bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ammonia impacts methane oxidation and methanotrophic community in freshwater sediment
Authors: Yang Yuyin , Chen Jianfei , Xie Shuguang , Liu Yong
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Lacustrine ecosystems are an important natural source of greenhouse gas methane. Aerobic methanotrophs are regarded as a major regulator controlling methane emission. Excess nutrient input can greatly influence carbon cycle in lacustrine ecosystems. Ammonium is believed to be a major influential factor, due to its competition with methane as the substrate for aerobic methanotrophs. To date, the impact of ammonia on aerobic methanotrophs remains unclear. In the present study, microcosms with freshwater lake sediment were constructed to investigate the influence of ammonia concentration on aerobic methanotrophs. Ammonia influence on the abundance of pmoA gene was only observed at a very high ammonia concentration, while the number of pmoA transcripts was increased by the addition of ammonium. pmoA gene and transcripts differed greatly in their abundance, diversity and community compositions. pmoA transcripts were more sensitive to ammonium amendment than pmoA gene. Methane oxidation potential and methanotrophic community could be impacted by ammonium amendment. This work could add some new sights towards the links between ammonia and methane oxidation in freshwater sediment.
Reviews and syntheses: Changing ecosystem influences on soil thermal regimes in northern high-latitude permafrost regions
Authors: Loranty Michael M. , Abbott Benjamin W. , Blok Daan , Douglas Thomas A. , Epstein Howard E. , Forbes Bruce C. , Jones Benjamin M. , Kholodov Alexander L. , Kropp Heather , Malhotra Avni , Mamet Steven D. , Myers-Smith Isla H. , Natali Susan M. , O'Donnell Jonathan A. , Phoenix Gareth K. , Rocha Adrian V. , Sonnentag Oliver , Tape Ken D. , Walker Donald A.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Permafrost soils in arctic and boreal ecosystems store twice the amount of current atmospheric carbon that may be mobilized and released to the atmosphere as greenhouse gases when soils thaw under a warming climate. This permafrost carbon climate feedback is among the most globally important terrestrial biosphere feedbacks to climate warming, yet its magnitude remains highly uncertain. This uncertainty lies in predicting the rates and spatial extent of permafrost thaw and subsequent carbon cycle processes. Terrestrial ecosystem influences on surface energy partitioning exert strong control on permafrost soil thermal dynamics and are critical for understanding permafrost soil responses to climate change and disturbance. Here we review how arctic and boreal ecosystem processes influence permafrost soils and characterize key ecosystem changes that regulate permafrost responses to climate. While many of the ecosystem characteristics and processes affecting soil thermal dynamics have been examined in isolation, interactions between processes are less well understood. In particular connections between vegetation, soil moisture, and soil thermal properties affecting permafrost conditions could benefit from additional research. In particular, connections between vegetation, soil moisture, and soil thermal properties affecting permafrost could benefit from additional research. Changes in ecosystem distribution and vegetation characteristics will alter spatial patterns of interactions between climate and permafrost. In addition to shrub expansion, other vegetation responses to changes in climate and disturbance regimes will all affect ecosystem surface energy partitioning in ways that are important for permafrost. Lastly, changes in vegetation and ecosystem distribution will lead to regional and global biophysical and biogeochemical climate feedbacks that may compound or offset local impacts on permafrost soils. Consequently, accurate prediction of the permafrost carbon climate feedback will require detailed understanding of changes in terrestrial ecosystem distribution and function and the net effects of multiple feedback processes operating across scales in space and time.
Technical Note: A simple theoretical model framework to describe plant stomatal sluggishness in response to elevated ozone concentrations
Authors: Huntingford Chris , Oliver Rebecca J. , Mercado Lina M. , Sitch Stephen
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Elevated levels of tropospheric Ozone [O3] causes damage to terrestrial vegetation, affecting leaf stomatal functioning and reducing photosynthesis. Climatic impacts under future raised atmospheric Greenhouse Gas (GHG) concentrations will also impact on the Net Primary Productivity (NPP) of vegetation, which might for instance alter viability of some crops. Together, ozone damage and climate change may adjust the current ability of terrestrial vegetation to offset a significant fraction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Climate impacts on the land surface are well studied, but arguably large-scale modelling of raised surface level [O3] effects is less advanced. To date most models representing ozone damage use either [O3] concentration or, more recently, flux-uptake related reduction of stomatal opening, estimating suppressed land-atmosphere water and CO2 fluxes. However there is evidence that for some species, [O3] damage can also cause an inertial sluggishness of stomatal response to changing surface meteorological conditions. In some circumstances e.g. droughts, this loss of stomata control can cause them to be more open than without ozone interference. The extent of this effect may be dependent on magnitude and cumulated time of exposure to raised [O3], suggesting experiments to analyze this require operation over long timescales such as full growing seasons. To both aid model development and provide empiricists with a system on to which measurements can be mapped, we present a parameter-sparse framework specifically designed to capture sluggishness. This contains a single time-delay parameter τO3, characterising the timescale for stomata to catch up with the level of opening they would have with- out damage. The larger the value of this parameter, the more sluggish the modelled stomatal response. Through variation of τO3, we find it is possible to have qualitatively similar responses to factorial experiments with and without raised [O3], when comparing to measurement timeseries presented in the literature. This low-parameter approach lends itself to the inclusion of ozone-induced inertial effects being incorporated in the terrestrial vegetation component of Earth System Models (ESMs).
Topological Data Analysis and Machine Learning for Recognizing
Atmospheric River Patterns in Large Climate Datasets
Authors: Muszynski Grzegorz , Kashinath Karthik , Kurlin Vitaliy , Wehner Michael ,   Prabhat
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Identifying weather patterns that frequently lead to extreme weather events is a crucial first step in understanding how they may vary under different climate change scenarios. Here we propose an automated method for recognizing atmospheric rivers (ARs) in climate data using topological data analysis and machine learning. The method provides useful information about topological features (shape characteristics) and statistics of ARs. We illustrate this method by applying it to outputs of 5 version 5.1 of the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM5.1) and reanalysis product of the second Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research & Applications (MERRA-2). An advantage of the proposed method is that it is threshold-free. Hence this method may be useful in evaluating model biases in calculating AR statistics. Further, the method can be applied to different climate scenarios without tuning since it does not rely on threshold conditions. We show that the method is suitable for rapidly analyzing large amounts of climate model and reanalysis output data.
Predicting groundwater recharge for varying land cover and climate conditions – a global meta-study
Authors: Mohan Chinchu , Western Andrew W. , Wei Yongping , Saft Margarita
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Groundwater recharge is one of the important factors determining the
groundwater development potential of an area. Even though recharge plays a
key role in controlling groundwater system dynamics, much uncertainty remains
regarding the relationships between groundwater recharge and its governing
factors at a large scale. Therefore, this study aims to identify the most
influential factors of groundwater recharge, and to develop an empirical
model to estimate diffuse rainfall recharge at a global scale. Recharge
estimates reported in the literature from various parts of the world
(715 sites) were compiled and used in model building and testing exercises.
Unlike conventional recharge estimates from water balance, this study used a
multimodel inference approach and information theory to explain the
relationship between groundwater recharge and influential factors, and to predict
groundwater recharge at 0.5∘ resolution. The results show that
meteorological factors (precipitation and potential evapotranspiration) and
vegetation factors (land use and land cover) had the most predictive power
for recharge. According to the model, long-term global average annual
recharge (1981–2014) was 134 mm yr−1 with a prediction error ranging
from −8 to 10 mm yr−1 for 97.2 % of cases. The recharge estimates
presented in this study are unique and more reliable than the existing global
groundwater recharge estimates because of the extensive validation carried
out using both independent local estimates collated from the literature and
national statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In a water-scarce future driven by increased anthropogenic development, the results from
this study will aid in making informed decisions about groundwater potential
at a large scale.
A Bayesian approach to infer nitrogen loading rates from crop and land-use types surrounding private wells in the Central Valley, California
Authors: Ransom Katherine M. , Bell Andrew M. , Barber Quinn E. , Kourakos George , Harter Thomas
Published: May 2018

Abstract. This study is focused on nitrogen loading from a wide variety of crop and
land-use types in the Central Valley, California, USA, an intensively farmed
region with high agricultural crop diversity. Nitrogen loading rates for
several crop types have been measured based on field-scale experiments, and
recent research has calculated nitrogen loading rates for crops throughout
the Central Valley based on a mass balance approach. However, research is
lacking to infer nitrogen loading rates for the broad diversity of crop and
land-use types directly from groundwater nitrate measurements. Relating
groundwater nitrate measurements to specific crops must account for the
uncertainty about and multiplicity in contributing crops (and other land uses)
to individual well measurements, and for the variability of nitrogen loading
within farms and from farm to farm for the same crop type. In this study, we
developed a Bayesian regression model that allowed us to estimate
land-use-specific groundwater nitrogen loading rate probability distributions
for 15 crop and land-use groups based on a database of recent nitrate
measurements from 2149 private wells in the Central Valley. The
water and natural, rice, and alfalfa and pasture groups had the lowest
median estimated nitrogen loading rates, each with a median estimate below
5 kg N ha−1 yr−1. Confined animal feeding operations (dairies)
and citrus and subtropical crops had the greatest median estimated nitrogen
loading rates at approximately 269 and 65 kg N ha−1 yr−1,
respectively. In general, our probability-based estimates compare favorably
with previous direct measurements and with mass-balance-based estimates of
nitrogen loading. Nitrogen mass-balance-based estimates are larger than our
groundwater nitrate derived estimates for manured and nonmanured forage,
nuts, cotton, tree fruit, and rice crops. These discrepancies are thought to
be due to groundwater age mixing, dilution from infiltrating river water, or
denitrification between the time when nitrogen leaves the root zone (point of
reference for mass-balance-derived loading) and the time and location of
groundwater measurement.
Persistent Tracers of Historic Ice Flow in Glacial Stratigraphy near Kamb Ice Stream, West Antarctica
Authors: Holschuh Nicholas , Christianson Knut , Conway Howard , Jacobel Robert W. , Welch Brian C.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Variations in properties controlling ice flow (e.g., topography, accumulation rate, basal friction) are recorded by structures in glacial stratigraphy. When anomalies that disturb the stratigraphy are fixed in space, the structures they produce advect away from the source, and can be used to trace flow pathways and reconstruct ice-flow patterns of the past. Here we provide an example of one of these persistent tracers: a prominent unconformity in the glacial layering that originates at Mt. Resnik, part of a subglacial volcanic complex near Kamb Ice Stream in central West Antarctica. The unconformity records a change in the regional thinning behavior seemingly coincident (∼ 3440 ± 117a) with stabilization of grounding-line retreat along the Ross Ice Shelf. We argue that this feature records both the flow and thinning history far upstream of the Ross Sea grounding line, indicating a limited influence of observed ice-stream stagnation cycles on large-scale ice-sheet routing over the last ∼ 5700 years.
Cover art
Authors: Yi Alice
Published: May 2018

Cover art by Alice Yi.

Description: An air ambulance sits on a helipad a short distance away from a hospital. At first glance, these buildings look like they can be from anywhere, but upon closer inspection, the unmistakable countours of Victoria Hospital reveal themselves. Victoria Hospital is the only hospital in the London Health Sciences network that services trauma patients, and is the designated Lead Trauma Hospital for all of Southwestern Ontario. Due to the large population that LHSC serves—and large distances between populations—air ambulances are often essential for timely patient transport. These helicopters have become a sign of how far technology and infrastructure have come in trauma and disaster medicine, and how we can bring further advancements to the field.
Clinical telemedicine utilization in paediatric nephrology at a tertiary care centre
Authors: Shao Fei Fei , Andody Jody , Reed April , Filler Guido
Published: May 2018

Purpose: Telemedicine is an emerging tool that offers medical consultations to patients with limited access to subspecialty care. To date, the use of telemedicine in Canadian medical practices has not been studied in depth. This study aims to characterize the three different telemedicine clinic models in use at the paediatric nephrology program at the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario and the patient population they served.

Methods: To complete this retrospective study, all paediatric nephrology telemedicine consultations provided by one physician from September 30, 2010 to July 13, 2016 were analyzed, which comprised 264 separate consultations with 87 patients.

Results: The number of consults increased from 0.25 per month to 8.78 per month between 2010 and 2016, with the most substantial increase seen from 2014 onwards with the establishment of the Windsor block clinics. The patient population had a bimodal age distribution across a geographical distance of 220.3 km to 1371.31 km. Urinary tract infections were the most frequent reason for the consultation.

Conclusion: Of the three models described in this study, the block clinic model had the most substantial impact on increasing telemedicine services for paediatric nephrology patients.

 

CORRECTION, September 7, 2017: In the Methods section of this article, the author AR is incorrectly referred to as a nurse practitioner. AR is in fact a registered nurse (RN). We regret that this error was included.
Training for trauma
Authors: Gross Aaron , Zandberg Julianne , LaPierre David
Published: May 2018

Appropriate training in the management of trauma is important for medical students. Preventing Crashes is a program created to provide new educational opportunities for learners and clinicians, in community settings, to develop competence in managing trauma. This article discusses the rationale, features, and planned implementation of the Preventing Crashes program.
Neurobiological and connectivity changes after sports-related concussion
Authors: Krongold Mark , Chow Nelson
Published: May 2018

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Sports-related TBI is a subset that encompasses cerebral concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the latter of which is a long-term neurodegenerative sequela of repeated mild TBI that affects behaviour, cognition, motor control, and memory. On a cellular level, TBI can result in diffuse axonal injury (DAI). This injury causes axonal transport dysfunction, leading to accumulation of tau and amyloid beta deposits in the brain. Damage occurs in neuronal tracts of both local and distant brain regions. DAI disrupts brain network function, which correlates with decreased cognitive function, by impairing the default mode network’s (DMN) normal ability to deactivate during cognitive tasks. The salience network (SN) can be affected by DAI as well, which ultimately also impairs deactivation of the DMN. These changes coincide with the clinical manifestations of concussions and CTE. Both concussions and CTE are currently clinical diagnoses, as no diagnostic lab tests exist to delineate these conditions. As with many brain disorders of traumatic origin, there is no specific medical treatment for these conditions, though concussion is managed through physical and cognitive rest. The most important consideration for all TBIs, however, is prevention.
Dante’s kindling box
Authors: Marquis Josiah , Benlamri Meriem , Dent Elizabeth , Suyeshkumar Tharmitha
Published: May 2018

Almost half of the Canadian landscape is made up of forests, but the amount of forest surface area burned every year has been growing steadily since 1960.1 This can be problematic due to the effects that forest fires have not only on the local environment but also on the globe as a whole. A forest fire or vegetation fire is defined as any open fire of vegetation such as savannah, forest, agriculture, or peat that is initiated by humans or nature.2 Vegetation fires contribute heavily to air pollution and climate change and are in turn exacerbated by them as well. Air pollution increases due to emissions from these fires, which contain 90-95% carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide as well as methane and other volatile compounds.2 Emissions from forest fires also contribute to global greenhouse gases and aerosol particles (biomass burning organic aerosols),2 leading to indirect and direct consequences to human health. In contrast to biomass burning for household heating and cooking, catastrophic events of forest fires and sweeping grassland fires result in unique exposures and health consequences. In this case report, the relationship between environmental hazardous air pollutants and the potential physiological and psychological health effects associated with the forest fire that affected Fort McMurray, AB in May 2016 are considered.
Distributive justice in disaster triage
Authors: Greenacre Matthew , Fleshner Katherine
Published: May 2018

Disasters that produce an overwhelming number of casualties demand that healthcare resources be rationed. Given the gravity of these decisions, it is imperative that they be guided by acceptable principles of distributive justice. Utilitarianism governs current disaster triage protocols because the efficient use of resources prevents the greatest amount of disability and mortality in the population. However, this conflicts with maximin egalitarianism, which demands that the most severely injured patients be prioritized even if it is not an efficient use of resources. Utilitarian triage also conflicts with the egalitarian principle of equal chances, which states that all people should be given an opportunity to be given treatment since all persons value their lives equally. Utilitarianism protects the needs of the entire population, and so demands that an individual patient’s right to autonomy and a fiduciary relationship with their physician must be sacrificed. Like other policies in a democratic society, the legitimacy of disaster triage protocols comes from support by the majority. For this reason, choosing the values that guide disaster triage requires open and transparent communal disaster planning that reflects the values of all members of society. Rather than prioritizing one principle over another, it is likely that the most just approach to allocating resources in disaster triage may be to apply a mixture of distributive justice principles.
Vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress in health care professionals
Authors: Guitar Nicole A , Molinaro Monica L
Published: May 2018

Three-quarters of Canadians are exposed to a traumatic event sufficient to cause psychological trauma in their lifetime. In fact, post-traumatic stress disorder is a global health issue with a prevalence as high as 37%. Health care professionals trained to provide mental health treatment for these individuals are at risk of developing vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress, both of which result in adverse symptoms for the health care provider that often mimic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Vicarious trauma develops over time as the clinician is continually exposed to their clients’ traumatic experiences, while clinicians experiencing secondary traumatic stress begin to experience the symptoms of PTSD due to secondary exposure of the traumatic event. Both vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress cause mental, physical, and emotional issues for health care professionals that include burnout and decreased self-worth. Health care systems and administration should aim to develop training and professional education for health care providers. This review will emphasize what factors lead to the development of vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress, and what aids or supports can be implemented to treat the symptoms. The implications for policy development and training will be discussed.
Parsing Anhedonia: A reverse-translational strategy for treatment of anhedonia in clinical populations and potential implications of conditioned motivators
Authors: Hudson Roger
Published: May 2018

Anhedonia is defined as reduced interest or pleasure in activities previously considered enjoyable and is a cardinal symptom of many neuropsychiatric disorders including major depression, schizophrenia and substance dependence. Pleasurable experiences involve a variety of psychobiological components including learning, memory and motivation that influence engagement with rewarding events and can therefore impact affective responding. Despite the capacity to dissociate these processes in humans and nonhuman animals, contemporary preclinical animal models of anhedonia emphasize responses to immediately pleasurable stimuli including palatable food and drugs of abuse. This limits translatability to the clinic as human patients exhibiting anhedonia largely display normalized responsivity to pleasurable stimuli and instead show deficits in responding for associative cues. Conditioned motivators can serve to bridge the gap between clinical and preclinical knowledge, as they can be dissociated into each independent component process associated with anhedonia. Following several distinct temporally-contingent associations with reward, neutral stimuli acquire meaning and become conditioned motivators, which can be uniquely manipulated to parse several component processes within a variety of tasks. Thus, the properties of conditioned motivators in anhedonia and the neural substrates underlying them will be critical in translating knowledge about these independent neuropsychiatric processes to the clinic. This review emphasizes the utilization of ‘reverse-translation’, integrating patient-based findings with preclinical animal models to experimentally parse component processes of anhedonia and develop holistic experimental models to measure it. Dissociating the independent, measurable component processes of anhedonia is critical for accurate representation in preclinical animal models and for acceleration of treatment strategies to the clinic.
Medical smartphone applications
Authors: Masciantonio Marcello G , Surmanski Aneta A
Published: May 2018

Smartphones have a variety of unique features including text-message communication, camera, sensors, and health applications (apps), which can be used to assist in monitoring an individual’s health, diet, and exercise, as well as support goal-focused strategies personalized to user needs. Mental health and diabetes management apps are two prominent examples that have been shown to be effective in improving specific health outcomes. Mental health apps provide day-to-day patient care by teaching users how to reduce stress, focusing on strategies to enhance mental well-being. Apps such as Kokoro, Headspace, and PRISM have been demonstrated to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and psycho-education apps have been demonstrated to reduce symptoms and to enhance concentration during specific tasks. Many diabetes apps are accessible by patients and physicians, and include tracking features for nutrition, fitness, and hemoglobin A1c levels. Specialized apps with text-messaging services and personalized support have been associated with improvements in blood pressure and blood glucose control. Social forums also provide patients privacy and the freedom to discuss their conditions with comfort. Health apps are easily accessible and available at low or no cost, and can be an effective tool for educating patients with chronic disease, supporting collaborative self-management, extending the impact of healthcare providers, and include response anonymity. There remain significant challenges including the protection of private health information and the development of regulatory frameworks to evaluate app quality, effectiveness, and absence of harm. Overall, the implementation of smartphone apps in healthcare systems may decrease demand in clinics, reduce healthcare costs, and lead to an improvement in patient health.
OECD single-payer policy review
Authors: Beswick Adam
Published: May 2018

The Canadian national public healthcare system is federally funded and delivered within provincial and territorial jurisdictions. While this system is a source of national pride, the limitations of this mode of healthcare delivery are an important point of consideration in light of the changing demographic and social factors upon which this system’s ongoing economic viability will depend. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development aggregates and reports on measures of national health statistics, and therefore provides a valuable point of comparison between Canada and similarly economically developed nations with public healthcare options. A number of salient public policy differences between Canada and other nations are discussed they relate to healthcare delivery. Two broad health policy areas are emphasized as potential areas of improvement with regard to efficient, cost-effective healthcare delivery: access to primary care, and integration of care between primary and specialist services.
Cover art
Authors: Yu Richard Ying
Published: May 2018

Cover art by Richard Ying Yu.
Working towards developing an interprofessional pain management curricula for clinicians
Authors: Letwin Zoe
Published: May 2018

Pain management receives minimal attention in the education of healthcare professionals. An environmental scan was conducted to assess the current pain management educational programs with a focus on interprofessionalism within a competency-based education framework in order to determine gaps before implementing the future master’s-level Interprofessional Pain Management degree program to be implemented at Western University. This paper outlines the methods used in the scan, keywords for the search, and key findings. The findings highlight several current interprofessional pain management programs, the need for a conceptual framework for interprofessional pain education, consistent core values/principles, and competency-based education embedded in interprofessional pain management and future directions.
The etiology of spaceflight-associated hearing loss
Authors: Kadem Mason
Published: May 2018

Since the Apollo space missions, spaceflight-associated hearing loss has been considered a medical risk. NASA has given over a million dollars to astronauts as compensation for their hearing loss. The cause of spaceflight-associated hearing loss is unknown. Currently, research has shown sensorimotor and perceptual performance deteriorates after spaceflight. Certainly, the resulting hearing loss may not be caused by a unitary phenomenon, but rather due to a combination of factors endured during space flight. While presumed to be noise-induced, no link has been established between hearing loss and noise exposure during spaceflight; thus, countermeasures to reduce noise alone may be ineffective. Assessing the cause of spaceflight associated hearing loss may provide insight into novel neural, functional, and structural manifestations which could improve the safety and efficacy of terrestrial and space habitats.
The cost of pain
Authors: Beswick Adam , Piccininni Caroline
Published: May 2018

Prescription opioid use has historically been a regular component of the management of chronic nonmalignant pain in Canada. However, the economic implications of high rates of addiction and abuse have motivated consideration of more cost-effective management strategies for chronic pain. The economic burden imposed by prescription opioid use relates in part to lost workplace productivity, increased addiction treatment program costs, and increased overall healthcare expenditure for these patients. In this article, we present research on the economic implications of the current rates of opioid prescription, and report on the specific economic advantages realized in alternative therapeutic approaches to pain management.
Updates on chronic non-cancer pain management in face of the opioid crisis
Authors: Sivakumar Gayathri , Budure Alexandra , Quint Elise
Published: May 2018

Chronic pain not associated with malignancy is experienced by a significant proportion of the Canadian population. As the quality of life and physical functioning are markedly impaired in patients with chronic non-cancer pain, clinicians have commonly turned to opioid therapy for pain management. Since the 1990s, the steady increase in dispensing of prescription opioids has paralleled trends in opioid-related hospitalizations, overdoses, and fatalities. In fact, over-prescription and longterm opioid therapy are among the many root causes fueling Canada’s rise in opioid addiction and opioid-related deaths. Physicians and medical regulators have responded to this public health crisis by developing the 2017 Canadian Guideline for Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain. The new evidence-based guideline aims to encourage safe prescribing practices, reduce and eliminate the use of opioid analgesics and promote non-opioid pharmacotherapy. While clear clinical guidelines will optimize physician prescribing patterns, it is imperative to recognize the need for non-pharmacological modalities for pain management, treatment, and care to holistically address the complex roots of opioid abuse.
Botulinum toxin therapy in amputee pain management
Authors: Neferu Ramona , Viana Ricardo , Miller Tom , Payne Michael
Published: May 2018

Background: Post-amputation pain is common, occurring in up to 85% of patients. The pain can be related to the etiology of amputation, post-surgical healing, or prosthetic use. Pain syndromes may arise from a variety of tissue pathologies and can be broadly categorized into residual limb pain (RLP) or phantom limb pain (PLP). Botulinum toxin (BTX) has been found to be effective in treating a variety of neuropathic pain conditions. This scoping review summarizes the use of BTX in RLP and PLP management of patients with a major extremity amputation.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Sixteen studies were included. Most studies excluded did not address BTX use in amputee pain management. Extracted data were categorized by either RLP or PLP.

Results: Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 10 case series, and 4 case reports were included (total 68 patients, 82 amputations). Seven studies addressed BTX use in both RLP and PLP, 5 studies address RLP exclusively, and 5 additional studies exclusively addressed PLP. Toxin types, injection techniques, and dosages varied between the studies. Negative results were reported in 2 RCTs and 2 case series showing 30% of patients with RLP and 50% patients with PLP did not benefit from BTX.

Conclusion: Literature for BTX in PLP and RLP is broad but lacking rigour for definitive conclusions to guide usage. There were more positive results for BTX use in RLP than in PLP. Case reports and patient series show promising results for both PLP and RLP, indicating future research should be directed at adequately-powered prospective trials.
Cover art
Authors: Rizos Julian
Published: May 2018

Cover art by Julian Rizos.

Description: This cover art is based conceptually on the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Analgesic Ladder, a framework used by physicians to develop treatment plans for pain management. In this rendition, treatment modalities begin with over the counter non-pharmacologics then progress to prescription medications, opioids, nonprescription drugs and alcohol higher up. The ladder is more and more broken with each rising step, so in order to access more powerful analgesics, there is increasing risk of the ladder crumbling and succumbing to addiction, overdose, and death.
La puesta en escena y performatividad del turismo étnico en Los Altos de Chiapas
Authors: Bayona Escat Eugenia
Published: May 2018

En este trabajo se reflexiona sobre el turismo étnico y las visiones selectivas y particulares que tienen los turistas sobre la población indígena, calificada como diferente y exótica. La mirada constructiva del turista se combina con la necesidad de experimentar con la otredad para autentificar el viaje. Ello implica profundizar en los procesos que configuran los imaginarios étnicos dentro del mercado global del ocio, pero también en analizar el papel que adquieren las actividades performance como atracción turística. El trabajo quiere explorar la exhibición del cuerpo construido del indígena en el mercado turístico desde dos visiones: por un lado, el interés del cuerpo como patrimonio cultural; por otro, el cuerpo en movimiento en el escenario turístico. Para el análisis utilizaré los datos etnográficos de la región Altos Tzotzil Tzeltal de Chiapas (México) con gran afluencia de turistas étnicos. El propósito es observar cómo en estos espacios turísticos, construidos como exóticos y fuera del sistema económico y cultural mundial, se convierten precisamente en lugares transnacionales de intercambio de miradas, y en lugares donde se exhibe, observa y mercantiliza un cuerpo calificado como étnico.
Redes migratorias en el mercado de trabajo de la floricultura en el Estado de México (México)
Authors: Andrade Galindo Jorge A. , Castro Domingo Pablo
Published: May 2018

En este artículo se explica cómo emergió la floricultura en el sur del Estado de México. Se expone, también, cómo la expansión de esta actividad coexistió con una migración de la población oriunda hacia los Estados Unidos, lo que dejó espacios disponibles para ser ocupados por jornaleros que migran de regiones con una mayor vulnerabilidad social y precariedad laboral. De manera que regiones productoras de caña de azúcar, cítricos y café se fueron convirtiendo en espacios expulsores de trabajadores, y la región floricultora mexiquense pasó a ser reclutadora de trabajadores del sureste mexicano, aunque expulsora de su población originaria.
Bajo el velo de la “elección individual”: efecto y justificación de las opresiones conjugadas sobre los trabajadores agrícolas migrantes en EE.UU.
Authors: Periáñez Llorente Luis
Published: May 2018

Holmes, Seth M. 2016. Fruta fresca, cuerpos marchitos: trabajadores agrícolas migrantes en Estados Unidos. Quito-Ecuador: Editorial Abya-Yala.
La fusión de cooperativas
Authors: Cano Ortega Cristina
Published: May 2018

Las cooperativas, especialmente las del sector agroalimentario, tienen un problema de atomización. Necesitan ganar dimensión para ser más competitivas. Entre las diferentes vías de integración a su alcance se encuentra la fusión. La fusión es el proceso mediante el cual dos o más sociedades que se extinguen, todas o algunas de ellas, se integran en una única sociedad mediante la transmisión en bloque por sucesión universal de sus patrimonios y el paso de los socios a la sociedad resultante de nueva constitución o absorbente.En primer lugar, el presente trabajo analizará las diversas formas de establecer el régimen jurídico de la fusión de cooperativas que han sido desarrolladas por países de nuestro entorno y también norteamericanos (regulación en las propias leyes cooperativas, remisión al régimen del resto de sociedades mercantiles, ley propia para la fusión de cooperativas, etc.). Posteriormente, se centrará en el estudio del régimen jurídico escogido por el ordenamiento español, viendo cómo ha evolucionado tanto la normativa estatal como autonómica sobre la regulación de esta figura, y cómo nos ha llevado a la situación actual de multiplicidad de leyes cooperativas existentes (una estatal y una por cada Comunidad Autónoma), lo que puede dificultar los procesos de integración en general y el de la fusión en particular. Ante este problema se propondrán diferentes soluciones (aplicación supletoria de la ley estatal, una ley armonizadora, aplicación de la Ley de Modificaciones Estructurales, crear una ley que regule únicamente la fusión supra-autonómica de cooperativas, la coordinación de la legislación existente, etc.). Por último, se hará un pequeño repaso al procedimiento de fusión que, como se comprobará, presenta pocas diferencias con la regulación previstan en la Ley sobre modificaciones estructurales, indicando cuáles son los distintos tipos de fusiones que podemos encontrar y cuáles son las diferentes fases del procedimiento que se deben seguir para que la fusión despliegue todos sus efectos.
Recognizing Acceptance of Change and Organizational Support in Public Service Organizations: Engaging Middle Managers in Organizational Change
Authors: Samah Safuwan
Published: May 2018

Despite the number of transformation plans were implemented by public service organizations, there is still lack of studies concerns on the employees’ acceptance of change in the workplace. The purpose of this paper is to explore the direct influence of perceived organizational support and employee’s acceptance of change by middle managers in Malaysian Public Service organizations. A total of 400 Administrative and Diplomatic Officers (ADO) were selected by using random sampling method and data for this study were collected using self-administered questionnaires. This study employed descriptive and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation to answer research objectives. The findings discovered that acceptance of change and organizational support is significantly positive correlated. Though this investigation may add knowledge to the body of literature on acceptance of change behavior and perceived organizational support, future researchers are encourage to explore the variables on different level of officers in public service organizations as well as to conduct differential study comprise of both public and private organizations.
CARACTERIZAÇÃO DO TORNADO OCORRIDO EM MARECHAL CÂNDIDO RONDON E QUATRO PONTES EM NOVEMBRO DE 2015
Authors: Hornes Karin Linete , Balicki Marcos
Published: May 2018

O tornado é um dos fenômenos atmosféricos mais severos que existem na natureza, apesar de sua rápida atuação de tempo e espaço, causam grandes prejuízos por onde passam. No Brasil, com a chegada de estações de transição como a primavera e o outono, surgem condições propicias que geram grandes tempestades que podem evoluir a supercélulas e que por fatores dinâmicos regionais, podem gerar aguaceiros, vendavais (downburst), grandes volumes de granizo, raios e tornados.  Sendo assim, este artigo tem por objetivo a caracterização da ocorrência de um tornado de múltiplos vórtices nos municípios paranaenses de Marechal Cândido Rondon e Quatro Pontes no dia 19 de novembro de 2015. A pesquisa procurou caracterizar toda a extensão percorrida pelo fenômeno, tanto nos aspectos dos danos socioambientais como também em relação a dinâmica climática envolvida. Para a caracterização do evento, foram realizadas análises em imagens de radar, de satélite e em conjunto com atividades de campo, foi possível verificar os elementos envolvidos na atuação desse tornado. Concluindo nesse artigo, serão destacados os componentes presentes na ação do tornado, afim de propor atividades que auxiliem a monitoração de alguns elementos, que podem dar origem ao episódio e que permitem verificar e relacionar com semelhantes eventos futuros.
SPECTRAL AGROMETEOROLOGICAL MODELING ADAPTED BY MEANS OF SIMPLIFIED TRIANGLE METHOD FOR SOYBEAN IN PARANÁ STATE – BRAZIL
Authors: Silva Fuzzo Daniela Fernanda da
Published: May 2018

Agriculture is an economic activity with high dependence on weather and climate. Special geotechnology and agrometeorological modeling can be used to optimize productivity in regional and national systems, while minimizing costs. The aim was to test the agrometeorological model for estimating crop soybean yield proposed by Doorenbos and Kassam (1979), using only spectral data as input variable in the model obtained by a simplified triangle method applied in Paraná state, for crop years 2002/03 to 2011/12. A high accuracy of the data was found, the model values for the parameter d1 ("d1" modified Willmott) were between 0.8 and 0.95, whereas the root mean squared error showed that there was low variation between 30.81 to 116.88 (kg ha-1) and the p-value was used as the indicator significance of the model at the level of 5%, indicating that there was no statistically significant difference between the estimated and observed data, this means that the average of the data estimated by the model were statistically equal the average of the observed data. Thus, we can say that images of remote sensing can be used as tools in the absence of surface information, in agrometeorological modeling to estimate crop soybean yield.
OS RURAIS E A CIDADE: a mobilidade socioespacial dos habitantes do campo em pequenos municípios de economia agrícola
Authors: Gomes Nayhara Freitas Martins , Fiúza Ana Louise Carvalho , Pinto Neide Maria Almeida , Remoaldo Paula Cristina Almeida Cadima
Published: May 2018

Este artigo trata, especificamente, da mobilidade socioespacial dos rurais em pequenos municípios situados na Microrregião de Viçosa, região de economia preponderantemente agrícola, característica, esta, comum a grande maioria dos municípios brasileiros. A mobilidade dos habitantes do campo, nestes pequenos municípios, tal como acontece em todo o Brasil, tem se intensificado em decorrência da maior facilidade de acesso aos meios de transporte e comunicação que permitem uma aproximação corriqueira com a cidade. Esta interação permite que os rurais estabeleçam múltiplas espacialidades, resultantes dos deslocamentos que realizam aos seus espaços de afinidade. O presente artigo objetivou compreender e identificar os espaços frequentados e ocupados na cidade pelos habitantes do campo, por compreender que os mesmos são reveladores do vínculo de pertencimento dos rurais com à cidade. O estudo foi realizado no pequeno município de Araponga, situado na Zona da Mata mineira, o qual tem na cafeicultura a base de sua economia. Realizou-se uma pesquisa cross-sectional com uma amostra representativa da população, composta por 94 habitantes do campo. Buscou-se identificar na pesquisa quais eram os espaços mais frequentados pelos rurais na cidade. Os resultados revelaram para além dos significados econômicos, culturais e sociais que orientavam a construção das espacialidades citadinas dos rurais, o fato destes se sentirem como parte integrante da cidade. Estas espacialidades representavam, portanto, as suas formas de apropriação da cidade.
DISTRIBUIÇÃO DA ARAUCÁRIA NO ESTADO DO PARANÁ (BRASIL): FATORES CLIMÁTICOS LIMITANTES
Authors: Fritzsons Elenice , Mantovani Luiz Eduardo , Wrege Marcos Silveira
Published: May 2018

No estado do Paraná em altitudes superiores a 500 m ocorre a Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze. Vários aspectos do clima estão associados à presença da araucária e o objetivo deste trabalho é investigar os aspectos climáticos mais fortemente relacionados à sua presença natural no estado do Paraná. Foram utilizados os dados de temperatura e precipitação e foram separados os locais onde há ocorrência natural de araucária. Concluímos que a presença de florestas nativas de araucária ocorre onde as temperaturas são mais baixas e as precipitações de inverno mais elevadas, embora a precipitação total anual seja igual a das áreas sem araucária. A evaporação e a insolação são menores, o que resulta numa umidade relativa elevada. Dentre as áreas onde ocorre a araucária podemos separar subgrupos. Os conhecimentos obtidos permitem definir áreas distintas de conservação in situ e podem auxiliam na elaboração de programas de conservação e melhoramento genético.
The relationship between instruction specificity and resistiveness to care during activities of daily living in persons with dementia
Authors: Buchanan Jeffrey A. , DeJager Britta , Garcia Sandra , Houlihan Daniel , Sears Carolina , Fairchild Kathleen , Sattler Adam
Published: May 2018

It is common for persons with dementia to display resistant behaviors during activities of daily living (ADLs) and caregiver communication skills can influence the likelihood of these behaviors. Previous research suggests that the type of instructions issued by caregivers is related to rates of compliance during ADLs in persons with dementia. It is unclear, however, if these instruction types affect the likelihood resistiveness to care (RTC) during ADLs. The purpose of the current study was to examine how the use of different types of instructions relate to instances of RTC during ADLs. Results indicated that vague and ambiguous instructions (i.e., beta instructions) were more likely to precede and follow physical aggression compared to instructions that were more specific, clear and feasible (i.e., alpha instructions). Results also indicated that alpha instructions were more likely to precede verbal agitation. These findings have implications for communication training programs for caregivers working with persons with dementia.