bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Griffith Edwards’ work on the life course of alcohol dependence
Authors: Marshall E. Jane
Published: June 2015

In 1976 Edwards & Gross proposed the concept of the alcohol dependence syndrome, based on the clinical observation that heavy drinkers manifested an inter‐related clustering of signs and symptoms. That this modest ‘provisional description’ turned out to be so significant and influential is perhaps unsurprising when the context in which it was made is appreciated. Griffith Edwards and his colleagues at the Maudsley Hospital had undergone a rigorous 3‐year training in clinical psychiatry, during which they had been taught to think critically and were grounded in the art of clinical observation. As he assessed patients for various alcohol research studies he realized that there was a clustering of certain elements. Thus clinical observation and an appreciation of the patient's drinking history contributed to the genesis of the concept. This paper reflects on the integration of his rigorous training at the Maudsley, his enquiring mind and encyclopaedic knowledge of the historical and research literature which enabled him to formulate a testable hypothesis about the alcohol dependence syndrome.
Delay discounting and self‐reported impulsivity in adolescent smokers and nonsmokers living in rural Appalachia
Authors: Lewis Russell , Harris Millie , Slone Stacey A. , Shelton Brent J. , Reynolds Brady
Published: June 2015

Background and Objectives This study evaluated whether impulsivity (delay discounting and BIS‐11‐A) is associated with adolescent smoking status in a region with strong environmental risk factors for smoking.

Methods Forty‐two adolescent smokers and nonsmokers from rural Appalachia completed discounting and self‐reported impulsivity assessments.

Results The BIS‐11‐A, but not the measure of discounting, was associated with smoking status; however, neither assessment predicted smoking status once parent/best‐friend smoking variables were statistically accounted for.

Discussion and Conclusions In regions with strong environmental risk factors for smoking, delay discounting may play a more limited role in risk of initiation.

Scientific Significance Helps to better define impulsivity as risk factors for smoking in relation to familial and broader cultural variables. (Am J Addict 2015;24:492–494)
The Rhetorical Standards of Public Reason in Australia
Authors: Walter Ryan , Uhr John
Published: June 2015

Our article examines recent Australian political speech to discover rhetorical standards for deliberation. Unlike philosophical standards for public reason — such as those developed by Jürgen Habermas and John Rawls — rhetorical standards are not anchored in reason, but in the institutional and linguistic constraints of partisan political speech. Accordingly, rhetorical standards are unwritten, malleable, and permissive. Two standards are apparent. The first is that political parties should not be influenced by factions or vested interests, but must serve the national interest, even as the meaning of that idea is acknowledged to be open to divergent interpretations. The second standard relates to individual politicians, and it prohibits officeholders from acting on the basis of religious beliefs. Both standards can be invoked to attack the reasoning and actions of rival politicians and parties, but both standards also offer generous resources for legitimation.
CYT003, a TLR9 agonist, in persistent allergic asthma – a randomized placebo‐controlled Phase 2b study
Authors: Casale T. B. , Cole J. , Beck E. , Vogelmeier C. F. , Willers J. , Lassen C. , Hammann‐Haenni A. , Trokan L. , Saudan P. , Wechsler M. E.
Published: June 2015

Background

New treatment options are required for patients with asthma not sufficiently controlled with inhaled therapies. In a Phase 2a trial, CYT003, a Toll‐like receptor‐9 agonist immunomodulator, improved asthma control during inhaled glucocorticosteroid reduction in patients with allergic asthma. This double‐blind Phase 2b study assessed the efficacy and safety of CYT003 in patients with persistent moderate‐to‐severe allergic asthma not sufficiently controlled on standard inhaled glucocorticosteroid therapy with/without long‐acting beta‐agonists (LABAs).

Methods

Overall, 365 patients received seven doses of subcutaneous CYT003 (0.3, 1, or 2 mg) or placebo as add‐on therapy to conventional controller medication. Change from baseline in Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) score was the primary outcome; secondary outcomes included change in forced expiratory volume, Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, and safety.

Results

All groups, including placebo, showed a clinically important improvement in ACQ score; however, there was no significant difference between the CYT003 and placebo groups at week 12 (least‐squares mean difference 0.3 mg: −0.027 [95% confidence interval −0.259 to 0.204]; 1 mg: 0.097 [−0.131 to 0.325]; 2 mg: 0.081 [−0.148 to 0.315]). No significant differences were seen in secondary outcomes. CYT003 was well tolerated; the most common treatment‐emergent adverse events were injection site reactions. Due to lack of efficacy, the study was prematurely terminated at the end of the treatment phase with no further follow‐up.

Conclusions

Toll‐like receptor‐9 agonism with CYT003 showed no additional benefit in patients with insufficiently controlled moderate‐to‐severe allergic asthma receiving standard inhaled glucocorticosteroid therapy with or without LABAs.
The Use of Treatment Concurrences to Assess Robustness of Binary Block Designs Against the Loss of Whole Blocks
Authors: Godolphin J. D. , Godolphin E. J.
Published: June 2015

Criteria are proposed for assessing the robustness of a binary block design against the loss of whole blocks, based on summing entries of selected upper non‐principal sections of the concurrence matrix. These criteria improve on the minimal concurrence concept that has been used previously and provide new conditions for measuring the robustness status of a design. The robustness properties of two‐associate partially balanced designs are considered and it is shown that two categories of group divisible designs are maximally robust. These results expand a classic result in the literature, obtained by Ghosh, which established maximal robustness for the class of balanced block designs.
Population pharmacokinetics of midazolam and its metabolites in overweight and obese adolescents
Authors: van Rongen Anne , Vaughns Janelle D. , Moorthy Ganesh S. , Barrett Jeffrey S. , Knibbe Catherijne A. J. , van den Anker Johannes N.
Published: June 2015

Aim

In view of the increasing prevalence of obesity in adolescents, the aim of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of the CYP3A substrate midazolam and its metabolites in overweight and obese adolescents.

Methods

Overweight (BMI for age ≥ 85th percentile) and obese (BMI for age ≥ 95th percentile) adolescents undergoing surgery received 2 or 3 mg intravenous midazolam as a sedative drug pre‐operatively. Blood samples were collected until 6 or 8 h post‐dose. Population pharmacokinetic modelling and systematic covariate analysis were performed using nonmem 7.2.

Results

Nineteen overweight and obese patients with a mean body weight of 102.7 kg (62–149.8 kg), a mean BMI of 36.1 kg m−2 (24.8–55 kg m−2), and a mean age of 15.9 years (range 12.5–18.9 years) were included. In the model for midazolam and metabolites, total body weight was not of influence on clearance (0.66 l min−1 (RSE 8.3%)), while peripheral volume of distribution of midazolam (154 l (11.2%)), increased substantially with total body weight (P < 0.001). The increase in peripheral volume could be explained by excess body weight (WTexcess) instead of body weight related to growth (WTfor age and length).

Conclusions

The pharmacokinetics of midazolam and its metabolites in overweight and obese adolescents show a marked increase in peripheral volume of distribution and a lack of influence on clearance. The findings may imply a need for a higher initial infusion rate upon initiation of a continuous infusion in obese adolescents.
Bats are Not Birds – Different Responses to Human Land‐use on a Tropical Mountain
Authors: Helbig‐Bonitz Maria , Ferger Stefan W. , Böhning‐Gaese Katrin , Tschapka Marco , Howell Kim , Kalko Elisabeth K. V.
Published: June 2015

Land‐use intensification has consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, with various taxonomic groups differing widely in their sensitivity. As land‐use intensification alters habitat structure and resource availability, both factors may contribute to explaining differences in animal species diversity. Within the local animal assemblages the flying vertebrates, bats and birds, provide important and partly complementary ecosystem functions. We tested how bats and birds respond to land‐use intensification and compared abundance, species richness, and community composition across a land‐use gradient including forest, traditional agroforests (home garden), coffee plantations and grasslands onMountKilimanjaro,Tanzania. Furthermore, we asked how sensitive different habitat and feeding guilds of bats and birds react to land‐use intensification and the associated alterations in vegetation structure and food resource availability. In contrast to our expectations, land‐use intensification had no negative effect on species richness and abundance of all birds and bats. However, some habitat and feeding guilds, in particular forest specialist and frugivorous birds, were highly sensitive to land‐use intensification. Although the habitat guilds of both, birds and bats, depended on a certain degree of vegetation structure, total bat and bird abundance was mediated primarily by the availability of the respective food resources. Even though the highly structured southern slopes ofMountKilimanjaro are able to maintain diverse bat and bird assemblages, the sensitivity of avian forest specialists against land‐use intensification and the dependence of the bat and bird habitat guilds on a certain vegetation structure demonstrate that conservation plans should place special emphasis on these guilds.
Woody Species Alpha‐diversity and Species Abundance Distributions in an African Semi‐deciduous Tropical Rain Forest
Authors: Mwavu Edward N. , Witkowski Ed T. F.
Published: June 2015

Understanding plant species diversity patterns and distributions is critical for conserving and sustainably managing tropical rain forests of high conservation value. We analyzed the alpha‐diversity, species abundance distributions, and relative ecological importance of woody species in the Budongo Forest, a remnant forest of the Albertine Rift in Uganda. In 32 0.5‐ha plots, we recorded 269 species in 171 genera and 51 families with stems of ≥2.0 cm in diameter at breast height (dbh). There were 53 more species with stems of ≥2.0 cm dbh than with stems of ≥10 cm dbh, of which 33 were treelets and 20 were multi‐stemmed shrubs. For both minimum stem diameter cut‐offs (i.e., ≥2 cm dbh vs. ≥10 cm dbh), the Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Ulmaceae, and Meliaceae families and the species Cynometra alexandri, Lasiodiscus mildbraedii, and Celtis mildbraedii had the highest relative ecological importance. The relative ecological importance of some species and families changed greatly with the minimum stem diameter measured. Alpha‐diversity, species richness, and species abundance distributions varied across historical management practice types, forest community types, and as a function of minimum stem diameter. Species richness and Shannon–Weiner diversity index were greater for species with stems of ≥2.0 cm dbh than of ≥10 cm dbh. The decrease in species evenness with an increasing number of plots was accompanied by an increase in species richness for trees of both minimum diameters. This forest is characterized by a small number of abundant species and a relatively large proportion of infrequent species, many of which are sparsely distributed and with restricted habitats. We recommend lowering the minimum stem diameter measured for woody species diversity studies in tropical forests from 10 cm dbh to 2 cm dbh to include a larger proportion of the species pool.
Stability of implants placed in fresh sockets versus healed alveolar sites: Early findings
Authors: Gehrke Sergio Alexandre , da Silva Neto Ulisses Tavares , Rossetti Paulo Henrique Orlato , Watinaga Sidney Eiji , Giro Gabriela , Shibli Jamil Awad
Published: June 2015

Objectives

The present study measured implant stability quotient (ISQ) values at three different time points after surgical procedures to compare whether the stability values differed between implants placed in fresh extraction sockets versus healed alveolar sites.

Materials and methods

To measure implant stability, resonance frequency analysis (RFA) was performed in 77 patients (53 women, 24 men) with a total of 120 dental implants. These implants were divided into two groups: Group 1 included 60 implants in healed alveolar sites (22 in the maxilla, 38 in the mandible), and Group 2 included 60 implants in fresh sockets (41 in the maxilla, 19 in the mandible). Implant stability was measured immediately at implant placement (baseline), 90, and 150 days later. Statistical analysis was made using a multivariate regression linear model at implant level (α = 0.05).

Results

Overall, the means and standard deviations of the ISQ values were 62.7 ± 7.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], 39–88) at baseline, 70.0 ± 6.22 (95% CI, 46–88) at 90 days, and 73.4 ± 5.84 (95% CI, 58–88) at 150 days. In Group 1, the ISQs ranged between 64.3 ± 6.20 and 75.0 ± 5.69, while in Group 2, presented lower values that ranged between 61.2 ± 8.09 and 71.9 ± 5.99 (P = 0.002). Anatomic location and times periods were the only identified variables with an influence on ISQ values at implant level (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The stabilities of the implants placed in the fresh sockets and in healed sites exhibited similar evolutions in ISQ values and thus osseointegration; however, the implants in the healed alveolar sites exhibited superior values at all time points.
F‐18‐FDG PET‐CT in children and young adults with Ewing sarcoma diagnosed in Norway during 2005–2012: a national population‐based study
Authors: Johnsen Boel , Boye Kjetil , Rosendahl Karen , Biermann Martin , Trovik Clement , Aukland Stein Magnus
Published: June 2015

Background

To examine national imaging strategies regarding the use of F‐18‐FDG PET‐CT in patients with Ewing sarcoma and study factors that might influence the use of PET‐CT, such as tumour biology (Picci grade of operation specimen), clinical disease stage and age.

Methods

We examined the medical records including pathology and imaging of all patients below 30 years diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in Norway in 2005–2012.

Results

Of 61 patients treated at one of the two national sarcoma treatment service centres (Oslo: 35, Bergen: 26), 29 patients had localized disease, 8 had tumour extending to organs nearby and 24 had metastases. Among 35 operated patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 15 had Picci grades II and III (good responders) and 20 grade I (poor responders). We found a significant difference in the use of PET‐CT (Oslo/Bergen 0·9 versus 2·0 scans per patient, P = 0·010) and in the use of MRI (Oslo/Bergen: eight versus 13, P = 0·006). No differences were proven for ultrasound, radiography, CT or skeletal scintigraphy. The number of PET‐CTs was associated with clinical disease stage at diagnosis (P = 0·041) but not with Picci grade or age. The number of PET studies was not correlated to the number of MR studies.

Conclusions

The use of PET‐CT in children and young adults diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in Norway during 2005–2012 at the two national sarcoma treatment service centres differed significantly. The use of PET‐CT imaging was related to the clinical disease stage at diagnosis but unrelated to patient age and tumour biology (Picci grade).
Elevated serum complement C3 levels are related to the development of prediabetes in an adult population: the Tianjin Chronic Low‐Grade Systematic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study
Authors: Bao X. , Xia Y. , Zhang Q. , Wu H. M. , Du H. M. , Liu L. , Wang C. J. , Shi H. B. , Guo X. Y. , Liu X. , Li C. L. , Su Q. , Meng G. , Yu B. , Sun S. M. , Wang X. , Zhou M. , Jia Q. Y. , Song K. , Niu K. J.
Published: June 2015

Aims

To investigate whether serum complement C3 is related to the prevalence and incidence of prediabetes in an adult population.

Methods

A cross‐sectional (n = 10 206) and prospective cohort study (n = 3333), with a mean (range; 95% CI) follow‐up of 2.63 (1–6; 2.58–2.68) years, was conducted in people recruited from the Health Management Centre of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital in Tianjin, China. Measurement of serum C3 concentration, blood fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance, HbA1c and other potential confounding factors was performed at baseline and each year during the follow‐up. Prediabetes was defined according to the criteria of the American Diabetes Association. Adjusted logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the relationships between C3 quintiles and prediabetes.

Results

The prevalence and incidence of prediabetes were 38.5% and 119 per 1000 person‐years, respectively. In cross‐sectional analysis, after adjustment for potential confounders, the odds ratios of prediabetes for increasing quintiles of C3 were 1.00 (reference), 1.32 (95% CI 1.14–1.53), 1.37 (95% CI 1.18–1.59), 1.75 (95% CI 1.51–2.03), 2.25 (95% CI 1.93–2.62; P for trend < 0.0001). In the cohort analysis, the multiple‐adjusted hazard ratio of prediabetes in the highest quintile of baseline C3 was 1.43 (95% CI 1.15, 1.78; P for trend < 0.001), when compared with the lowest quintile.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that elevated serum C3 levels are significantly related to an increased risk of developing prediabetes in an adult population, suggesting that C3 can be used as a biomarker in high‐risk individuals to improve primary prevention of prediabetes and diabetes.
Randomized controlled trial comparing impact on platelet reactivity of twice‐daily with once‐daily aspirin in people with Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Bethel M. A. , Harrison P. , Sourij H. , Sun Y. , Tucker L. , Kennedy I. , White S. , Hill L. , Oulhaj A. , Coleman R. L. , Holman R. R.
Published: June 2015

Aims

Reduced aspirin efficacy has been demonstrated in people with Type 2 diabetes. Because increased platelet reactivity and/or turnover are postulated mechanisms, we examined whether higher and/or more frequent aspirin dosing might reduce platelet reactivity more effectively.

Methods

Participants with Type 2 diabetes (n = 24) but without known cardiovascular disease were randomized in a three‐way crossover design to 2‐week treatment periods with aspirin 100 mg once daily, 200 mg once daily or 100 mg twice daily. The primary outcome was platelet reactivity, assessed using the VerifyNow™ ASA method. Relationships between platelet reactivity and aspirin dosing were examined using generalized linear mixed models with random subject effects.

Results

Platelet reactivity decreased from baseline with all doses of aspirin. Modelled platelet reactivity was more effectively reduced with aspirin 100 mg twice daily vs. 100 mg once daily, but not vs. 200 mg once daily. Aspirin 200 mg once daily did not differ from 100 mg once daily. Aspirin 100 mg twice daily was also more effective than once daily as measured by collagen/epinephrine‐stimulated platelet aggregation and urinary thromboxane levels, with a similar trend measured by serum thromboxane levels. No episodes of bleeding occurred.

Conclusions

In Type 2 diabetes, aspirin 100 mg twice daily reduced platelet reactivity more effectively than 100 mg once daily, and numerically more than 200 mg once daily. Clinical outcome trials evaluating primary cardiovascular disease prevention with aspirin in Type 2 diabetes may need to consider using a more frequent dosing schedule.
Current and emerging medications for overweight or obesity in people with comorbidities
Authors: Fujioka K.
Published: June 2015

Recently, the recognition of obesity as a complex disease that requires chronic management has become more widespread. There has also been a movement away from a focus on body mass index alone, and toward the management of obesity‐related comorbidities as well as excess weight. This article examines the current and emerging pharmacological options for weight management in people with overweight or obesity who have, or are at a high risk of, weight‐related comorbidities. In the USA, the current options for pharmacological weight management are phentermine (indicated for short‐term use only), orlistat, combined phentermine/topiramate extended release, lorcaserin, naltrexone/bupropion and liraglutide 3.0 mg. Currently, orlistat, naltrexone/bupropion and liraglutide 3.0 mg are approved in Europe. All of the above‐mentioned medications have shown weight‐loss efficacy versus placebo. Those approved for long‐term weight management have also been associated with improvements in weight‐related comorbidities, such as hypertension, prediabetes, diabetes or dyslipidaemia, or related biomarkers. As with all drugs, the safety and tolerability profiles of medications for weight management should be considered alongside their efficacy to ensure correct use. Additional medications for weight management that are in clinical development include bupropion/zonisamide and beloranib. The field of obesity treatment is advancing with a number of medications being recently approved, and with other pharmacological options emerging.
Prevalence of traumatic dental injuries and associated factors among preschool children in Amman, Jordan
Authors: ElKarmi Rawan Fawwaz , Hamdan Mahmoud Anwar , Rajab Lamis Darwish , Abu‐Ghazaleh Suha Bassam , Sonbol Hawazen Nizar
Published: June 2015

Background/Aims

Dental trauma is a major public health problem. However, baseline data regarding traumatic injuries to primary teeth in Jordan are lacking. The study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries to primary anterior teeth among preschool children in Amman (Jordan), investigating the relationship between dental trauma and associated factors, and assessing the treatment provided and treatment need.

Materials and methods

After obtaining ethical approval and parental consent, a cross‐sectional population‐based study examined a total of 1198 children attending 39 preschools randomly selected from different areas of Amman. Chi‐square test and stepwise logistic regression modeling were used for statistical analysis.

Results

The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries was 26.4%. The upper incisors were more likely to sustain dental trauma (91.7%). No statistically significant association was established between dental trauma and any of the socio‐demographic variables. The most common type of dental trauma was enamel fracture (43.1%) followed by pulp injury (39.7%). The odds ratio suggested that the risk of dental trauma was 1.89 times greater if the overjet was >3 mm, 1.93 times greater if the child had an anterior open bite, and 2.56 times greater if the child had inadequate lip coverage. Only 25.3% of children diagnosed with a TDI visited a dentist following their trauma.

Conclusions

The prevalence of dental trauma among preschool children in Amman (Jordan) was high; therefore, it is highly recommended to plan campaigns targeting parents, children, and medical/dental care providers that stress the importance of preventing dental trauma and treating it promptly.
Epidemiology of classical risk factors in stroke patients in the Middle East
Authors: Behrouz R. , Powers C. J.
Published: June 2015

The Middle East (ME) is an ethnically and economically diverse region. A systematic review of all stroke studies conducted in the ME was carried out, with the aim of determining the prevalence of classic vascular risk factors (CRFs) across this region. Additionally, the prevalence of CRFs in the ME was compared to that of a US cohort. Prospective and retrospective ME stroke studies published from 1994 to 2014 were searched for that specifically reported on the prevalence of CRFs. The Z test for proportions was used to determine the significance of differences in CRF rates between the ME and non‐ME studies. A total of 21 724 stroke patients from 13 nations in the ME were included. The prevalence rates for CRFs in the ME stroke population were hypertension, 62.1%; diabetes, 33.1%; dyslipidaemia, 36.8%; ischaemic heart disease, 24.6%; smoking, 19.3%; and atrial fibrillation, 13.6%. Compared to the US cohort, ME patients had a lower prevalence of all CRFs except diabetes (P < 0.0001) and smoking (P = 0.05). Compared with stroke patients in the USA, those in the ME have a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes and smoking. Education and lifestyle modification is perhaps the most effective strategy in reducing the risk of stroke in this population.
Post‐stroke cognitive impairment is common even after successful clinical recovery
Authors: Jokinen H. , Melkas S. , Ylikoski R. , Pohjasvaara T. , Kaste M. , Erkinjuntti T. , Hietanen M.
Published: June 2015

Background and purpose

Cognitive impairment is common after stroke, but the prevalence and long‐term significance of the diverse neuropsychological deficits on functional outcome are still not well known. The frequency and prognostic value of domain‐specific cognitive impairments were investigated in a large cohort of ischaemic stroke patients.

Methods

Consecutive patients (n = 409), aged 55–85 years, from the acute stroke unit of the Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, were evaluated with extensive clinical and neuropsychological assessments 3 months post‐stroke. Impairments within nine cognitive domains were determined according to age‐appropriate normative data from a random healthy population. Functional disability was evaluated with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) 3 and 15 months post‐stroke.

Results

In all, 83% patients showed impairment in at least one cognitive domain, whereas 50% patients were impaired in multiple (≥3) domains. In cases with excellent clinical recovery at 3 months (mRS = 0–1, no disability), the occurrence of any cognitive impairment was 71%. Memory, visuoconstructional and executive functions were most commonly impaired. A substantially smaller proportion of patients scored below the conventional or more stringent cut‐offs in the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). Domain‐specific cognitive impairments were associated with functional dependence at 15 months regardless of stroke severity and other confounders.

Conclusions

Cognitive impairment as evaluated with a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment is prevalent in stroke survivors even with successful clinical recovery. Typically multiple domains and complex cognitive abilities are affected. MMSE is not sensitive in detecting these symptoms. Post‐stroke cognitive impairment is strongly related to poor functional outcome.
Genetic variation in the adenosine regulatory cycle is associated with posttraumatic epilepsy development
Authors: Diamond Matthew L. , Ritter Anne C. , Jackson Edwin K. , Conley Yvette P. , Kochanek Patrick M. , Boison Detlev , Wagner Amy K.
Published: June 2015

Objective

Determine if genetic variation in enzymes/transporters influencing extracellular adenosine homeostasis, including adenosine kinase (ADK), [ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (NT5E), cluster of differentiation 73 (CD73)], and equilibrative nucleoside transporter type‐1 (ENT‐1), is significantly associated with epileptogenesis and posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) risk, as indicated by time to first seizure analyses.

Methods

Nine ADK, three CD73, and two ENT‐1 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 162 white adults with moderate/severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and no history of premorbid seizures. Kaplan‐Meier models were used to screen for genetic differences in time to first seizure occurring >1 week post‐TBI. SNPs remaining significant after correction for multiple comparisons were examined using Cox proportional hazards analyses, adjusting for subdural hematoma, injury severity score, and isolated TBI status. SNPs significant in multivariate models were then entered simultaneously into an adjusted Cox model.

Results

Comparing Kaplan‐Meier curves, rs11001109 (ADK) rare allele homozygosity and rs9444348 (NT5E) heterozygosity were significantly associated with shorter time to first seizure and an increased seizure rate 3 years post‐TBI. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models showed that these genotypes remained significantly associated with increased PTE hazard up to 3 years post‐TBI after controlling for variables of interest (rs11001109: hazard ratio (HR) 4.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27–15.77, p = 0.020; rs9444348: HR 2.95, 95% CI 1.19–7.31, p = 0.019) .

Significance

Genetic variation in ADK and NT5E may help explain variability in time to first seizure and PTE risk, independent of previously identified risk factors, after TBI. Once validated, identifying genetic variation in adenosine regulatory pathways relating to epileptogenesis and PTE may facilitate exploration of therapeutic targets and pharmacotherapy development.
One center's experience with complications during the Wada test
Authors: Beimer Nicholas J. , Buchtel Henry A. , Glynn Simon M.
Published: June 2015

This study aimed to define the number and type of complications associated with the Wada test at an academic medical center for comparison to previous reports. We performed a retrospective review of medical records for patients who underwent the Wada test at the University of Michigan between April 1991 and June 2013. Information was collected regarding the angiography procedure and the immediate postoperative period to assess for both clinical and angiographic complications. A total of 436 patients were identified who underwent the Wada procedure between April 1991 and June 2013, and 431 patients were included in the final analysis. Twenty‐five patients (5.8%) had notable clinical events associated with the Wada test. Nine patients (2.1%) had clinical events meeting criteria for complication, which included seizures, status epilepticus, internal carotid artery vasospasm, inadvertent injection of anesthetic in the external carotid artery, and transient encephalopathy. No complications were associated with significant morbidity or mortality. This retrospective review of patients undergoing the Wada test found significantly fewer associated complications in comparison to previously published studies, with no patients experiencing long‐term morbidity. The Wada test should be considered a safe diagnostic tool for lateralizing language and memory.
Rule‐based approach for topic maps learning from relational databases
Authors: Jose‐Garcia A. , Lopez‐Arevalo I. , Sosa‐Sosa V. J.
Published: June 2015

Relational databases (RDBs) have been widely used as back end for information systems. Considering that RDBs have valuable knowledge interwoven in between stored data, how to access, represent and share this knowledge becomes an important challenge. Topic maps (TMs) emerge as a good solution for this problem. However, manual development of TMs is a difficult, time‐consuming and subjective task if there is no common guideline. The existing TMs building approaches mainly consider the meta‐information contained in a RDB, without considering the knowledge residing in the database content (its current state). Other approaches require a predefined configuration for applying a specific data transformation. This paper proposes an automatic method for TM construction based on learning rules. Our method considers the background knowledge of the RDBs during the building process and was implemented and applied on a representative set of 15 RDBs. The resulting TMs were validated syntactically using a standard tool and validated semantically through the inference of information using a formal query language. In addition, an analysis between the relational data (input) and its representation (output) was conducted. The results found in our experiments are encouraging and put in evidence the soundness of the proposed method.
Habitat filtering and adult dispersal determine the taxonomic composition of stream insects in an urbanizing landscape
Authors: Smith Robert F. , Venugopal P. Dilip , Baker Matthew E. , Lamp William O.
Published: June 2015

Suitability of the local habitat (‘habitat filtering’) and dispersal between stream reaches determines the composition of insect communities, and urban land use may affect both processes. While urban streams are often poor habitats for insects and dispersal between them is often hindered, conservation and restoration activities generally focus solely on the local (in‐stream) environment.

We determined whether in‐stream habitat filtering (a ‘local’ process) or dispersal between reaches (a ‘regional’ process) controlled assemblage composition in a landscape subject to ongoing urban development (‘urbanizing’). We compared models incorporating geographic distance between sites, environmental dissimilarity, and land‐use/land‐cover attributes of dispersal pathways in an attempt to explain the dissimilarity of stream insect assemblages. Distance and land‐use/land‐cover attributes were characterised along both overland (straight line) and corridor pathways.

Both in‐stream habitat filtering and dispersal affected assemblage composition, but habitat had a stronger influence. Overland distance was a better predictor of assemblage dissimilarity than corridor distance, implying stream insect dispersal occurs across catchment boundaries as well as along stream corridors. The best model incorporated land‐use/land‐cover attributes along dispersal pathways, which supported the idea that urban land‐use in the terrestrial environment mediates dispersal.

Conservation and restoration strategies for streams in urbanizing landscapes that focus on local habitat quality and ignore dispersal are missing a potentially important mechanism affecting insect assemblage composition. While the primary focus should be on maintaining or improving the local habitat, potential dispersal pathways should also be considered.
Relationships between taxonomic and functional components of diversity: implications for conservation of tropical freshwater fishes
Authors: de Carvalho Rodrigo Assis , Tejerina‐Garro Francisco Leonardo
Published: June 2015

Understanding the relationships between different components of diversity is needed to improve conservation strategies for freshwater habitats. Here, we studied relationships between taxonomic and functional components of fish assemblages in 27 headwater and 22 main stem habitats of tropical streams in Central Brazil.

Using quantile regression analysis, we evaluated relationships between (i) taxonomic richness (S) and functional richness (FRic); (ii) taxonomic diversity (Δ+) and functional diversity (MPD) and (iii) and taxonomic richness and functional diversity.

Taxonomic richness and diversity (S and Δ+) were correlated with functional richness and diversity (FRic and MPD) in headwaters and main stems. However, relationships between taxonomic and functional components differed across habitat types within a catchment. Relationships between S and FRic and Δ+ and MPD were stronger than those between S and MPD.

Combined, these findings imply that caution is advised when using one diversity component as a surrogate for another diversity component in studies directed towards the conservation of fishes in tropical headwaters and main stems. Moreover, conservation and management strategies must take account of habitat‐specific relationships of the diversity components of fish assemblages when implementing management programmes.
Transnational building practices: knowledge mobility and the inescapable market
Authors: FAULCONBRIDGE JAMES , GRUBBAUER MONIKA
Published: June 2015

Architecture and urban planning have always been subject to, and affected by, processes of transnational cultural exchange and professional networking. Yet, the modes and geographies of knowledge mobility in urban development have matured in the last two decades, with various forces resulting in forms of transnational learning that are faster, more frequent and have more impact. The articles in this special issue provide an important contribution to understanding this maturation, and highlight the particular ways in which knowledge and practice relating to building design move from place to place. In this introductory article, we develop an analysis of how transnational building practices come to be. We highlight the way that transnational building practices can both deepen our knowledge of the constitution of knowledge mobility, and exemplify the profound tensions that result from the clash between the structuring logic of international markets and the need to adapt global ideas to local contexts. Thus, in addition to de‐naturalizing mobility and teasing out how movement is manufactured, we draw attention to the way that the inescapable relationships between buildings and markets determine the trajectories and effects of transnational knowledge networks. This opening up of the political economy of mobility, we believe, is one of the most pertinent issues in relation to considerations of mobility more broadly.
Sustainable urbanism in the age of Photoshop: images, experiences and the role of learning through inhabiting the international travels of a planning model
Authors: RAPOPORT ELIZABETH
Published: June 2015

Learning is one of the critical processes in enabling the international mobility of urban planning and policy ideas. A particularly effective form of learning in this context is an immersive, sensory approach we can describe as ‘inhabiting’. This article illustrates the role that inhabiting plays in facilitating the mobility of the planning model of sustainable urbanism. To do so, it draws on research carried out in the industry of international private sector architects, planners and engineering consultants, sometimes called the Global Intelligence Corps (GIC). In the article, I illustrate how GICs use inhabiting, drawing on visual media and personal experience to encourage their clients to incorporate sustainable urban planning and design proposals into large urban development projects. These explorations demonstrate the value of research methodologies that focus on the everyday practices and social interactions through which people mobilize ideas.
Communities of practice and transnational standards: changing building practices in Warsaw's commercial property sector
Authors: HEEG SUSANNE , BITTERER NADINE
Published: June 2015

In 1989, Warsaw's office market became part of the global property market with a growing transparency. This process of integration is attributable to an increasing level of professionalism of its agents. Our main interest here is in the introduction of international design and building norms. We argue that, in the interplay between global and local property professionals, new institutional arrangements emerge that lead to the establishment of international norms and standards. Moreover, because they reduce information asymmetries on a global scale, these international property consultants, whom we can regard as ‘market‐making intermediaries’, are key actors in the creation of these new institutional arrangements. Property consultants, as part of global communities of practice (CoPs), are at the core of establishing a joint understanding of requirements in real estate practice. Regular communication with one another about the challenges, norms, specifications and demands in the professional management of office property helps to develop shared practices.
Asbestos exposure increases the incidence of histologically confirmed usual interstitial pneumonia
Authors: Kawabata Yoshinori , Shimizu Yoshihiko , Hoshi Eishin , Murai Kazumi , Kanauchi Tetsu , Kurashima Kazuyoshi , Sugita Yutaka
Published: June 2015

Aims

We hypothesized that asbestos exposure increases the incidence of macroscopically visible and histologically confirmed usual interstitial pneumonia (histological UIP).

Methods and results

We retrospectively examined 1718 cases (1202 males; mean age 66.7 years) who underwent lobectomy for resection of pleuropulmonary tumours. Objective markers for asbestos exposure included: the presence of malignant pleural mesothelioma, the presence of pleural plaques (PPs) and asbestos bodies in the histological specimen. Risk factors for histological UIP were examined. Two separate groups were studied: 183 with asbestos exposure, and 239 with histological UIP. The 183 cases with asbestos exposure had higher rates of positive occupational history and histological UIP (31%) than the remaining 1535. Among the asbestos‐exposed group, small numbers of asbestos bodies were found in histological specimens of 21 cases of histological UIP. PPs and asbestos bodies were more frequent in the 239 patients with histological UIP than in the remaining 1479 UIP‐negative patients. Multivariate analysis showed that asbestos exposure, especially positivity for asbestos bodies, that does not meet the current criteria for asbestosis increases the risk of histological UIP (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Asbestos exposure causes asbestosis and increases the incidence of histological UIP.
Direct Bonding of Aluminum to Alumina for Thermal Dissipation Purposes
Authors: Lin Chun‐Yu , Tuan Wei‐Hsing
Published: June 2015

In this study, aluminum foil was bonded directly to alumina substrate at a temperature higher than 1000°C in an inert atmosphere. A platinum marker was used to locate the original interface after bonding. With the help of the Pt marker, the microstructure analysis revealed that the aluminum foil oxidized first, and the newly formed alumina was subsequently bonded to the alumina substrate. The bonding strength increased with increases in bonding temperature until 1100°C. The strong interface also led to high thermal conductivity.
Seasonal Changes in Carbohydrate and Protein Content of Seeded Bermudagrasses and Their Effect on Spring Green‐Up
Authors: Schiavon M. , Macolino S. , Leinauer B. , Ziliotto U.
Published: June 2015

The widespread use of warm‐season turfgrasses in transition zones of Europe, such as northern Italy, has been hampered by the long dormancy periods. To encourage the conversion from cool‐ to warm‐season grasses, research is needed to identify cultivars that exhibit early spring green‐up. A 2‐year study was conducted at the agricultural experimental farm of Padova University from November 2006 to October 2008 to compare water‐soluble carbohydrate and protein content in stolons of four bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] cultivars and determine their effect on spring green‐up. Samples of ‘La Paloma’, ‘NuMex Sahara’, ‘Princess 77’ and ‘Yukon’ were collected monthly, and water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and crude protein (CP) content of stolons were measured. Dry weight values of WSC and CP for each cultivar were regressed against days needed to reach 80 % green cover in spring (D80). ‘Yukon’ exhibited the highest rhizome dry weight and WSC content during the winter months and was the fastest to reach 80 % green cover. Conversely, ‘Princess 77’ was the slowest cultivar to green‐up in both years. Regression analysis revealed a stronger relationship between D80 and WSC than between CP content and D80.
Health‐social partnership intervention programme for community‐dwelling older adults: a research protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wong Kwan Ching , Wong Frances Kam Yuet , Chang Katherine Ka Pik
Published: June 2015

Aim

This paper aims to describe the research protocol that will be used to determine the effectiveness of a health‐social partnership intervention programme among community‐dwelling older adults.

Background

Ageing in place is a preferred option for overcoming challenges of the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the risk for hospitalization associated with the ageing population. Nevertheless, our knowledge of how to implement this concept is limited. The integrated efforts of health and social services may help to enable older adults to live with a sense of control over their daily life and to be independent to the fullest extent possible in the community.

Design

This is a randomized, controlled trial.

Methods

Participants are community‐dwelling older adults referred from a community centre. Sample size calculation was based on power analysis. The intervention group will receive the programme with the standard protocols guided by a comprehensive assessment–intervention–evaluation framework. Home visits and telephones follow‐up will be employed as means of conducting the interventions and monitoring their progress. The customary care group will receive placebo social calls. The duration of the interventions will be 3 months. The study was funded by the School of Nursing in Hong Kong. Research Ethics Committee approval was obtained in September 2014.

Discussion

The results of this research are expected to enable older adults to stay in the community with optimal health and well‐being. Health and social sciences are integrated into the practice in this research protocol. The scarce literature on this topic means that this study can also provide an opportunity to bridge the caring gap among older adults.
Nocturnal Hypertension Correlates Better With Target Organ Damage in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease than a Nondipping Pattern
Authors: Wang Cheng , Deng Wen‐Jie , Gong Wen‐Yu , Zhang Jun , Zhang Qun‐Zi , Ye Zeng Chun , Lou Tanqi
Published: June 2015

Both nocturnal hypertension and nondipping pattern are associated with target organ damages (TODs); however, no data exist with respect to Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The authors recruited 1322 patients with CKD admitted to our hospital division and referred with data in this cross‐sectional study. Patients with nocturnal systolic hypertension had a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT) compared with patients with normal nocturnal systolic blood pressure (SPB; all, P<.001), while patients in the dipper and nondipper groups had similar levels of eGFR, LVMI, and cIMT when the patients had a similar nocturnal SBP. Factorial‐designed analysis of variance indicated that the main effect of nocturnal SBP was significant for all TOD differences (all, P<.001), but no significance existed with respect to the main effect of the dipper pattern and an interaction between the two factors (all, P>.05). Nocturnal systolic hypertension, rather than nondipping pattern, was an independent risk factor for TOD in CKD patients. Nocturnal hypertension, rather than a nondipping pattern, was better associated with TOD in CKD patients.
An individualized diagnostic approach based on guidelines for chronic urticaria (CU)
Authors: Giménez‐Arnau A.M. , Grattan C. , Zuberbier T. , Toubi E.
Published: June 2015

Chronic urticaria (CU), defined as the spontaneous or inducible appearance of hives, angioedema or both for 6 weeks or more, presents with a number of subtypes which all substantially impair patients’ quality of life (QoL). International urticaria guidelines give clear recommendations on workup and treatment but the occurrence of CU with multiple causes and triggers (sometimes with more than one subtype occurring in a single patient) presents challenges for an individualized assessment by physicians. This review summarizes recent guidance on the classification, diagnosis and assessment of CU subtypes and discusses how currently available patient assessment tools and laboratory tests can be used in clinical practice as part of an individualized patient management plan.