mucosal healing rates were assessed in ULTRA 2 adalimumab‐randomised patients who escalated to weekly dosing. Patients were stratified by week 8 response per partial Mayo score. Kaplan–Meier and logistic regression analyses estimated time to weekly dosing and defined predictors of escalation to weekly dosing, respectively. Adverse events were reported for patients receiving open‐label adalimumab.

Results

The rate of escalation to weekly dosing was 16.3% (20/123) for week 8 responders and 38.4% (48/125) for week 8 nonresponders. Week 52 remission, response and mucosal healing rates with weekly dosing were 20%, 45%, and 45% for week 8 responders and 2.1%, 25% and 29.2% for nonresponders, respectively (NRI). The median time to weekly dosing was 288 days for week 8 nonresponders and not estimable for responders. Prior anti‐TNF use was a significant predictor of escalation to weekly dosing. Treatment‐emergent adverse event rates were similar for patients receiving open‐label EOW or weekly adalimumab.

Conclusions

Escalation to weekly adalimumab dosing demonstrated clinical benefits for patients who lost response to therapy and may be beneficial for patients not initially responding to induction therapy. No new safety risks were identified with weekly dosing.
Adalimumab drug and antibody levels as predictors of clinical and laboratory response in patients with Crohn's disease
Authors: Mazor Y. , Almog R. , Kopylov U. , Ben Hur D. , Blatt A. , Dahan A. , Waterman M. , Ben‐Horin S. , Chowers Y.
Published: July 2014

Background

Adalimumab is an effective treatment for Crohn's disease (CD). Anti‐adalimumab antibodies (AAA) and low trough serum drug concentrations have been implicated as pre‐disposing factors for treatment failure.

Aims

To assess adalimumab and AAA serum levels, and to examine their association and discriminatory ability with clinical response and serum C‐reactive protein (CRP).

Methods

We performed a cross‐sectional study using trough sera from adalimumab‐treated CD patients. Demographical data, Montreal classification, treatment regimen and clinical status were recorded. Serum adalimumab, AAA and CRP were measured. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and a multivariate regression model were performed to find drug and antibody thresholds for predicting disease activity at time of serum sampling.

Results

One hundred and eighteen trough serum samples were included from 71 patients. High adalimumab trough serum concentration was associated with disease remission (Area Under Curve 0.748, P < 0.001). A cut‐off drug level of 5.85 μg/mL yielded optimal sensitivity, specificity and positive likelihood ratio for remission prediction (68%, 70.6% and 2.3, respectively). AAA were inversely related with adalimumab drug levels (Spearman's r = −0.411, P < 0.001) and when subdivided into categorical values, positively related with disease activity (P < 0.001). High drug levels and stricturing vs. penetrating or inflammatory phenotype, but not AAA levels, independently predicted disease remission in a multivariate logistic regression model.

Conclusions

Adalimumab drug levels were inversely related to disease activity. High levels of anti‐adalimumab antibodies were positively associated with disease activity, but this association was mediated mostly by adalimumab drug levels.
The incidence rate of colectomy for medically refractory ulcerative colitis has declined in parallel with increasing anti‐TNF use: a time‐trend study
Authors: Reich K. M. , Chang H.‐J. , Rezaie A. , Wang H. , Goodman K. J. , Kaplan G. G. , Svenson L. W. , Lees G. , Fedorak R. N. , Kroeker K. I.
Published: July 2014

Background

Medical therapy is standard treatment for ulcerative colitis with colectomy reserved for medically refractory disease or malignancy. The introductions of ciclosporin in 1994 and anti‐TNF therapy in 2005 have extended medical management options.

Aim

To determine whether the colectomy incidence rate for medically refractory ulcerative colitis has changed since the introduction of anti‐TNF therapy.

Methods

Adult patients with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and who subsequently underwent an urgent or elective colectomy for medically refractory disease in Edmonton, Canada between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2011 were identified. Log‐linear regression was used to estimate the annual percent change in the total colectomy incidence rate (urgent and elective combined) and the urgent and elective incidence rates individually, before and after 2005, the year infliximab was approved for use in ulcerative colitis. Temporal trends of drug utilisation in this study population were also described.

Results

During 1998–2011, 481 patients with ulcerative colitis underwent a colectomy for medically refractory disease. There was negligible change in the total colectomy incidence rate from 1998 to 2005, with an annual percent change of 4.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): −1.12% to 10.16%). From 2005‐2011, following the approval and increasing use of anti‐TNF therapy, the total colectomy incidence rate decreased by 16.1% (95% CI: −21.32% to −10.54%) every year to 0.9 per 100 ulcerative colitis patients in 2011.

Conclusion

The total incidence rate of colectomy for medically refractory ulcerative colitis has declined substantially since 2005, paralleling the increased use of anti‐TNF therapy in this patient population.
Metabolic syndrome delays HBeAg seroclearance in Chinese patients with hepatitis B
Authors: Hsiang J. C. , Wong G. L.‐H. , Chan H. L.‐Y. , Chan A. W.‐H. , Chim A. M.‐L. , Wong V. W.‐S.
Published: July 2014

Background

Delayed hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroclearance increases the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on HBeAg seroclearance in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients remains unclear.

Aims

To examine the effect of MetS on HBeAg seroclearance.

Methods

A prospective cohort of 413 treatment‐naïve HBeAg‐positive CHB patients from 2005 to 2012 was studied. Clinical, virological and histological parameters were evaluated. The patients were classified into three groups according to the metabolic characteristics; normal, pre‐MetS and MetS based on the International Diabetes Federation criteria. The primary outcome was age at HBeAg seroclearance.

Results

The overall HBeAg seroclearance rate was 11.4% per annum during 19 351 patient‐months of follow‐up with no difference in HBeAg seroclearance rates between 162 treatment‐free and 251 patients receiving nucleos(t)ide analogues. Patients with pre‐MetS and MetS were older when HBeAg seroclearance occurred (44 ± 12 and 53 ± 7 years, respectively) than the normal patients (37 ± 9 years, all P < 0.01). Patients with pre‐MetS and MetS had more advanced liver fibrosis (33.0% and 53.1%, respectively) than the normal patients (18.4%, all P < 0.05). By the age of 50, 59.3% of the metabolic normal patients, 42.1% of the pre‐MetS and 18.7% of the MetS patients had achieved HBeAg seroclearance (all P < 0.05, except P = 0.07 for pre‐MetS vs. MetS). In multivariate analysis, MetS and type II diabetes at baseline were predictors of delayed HBeAg seroclearance after adjusting for viral load, anti‐viral therapy and necroinflammatiom.

Conclusion

Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B and with pre‐metabolic syndrome or metabolic syndrome have delayed HBeAg seroclearance.
Predictors of either rapid healing or refractory reflux oesophagitis during treatment with potent acid suppression
Authors: Kahrilas P. J. , Persson T. , Denison H. , Wernersson B. , Hughes N. , Howden C. W.
Published: July 2014

Background

Little is known regarding patient characteristics that influence the speed of reflux oesophagitis (RO) healing.

Aim

To investigate patient characteristics that may influence RO healing rates.

Methods

A post hoc analysis of clinical trial data for potent acid suppression treatment of RO (esomeprazole or AZD0865) was conducted. Group A underwent endoscopy at baseline, week 2 and 4, and group B at baseline, week 4 and 8. Group A patients were sub‐grouped as ‘rapid’ (healed at 2 weeks) or unhealed at 2 weeks. Group B patients were sub‐grouped as ‘slow’ (healed at 8 weeks, not at 4 weeks) or ‘refractory’ (not healed at 8 weeks). Logistic regression analysis was performed only for comparisons within group A.

Results

At 2, 4 and 8 weeks, RO had healed in 68%, 65% and 61% of patients unhealed at previous endoscopy, respectively. Low‐grade [vs. high‐grade (C or D)] RO was the only independent predictor of rapid healing in group A after logistic regression analysis. Significantly more rapid healers had low grade RO (A or B) at baseline than patients with refractory RO (84% vs. 49%; P < 0.001), and significantly more refractory patients had frequent regurgitation at baseline than slow healers (80% vs. 63%; P = 0.039).

Conclusions

Low‐ (vs. high‐) grade RO determines the most rapid benefit from acid suppression. Roughly two‐thirds of patients healed with each time increment of potent acid suppression therapy. This suggests that some unhealed patients may still heal with continued therapy and that truly refractory RO is rare. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00206245).
Persistent effect of broody hens on behaviour of chickens
Authors: Shimmura Tsuyoshi , Maruyama Yuji , Fujino Saori , Kamimura Eriko , Uetake Katsuji , Tanaka Toshio
Published: July 2014

We reported previously that behavioral development of chicks was promoted remarkably by the presence of a broody hen. Here we report that these effects at an early age persist after maturity. A total of 60 female chicks were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: six pens with five chicks (brooded group) each were reared by a broody hen and six pens with five chicks (non‐brooded group) each were provided with an infrared heating lamp. We evaluated the persistent effects of broody hens by measures of behavior, physical condition and production at 9, 16, 35 and 55 weeks of age. The numbers of threatening, aggressive pecking, fighting and severe feather pecking behaviors were higher in non‐brooded than in brooded chickens (all P < 0.05). Egg production was lower in brooded than in non‐brooded chickens (P < 0.05), while the number of brooding chickens was higher in the brooded than in the non‐brooded group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the presence of broody hens at an early stage of chicks' lives has a persistent effect on behavior. Although brooded chickens showed more brooding and lower egg production than non‐brooded chickens, feather pecking and aggressive interaction were decreased in brooded hens.
Regeneration in chalk grassland during 150 years in a military area
Authors: Bakker Jan P.
Published: July 2014

The long‐term regeneration of calcareous grassland after agricultural intensification is elucidated in Redhead et al. 2014 (Applied Vegetation Science 17: 408–418). The paper generates thoughts about the impact of different pre‐purchase agricultural practices. It makes the reader think about the seeming contradiction of reducing soil fertility, grazing and atmospheric deposition. And what is it that prevents some characteristic species from re‐establishing even after 150 yrs of regeneration?
Effects of factor Xa on the expression of proteins in femoral arteries from type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: López‐Farré Antonio J. , Rodriguez‐Sierra Pablo , Modrego Javier , Segura Antonio , Martín‐Palacios Naiara , Saiz Ana M. , Zamorano‐León José J. , Duarte Juan , Serrano Javier , Moñux Guillermo
Published: July 2014

Aim

Further to its pivotal role in haemostasis, factor Xa (FXa) promotes effects on the vascular wall. The purpose of the study was to evaluate if FXa modifies the expression level of energy metabolism and oxidative stress‐related proteins in femoral arteries obtained from type 2 diabetic patients with end‐stage vasculopathy.

Methods

Femoral arteries were obtained from 12 type 2 diabetic patients who underwent leg amputation. Segments from the femoral arteries were incubated in vitro alone and in the presence of 25 nmol l−1 FXa and 25 nmol l−1 FXa + 50 nmol l−1 rivaroxaban.

Results

In the femoral arteries, FXa increased triosephosphate isomerase and glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase isotype 1 expression but decreased pyruvate dehydrogenase expression. These facts were accompanied by an increased content of acetyl‐CoA. Aconitase activity was reduced in FXa‐incubated femoral arteries as compared with control. Moreover, FXa increased the protein expression level of oxidative stress‐related proteins which was accompanied by an increased malonyldialdehyde arterial content. The FXa inhibitor, rivaroxaban, failed to prevent the reduced expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase induced by FXa but reduced acetyl‐CoA content and reverted the decreased aconitase activity observed with FXa alone. Rivaroxaban + FXa but not FXa alone increased the expression level of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I and II, two mitochondrial long chain fatty acid transporters. Rivaroxaban also prevented the increased expression of oxidative stress‐related proteins induced by FXa alone.

Conclusions

In femoral isolated arteries from type 2 diabetic patients with end‐stage vasculopathy, FXa promoted disruption of the aerobic mitochondrial metabolism. Rivaroxaban prevented such effects and even seemed to favour long chain fatty acid transport into mitochondria.
Novel coumarin modified GLP‐1 derivatives with enhanced plasma stability and prolonged in vivo glucose‐lowering ability
Authors: Han Jing , Sun Lidan , Huang Xun , Li Zheng , Zhang Chenyu , Qian Hai , Huang Wenlong
Published: July 2014

Background and Purpose

The short biological half‐life limits the therapeutic use of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) and chemical modification to improve the interaction of peptides with serum albumin represents an effective strategy to develop long‐acting peptide analogues. Coumarin, a natural product, is known to bind tightly to plasma proteins and possesses many biological activities. Therefore, we designed and synthesized a series of coumarin‐modified GLP‐1 derivatives, hypothesizing that conjugation with coumarin would retain the therapeutic effects and prolong the biological half‐life of the conjugates.

Experimental Approach

Four cysteine‐modified GLP‐1 analogues (1–4) were prepared using Gly8‐GLP‐1(7–36)‐NH2 peptide as a starting point. These analogues were conjugated with two coumarin maleimides to yield eight compounds (conjugates 6–13) for testing. Activation of human GLP‐1 receptors, stability to enzymic inactivation in plasma and binding to human albumin were assessed in vitro. In vivo, effects on oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) in rats and on blood glucose levels in db/db mice were studied.

Key Results

Most conjugates showed well preserved receptor activation efficacy, enhanced albumin‐binding properties and improved in vitro plasma stability and conjugate 7 was selected to undergo further assessment. In rats, conjugate 7 had a longer circulating t1/2 than exendin‐4 or liraglutide. A prolonged antidiabetic effect of conjugate 7 was observed after OGTT in rats and a prolonged hypoglycaemic effect in db/db mice.

Conclusions and Implications

Cysteine‐specific coumarin conjugation with GLP‐1 offers a useful approach to the development of long‐acting incretin‐based antidiabetic agents. Conjugate 7 is a promising long‐lasting GLP‐1 derivative deserving further investigation.
Where Culture Takes Hold: “Overimitation” and Its Flexible Deployment in Western, Aboriginal, and Bushmen Children
Authors: Nielsen Mark , Mushin Ilana , Tomaselli Keyan , Whiten Andrew
Published: July 2014

Children often “overimitate,” comprehensively copying others' actions despite manifest perceptual cues to their causal ineffectuality. The inflexibility of this behavior renders its adaptive significance difficult to apprehend. This study explored the boundaries of overimitation in 3‐ to 6‐year‐old children of three distinct cultures: Westernized, urban Australians (N = 64 in Experiment 1; N = 19 in Experiment 2) and remote communities of South African Bushmen (N = 64) and Australian Aborigines (N = 19). Children overimitated at high frequency in all communities and generalized what they had learned about techniques and object affordances from one object to another. Overimitation thus provides a powerful means of acquiring and flexibly deploying cultural knowledge. The potency of such social learning was also documented compared to opportunities for exploration and practice.
Social oral epidemi(olog)2y where next: one small step or one giant leap?
Authors: Baker Sarah R. , Gibson Barry G.
Published: July 2014

Since the early 1990s, there has been heated debate critically reflecting on social epidemiology. Yet, very little of this debate has reached oral epidemiology. This is no more noticeable than in the field of oral health inequalities. One of the significant achievements of social oral epidemiology has been the persistent documentation of social patterning of oral disease. Nevertheless, where social oral epidemiology has fallen down is going beyond description to explaining these patterns. Thinking how and in what way things happen, not just in relation to oral health inequalities but also more broadly, requires a more creative approach which links to scholarship outside of dentistry, including the work from critical epidemiologists to that within the social sciences. The aim of this review study is to provide a critical commentary on key aspects of more general epidemiological debates in order to inform and develop social oral epidemiology theory and methodology. In the first section, ‘Where are we now?’, six key debates are reflected upon: (i) analysis of variance versus analysis of causes, (ii) the fallacy of independent effects, (iii) black box thinking, (iv) theory and the understanding of mechanisms, (v) individualization of risk and (vi) the meaning of ‘social’. In the second section, ‘Where to next?’ we draw on a number of fundamental issues from within the social science literature in order to highlight possible channels of future inquiry. Our overriding goal throughout is to facilitate a critical engagement in order to improve understanding and generate knowledge in relation to population oral health.
Systems biology approaches to enhance our understanding of drug hypersensitivity reactions
Authors: Perkins J. R. , Barrionuevo E. , Ranea J. A. , Blanca M. , Cornejo‐Garcia J. A.
Published: July 2014

Hypersensitivity drug reactions (HDRs) encompass a wide spectrum of unpredictable clinical entities. They represent an important health problem, affecting people of all ages, and lead to a large strain on the public health system. Here, we summarize experiments that use high‐throughput genomics technologies to investigate HDRs. We also introduce the field of systems biology as a relatively recent discipline concerned with the integration and analysis of high‐throughput data sets such as DNA microarrays and next‐generation sequencing data. We describe previous studies that have applied systems biology techniques to related fields such as allergy and asthma. Finally, we present a number of potential applications of systems biology to the study of HDRs, in order to make the reader aware of the types of analyses that can be performed and the insights that can be gained through their application.
Extracting Features from Time‐Dependent Vector Fields Using Internal Reference Frames
Authors: Bhatia H. , Pascucci V. , Kirby R. M. , Bremer P.‐T.
Published: July 2014

Extracting features from complex, time‐dependent flow fields remains a significant challenge despite substantial research efforts, especially because most flow features of interest are defined with respect to a given reference frame. Pathline‐based techniques, such as the FTLE field, are complex to implement and resource intensive, whereas scalar transforms, such as λ2, often produce artifacts and require somewhat arbitrary thresholds. Both approaches aim to analyze the flow in a more suitable frame, yet neither technique explicitly constructs one.

This paper introduces a new data‐driven technique to compute internal reference frames for large‐scale complex flows. More general than uniformly moving frames, these frames can transform unsteady fields, which otherwise require substantial processing of resources, into a sequence of individual snapshots that can be analyzed using the large body of steady‐flow analysis techniques. Our approach is simple, theoretically well‐founded, and uses an embarrassingly parallel algorithm for structured as well as unstructured data. Using several case studies from fluid flow and turbulent combustion, we demonstrate that internal frames are distinguished, result in temporally coherent structures, and can extract well‐known as well as notoriously elusive features one snapshot at a time.
4D MRI Flow Coupled to Physics‐Based Fluid Simulation for Blood‐Flow Visualization
Authors: de Hoon N. , van Pelt R. , Jalba A. , Vilanova A.
Published: July 2014

Modern MRI measurements deliver volumetric and time‐varying blood‐flow data of unprecedented quality. Visual analysis of these data potentially leads to a better diagnosis and risk assessment of various cardiovascular diseases. Recent advances have improved the speed and quality of the imaging data considerably. Nevertheless, the data remains compromised by noise and a lack of spatiotemporal resolution. Besides imaging data, also numerical simulations are employed. These are based on mathematical models of specific features of physical reality. However, these models require realistic parameters and boundary conditions based on measurements. We propose to use data assimilation to bring measured data and physically‐based simulation together, and to harness the mutual benefits. The accuracy and noise robustness of the coupled approach is validated using an analytic flow field. Furthermore, we present a comparative visualization that conveys the differences between using conventional interpolation and our coupled approach.
Line Integral Convolution for Real‐Time Illustration of Molecular Surface Shape and Salient Regions
Authors: Lawonn Kai , Krone Michael , Ertl Thomas , Preim Bernhard
Published: July 2014

We present a novel line drawing algorithm that illustrates surfaces in real‐time to convey their shape. We use line integral convolution (LIC) and employ ambient occlusion for illustrative surface rendering. Furthermore, our method depicts salient regions based on the illumination gradient. Our method works on animated surfaces in a frame‐coherent manner. Therefore, it yields an illustrative representation of time‐dependent surfaces as no preprocessing step is needed. In this paper, the method is used to highlight the structure of molecular surfaces and to illustrate important surface features like cavities, channels, and pockets. The benefit of our method was evaluated with domain experts. We also demonstrate the applicability of our method to medical visualization.
Networks of Names: Visual Exploration and Semi‐Automatic Tagging of Social Networks from Newspaper Articles
Authors: Kochtchi A. , Landesberger T. von , Biemann C.
Published: July 2014

Understanding relationships between people and organizations by reading newspaper articles is difficult to manage for humans due to the large amount of data. To address this problem, we present and evaluate a new visual analytics system, which offers interactive exploration and tagging of social networks extracted from newspapers. For the visual exploration of the network, we extract “interesting” neighbourhoods of nodes, using a new degree of interest (DOI) measure based on edges instead of nodes. It improves the seminal definition of DOI, which we find to produce the same “globally interesting” neighbourhoods in our use case, regardless of the query. Our approach allows answering different user queries appropriately, avoiding uniform search results.

We propose a user‐driven pattern‐based classifier for discovery and tagging of non‐taxonomic semantic relations. Our approach does not require any a‐priori user knowledge, such as expertise in syntax or pattern creation. An evaluation shows that our classifier is capable of identifying known lexico‐syntactic patterns as well as various domain‐specific patters. Our classifier yields good results already with a small amount of training, and continuously improves through user feedback.

We conduct a user study to evaluate whether our visual interactive system has an impact on how users tag relationships, as compared to traditional text‐based interfaces. Study results suggest that users of the visual system tend to tag more concisely, avoiding too abstract or overly specific relationship labels.
Visual Multiplexing
Authors: Chen M. , Walton S. , Berger K. , Thiyagalingam J. , Duffy B. , Fang H. , Holloway C. , Trefethen A. E.
Published: July 2014

The majority of display devices used in visualization are 2D displays. Inevitably, it is often necessary to overlay one piece of visual information on top of another, especially in applications such as multi‐field visualization and geo‐spatial information visualization. In this paper, we present a conceptual framework for studying the mechanisms for overlaying multiple pieces of visual information while allowing users to recover occluded information. We adopt the term ‘multiplexing’ from tele‐ and data communication to encompass all such overlapping mechanisms. We establish 10 categories of visual multiplexing mechanisms. We draw support evidence from both perception literature and existing works in visualization to support this conceptual framework. We examine the relationships between multiplexing and information theoretic measures. This new conceptual categorization provides the much‐needed theory of visualization with an integral component.
Many Plans: Multidimensional Ensembles for Visual Decision Support in Flood Management
Authors: Waser J. , Konev A. , Sadransky B. , Horváth Z. , Ribičić H. , Carnecky R. , Kluding P. , Schindler B.
Published: July 2014

Uncertainties in flood predictions complicate the planning of mitigation measures. There is a consensus that many possible incident scenarios should be considered. For each scenario, a specific response plan should be prepared which is optimal with respect to criteria such as protection, costs, or realization time. None of the existing software tools is capable of creating large scenario pools, nor do they provide means for quick exploration and assessment of the associated plans. In this paper, we present an integrated solution that is based on multidimensional, time‐dependent ensemble simulations of incident scenarios and protective measures. We provide scalable interfaces which facilitate and accelerate setting up multiple time‐varying parameters for generating a pool of pre‐cooked scenarios. In case of an emergency, disaster managers can quickly extract relevant information from the pool to deal with the situation at hand. An interactive 3D‐view conveys details about how a response plan has to be executed. Linked information visualization and ranking views allow for a quick assessment of many plans. In collaboration with flood managers, we demonstrate the practical applicability of our solution. We tackle the challenges of planning mobile water barriers for protecting important infrastructure. We account for real‐world limitations of available resources and handle the involved logistics problems.
LoVis: Local Pattern Visualization for Model Refinement
Authors: Zhao Kaiyu , Ward Matthew O. , Rundensteiner Elke A. , Higgins Huong N.
Published: July 2014

Linear models are commonly used to identify trends in data. While it is an easy task to build linear models using pre‐selected variables, it is challenging to select the best variables from a large number of alternatives. Most metrics for selecting variables are global in nature, and thus not useful for identifying local patterns. In this work, we present an integrated framework with visual representations that allows the user to incrementally build and verify models in three model spaces that support local pattern discovery and summarization: model complementarity, model diversity, and model representivity. Visual representations are designed and implemented for each of the model spaces. Our visualizations enable the discovery of complementary variables, i.e., those that perform well in modeling different subsets of data points. They also support the isolation of local models based on a diversity measure. Furthermore, the system integrates a hierarchical representation to identify the outlier local trends and the local trends that share similar directions in the model space. A case study on financial risk analysis is discussed, followed by a user study.
Semi‐Automatic Editing of Graphs with Customized Layouts
Authors: Gladisch S. , Schumann H. , Ernst M. , Füllen G. , Tominski C.
Published: July 2014

Usually visualization is applied to gain insight into data. Yet consuming the data in form of visual representation is not always enough. Instead, users need to edit the data, preferably through the same means used to visualize them. In this work, we present a semi‐automatic approach to visual editing of graphs. The key idea is to use an interactive EditLens that defines where an edit operation affects an already customized and established graph layout. Locally optimal node positions within the lens and edge routes to connected nodes are calculated according to different criteria. This spares the user much manual work, but still provides sufficient freedom to accommodate application‐dependent layout constraints. Our approach utilizes the advantages of multi‐touch gestures, and is also compatible with classic mouse and keyboard interaction. Preliminary user tests have been conducted with researchers from bio‐informatics who need to manually maintain a slowly, but constantly growing molecular network. As the user feedback indicates, our solution significantly improves the editing procedure applied so far.
In vitro color evaluation of esthetic coatings for metallic dental implants and implant prosthetic appliances
Authors: Pecnik Christina M. , Roos Malgorzata , Muff Daniel , Spolenak Ralph , Sailer Irena
Published: July 2014

Objectives

The aim of this study was to characterize the optical properties of newly developed esthetic coatings for metallic implants and components for an improved peri‐implant soft tissue appearance.

Material and methods

Pig maxillae (n = 6) were used for the in vitro color evaluation of coated and uncoated samples. Three different coating systems (Ti–ZrO2, Ti–Al–ZrO2, and Ti–Ag–ZrO2) were deposited on titanium substrates, which exhibited different roughness (polished, machined, and sand‐blasted) and interference colors (pink, yellow, and white). Spectrophotometric measurements were made of samples below three different mucosa thicknesses (1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm) and titanium served as negative control. Color difference ΔE was calculated using ΔL, Δa, and Δb values for each sample (in total 30 samples).

Results

ΔE values were significantly above the threshold value of 3.70 for sand‐blasted Ti and Ti–ZrO2 samples when tested below 1 mm thick soft tissue, hence resulted in a dark appearance of the soft tissues. In contrast, Ti–Al–ZrO2 and Ti–Ag–ZrO2 samples showed significant ΔL values below 1 mm, which indicates a brightening of the covering tissue. In general, ΔE values decreased with increasing thickness of the tissue. At 3 mm thick tissue, ΔE values were significantly below 3.70 for Ti–Al–ZrO2 and Ti–Ag–ZrO2 samples. The preferable substrate surface should be machined due increased color brightness, good soft tissue integration and improved adhesion between coating and substrates. Improvement of the optical appearance of the metal was achieved with the coating systems Ti–Al–ZrO2 and Ti–Ag–ZrO2. Darkening effects could not be observed for these systems, and partially light brightening of the tissue was observed. Advantageous colors were suggested to be pink and yellow.
Histopathological comparative analysis of peri‐implant soft tissue response after dental implant placement with flap and flapless surgical technique. Experimental study in pigs
Authors: Vlahovic Zoran , Markovic Aleksa , Golubovic Mileta , Scepanovic Miodrag , Kalanovic Milena , Djinic Ana
Published: July 2014

Aim

The aim of this study was comparing the effect of flapless vs. flap technique of implant placement on inflammation degree of peri‐implant soft tissue, through histopathological analysis.

Method

The experiment was conducted on five domestic pigs. Nine weeks after tooth extraction, implants were installed. Each animal received six implants in mandible. According to split‐mouth design, randomly one side was used for flapless technique using mini‐incision, while on the other side, flap was raised. After 7, 14, 21, 28, and 90 days, the experimental animals were sacrificed. Samples for histopathological analyzes were taken from the buccal side of peri‐implant mucosa next to the neck of implants, from three levels. The degree of inflammatory response in the peri‐implant soft tissue was estimated through ordinal scores from 0 to 3.

Results

In the flap group Score 3 indicating high degree of inflammation was present from day 7 to day 21, in contrast to flapless group where Score 3 was not recorded during the entire follow‐up. Three months after implantation, there were no signs of inflammation neither around flap nor around flapless implants.

Conclusion

Flapless surgical implantation technique using mini‐incision decreases peri‐implant soft tissue inflammatory reaction compared with flap surgery.
A Comparative Evaluation of Curriculum Learning with Filtering and Boosting in Supervised Classification Problems
Authors: Smith Michael R. , Martinez Tony
Published: July 2014

Not all instances in a data set are equally beneficial for inferring a model of the data, and some instances (such as outliers) can be detrimental. Several machine learning techniques treat the instances in a data set differently during training such as curriculum learning, filtering, and boosting. However, it is difficult to determine how beneficial an instance is for inferring a model of the data. In this article, we present an automated method that orders the instances in a data set by complexity based on their likelihood of being misclassified (instance hardness) for supervised classification problems that generates a hardness ordering. The underlying assumption of this method is that instances with a high likelihood of being misclassified represent more complex concepts in a data set. Using a hardness ordering allows a learning algorithm to focus on the most beneficial instances. We integrate a hardness ordering into the learning process using curriculum learning, filtering, and boosting. We find that focusing on the simpler instances during training significantly increases generalization accuracy. Also, the effects of curriculum learning depend on the learning algorithm that is used. In general, filtering and boosting outperform curriculum learning, and filtering has the most significant effect on accuracy. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reliable Identification of Declining Populations in an Uncertain World
Authors: d’Eon‐Eggertson Faye , Dulvy Nicholas K. , Peterman Randall M.
Published: July 2014

Assessments of extinction risk based on population declines are widely used, yet scientists have little quantitative understanding of their reliability. Incorrectly classifying whether a population is declining or not can lead to inappropriate conservation actions or management measures, with potentially profound societal costs. Here we evaluate key causes of misclassification of decline status and assess the reliability of 20 decline metrics using a stochastic model to simulate time series of population abundance of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). We show that between‐year variability in population productivity (process variation) and, to a lesser extent, variability in abundance estimates (observation error) are important causes of unreliable identification of population status. We found that using all available data, rather than just the most recent three generations, consistently improved the reliability of risk assessments. The approach outlined here can improve understanding of the reliability of risk assessments, thereby reducing concerns that may impede their use for exploited taxa such as marine fishes.
Bojale Drum: Material Culture in Living Contexts
Authors: Setlhabi Keletso Gaone
Published: July 2014

This paper discusses the three phases of the lifecycle of the bojale drum: its custodianship by the queen of Bakgatla‐baga‐Kgafela; the drum's use in bojale (girls’ initiation ceremony); and its presence in Phuthadikobo Museum, a community institution. This lifecycle was observed by the author prior, during, and post initiation in bojale, a girls’ initiation school in 2009. The drum's use, its royal significance and sacredness, is barely documented in its museum record, which can result in its misinterpretation. The recommendations are that the drum's documentation, preservation, handling, and storage in the museum should incorporate its intangible cultural attributes if the museum is to be relevant to the Bakgatla‐baga‐Kgafela community. In conclusion, bojale drum is an example of how material culture can connect a museum with its community through the living culture of bojale.
A new twist on old ideas: how sitting reorients crawlers
Authors: Soska Kasey C. , Robinson Scott R. , Adolph Karen E.
Published: July 2014

Traditionally, crawling and sitting are considered distinct motor behaviors with different postures and functions. Ten‐ to 12‐month‐old infants were observed in the laboratory or in their homes while being coaxed to crawl continuously over long, straight walkways (Study 1; N = 20) and during spontaneous crawling during free play (Study 2; N = 20). In every context, infants stopped crawling to sit 3–6 times per minute. Transitions from crawling to sitting frequently turned infants' bodies away from the direction of heading; subsequent transitions back to crawling were offset by as much as 180° from the original direction of heading. Apparently, body reorientations result from the biomechanics of transitioning between crawling and sitting. Findings indicate that sustained, linear crawling is likely an epiphenomenon of how gait is studied in standard paradigms. Postural transitions between crawling and sitting are ubiquitous and can represent a functional unit of action. These transitions and the accompanying body reorientations likely have cascading effects for infants' exploration, visual perception, and spatial cognition.
Rethinking computer design from a disabilities rights standpoint
Authors: Lobo Michele A
Published: July 2014

This commentary is on the original article by Davies et al. on pages 1180–1186 of this issue.