bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barriers to adoption of campus green building policies
Authors: Hopkins Erin A.
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The focus of this paper is on environmental protection, specifically within the context of green building at institutions of higher education (IHEs). One major reason why many IHEs are not undertaking sustainable building policies is the barriers to adoption. The lack of efficiency caused by these barriers to adoption of campus green building will be examined. The purpose of this paper is to identify the common barriers to adoption of green building initiatives at IHEs from multiple stakeholder perspectives and propose possible solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The manuscript provides a general review of the lack of efficiency caused by the barriers to adoption of sustainable building policies at tertiary education institutions.

Findings

Campus sustainable building policies face various barriers to adoption of green building policies. Campus sustainable building policies face various barriers to adoption. These include lack of awareness among many stakeholders, incentives, champions, understanding of financial considerations, and occupant satisfaction. These barriers can be addressed through review of student perceptions, encouraging knowledge gains at larger wealthier IHEs, campus planning, offering financial motivations, employing a campus sustainability officer, and marketing green campus building initiatives. However, every stakeholder needs to be part of the collaboration and incentivized in order to reduce these barriers.

Practical implications

This manuscript should be helpful to campus community members as they are involved in crafting, implementing, and managing green building policies. As green building development is a contemporary issue among the higher education sector, this research should prove helpful to decision makers as it identifies barriers and solutions to these barriers. Furthermore, this research can assist practitioners when attempting to implement green building policies at their respective IHEs by helping them understand the barriers as well as potential solutions for these barriers to campus green building.

Originality/value

This general review uncovers barriers to green building in the higher education sector; a sector which historically is dearth on green building research. Furthermore, solutions are offered to address and overcome these barriers from multiple stakeholder perspectives within this sector.
Enterobacter sp. LU1 as a novel succinic acid producer – co‐utilization of glycerol and lactose
Authors: Podleśny Marcin , Jarocki Piotr , Wyrostek Jakub , Czernecki Tomasz , Kucharska Jagoda , Nowak Anna , Targoński Zdzisław
Published: December 2016

Succinic acid is an important C4‐building chemical platform for many applications. A novel succinic acid‐producing bacterial strain was isolated from goat rumen. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA sequence and physiological analysis indicated that the strain belongs to the genus Enterobacter. This is the first report of a wild bacterial strain from the genus Enterobacter that is capable of efficient succinic acid production. Co‐fermentation of glycerol and lactose significantly improved glycerol utilization under anaerobic conditions, debottlenecking the utilization pathway of this valuable biodiesel waste product. Succinic acid production reached 35 g l−1 when Enterobacter sp. LU1 was cultured in medium containing 50 g l−1 of glycerol and 25 g l−1 of lactose as carbon sources.
Combined application of prophylactic corneal cross‐linking and laser in‐situ keratomileusis – a review of literature
Authors: Chan Tommy C. Y. , Ng Alex L. K. , Chan Karen K. W. , Cheng George P. M. , Wong Ian Y. H. , Jhanji Vishal
Published: December 2016

Laser in‐situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is safe and effective laser refractive procedures in treating refractive errors. However, regression of treatment and iatrogenic keratectasia remain to be a major concern, especially in treating thin cornea with high ametropia. Collagen cross‐linking (CXL) is an effective method in stopping keratoconus progression through increasing the biomechanical strength of the cornea. Adjuvant cross‐linking to refractive procedures can theoretically help prevent regression and reduce the risk of keratectasia development by increasing the mechanical stability of cornea. During the procedure, riboflavin is directly applied to the corneal stroma, thereby reducing the need of de‐epithelialization as in the conventional protocol for keratoconus. Currently, there is still no consensus regarding the indication of CXL during refractive procedure, nor any standardized treatment protocol. This article aims to summarize the current evidence regarding the use of adjuvant CXL in LASIK.
An expert consensus definition of failure of a treatment to provide adequate relief (F‐PAR) for chronic constipation – an international Delphi survey
Authors: Tack J. , Boardman H. , Layer P. , Schiefke I. , Jayne D. , Scarpignato C. , Fox M. , Frieling T. , Ducrotte P. , Hamdy S. , Gill K. , Ciriza de los Rios C. , Felt‐Bersma R. , De Looze D. , Stanghellini V. , Drewes A. Mohr , Simrén M. , Pehl C. , Hoheisel T. , Leodolter A. , Rey E. , Dalrymple J. , Emmanuel A.
Published: December 2016

Background

As treatments for constipation become increasingly available, it is important to know when to progress along the treatment algorithm if the patient is not better.

Aim

To establish the definition of failure of a treatment to provide adequate relief (F‐PAR) to support this management and referral process in patients with chronic constipation.

Methods

We conducted an international Delphi Survey among gastroenterologists and general practitioners with a special interest in chronic constipation. An initial questionnaire based on recognised rating scales was developed following a focus group. Data were collected from two subsequent rounds of questionnaires completed by all authors. Likert scales were used to establish a consensus on a shorter list of more severe symptoms.

Results

The initial focus group yielded a first round questionnaire with 84 statements. There was good consensus on symptom severity and a clear severity response curve, allowing 67 of the symptom‐severity pairings to be eliminated. Subsequently, a clear consensus was established on further reduction to eight symptom statements in the final definition, condensed by the steering committee into five diagnostic statements (after replicate statements had been removed).

Conclusions

We present an international consensus on chronic constipation, of five symptoms and their severities, any of which would be sufficient to provide clinical evidence of treatment failure. We also provide data representing an expert calibration of commonly used rating scales, thus allowing results of clinical trials expressed in terms of those scales to be converted into estimates of rates of provision of adequate relief.
Letter: retreatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C who have failed interferon‐free combination therapy with direct acting anti‐virals
Authors: Kozbial K. , Aberle S. W. , Susser S. , Al‐Zoairy R. , Moser S. , Stättermayer A. F. , Maieron A. , Gschwantler M. , Stauber R. , Graziadei I. , Zoller H. , Beinhardt S. , Holzmann H. , Munda‐Steindl P. , Hofer H. , Sarrazin C. , Ferenci P.
Published: December 2016

Linked Content

This article is linked to Majumdar et al paper. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.13633.
Effects of the presence of grazing‐experienced heifers on the development of foraging behavior at the feeding station scale for first‐grazing season calves
Authors: Shingu Yuko , Ueda Koichiro , Tada Shingo , Mitani Tomohiro , Kondo Seiji
Published: December 2016

In this study, effects of grazing‐experienced heifer presence on foraging behavior development at the feeding station (FS) scale for first‐grazing season calves were determined. A group of four calves grazing alone (C), and another comprising four calves (Wc) and three grazing‐experienced heifers (Wh), were alternately stocked every day for 2 h on the same pasture for 26 days. The foraging time budget for Wc was significantly longer than that for C (P < 0.05) on day 7, and was similar to that for Wh on all days. Bite rate per FS was significantly higher for Wc (15.5 bite/min) than for C (13.2 bite/min) from day 1 to 14 (33.4 vs. 29.0 bite/min, respectively; P < 0.01) and significantly lower than that for Wh on all days. The number of steps taken between adjacent FSs by Wc (4.7) was significantly lower than that for C (7.2) on days 1 and 14 (2.1 vs. 2.9 steps, respectively; P < 0.01) and was similar to Wh on all days. This suggests that grazing‐experienced heifers have positive effects on the foraging behavior development of new‐season grazing calves through 14 days after the start of stocking.
Taxonomic and functional vegetation changes after shifting management from traditional herding to fenced grazing in temperate grassland communities
Authors: Koch Marian , Schröder Birgit , Günther Anke , Albrecht Kerstin , Pivarci Rudolf , Jurasinski Gerald
Published: December 2016

Question

How does a management change from sheep grazing by traditional pastoral herding plus occasional mowing to free‐ranging grazing in temporarily fenced areas affect vegetation in dry and wet semi‐natural grassland communities?

Location

Kösterbeck Nature Reserve,NEGermany.

Methods

We analysed the change in floristic and functional diversity and composition based on a resurvey of a 23‐yr‐old phytosociological data set. At 10 yrs after the original survey, the grazing regime had changed as described above. Since the exact locations of plots of the original survey could not be reconstructed, we placed the resurvey plots stratified randomly within the respective community types. Functional composition in relation to the environment was analysed with theRLQapproach using community means of Ellenberg species indicator values as proxies for environmental conditions.

Results

Although the grazing regime changed in the same direction in the whole area, the wet and dry grasslands responded differently: when the changes are analysed for the whole data set, they are hidden behind the differences between vegetation types, and neither plant species α‐ and γ‐diversity, nor species composition changes are apparent. However, when analysed separately, diversity changes were negligible for the wet meadow communities, whereas both α‐ and γ‐diversity increased in the drier sites, leaving β‐diversity unchanged. Despite the minor changes in species diversity in the wet grassland, functional composition changed considerably towards graminoid species. In the dry communities, an increase in species richness was accompanied by an increase in functional richness, and a trend towards competitive strategist species.

Conclusion

Even minor changes in grazing regime can significantly affect grassland communities, while the effects may vary strongly between vegetation types and incoherently across different measures of change. This suggests that thorough analysis of vegetation developments after management changes should be carried out on different levels of data set integration and should include several measures of change.
Utilization of Stimulants and Atomoxetine for Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder among 5.4 Million Children Using Population‐Based Longitudinal Data
Authors: Furu Kari , Karlstad Øystein , Zoega Helga , Martikainen Jaana E. , Bahmanyar Shahram , Kieler Helle , Pottegård Anton
Published: December 2016

Use of stimulants to treat attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has increased over the past two decades and varies substantially between countries. The objective of this multinational population‐based study was to examine utilization of ADHD drugs (stimulants and atomoxetine) including comedication with other psychotropic drugs in the entire child population in the five Nordic countries. We included longitudinal data on dispensed ADHD drugs from five Nordic prescription registers during 2008–2012, which in 2012 comprised 48,296 individuals among 5.42 million inhabitants aged 0–17 years. Prevalence of filling ≥1 prescriptions of ADHD drugs among children aged 6–17 years increased during 2008–2012 from 5.9 to 11.2 and 19.4 to 31.0 per 1000 girls and boys, respectively. Prevalence by country showed that Iceland, Finland and Sweden had a steady increase during the study period, while in Norway the prevalence was quite stable and in Denmark it levelled off from 2010. Use in preschoolers (aged 0–5 years) was rare. Iceland had much higher prevalence and incidence than the other Nordic countries. The incidence of ADHD drug use increased during the study period, from 4.0 to 4.9 and from 1.5 to 2.3 per 1000 boys and girls, respectively. The increasing number of new users levelled off somewhat after 2010. Comedication with other psychotropic drugs was more common among girls (33.9%) than boys (27.0%) and was mainly melatonin, followed by antidepressants and antipsychotics. Overall prevalence of ADHD drug use increased among Nordic girls and boys aged 6–17 years, whereas the incidence increased slightly during 2008–2010 but levelled off through 2012. The substantial differences in ADHD drug use across the Nordic countries and high degree of comedication with other psychotropic drugs underscore the importance of close monitoring of treatment for ADHD among children.
Comparison of scores associating symptoms and rescue medication use for evaluating the efficacy of allergy immunotherapy in seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: results from five trials
Authors: Grouin J.‐M. , Vicaut E. , Devillier P.
Published: December 2016

Background

Over the past decade, regulatory bodies and scientific societies recommended, as primary efficacy outcome, a score that reflects both symptom severity and use of rescue medication for clinical trials in allergy immunotherapy (AIT).

Objective

We sought to compare the results obtained with two subject‐specific scores, the Combined Score (CS) and the Adjusted Symptom Score (AdSS), for assessment of AIT in seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis due to birch and grass pollen allergens.

Methods

CS and AdSS were evaluated in subjects receiving a 300IR dose of allergen extract daily, by sublingual route, in four clinical trials with the 5‐grass pollen tablet (NCT00367640, NCT00409409, NCT00955825 and NCT00418379) and one with the birch pollen solution (NCT01731249). The CS is derived from the Rhinoconjunctivitis Total Symptom Score (RTSS) and the Rescue Medication Score (RMS) giving equal weight to symptoms and medication use. The AdSS is a symptom score adjusting for rescue medication use. Efficacy end‐points were analysed using an analysis of covariance linear model.

Results

In all trials, despite the different constructs of the two scores, Combined Score or Adjusted Symptom Score were similarly reduced in the 300IR group compared to the placebo group. Treatment effect was consistently demonstrated with both scores, CS and AdSS, used as either daily scores or average of the daily scores over the pollen season. Minor differences with the same statistical conclusions were observed between the results, leading to the same interpretation.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

The two scores, combined and adjusted scores, for evaluation of clinical efficacy of AIT have led to similar results, with similar statistical conclusions and similar interpretation.
Urinary bisphenol A is associated with insulin resistance and obesity in reproductive‐aged women
Authors: Hong So‐hyeon , Sung Yeon‐Ah , Hong Young Sun , Ha Eunhee , Jeong Kyungah , Chung Hyewon , Lee Hyejin
Published: December 2016

Background/Objectives

The prevalence of obesity has markedly increased and is closely related to insulin resistance. Although lifestyle and genetic predisposition are significant factors influencing the pathophysiology within the body, endocrine‐disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are also important triggers of metabolic disturbance. We investigated the relationship between exposure to EDCs and insulin resistance and obesity in healthy, reproductive‐aged women.

Subjects/Methods

This cross‐sectional analysis included 296 healthy, reproductive‐aged women between 30 and 49 years. Metabolically healthy was defined as an absence of the components of metabolic syndrome. Urinary levels of bisphenol A (BPA), mono‐(2‐ethyl‐5‐hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono‐(2‐ethyl‐5‐oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) and mono‐n‐butyl phthalate (MnBP) were measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectroscopy (LC–MS). Homoeostatic model analysis of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) was utilized as an index of insulin resistance.

Results

Urinary BPA levels were positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, fasting serum insulin and HOMA‐IR. MEHHP, MEOHP and MnBP were not associated with any of the above parameters. In the multiple regression analysis, the BPA levels were significantly associated with BMI and waist circumference after adjusting for age, smoking and alcohol consumption status, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL). Fasting insulin and HOMA‐IR values were also significantly related to urinary BPA concentration after adjusting for confounding variables. Metabolically unhealthy women exhibited significantly higher levels of urinary BPA (P = 0·01) compared to metabolically healthy women.

Conclusions

Higher urinary BPA levels are associated with obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic disruption in Korean reproductive‐aged women. BPA could play an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic abnormalities. Further studies are required to elucidate the relationship between EDCs and metabolic disturbances in various age and sex groups.
HLA‐G 3′ untranslated region polymorphic sites associated with increased HLA‐G production are more frequent in patients exhibiting differentiated thyroid tumours
Authors: de Figueiredo‐Feitosa Nathalie Lobo , Martelli Palomino Gustavo , Cilião Alves Daiani Cristina , Mendes Junior Celso Teixeira , Donadi Eduardo Antonio , Maciel Léa Maria Zanini
Published: December 2016

Background

HLA‐G is a nonclassical class I histocompatibility molecule implicated on the immune escape mechanism of tumour cells. We evaluated the genetic diversity of HLA‐G 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) and associated polymorphic sites with clinical presentation and with the magnitude of HLA‐G thyroid expression.

Patients and methods

Polymorphic sites at 3′UTR (14bpINS/DEL, +3003C/T, +3010C/G, +3027A/C, +3035C/T, +3142C/G, +3187A/G, +3196C/G) were characterized by sequencing analyses in blood samples of 72 patients exhibiting papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), 22 follicular thyroid carcinomas (FTC), 19 follicular adenomas (FA), 21 colloid goitres and 156 healthy controls.

Results

Compared to goitre and/or controls, patients with PTC exhibited higher frequency of 14bpDEL (P = 0·030), +3010G (P = 0·034), +3010CG (P = 0·044), +3142CG (P = 0·040), +3035C (P = 0·050) and +3187GG (P = 0·032). Patients with FTC presented higher frequency of 14bpINS/DEL (P = 0·020). The UTR‐5 haplotype was underrepresented in PTC (P = 0·050). The +3003TT was more frequent in patients with PTC older than 45 years (P = 0·030). Male patients had a higher frequency of +3196GG (P = 0·040). Tumour multicentricity was associated with UTR‐2 (P = 0·030). The following associations were observed in PTC and FTC combined: i) tumour size <2 cm with 14bpINS/INS (P = 0·030); ii) multicentricity with +3035CC (P = 0·030) and +3196GG (P = 0·030); iii) decreased thyroid HLA‐G expression with +3196C and +3196CC; and iv) moderate HLA‐G thyroid staining with UTR‐2.

Conclusions

HLA‐G 3′UTR polymorphisms associated with a greater magnitude of HLA‐G production were associated with differentiated thyroid tumours and with variables implicated in poor prognosis. These findings corroborate the unfavourable role of HLA‐G in thyroid cancer.
Invasive plants threaten the least mobile butterflies in Switzerland
Authors: Gallien Laure , Altermatt Florian , Wiemers Martin , Schweiger Oliver , Zimmermann Niklaus E.
Published: December 2016

Aim

Biological invasions are today the second‐largest global threat for biodiversity. Once introduced, exotic plant species can modify ecosystem composition, structure and dynamics, eventually driving native species to local extinction. Among the groups of organisms, most likely to be directly affected by exotic invasive plants are herbivorous insects, such as butterflies, which strongly depend on plants throughout their life cycle. However, it remains unclear whether invasive plants have a negative or a positive effect on butterfly diversity at a landscape scale.

Location

Switzerland.

Methods

Using an extensive inventory (393 sites across Switzerland) of both butterfly and invasive plants, we explore the impact of 31 invasive black listed plant species on local butterfly richness. We further identify each butterfly species’ response to invasive plants (i.e. positive, neutral or negative) and analyse the functional and phylogenetic characteristics of these different groups of species.

Results

Our results indicate that butterfly richness negatively correlates with an increase in invasive plant richness. When studying the individual response of each butterfly species to the number of invasive plants, we found that no single butterfly is profiting from invasive plant species, while 28 butterfly species (24%) suffer from the presence of invasive plants. We further show that the species negatively affected are on average less mobile than the unaffected species and that they are phylogenetically clustered.

Main conclusions

Our results present evidences of the influence of invasive species on other trophic levels and interaction networks. We further highlight that a lack of management efforts for mitigating invasive plant impacts threatens specific sections of the functional and phylogenetic diversity of butterflies.
An Agency‐Based Capability Theory of Justice
Authors: Claassen Rutger
Published: December 2016

The capability approach is one of the main contenders in the field of theorizing social justice. Each citizen is entitled to a set of basic capabilities. But which are these? Martha Nussbaum formulated a set of ten central capabilities. Amartya Sen argued they should be selected in a process of public reasoning. Critics object that the Nussbaum‐approach is too perfectionist and the Sen‐approach is too proceduralist. This paper presents a third alternative: a substantive but non‐perfectionist capability theory of justice. It presents a two‐level concept of individual agency as connected to social practices. It then argues basic capabilities are those necessary to for the agency necessary to navigate freely and autonomously between different social practices.
Memory performance on the story recall test and prediction of cognitive dysfunction progression in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's dementia
Authors: Park Jong‐Hwan , Park Hyuntae , Sohn Sang Wuk , Kim Sungjae , Park Kyung Won
Published: December 2016

Aim

To determine the factors that influence diagnosis and differentiation of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD) by comparing memory test results at baseline with those at 1–2‐year follow up.

Methods

We consecutively recruited 23 healthy participants, 44 MCI patients and 27 patients with very mild AD according to the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke/Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorder Association criteria for probable Alzheimer's disease and Petersen's clinical diagnostic criteria. We carried out detailed neuropsychological tests, including the Story Recall Test (SRT) and the Seoul Verbal Learning Test, for all participants. We defined study participants as the “progression group” as follows: (i) participants who showed conversion to dementia from the MCI state; and (ii) those with dementia who showed more than a three‐point decrement in their Mini‐Mental State Examination scores with accompanying functional decline from baseline status, which were ascertained by physician's clinical judgment.

Results

The SRT delayed recall scores were significantly lower in the patients with mild AD than in those with MCI and after progression. Lower (relative risk 1.1, 95% confidence interval 0.1–1.6) and higher SRT delayed recall scores (relative risk 2.1, confidence interval 1.0–2.8), and two‐test combined immediate and delayed recall scores (relative risk 2.0, confidence interval 0.9–2.3; and relative risk 2.8, confidence interval 1.1–4.2, respectively) were independent predictors of progression in a stepwise multiple adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, with age, sex, depression and educational level forced into the model.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that the SRT delayed recall score independently predicts progression to dementia in patients with MCI. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1603–1609.
Menstrual Migraine and Treatment Options: Review
Authors: Maasumi Kasra , Tepper Stewart J. , Kriegler Jennifer S.
Published: December 2016

Objective

A review of treatment options for menstrual migraine.

Background

Migraine affects ∼30 million people in the US. A subset of female migraineurs have migraines that are mainly associated with menstruation. Menstrual migraine (MM) is divided into pure MM and menstrually related migraine. Pure MM attacks occur only with menstruation and have a prevalence of 1%. Menstrually related migraine has a prevalence of 6‐7%, and occurs both during menstruation as well as during the rest of the cycle. MM is usually without aura and is more severe, longer lasting, and more resistant to treatment due to the effects of ovarian hormones, specifically estrogen. MM treatment is divided into acute, short‐term prophylaxis, and daily prevention. The best‐studied acute treatments are triptans. For short‐term prophylaxis, triptans, non‐triptans, or combinations are used. Some preventive medications may be used daily to prevent MM. Many anti‐epileptic medications used in migraine prevention can affect the efficacy of oral contraceptives and hormonal treatments, so caution is indicated when these are used.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Embase were searched for MM and treatments.

Results

Many randomized, placebo‐controlled, prospective studies have evaluated the efficacy of sumatriptan, rizatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan, and almotriptan in MM. Reviewing numerous studies with statistically significant results, rizatriptan has the best overall evidence for acute treatment of MM, ranging from pain‐free responses of 33‐73% at 2 hours. Sumatriptan and rizatriptan have shown similar efficacies of 61‐63% in terms of 2 hour pain freedom. Rizatriptan showed sustained pain relief between 2 and 24 hours with an efficacy of 63% and sustained pain freedom for MM between 2 and 24 hours with an efficacy of 32%. For short‐term prevention of MM, there were four randomized controlled trials for frovatriptan taken twice daily, one trial for zolmitriptan taken three times daily, and two studies for naratriptan taken twice daily, all of which showed statistically significant results. Among studies on non‐triptans for short‐term prevention of MM, magnesium, estrogen, naproxen sodium, and dihydroergotamine all had statistically significant results. Many antiepileptic medications taken for prevention of MM can cause enzyme induction affecting oral contraceptives (OCs) and hormonal treatments to different degrees. Topiramate has the least effect on OCs at doses below 200 mg/day. Lamotrigine noticeably decreases oral contraceptive levels; however, the evidence for it as a preventive medication is not strong.

Conclusion

MM can be very difficult to treat. For acute treatments, rizatriptan has the best overall evidence. For short‐term prevention, frovatriptan, zolmitriptan, or naratriptan, as well as magnesium, estrogen, naproxen sodium, or dihydroergotamine may be useful.
Dynamics of phenotypic change: wing length declines in a resident farmland passerine despite survival advantage of longer wings
Authors: Dunn Jenny C. , Hamer Keith C. , Benton Tim G.
Published: December 2016

In many taxa, environmental changes that alter resource availability and energetics, such as climate change and land use change, are associated with changes in body size. We use wing length as a proxy for overall structural body size to examine a paradoxical trend of declining wing length within a Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella population sampled over 21 years, in which it has been previously shown that longer wings are associated with higher survival rates. Higher temperatures during the previous winter (prior to the moult determining current wing length) explained 23% of wing length decrease within our population, but changes may also be correlated with non‐climatic environmental variation such as changes in farming mechanisms linked to food availability. We found no evidence for within‐individual wing length shrinkage with age, but our data suggested a progressive decline in the sizes of immature birds recruiting to the population. This trend was weaker, although not significantly so, among adults, suggesting that the decline in the sizes of recruits was offset by higher subsequent survival of larger birds post‐recruitment. These data suggest that ecological processes can contribute more than selection to observed phenotypic trends and highlight the importance of long‐term studies for providing longitudinal insights into population processes.
Are complications of stress urinary incontinence surgery procedures associated with the position of the sling?
Authors: Kociszewski Jacek , Fabian George , Grothey Susanne , Kuszka Andrzej , Zwierzchowska Aneta , Majkusiak Wojciech , Barcz Ewa
Published: December 2016

Objectives

To evaluate whether the sling position is associated with particular types of complications in patients undergoing suburethral sling placement for stress urinary incontinence.

Methods

Data from 100 women diagnosed at the Evangelical Hospital Hagen‐Haspe with complications after suburethral sling insertion were analyzed. All patients underwent pelvic floor ultrasound to assess: urethral length, sling location in relation to the urethral length (%) and the sling distance to the longitudinal smooth muscle complex of the urethra (the sling–longitudinal smooth muscle distance).

Results

The shortest median sling–longitudinal smooth muscle distance was observed in patients with recurrent urinary tract infections, urinary retention and overactive bladder: 0.9, 1.1 and 1.75 mm, respectively (P < 0.05). In women with persistent stress urinary incontinence and sling erosion, the sling–longitudinal smooth muscle distance was 3.6 and 4.6 mm, respectively (P < 0.05). Persistent stress urinary incontinence was connected with the position of the sling in relation to the bladder neck – in these patients, the sling was closer to the bladder neck.

Conclusions

Sling location plays a pivotal role in the occurrence of certain complications. The sling position in the proximal part of the urethra or between the middle and proximal urethra appears to be connected with a high rate of unsuccessful stress urinary incontinence treatment. A sling–longitudinal smooth muscle distance below 2 mm is often connected with sling complications, such as overactive bladder, urinary retention and recurrent urinary tract infections.
A quantitative synthesis of the importance of variables used in MaxEnt species distribution models
Authors: Bradie Johanna , Leung Brian
Published: December 2016

Aim

To synthesize the species distribution modelling (SDM) literature to inform which variables have been used in MaxEnt models for different taxa and to quantify how frequently they have been important for species’ distributions.

Location

Global.

Methods

We conducted a quantitative synthesis analysing the contribution of over 400 distinct environmental variables to 2040 MaxEntSDMs for nearly 1900 species representing over 300 families. Environmental variables were grouped into 24 related factors and results were analysed by examining the frequency with which variables were found to be most important, the mean contribution of each variable (at various taxonomic levels), and using TrueSkill™, a Bayesian skill rating system.

Results

Precipitation, temperature, bathymetry, distance to water and habitat patch characteristics were the most important variables overall. Precipitation and temperature were analysed most frequently and one of these variables was often the most important predictor in the model (nearly 80% of models, when tested). Notably, distance to water was the most important variable in the highest proportion of models in which it was tested (42% of 225 models). For terrestrial species, precipitation, temperature and distance to water had the highest overall contributions, whereas for aquatic species, bathymetry, precipitation and temperature were most important.

Main conclusions

Over all MaxEnt models published, the ability to discriminate occurrence from reference sites was high (averageAUC = 0.92). Much of this discriminatory ability was due to temperature and precipitation variables. Further, variability (temperature) and extremes (minimum precipitation) were the most predictive. More generally, the most commonly tested variables were not always the most predictive, with, for instance, ‘distance to water’ infrequently tested, but found to be very important when it was. Thus, the results from this study summarize the MaxEntSDMliterature, and can aid in variable selection by identifying underutilized, but potentially important variables, which could be incorporated in future modelling efforts.
Recommended standards for assessing blood pressure in human research where blood pressure or hypertension is a major focus
Authors:   TRUE Consortium (inTernational consoRtium for qUality resEarch on dietary sodium/salt)
Published: December 2016

Although inaccurate, nonreproducible blood pressure values can result from nonstandardized assessments, recommended approaches to standardize blood pressure measurement are often not followed in research studies. An expert consensus of national and international health and scientific organizations developed recommended minimum standards for assessing blood pressure in research subjects where: (1) blood pressure or hypertension is a major end point, or (2) blood pressure is likely a major mediator of the research outcome. Minimum research standards are presented for training of observers, technical aspects of assessing blood pressure, and equipment for both adults and children. The standards are based on prior recommendations, some of which did not conform to current evidence based‐methods. All new research should require adherence to these minimum standards in the patient populations described above. Readers need to use caution in interpreting studies if the standards are not met in the defined populations.
Cementogenesis and osteogenesis in periodontal tissue regeneration by recombinant human transforming growth factor‐β3: a pilot study in Papio ursinus
Authors: Ripamonti Ugo , Parak Ruqayya , Klar Roland M. , Dickens Caroline , Dix‐Peek Therese , Duarte Raquel
Published: December 2016

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate cementogenesis and alveolar bone induction during in vivo periodontal tissue regeneration upon implantation of hTGF‐β3 in furcation defects of Papio ursinus and to evaluate the feasibility of gene expression studies.

Materials and Methods

Class II furcation defects (day 0) were prepared in mandibular first and second molars of three P. ursinus and on day 30 implanted with and without 75 μg hTGF‐β3 in Matrigel®matrix. On day 0, 30 and 90, cementum and alveolar bone were harvested for gene expression analyses. Coral‐derived bioreactors with and without 250 μg hTGF‐β3 were implanted in the rectus abdominis to monitor tissue induction.

Results

hTGF‐β3 induced cementogenesis with TGF‐β3, Cementum Protein‐1 (Cemp1) and Osteocalcin (OC) up‐regulation, and down‐regulation of BMP‐2 and OP‐1. Matrigel®matrix specimens showed up‐regulation of BMP‐2, TGF‐β3, and OC, with down‐regulation of OP‐1 and Cemp1. hTGF‐β3 induced alveolar bone with down‐regulation of OP‐1, TGF‐β3, OC, and Cemp1. hTGF‐β3 bioreactors induced bone at the periphery only. BMP‐3, BMP‐4, TGF‐β1 and TGF‐β3 were up‐regulated in the adjacent muscle with TGF‐β2 down‐regulation.

Conclusions

Cementogenesis and osteogenesis by hTGF‐β3 entail the expression and up‐regulation of TGF‐β3 and OC with fine tuning and modulation of BMP‐2 and OP‐1.
Association of Serum Klotho with Loss of Bone Mineral Density and Fracture Risk in Older Adults
Authors: Chalhoub Didier , Marques Elisa , Meirelles Osorio , Semba Richard D. , Ferrucci Luigi , Satterfield Suzanne , Nevitt Michael , Cauley Jane A. , Harris Tamara ,   the Health ABC Study
Published: December 2016

Objectives

Klotho deficiency has been previously linked to aging‐like phenotypes such as osteoporosis, cognitive impairment, and sarcopenia. Low serum klotho was shown to be related to grip strength and disability. Nonetheless, no previous study has explored the association between serum klotho and fractures. The purpose of this report is to examine the relationship of serum klotho with bone mineral density (BMD) loss and fractures in older adults.

Design

The Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study is a longitudinal cohort study of 3,075 community‐dwelling older adults.

Setting

US clinical centers.

Participants

Two thousand seven hundred and seventy six well‐functioning black and white adults aged 70 to 79 years with serum klotho measurements were followed up for a median of 5 years.

Measurements

Percent annualized BMD change and fracture risk were compared across klotho quartiles. A Poisson distribution was used to calculate age‐adjusted fracture incidence rates, and Cox proportional hazards models for multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios.

Results

The annualized percent changes in hip, femoral neck, and vertebral BMD were similar across klotho quartiles. Participants experienced 507 nonspine fractures, 203 hip fractures, and 135 vertebral fractures. The Incidence rate (IR) of nonspine fractures was 17 per 1,000 person‐years. The most frequent site was hip (IR = 6 per 1,000 person‐years) and the IR of vertebral fractures was 3 per 1,000 person‐years. There was no association between the lowest quartile of plasma klotho and nonspine (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.86–1.65), hip (HR = 1.34, 95% CI = 0.79–2.27), or vertebral fractures (HR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.65–2.11).

Conclusion

Although klotho gene is a susceptible gene for reduced BMD, klotho blood concentration does not appear to be a predictor of bone loss or fracture risk in well‐functioning older adults.
Reliability and concurrent validity of a new iPhone® goniometric application for measuring active wrist range of motion: a cross‐sectional study in asymptomatic subjects
Authors: Pourahmadi Mohammad Reza , Ebrahimi Takamjani Ismail , Sarrafzadeh Javad , Bahramian Mehrdad , Mohseni‐Bandpei Mohammad Ali , Rajabzadeh Fatemeh , Taghipour Morteza
Published: December 2016

Measurement of wrist range of motion (ROM) is often considered to be an essential component of wrist physical examination. The measurement can be carried out through various instruments such as goniometers and inclinometers. Recent smartphones have been equipped with accelerometers and magnetometers, which, through specific software applications (apps) can be used for goniometric functions. This study, for the first time, aimed to evaluate the reliability and concurrent validity of a new smartphone goniometric app (Goniometer Pro©) for measuring active wrist ROM. In all, 120 wrists of 70 asymptomatic adults (38 men and 32 women; aged 18–40 years) were assessed in a physiotherapy clinic located at the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Science and Health Services, Tehran, Iran. Following the recruitment process, active wrist ROM was measured using a universal goniometer and iPhone® 5 app. Two blinded examiners each utilized the universal goniometer and iPhone® to measure active wrist ROM using a volar/dorsal alignment technique in the following sequences: flexion, extension, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation. The second (2 h later) and third (48 h later) sessions were carried out in the same manner as the first session. All the measurements were conducted three times and the mean value of three repetitions for each measurement was used for analysis. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) models (3, k) and (2, k) were used to determine the intra‐rater and inter‐rater reliability, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficients were used to establish concurrent validity of the iPhone® app. Good to excellent intra‐rater and inter‐rater reliability was demonstrated for the goniometer with ICC values of ≥ 0.82 and ≥ 0.73 and the iPhone® app with ICC values of ≥ 0.83 and ≥ 0.79, respectively. Minimum detectable change at the 95% confidence level (MDC95) was computed as 1.96 × standard error of measurement × √2. The MDC95 ranged from 1.66° to 5.35° for the intra‐rater analysis and from 1.97° to 6.15° for the inter‐rater analysis. The concurrent validity between the two instruments was high, with r values of ≥ 0.80. From the results of this cross‐sectional study, it can be concluded that the iPhone® app possesses good to excellent intra‐rater and inter‐rater reliability and concurrent validity. It seems that this app can be used for the measurement of wrist ROM. However, further research is needed to evaluate symptomatic subjects using this app.
Long‐term Persistence with Mirabegron versus Solifenacin in Women with Overactive Bladder: Prospective, Randomized Trial
Authors: KINJO Manami , SEKIGUCHI Yuki , YOSHIMURA Yasukuni , NUTAHARA Kikuo
Published: December 2016

Objectives

To compare persistence with medication and the reasons for discontinuation of mirabegron or solifenacin therapy up to12 months in women with overactive bladder (OAB).

Methods

Female OAB patients who presented to women's urology clinics were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, two‐arm study. Patients were randomized to receive mirabegron at 25–50 mg (n = 76) or solifenacin at 2.5–5 mg (n = 72). The persistence rate and the reasons for discontinuation were investigated up to 12 months.

Results

The 12‐month persistence rate was 12.2% in the mirabegron group versus 20.1% in the solifenacin group and there were no significant differences of the persistence rates during the study (n.s). Patients discontinued treatment because of lack of efficacy (21.6%), spontaneous improvement (18.2%), and side‐effects (17.6%), while 19.6% were lost to follow up. Discontinuation due to side‐effects was significantly more frequent in the solifenacin group than the mirabegron group (27.3 vs. 7.9%, P < 0.05). In contrast, discontinuation due to lack of efficacy was significantly more frequent in the mirabegron group than the solifenacin group (36.8 vs. 5.6%, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated low persistence rates over 12 months for both mirabegron and solifenacin, although the reasons for discontinuation were somewhat different.
Impact of small quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements on infant and young child feeding practices at 18 months of age: results from four randomized controlled trials in Africa
Authors: Arimond Mary , Abbeddou Souheila , Kumwenda Chiza , Okronipa Harriet , Hemsworth Jaimie , Jimenez Elizabeth Yakes , Ocansey Eugenia , Lartey Anna , Ashorn Ulla , Adu‐Afarwuah Seth , Vosti Stephen A. , Hess Sonja Y. , Dewey Kathryn G.
Published: December 2016

Optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices can help ensure nutrient adequacy and support healthy growth and development. Small‐quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements (SQ‐LNS) have been proposed to help fill nutrient gaps, but little is known about the impact of provision of SQ‐LNS on breastfeeding or complementary feeding practices. In the context of four coordinated randomized controlled nutrient supplementation trials in diverse sites in Africa, we compared IYCF practices at infant age 18 months (after 9–12 months of supplementation) between those receiving and not receiving SQ‐LNS. Practices were assessed by caregiver recall. Continued breastfeeding ranged from 74% (Ghana site) to 97% (Burkina Faso site) and did not differ between groups in any site; prevalence of frequent breastfeeding also did not differ. In two sites (Burkina Faso and Malawi), infants receiving SQ‐LNS were more likely to meet the World Health Organization recommendations for frequency of feeding (percentage point differences of 12–14%, P < 0.0001 and P = 0.005, respectively; the remaining two sites did not have data for this indicator). Most indicators of infant dietary diversity did not differ between groups in any site, but in the same two sites where frequency of feeding differed, infants receiving SQ‐LNS were less likely to have low frequency of consumption of animal‐source foods in the previous week (percentage point differences of 9–19% for lowest tertile, P = .02 and P = 0.04, respectively). We conclude that provision of SQ‐LNS did not negatively impact self‐reported IYCF practices and may have positively impacted frequency of feeding.
Molecular screening of Leishmania spp. infection and bloodmeals in sandflies from a leishmaniasis focus in southwestern Turkey
Authors: KARAKU Ş M. , PEKAĞ IRBA Ş M. , DEMIR S. , EREN H. , TÖZ S. , ÖZBEL Y.
Published: December 2016

Leishmaniasis is an arthropod‐borne disease that affects approximately 2 million people worldwide annually. The aims of this study were to detect the presence of Leishmania (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) DNA and the feeding preferences of probable vector species in an endemic focus of Leishmania infantum in Turkey. Entomological sampling was performed in August and October 2015 in Aydın province, where cases of human and canine leishmaniasis have been reported previously. A total of 1059 sandfly specimens comprising nine species belonging to two genera, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia (both: Diptera: Psychodidae), and five subgenera of the Phlebotomus genus (Phlebotomus, Paraphlebotomus, Larroussius, Adlerius and Transphlebotomus) were collected in five villages. Among all Phlebotomus specimens, Phlebotomus neglectus (39%) was noted as the most abundant species, followed by Phlebotomus tobbi (18%). Leishmania DNA was detected in pools from P. neglectus, P. tobbi and Sergentomyia dentata by kDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Leishmania DNA from Phlebotomus specimens was identified as L. infantum, but Leishmania DNA from Sergentomyia spp. could not be identified to species level by ITS‐1 real‐time PCR. The detection of Leishmania DNA in wild‐caught P. neglectus and the high percentage (24.2%) of human DNA in engorged specimens suggests that P. neglectus is probably an important vector species for L. infantum in Aydın province.