bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term monitoring of an amphibian community after a climate change‐ and infectious disease‐driven species extirpation
Authors: Bosch Jaime , Fernández‐Beaskoetxea Saioa , Garner Trenton W. J. , Carrascal Luis María
Published: February 2018

Infectious disease and climate change are considered major threats to biodiversity and act as drivers behind the global amphibian decline. This is, to a large extent, based on short‐term studies that are designed to detect the immediate and strongest biodiversity responses to a threatening process. What few long‐term studies are available, although typically focused on single species, report outcomes that often diverge significantly from the short‐term species responses. Here, we report the results of an 18‐year survey of an amphibian community exposed to both climate warming and the emergence of lethal chytridiomycosis. Our study shows that the impacts of infectious disease are ongoing but restricted to two out of nine species that form the community, despite the fact all species can become infected with the fungus. Climate warming appears to be affecting four out of the nine species, but the response of three of these is an increase in abundance. Our study supports a decreasing role of infectious disease on the community, and an increasing and currently positive effect of climate warming. We caution that if the warming trends continue, the net positive effect will turn negative as amphibian breeding habitat becomes unavailable as water bodies dry, a pattern that already may be underway.
Headache Linked to Intracranial Hypertension and Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis as the Initial and Dominant Presentation of Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis. Case Report and Review of the Recent Literature
Authors: Arnaoutoglou Marianthi A. , Xerras Chrysostomos G. , Kalevrosoglou Ioannis K. , Rafailidis Vasileios D. , Notas Konstantinos P. , Tegos Thomas I.
Published: February 2018

Objective

The objective of this article is to report a rare case of headache as the initial symptom of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and to review the recent literature.

Background

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a rare, systemic, autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. GPA has a wide spectrum of clinical symptomatology, including involvement of the nervous system, even as the initial manifestation. Symptoms of the peripheral nervous system used to dominate the clinical symptomatology. However, recent reports are focusing increasingly in granulomatous lesions of the central nervous system, and especially on the increased frequency of patients with hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP). We report the case of a patient with headache linked to intracranial hypertension and hypertrophic pachymeningitis as the initial and dominant presentation of GPA and we review the recent literature.

Methods

A 54‐year‐old male, without any related medical history developed a severe headache. In the following 2 months, he gradually developed hoarseness and diplopia at the left and lower fields of vision. A brain MRI revealed wide‐spread fattening and meningeal enhancement over the left hemisphere and the left cerebellar hemisphere. An endoscopy of the pharynx revealed the presence of a tumor‐like mass in the left half of the nasopharynx. A biopsy showed inflammation with presence of polykaryocyte Langhans giant cells. The laboratory testing revealed important albuminuria and microhematuria, positive c‐ANCA and negative p‐ANCA. A diagnosis of GPA was established.

Results

A steroid treatment was administered initially, which improved the headache drastically, followed by the administration of a combination of cyclophosphamide and corticosteroid, which led to a gradual resolve of the remaining symptomatology. A follow‐up brain MRI showed a decrease in meningeal enhancement, whereas a second one, 2 years later, was completely normal.

Conclusions

HP was considered an extremely rare manifestation of GPA. However, recent studies are reporting an increased frequency of HP and are distinguishing a granulomatous and a vasculitic phenotype, with different localization and relapse rates, that may eventually constitute a different clinical spectrum of GPA.
A Hospital Based Retrospective Study of Acute Postpartum Headache
Authors: Vgontzas Angeliki , Robbins Matthew S.
Published: February 2018

Objective

To describe acute headache diagnoses in women presenting emergently in the postpartum period and to determine which factors may be associated with secondary vs primary headache.

Background

Hormonal, vascular, and procedural factors elevate the risk for both secondary and primary headache disorders in the postpartum period. Differentiating between these can be a diagnostic challenge, particularly among the most severe patients referred for urgent neurological consultation.

Methods

A single‐center retrospective study of consecutive postpartum women age ≥18 years presenting with acute headache to a large urban tertiary‐care hospital and receiving neurological consultation.

Results

Of 63 women who presented with acute postpartum headache, 17 (27.0%) were diagnosed with a primary headache disorder and 46 (73.0%) were diagnosed with a secondary headache disorder. Migraine comprised the majority of primary headache diagnoses (76.5%). Secondary headache most commonly featured postdural puncture headache (PDPH) (45.7%), postpartum preeclampsia (PEC) (26.1%), and a diverse group of cerebrovascular headache disorders (21.7%). Presentation within 24 hours and lack of side predominance helped to differentiate PDPH from migraine. However, abnormal diagnostic testing was more prevalent in the patients with headache secondary to cerebrovascular disorders/PEC.

Conclusions

Nearly three‐quarters of postpartum women who present with acute onset headache and receiving neurological consultation are found to have a secondary headache – with nearly half of the secondary headaches attributed to PEC or cerebrovascular headache disorders. The absence of a headache history and a clear PDPH description should prompt strong consideration for neuroimaging to rule out cerebrovascular etiologies of headache as well as close monitoring for signs and symptoms of preeclampsia in women presenting with acute severe postpartum headache.
Consuming counterfeit: A study of consumer moralism in China
Authors: Li Eric Ping Hung , Lam Magnum , Liu Wing‐Sun
Published: February 2018

The consumption of counterfeits is a central theme in understanding consumer moralism. While some studies on marketing have highlighted the consumption motives and socio‐economic factors behind this seemingly unethical phenomenon, research on the subjective experiences of consumers and the cultural concerns about the consumption of counterfeits is lacking. The aim of this article is to gain a better understanding of how consumers construct and negotiate their moralistic identities through engaging in counterfeit consumption. We also examine how consumers utilize counterfeit goods as symbolic resources to echo, or even reproduce, the entrenched Chinese social relationships and marketplace ideological conditions. Our findings suggested that the research participants attempted to make sense of their counterfeit consumption behaviour by infusing the moralistic meanings drawn from the Chinese socio‐cultural value orientation. The study concludes that the moral identity work and counterfeit consumption practices are interwoven in a web of multiple discourses and resources available in the contemporary marketplace under the overarching consumer moralism framework.
Tethyan closure drove tropical marine biodiversity: Vicariant diversification of intertidal crustaceans
Authors: Liu Hongguang , Li Shuqiang , Ugolini Alberto , Momtazi Farzaneh , Hou Zhonge
Published: February 2018

Aim

The mid‐Miocene closure of the Tethys (Terminal Tethyan Event, TTE) induced by the collision of the African–Arabian plate with the Eurasian plate is considered to be a major driver of tropical marine biodiversity. We used intertidal talitrids of Talorchestia sensu lato to test the hypothesis that the TTE can best explain the current disjunct distribution of this genus along Mediterranean‐East Atlantic and Indo‐West Pacific coastlines.

Location

Mediterranean‐East Atlantic and Indo‐West Pacific.

Methods

We sequenced four nuclear and two mitochondrial loci for 87 samples across the Mediterranean‐East Atlantic to Indo‐Pacific areas. We examined phylogenetic relationships, estimated divergence times and reconstructed ancestral geographical distributions of Talorchestia sensu lato within a wide geographical context.

Results

The phylogenetic analyses revealed that Talorchestia sensu lato is monophyletic. Divergence time estimation and ancestral range reconstruction show that the genus originated from the Tethys during the Miocene and split into Mediterranean‐East Atlantic and Indo‐West Pacific lineages c. 15 Ma. The Mediterranean‐East Atlantic lineage further diverged into west and east Mediterranean clades, and the Indo‐West Pacific lineage contains Indian Ocean and west Pacific clades.

Main conclusions

The evolutionary history of Talorchestia sensu lato corresponds well with the geological history of Tethyan closure, suggesting that the Tethyan closure drove the vicariant diversification of Talorchestia sensu lato into Mediterranean‐East Atlantic and Indo‐West Pacific lineages. This indicates that the intertidal environment may be the last to be separated by the TTE, and the diversification pattern of intertidal crustaceans can best reflect the vicariance effect of Tethyan closure. Deep divergences within clades were related to geological isolation in the Mediterranean‐East Atlantic region and across the Indo‐Pacific boundary.
Consistency and Recovery in Retail Supply Chains
Authors: Bendoly Elliot , Craig Nathan , DeHoratius Nicole
Published: February 2018

Practitioners and researchers describe inventory service level with metrics that communicate the likelihood of demand fulfillment without considering the ongoing capabilities of the supplier, for example, in‐stock and fill rate. We develop a method for measuring inventory service level that incorporates such supplier capabilities, namely consistency (the ability of a supplier to fulfill orders repeatedly) and recovery (the ability of a supplier to fulfill orders after a lapse in service). Using data from two retail supply chains, we illustrate our approach. To demonstrate the impact of consistency and recovery on supply chain performance, we model a retailer purchasing from competing suppliers with different levels of consistency and recovery. The model incorporates the retailer's uncertainty about demand and the retailer's uncertainty about its suppliers' service levels. We characterize how the retailer's orders and profitability change with a supplier's delivery performance through numerical experiments calibrated with field data. We find notable differences in market share across suppliers with similar traditional inventory service level metrics but differences in consistency and recovery. Further, we observe that a retailer can increase its profitability by determining orders via consistency and recovery in lieu of common metrics like in‐stock. Given the influence of consistency and recovery on supply chain outcomes, we discuss implications for practice and future research.
Arterial stiffness and subendocardial viability ratio in patients with peripheral arterial disease
Authors: Scandale Giovanni , Dimitrov Gabriel , Recchia Martino , Carzaniga Gianni , Minola Marzio , Perilli Edoardo , Carotta Maria , Catalano Mariella
Published: February 2018

Arterial stiffening is a hallmark of the aging process and atherosclerosis, including peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We investigated the associations between carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (c‐fPWV), augmentation index corrected for heart rate (Aix@HR75), ankle brachial index (ABI), and subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), an indicator of cardiac perfusion. The c‐fPWV, Aix@HR75, and SEVR was estimated using applanation tonometry. The ankle systolic pressure measurements for the calculation of the ABI were obtained using an 8‐mHz Doppler probe. The study group included 555 subjects, mean age 63 ± 11 years (248 PAD (ABI < 1.0), and 307 non‐PAD (ABI ≥ 1.0 ≤ 1.3). After the stepwise selection process in both PAD and non‐PAD patients SEVR was not related to c‐fPWV and ABI (P = .154; P = .156) and (P = .101; P = .402), respectively. In PAD patients, SEVR was negatively related to Aix@HR75 (P < .0001) and aortic PP (P = .0005). In conclusion, arterial stiffness is associated with non‐invasive indices of myocardial perfusion in PAD patients, suggesting a potential pathophysiological link for increased cardiovascular events.
Antimicrobial peptide gene expression in periodontitis patients: A pilot study
Authors: Jourdain Marie‐Laure , Pierrard Loïc , Kanagaratnam Lukshe , Velard Frédéric , Sergheraert Johan , Lefèvre Benoît , Gangloff Sophie C. , Braux Julien
Published: February 2018

Aim

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are one of the most active components of innate immunity and have characteristics that could place them at the heart of the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. This study investigated differences in the expression of AMP coding genes obtained using a simple harvesting technique, gingival smear, between two groups of patients: chronic periodontitis subjects versus healthy ones.

Materials and Methods

Twenty‐three patients were enrolled in two groups: 12 were diagnosed with moderate or severe generalized chronic periodontitis, and 11 were diagnosed as clinically healthy. Gingival smears were retrieved and studied using reverse transcription‐quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR) after mRNA purification.

Results

Fifteen gene expressions were obtained using real‐time RT‐qPCR. Three AMP genes, histatin 3 (HTN3), α‐defensin 4 (DEFA4) and lysozyme C (LYZ), presented different expression levels in periodontitis patients compared with healthy subjects. The relative expression level of DEFA4 appeared to be a protective factor against periodontitis.

Conclusion

Gingival smears studied by RT‐qPCR may be used to assess the expression of AMPs coding genes. A lack of expression of DEFA4 could be a potential indicator of periodontitis status.
Production and characterization of palm oil microcapsules obtained by complex coacervation in gelatin/gum Arabic
Authors: Marfil P. H. M. , Paulo B. B. , Alvim I. D. , Nicoletti V. R.
Published: February 2018

Palm oil is a carotenoid‐rich natural compound, whose microencapsulation by complex coacervation may protect it against adverse conditions, allowing applications in food formulations for nutritional enrichment and natural pigmentation. Besides, since the coacervates are insoluble in acid pH of stomach, this undigested lipid is delivered slowly in the intestinal tract, which can help treatment of metabolic disturbs. Accordingly, this study intended to optimize palm oil microencapsulation by complex coacervation using gelatin and gum Arabic as wall materials. For this purpose, the effects of wall material concentration (WM) (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5% w/v), gelatin:gum Arabic ratio (G:GA) (1:2; 1:1; 2:1), and core:wall material ratio (C:WM) (75, 100, and 125%) on the encapsulation efficiency, particle morphology, and size distribution of microcapsules were investigated. Microencapsulation assays followed a factorial central design and, after coacervation, the microcapsules were freeze‐dried. The highest values of encapsulation efficiency were obtained using G:GA = 1:1 or 2:1 with C:WM = 100%, whereas the WM concentration could vary from 2.5 to 7.5%. High concentrations of WM (7.5%) and G:GA = 2:1 hampered the formation of spherical or oval microcapsules. Microcapsules showed average diameter (D[4.3]) between 97 and 690 µm, with increasing concentration of WM and higher C:WM ratio contributing to formation of larger microcapsules. The G:GA ratio showed the highest influence on the particle size, with the 1:2 ratio resulting in smaller microcapsules.

Practical applications

Palm oil is a significant source of antioxidants and other phytonutrients, and its microencapsulation may protect these bioactive compounds, enabling its use to nutritional enrichment of dry food formulations, at the same time as functioning as a natural pigment given the intense reddish‐orange color of the oil. In addition, the microcapsules may slow down palm oil release in the gastrointestinal tract, since the coacervates are insoluble in acid pH of stomach, allowing this nutrient to achieve the ileum before being digested and help treatment of metabolic disturbs. Accordingly, microencapsulation of palm oil can be of great interest for food and pharmaceutical industries to develop controlled‐delivery systems to encapsulate and slow down digestion of lipids, inducing modulation of satiety response.
Subchondral bone morphology in the metacarpus of racehorses in training changes with distance from the articular surface but not with age
Authors: Martig Sandra , Hitchens Peta L. , Stevenson Mark A. , Whitton R. Chris
Published: February 2018

The repetitive large loads generated during high‐speed training and racing commonly cause subchondral bone injuries in the metacarpal condyles of racehorses. Adaptive bone modelling leads to focal sclerosis at the site of highest loading in the palmar aspect of the metacarpal condyles. Information on whether and how adaptive modelling of subchondral bone changes during the career of a racehorse is sparse. The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to describe the changes in subchondral bone micromorphology in the area of highest loading in the palmar aspect of the metacarpal condyle in thoroughbred racehorses as a function of age and training. Bone morphology parameters derived from micro‐CTimages were evaluated using principal component analysis and mixed‐effects linear regression models. The largest differences in micromorphology were observed in untrained horses between the age of 16 and 20 months. Age and duration of a training period had no influence on tissue mineral density, bone volume fraction or number and area of closed pores to a depth of 5.1 mm from the articular surface in 2‐ to 4‐year‐old racehorses in training. Horses with subchondral bone injuries had more pores in cross‐section compared with horses without subchondral bone injuries. Differences in bone volume fraction were due to the volume of less mineralised bone. Tissue mineral density increased and bone volume fraction decreased with increasing distance from the articular surface up to 5.1 mm from the articular surface. Further research is required to elucidate the biomechanical and pathophysiological consequences of these gradients of micromorphological parameters in the subchondral bone.
The voice of nurses: Novice nurses’ first experiences in a clinical setting. A longitudinal diary study
Authors: ten Hoeve Yvonne , Kunnen Saskia , Brouwer Jasperina , Roodbol Petrie F
Published: February 2018

Aims and objectives

To gain greater understanding of which personal and professional demands novice nurses are confronted with and what can be done to improve the transition from novice to professional staff nurse.

Background

Novice nurses are confronted with a lot of physical, emotional and intellectual changes in the role‐transition process from student nurse to professional staff nurse, which are often related to feelings of confusion, uncertainty and stress. Few studies have investigated, on a longitudinal basis, the lived experiences of novice nurses in the clinical setting.

Design

The study adopted a qualitative longitudinal approach to investigate the described experiences of novice nurses during their first 2 years after graduation. Written diaries were selected for optimal data collection.

Methods

A sample of eighteen novice nurses was recruited from several wards at a University Medical Center in the Netherlands. The inclusion criteria were a Bachelor's degree in nursing, aged under 30, and no more than 1 year's work experience. Data were collected from weekly measurements from September 2013–September 2014.

Results

Eight major themes emerged from the diaries (n = 580): relatedness, competence, development, organisational context, existential events, goals, autonomy and fit. This study revealed that the need for relatedness was by far the most reported theme. Support and positive feedback from colleagues appeared to be crucial for novices starting work in a highly complex environment.

Conclusion

This study showed that one of the strategies novice nurses use to deal with challenging and existential situations is to share their experiences with colleagues. Therefore, novice nurses should always work in a safe environment which enables this.

Relevance to clinical practice

Identification of key issues around understanding novice nurses’ first clinical experiences may help to improve their transition from novice to professional staff nurse. The presence and support from supervisors and mentors are inevitable to keep novice nurses motivated for the profession.
Building the foundation to generate a fundamental care standardised data set
Authors: Jeffs Lianne , Muntlin Athlin Asa , Needleman Jack , Jackson Debra , Kitson Alison
Published: February 2018

Aim and objectives

This paper provides an overview of the current state of performance measurement, key trends and a methodological approach to leverage in efforts to generate a standardised data set for fundamental care.

Background

Considerable transformation is occurring in health care globally with organisations focusing on achieving the quadruple aim of improving the experience of care, the health of populations, and the experience of providing care while reducing per capita costs of health care. In response, healthcare organisations are employing performance measurement and quality improvement methods to achieve the quadruple aim. Despite the plethora of measures available to health managers, there is no standardised data set and virtually no indicators reflecting how patients actually experience the delivery of fundamental care, such as nutrition, hydration, mobility, respect, education and psychosocial support.

Conclusions

Given the linkages of fundamental care to safety and quality metrics, efforts to build the evidence base and knowledge that captures the impact of enacting fundamental care across the healthcare continuum and lifespan should include generating a routinely collected data set of relevant measures.

Relevance to clinical practice

This paper provides an overview of the current state of performance measurement, key trends and a methodological approach to leverage in efforts to generate a standardised data set for fundamental care. Standardised data sets enable comparability of data across clinical populations, healthcare sectors, geographic locations and time and provide data about care to support clinical, administrative and health policy decision‐making.
Effects of glucosamine supplements on painful temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis: A systematic review
Authors: Melo G. , Casett E. , Stuginski‐Barbosa J. , Guerra E. N. S. , Fernandes D. A. , Porporatti A. L. , Flores‐Mir C. , De Luca Canto G.
Published: February 2018

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature for studies that assessed the effects of glucosamine supplements (GS) on pain and maximum mouth opening (MMO) restriction compared to other therapies, placebo or no intervention on painful temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA). Randomised controlled trials were selected in a two‐phase process. Seven electronic databases, in addition to three grey literature databases, were searched. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. Twelve potentially eligible studies were identified, from which three were finally included. Furthermore, two were categorised at low risk and one at high risk of bias. Intervention groups were treated with glucosamine‐sulphate, while controls were treated with placebo or ibuprofen. In two studies, GS were equally effective regarding pain reduction and mouth opening improvement compared to ibuprofen taken two or three times a day over 12 weeks; however, one study did not find significant differences in follow‐up evaluations concerning these clinical variables in both glucosamine and placebo groups administered over six weeks. There is very low evidence regarding GS therapeutic effects on TMJ OA. Considering a follow‐up of 12 weeks, GS were as effective as ibuprofen taken two or three times a day. However, over six weeks of medication intake, GS were not superior to placebo. Still, included studies presented major drawbacks, and therefore, conclusions must be interpreted with caution.
Culturable microfungi inhibitory to Armillaria rhizomorph formation from Fagus sylvatica stump roots and soil
Authors: Kwaśna Hanna , Szynkiewicz‐Wronek Anna
Published: February 2018

Culturable fungi from 28 fungal communities were isolated from soil, rhizosphere and thick (1 cm diam.) roots of living beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees and their stumps 1–3 years after felling. All fungi were morphotyped and identified morphologically. The frequency of fungi was 2–5× greater in stumps than in living trees. The diversity of fungi was similar in living trees and stumps. The majority of fungal species that occurred at greater frequency on/in roots of stumps reduced the growth of Armillaria ostoyae and to a smaller extent of A. gallica rhizomorphs in a soil substrate in vitro. It is suggested that the mycobiota of roots may constrain the colonization of F. sylvatica by A. ostoyae rather than by A. gallica. The significance of these findings in the epidemiology of Armillaria in beech forests is discussed.
Morphometric and histopathological evaluation of the effect of grape seed proanthocyanidin on alveolar bone loss in experimental diabetes and periodontitis
Authors: Toker H. , Balci Yuce H. , Lektemur Alpan A. , Gevrek F. , Elmastas M.
Published: February 2018

Objective

Grape seed proanthocyanidine extract (GSPE) is a strong antioxidant derived from the grape seeds (Vitis vinifera, Terral J.F.) and has a polyphenolic structure with a wide range of biological activity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of GSPE on alveolar bone loss and histopathological changes in rats with diabetes mellitus and ligature‐induced periodontitis.

Material and Methods

Forty rats were divided into 6 study groups. Control (C, 6 rats) group, periodontitis (P, 6 rats) group, diabetes (D, 6 rats) group, diabetes and periodontitis (D+P, 6 rats) group, diabetes, periodontitis and 100 mg/kg/day GSPE (GSPE‐100, 8 rats), and diabetes, periodontitis and 200 mg/kg/day GSPE (GSPE‐200, 8 rats) group. Diabetes mellitus was induced by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). Periodontitis was induced via ligation method. Silk ligatures were placed at the mandibular right first molars. GSPE was administered by oral gavage. After 30 days, all rats were killed. Alveolar bone loss was measured morphometrically via a stereomicroscope. For histopathological analyses, Alizarin red staining, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐8, vascular endothelial growth factor and hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)‐1α immunohistochemistry were performed. Tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase‐positive osteoclast cells and relative total inflammatory cells were also determined.

Results

The highest alveolar bone loss was observed in the D+P group (P < .05). GSP‐200 group decreased alveolar bone loss (P < .05). The D+P group had the highest osteoclast counts, but the difference was not significant compared to the P, GSPE‐100 and GSPE‐200 groups (P > .05). The inflammation in the D+P group was also higher than the other groups (P < .05). The osteoblast numbers increased in the GSPE‐100 and GSPE‐200 groups compared to the P and D+P groups (P < .05). MMP‐8 and HIF‐1α levels were highest in the D+P group and GSPE significantly decreased these levels (P < .05).

Conclusion

Within the limits of this animal study, it can be suggested that GSPE administration may decrease periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone loss via decreasing MMP‐8 and HIF‐1α levels and increase osteoblastic activity in diabetic rats with experimental periodontitis.
Association of salivary lactate dehydrogenase level with systemic inflammation in a Japanese population
Authors: Miyoshi N. , Tanigawa T. , Nishioka S. , Maruyama K. , Eguchi E. , Tanaka K. , Saito I. , Yamazaki K. , Miyake Y.
Published: February 2018

Background and Objective

Salivary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was reported to be a useful parameter for the screening of periodontal disease. We performed a cross‐sectional study to verify the usefulness of salivaryLDHas a biomarker of periodontitis and to investigate the association of severity of periodontitis with systemic inflammation by measuring salivaryLDHand serum high sensitive C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) levels in a community‐based middle‐aged and elderly population in Japan.

Material and Methods

We recruited 644 men and 1171 women, aged 30‐79 years, who participated in the Toon Health Study during 2011–15. Periodontal condition was assessed by full‐mouth examination including mean value of probing depth, percentage ofprobing depthof ≥4 mm and ≥6 mm, and bleeding on probing. Saliva and blood serum samples were collected for measurement of salivaryLDHlevel and hs‐CRP, respectively. A linear trend across quartiles of salivaryLDHwas calculated using linear regression. Interaction of salivaryLDHand overweight status (body mass index of ≥25 kg/m2) was tested using the cross‐product term of log‐transformed continuous salivaryLDHand overweight status.

Results

Analysis of covariance adjusted for potential confounders revealed strong associations between salivaryLDHlevel and the indicators of periodontal condition (P < .01) in both men and women. Sex‐ and age‐adjusted mean values of hs‐CRPaccording to salivaryLDHquartiles were 0.40, 0.45, 0.45 and 0.50 mg/L (Pfor trend <.01). Although the association was attenuated after further adjustment for body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, alcohol intake, smoking status and physical activity. When stratified by overweight status, the association remained significant in overweight individuals (P = .03). The multivariable adjusted odds ratio of hs‐CRPlevel of ≥1 mg/L for the highest vs lowest quartile of salivaryLDHwas 1.93 (95%CI, 1.01‐3.69) in overweight individuals, but not significant in non‐overweight individuals.

Conclusion

SalivaryLDHappears to be a promising biomarker for the mass screening of periodontitis in local community health settings. High salivaryLDHlevels, particularly in overweight individuals might contribute to prevention of cardiovascular disease, through measuring systemic inflammatory burdens as well as traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Nationality in the open society: Popper versus Hayes and Kohn
Authors: Gerson Gal
Published: February 2018

Popper's attitude to nationalism can be analysed by comparison with the position taken by Hayes and Kohn, who distinguished between a communal, malevolent form of nationalism, and a civic and constitutional variant that could coexist with liberalism. By contrast, Popper welcomes communal affiliations whose diversity he perceives as essential to liberalism, while rejecting sovereignty, whether or not invested in a representative body, as a threat to the liberal open society. This perspective reverses the normative priorities that Hayes and Kohn attribute to liberalism. Its basis is Popper's adherence to a pluralist liberalism, which centres on protecting social ties rather than on representation and state organs. This denotation of liberalism competes with the legalist individualism that Hayes and Kohn identify with liberalism and therefore accommodates nationalism differently.
Parents’ experiences of neonatal transfer. A meta‐study of qualitative research 2000–2017
Authors: Aagaard Hanne , Hall Elisabeth O. C. , Ludvigsen Mette S. , Uhrenfeldt Lisbeth , Fegran Liv
Published: February 2018

Transfers of critically ill neonates are frequent phenomena. Even though parents’ participation is regarded as crucial in neonatal care, a transfer often means that parents and neonates are separated. A systematic review of the parents’ experiences of neonatal transfer is lacking. This paper describes a meta‐study addressing qualitative research about parents’ experiences of neonatal transfer. Through deconstruction and reflections of theories, methods, and empirical data, the aim was to achieve a deeper understanding of theoretical, empirical, contextual, historical, and methodological issues of qualitative studies concerning parents’ experiences of neonatal transfer over the course of this meta‐study (2000–2017). Meta‐theory and meta‐method analyses showed that caring, transition, and family‐centered care were main theoretical frames applied and that interviewing with a small number of participants was the preferred data collection method. The meta‐data‐analysis showed that transfer was a scary, unfamiliar, and threatening experience for the parents; they were losing familiar context, were separated from their neonate, and could feel their parenthood disrupted. We identified ‘wavering and wandering’ as a metaphoric representation of the parents’ experiences. The findings add knowledge about meta‐study as an approach for comprehensive qualitative research and point at the value of meta‐theory and meta‐method analyses.
Toward a multifactorial model of expertise: beyond born versus made
Authors: Hambrick David Z. , Burgoyne Alexander P. , Macnamara Brooke N. , Ullén Fredrik
Published: February 2018

The debate over the origins of individual differences in expertise has raged for over a century in psychology. The “nature” view holds that expertise reflects “innate talent”—that is, genetically determined abilities. The “nurture” view counters that, if talent even exists, its effects on ultimate performance are negligible. While no scientist takes seriously a strict nature‐only view of expertise, the nurture view has gained tremendous popularity over the past several decades. This environmentalist view holds that individual differences in expertise reflect training history, with no important contribution to ultimate performance by innate ability (“talent”). Here, we argue that, despite its popularity, this view is inadequate to account for the evidence concerning the origins of expertise that has accumulated since the view was first proposed. More generally, we argue that the nature versus nurture debate in research on expertise is over—or certainly should be, as it has been in other areas of psychological research for decades. We describe a multifactorial model for research on the nature and nurture of expertise, which we believe will provide a progressive direction for future research on expertise.
Eating fish and farm life reduce allergic rhinitis at the age of twelve
Authors: Vasileiadou Styliana , Wennergren Göran , Strömberg Celind Frida , Åberg Nils , Pettersson Rolf , Alm Bernt , Goksör Emma
Published: February 2018

Background

The prevalence of allergic rhinitis has increased, but the cause of this rise is partly unknown. Our aim was to analyse the prevalence, risk factors, and protective factors for allergic rhinitis in 12‐year‐old Swedish children.

Methods

Data were collected from a prospective, longitudinal cohort study of children born in western Sweden in 2003. The parents answered questionnaires when the children were 6 months to 12 years. The response rate at 12 years was 76% (3637/4777) of the questionnaires distributed.

Results

At the age of 12, 22% of children had allergic rhinitis and 57% were boys. Mean age at onset was 7.8 years, and 55% reported their first symptoms after 8 years. The most common trigger factors were pollen (85%), furry animals (34%), and house dust mites (17%). A multivariate analysis showed that the adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the independent risk factors for allergic rhinitis at 12 were as follows: parental allergic rhinitis (2.32, 1.94‐2.77), doctor‐diagnosed food allergy in the first year (1.75, 1.21‐2.52), eczema in the first year (1.61, 1.31‐1.97), and male gender (1.25, 1.06‐1.47). Eating fish once a month or more at age of 12 months reduced the risk of allergic rhinitis at 12 years of age (0.70, 0.50‐0.98) as did living on a farm with farm animals at 4 years (0.51, 0.32‐0.84). Continuous farm living from age 4 to 12 seemed to drive the association.

Conclusions

Allergic rhinitis affected > 20% of 12‐year‐olds, but was lower in children who ate fish at 12 months or grew up on a farm with farm animals.
The use of ascospores of the dieback fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus for infection assays reveals a significant period of biotrophic interaction in penetrated ash cells
Authors: Mansfield J. W. , Galambos N. , Saville R.
Published: February 2018

Ascospores, discharged naturally from apothecia growing on rachis debris, were used as inoculum to examine the invasion of ash tissues by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus in order to understand the critical, but poorly understood, early interactions between host and pathogen. Methods were developed to collect ascospores for controlled infection assays on detached leaves, petioles and stem internode tissues. Light microscopy, using plasmolytic techniques, allowed the invasion of living plant cells to be observed. Ascospores were readily available from late May to September. On the plant surface, most spores differentiated directly to form appressoria without germ‐tube growth. Direct penetration was followed by a significant period of biotrophic fungal growth before lesions developed. Following the formation of a vesicle‐like structure after penetration, bulbous and elongated intracellular hyphae were produced in living plant cells. The use of ascospore inoculum, rather than mycelia, will allow natural and rapid screening of ash genotypes for resistance to the devastating dieback disease. The identification of the biotrophic phase of infection suggests that host range is controlled by effector‐triggered immunity.
Regression equations to estimate the 2‐min walk distance in an adult Asian population aged 40–75 years
Authors: Mirza Fatim T. , Jenkins Sue , Justine Maria , Cecins Nola , Hill Kylie
Published: February 2018

Background and objective

There is increased use of the 2‐min walk test (2MWT) to assess functional exercise capacity. However, the distance achieved during this test may be difficult to interpret in the absence of reference values from a local population. Regression equations to estimate the 2‐min walk distance (2MWD) only exist for American and Brazilian populations. The objective of this study was to develop regression equations to estimate the 2MWD in Malaysian adults who were free from major health problems.

Methods

Eighty‐seven adults (43 males; mean ± SD age: 57.1 ± 9.6 years) performed two 2MWT using a standardized protocol. Heart rate (HR) was recorded every 30 s during the test. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed using age, gender, height, weight and change in HR (ΔHR) as independent variables, and better of the two 2MWD as the dependent variable. A second regression equation, without ΔHR, was planned if ΔHR was retained as one of the predictors of the 2MWD in the first equation.

Results

The better of the two 2MWD was 200 ± 34 m. Males walked 33 ± 6 m further than females (P < 0.001). The two regression equations were 196 − 1.1 × age, years + 1.0 × ΔHR, bpm + 31.2 × gender (R2 = 0.73) and 279 − 1.7 × age, years + 35.9 × gender (R2 = 0.47) with females = 0 and males = 1.

Conclusion

The equations derived in this study may facilitate the interpretation of the 2MWD in clinical populations in Malaysia, as well as in countries with similar cultural backgrounds to Malaysia.
Resilience Analysis of a Remote Offshore Oil and Gas Facility for a Potential Hydrocarbon Release
Authors: Sarwar Adnan , Khan Faisal , Abimbola Majeed , James Lesley
Published: February 2018

Resilience is the capability of a system to adjust its functionality during a disturbance or perturbation. The present work attempts to quantify resilience as a function of reliability, vulnerability, and maintainability. The approach assesses proactive and reactive defense mechanisms along with operational factors to respond to unwanted disturbances and perturbation. This article employs a Bayesian network format to build a resilience model. The application of the model is tested on hydrocarbon‐release scenarios during an offloading operation in a remote and harsh environment. The model identifies requirements for robust recovery and adaptability during an unplanned scenario related to a hydrocarbon release. This study attempts to relate the resilience capacity of a system to the system's absorptive, adaptive, and restorative capacities. These factors influence predisaster and postdisaster strategies that can be mapped to enhance the resilience of the system.
Justice across Real and Imagined Food Worlds: Rural Corn Growers, Urban Agriculture Activists, and the Political Ontologies They Live By
Authors: Carolan Michael
Published: February 2018

The article examines two seemingly disparate case studies, one involving conventional corn producers and agriculture professionals located in North Dakota, the other focusing on participants in a diverse urban agriculture cooperative in an anonymized U.S. city. Drawing on qualitative interviews and data‐presenting devices known as “word clouds,” the article explores how, and to a lesser extent why, understandings of the terms “social justice” and “autonomy” varied between these spaces. While these imagined political ontologies differed greatly, the article describes each case as grounded in a shared neoliberal (“real”) world that negatively impacts both populations, a realization that could provide a source of recognition and reconciliation between groups. The article concludes by asking why those interviewed in the rural space failed to understand their marginalization to be an artifact of the neoliberal highly individualistic worldview that their articulated imaginaries appear to support, while also exploring how the divergent political ontologies between the groups can be brought into better conversation with each other.
Between hope and hopelessness: COPD patients' and their family members' experiences of interacting with healthcare providers – a qualitative longitudinal study
Authors: Andersen Ingrid Charlotte , Thomsen Thora Grothe , Bruun Poul , Bødtger Uffe , Hounsgaard Lise
Published: February 2018

Background

Patient–family–healthcare provider interaction seems important for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their family members' self‐management practices. Because the need for support might be enhanced after a hospitalisation, it might be beneficial to explore this interaction further in follow‐up health care.

Aim

To explore the meaning of patients' and their family members' experiences of interacting with healthcare providers to their daily self‐management over time.

Methods

Participant observations and in‐depth interviews were conducted repeatedly with 10 patients and seven family members during follow‐up visits at hospital and at the participants' homes between 2014 and 2016. A phenomenological–hermeneutical approach was used to interpret the data.

Results

‘Between hope and hopelessness’ involved frustrations, concerns and doubts, all of which could relate to the interaction with healthcare providers. ‘Seeking support from healthcare services’, ‘navigating between healthcare providers’ and ‘collaborating with healthcare providers at home’ could entail opportunities to strengthen self‐management and hope; however, it could also entail reduced faith in getting the right help and hopelessness.

Conclusion

During a period of transition after hospitalisation, available and well‐coordinated healthcare services, and alliances with healthcare professionals are crucial to COPD patients and their family members in terms of their self‐management, hope and well‐being.
Health and Justice: Framing incarceration as a social determinant of health for Black men in the United States
Authors: Nowotny Kathryn M. , Kuptsevych‐Timmer Anastasiia
Published: February 2018

There has been growing interest in improving the health of Black men and the social determinants of health affecting them. In this paper, we argue that incarceration is an important social determinant of health in contemporary U.S. society for Black men and their families. Mass incarceration has deleterious health effects for those directly affected by it (the incarcerated), and mass incarceration contaminates the communities where it is geographically concentrated. Given the enormous differences in exposure to incarceration for Black men, this group is the most burdened by its effects. By extension, the larger Black community is disproportionately impacted due to the cascading effects of incarceration for families and neighborhoods. Therefore, it is necessary to include incarceration in research and policy addressing the health of Black men in the United States.
Home care for the elderly in Sweden, Germany and Italy: A case of multi‐level governance strategy‐making
Authors: Longo Francesco , Notarnicola Elisabetta
Published: February 2018

Home care is a policy field characterized by strong interdependencies and multi‐level governance. In such a setting, decision‐ and strategy‐making is complex, with interrelated governance mechanisms between the private and public actors involved, and the risk of lack of a clear and sharp definition of public contents. In this article we are interested in understanding “if and how” multi‐level governance influences planning in home care and, more generally, social care fields. Through the analysis of home care services for the elderly in three prominent European countries, the article highlights critical dimensions that should be taken into consideration in such contexts: users' selection, services features, coordination and funding mechanisms, provision forms. These dimensions turn out to be representative of key processes of strategic development within multi‐level settings.
Association of killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors with spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus in the Chinese population
Authors: Shan Zhengang , Huang Jieting , Liao Qiao , Huang Ke , Wang Min , Xu Ru , Tang Xi , Zhang Weiyun , Nelson Kenrad , Fu Yongshui , Li Chengyao , Rong Xia
Published: February 2018

BACKGROUND

Natural killer (NK) cells are critical components in innate immune response to viral infection. Killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIRs) are involved in regulating the balance of activation or inhibitory function of NK cells. However, the association of KIRs with the spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains unclear in the Chinese population.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 407 HCV‐seropositive voluntary blood donors were recruited, including 203 with spontaneous viral clearance and 204 with chronic infection. The presence of KIR genes was detected individually by polymerase chain reaction with sequence‐specific primers. Data of HLA and interleukin‐28B (IL28B) genotypes were extracted from our previous study.

RESULTS

Our results showed that KIR2DL2, 2DS2, 2DL2/2DL3, and 2DL5A–/2DL5B+ were more frequent in subjects with HCV clearance than those with chronic infection (odds ratio [OR], 1.640, p = 0.034; OR, 1.664, p = 0.032; OR, 1.636, p = 0.040; and OR, 2.601, p = 0.012, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that KIR2DL5A–/2DL5B+ associated with HCV clearance (OR, 2.448, p = 0.027), independent of sex, IL28B, and other KIRs. In contrast, KIR2DL3/2DL3 (OR, 0.610, p = 0.034) as well as 2DL3/2DL3+HLA‐C1 or C1C1 (OR, 0.580, p = 0.017; and OR, 0.639, p = 0.025, respectively) was found associated with chronic HCV infection. The presence of the homozygous KIR2DL3 with or without its HLA ligand increased the OR of developing chronic HCV infection in the context of IL28B.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study we identified KIR2DL5A–/2DL5B+ associated with HCV spontaneous clearance, while KIR2DL3/2DL3, 2DL3/2DL3+HLA‐C1, or C1C1 associated with chronic infection. Our study highlighted the fact that the roles of KIR and KIR‐HLA contributed to the control of HCV infection by innate immune responses.