bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality of life, participation and occupational rights: A capabilities perspective
Authors: Hammell Karen Whalley
Published: February 2015

Background

Research suggests that perceptions of diminished quality of life among people with a severe physical impairment might be a consequence of environmental barriers and inequity of opportunity rather than the impairment itself. However, occupational therapists remain preoccupied with assessing and addressing individual dysfunctions and have directed little attention to assessing and challenging inequitable environmental constraints on people's occupational opportunities.

Purpose

To highlight briefly what is known about environmental impacts on quality of life among people with impairments; to outline the relationship between occupational rights and human rights; to explore the concept of ‘participation’ and thereafter to outline the relevance of the Capabilities Approach for occupational therapists who seek to address inequalities of occupational opportunity and inequities in participation.

Main findings

Sen's Capabilities Approach focuses on equality of the opportunity to ‘do’, and is relevant to occupational therapy in the context of the World Health Organisation's construct of ‘participation’, the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ (WFOT) Position Statement on Human Rights.

Principal conclusions

Adoption of Sen's Capabilities Approach might facilitate critical occupational therapy practices focussed on equality of occupational opportunities and on the fulfilment of occupational rights, in accordance with the standards of rights‐based practices advocated by disability scholars, WFOT and the UN.
Characterization of the Cation‐Binding Capacity of a Potassium‐Adsorption Filter Used in Red Blood Cell Transfusion
Authors: Suzuki Takao , Muto Shigeaki , Miyata Yukio , Maeda Takao , Odate Takayuki , Shimanaka Kimio , Kusano Eiji
Published: February 2015

A K+‐adsorption filter was developed to exchange K+ in the supernatant of stored irradiated red blood cells with Na+. To date, however, the filter's adsorption capacity for K+ has not been fully evaluated. Therefore, we characterized the cation‐binding capacity of this filter. Artificial solutions containing various cations were continuously passed through the filter in 30 mL of sodium polystyrene sulfonate at 10 mL/min using an infusion pump at room temperature. The cation concentrations were measured before and during filtration. When a single solution containing K+, Li+, H+, Mg2+, Ca2+, or Al3+ was continuously passed through the filter, the filter adsorbed K+ and the other cations in exchange for Na+ in direct proportion to the valence number. The order of affinity for cation adsorption to the filter was Ca2+>Mg2+>K+>H+>Li+. In K+‐saturated conditions, the filter also adsorbed Na+. After complete adsorption of these cations on the filter, their concentration in the effluent increased in a sigmoidal manner over time. Cations that were bound to the filter were released if a second cation was passed through the filter, despite the different affinities of the two cations. The ability of the filter to bind cations, especially K+, should be helpful when it is used for red blood cell transfusion at the bedside. The filter may also be useful to gain a better understanding of the pharmacological properties of sodium polystyrene sulfonate.
Making Climate Leadership Meaningful: Energy Research as a Key to Global Decarbonisation
Authors: Karlsson Rasmus , Symons Jonathan
Published: February 2015

This article revisits a number of familiar debates about climate change mitigation yet draws some unorthodox conclusions. First, that progress towards a renewable small‐scale energy future in environmentally conscious countries such as Germany and Sweden may take the world as a whole further away from climate stability by reducing the political pressure to finance breakthrough innovation. Second, that without such game‐changing innovations, developing countries will continue to deploy whatever technologies are domestically available, scalable and affordable, including thermal coal power in most instances. Third and finally, that as any realistic hope of achieving climate stability hinges on the innovation of breakthrough technologies, the urgency of climate change calls not so much for the domestic deployment of existing energy technologies but rather a concentrated effort to develop technologies that will be adopted globally. These arguments imply that national innovation policy, and an international treaty establishing a ‘Low‐Emissions Technology Commitment’ should be the central focus of climate policy.
General and religious coping predict drinking outcomes for alcohol dependent adults in treatment
Authors: Martin Rosemarie A. , Ellingsen Victor J. , Tzilos Golfo K. , Rohsenow Damaris J.
Published: February 2015

Background

Religiosity is associated with improved treatment outcomes among adults with alcohol dependence; however, it is unknown whether religious coping predicts drinking outcomes above and beyond the effects of coping in general, and whether gender differences exist.

Methods

We assessed 116 alcohol‐dependent adults (53% women; mean age = 37, SD = 8.6) for use of religious coping, general coping, and alcohol use within 2 weeks of entering outpatient treatment, and again 6 months after treatment.

Results

Religious coping at 6 months predicted fewer heavy alcohol use days and fewer drinks per day. This relationship was no longer significant after controlling for general coping at 6 months.

Conclusions

The relationship between the use of religious coping strategies and drinking outcomes is not independent of general coping. Coping skills training that includes religious coping skills, as one of several coping methods, may be useful for a subset of adults early in recovery.

Scientific Significance

This novel, prospective study assessed the relationship between religious coping strategies, general coping, and treatment outcomes for alcohol‐dependent adults in treatment with results suggesting that the use of religious coping as one of several coping methods may be useful for a subset of adults early in recovery. (Am J Addict 2015;24:240–245)
An Attraction–Repulsion Point Process Model for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
Authors: Goldstein Joshua , Haran Murali , Simeonov Ivan , Fricks John , Chiaromonte Francesca
Published: February 2015

How is the progression of a virus influenced by properties intrinsic to individual cells? We address this question by studying the susceptibility of cells infected with two strains of the human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV-A and RSV-B) in an in vitro experiment. Spatial patterns of infected cells give us insight into how local conditions influence susceptibility to the virus. We observe a complicated attraction and repulsion behavior, a tendency for infected cells to lump together or remain apart. We develop a new spatial point process model to describe this behavior. Inference on spatial point processes is difficult because the likelihood functions of these models contain intractable normalizing constants; we adapt an MCMC algorithm called double Metropolis–Hastings to overcome this computational challenge. Our methods are computationally efficient even for large point patterns consisting of over 10,000 points. We illustrate the application of our model and inferential approach to simulated data examples and fit our model to various RSV experiments. Because our model parameters are easy to interpret, we are able to draw meaningful scientific conclusions from the fitted models.
R-Vine Models for Spatial Time Series with an Application to Daily Mean Temperature
Authors: Erhardt Tobias Michael , Czado Claudia , Schepsmeier Ulf
Published: February 2015

We introduce an extension of R-vine copula models to allow for spatial dependencies and model based prediction at unobserved locations. The proposed spatial R-vine model combines the flexibility of vine copulas with the classical geostatistical idea of modeling spatial dependencies using the distances between the variable locations. In particular, the model is able to capture non-Gaussian spatial dependencies. To develop and illustrate our approach, we consider daily mean temperature data observed at 54 monitoring stations in Germany. We identify relationships between the vine copula parameters and the station distances and exploit these in order to reduce the huge number of parameters needed to parametrize a 54-dimensional R-vine model fitted to the data. The new distance based model parametrization results in a distinct reduction in the number of parameters and makes parameter estimation and prediction at unobserved locations feasible. The prediction capabilities are validated using adequate scoring techniques, showing a better performance of the spatial R-vine copula model compared to a Gaussian spatial model.
Intergenerational mobility and adult oral health in a British cohort
Authors: Delgado‐Angulo Elsa K. , Bernabé Eduardo
Published: February 2015

Objectives

This study aimed to characterize trajectories of intergeneration mobility from birth to age 33 years and to assess the influence of these trajectories on adult oral health.

Methods

Repeated data on occupational social class (birth and 7, 11, 16, 23 and 33 years) and two subjective oral health indicators (lifetime and past‐year prevalence of persistent trouble with gums or mouth) measured at age 33 years, from the 1958 National Child Development Study, were used for this analysis. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was used to identify different trajectories of exposure to manual social class over time. Binary logistic regression was then used to explore the association between these trajectories and each oral health indicator, adjusting for participants' sex.

Results

Latent class growth analysis showed that a four trajectory model provided the best fit to the data. The four trajectories that emerged were identified as stable manual, stable nonmanual, late steep increase (those who were likely to be in the manual social class until age 16 years but ended up in the nonmanual social class afterwards) and steady increase (those whose likelihood of leaving the manual social class increased gradually over time). Lifetime and past‐year prevalence of persistent trouble with gums or mouth was significantly higher in the stable manual trajectory than in all other trajectories. No differences were found between the stable nonmanual, late steep increase and steady increase trajectories.

Conclusion

Although four distinctive trajectories were identified in the 1958 NCDS, only those who remained in the manual social class over time reported worse oral health by age 33 years. Proximal socioeconomic experiences may be more relevant to adult oral health than early life experiences.
The Utility of Cognitive Plausibility in Language Acquisition Modeling: Evidence From Word Segmentation
Authors: Phillips Lawrence , Pearl Lisa
Published: February 2015

The informativity of a computational model of language acquisition is directly related to how closely it approximates the actual acquisition task, sometimes referred to as the model's cognitive plausibility. We suggest that though every computational model necessarily idealizes the modeled task, an informative language acquisition model can aim to be cognitively plausible in multiple ways. We discuss these cognitive plausibility checkpoints generally and then apply them to a case study in word segmentation, investigating a promising Bayesian segmentation strategy. We incorporate cognitive plausibility by using an age‐appropriate unit of perceptual representation, evaluating the model output in terms of its utility, and incorporating cognitive constraints into the inference process. Our more cognitively plausible model shows a beneficial effect of cognitive constraints on segmentation performance. One interpretation of this effect is as a synergy between the naive theories of language structure that infants may have and the cognitive constraints that limit the fidelity of their inference processes, where less accurate inference approximations are better when the underlying assumptions about how words are generated are less accurate. More generally, these results highlight the utility of incorporating cognitive plausibility more fully into computational models of language acquisition.
Salivary gland FNA cytology: role as a triage tool and an approach to pitfalls in cytomorphology
Authors: Mairembam P. , Jay A. , Beale T. , Morley S. , Vaz F. , Kalavrezos N. , Kocjan G.
Published: February 2015

Objective

To highlight the importance of salivary gland fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology as a triage tool for surgery and to determine its sensitivity and specificity. To discuss the diagnostic pitfalls and potential role of ancillary techniques in diagnosis and prognosis.

Methods

The study included a total of 920 cases of salivary gland FNAs received in the cytopathology department of University College London Hospital during December 2004 to December 2012. The cases with known histological outcomes were analysed to determine the sensitivity and specificity.

Results

Surgery was carried out on 180 (19.6%) of 920 patients. Excluding nine with inadequate/non‐diagnostic cytology, the sensitivity of FNA cytology for a malignant outcome was 89% (33/37) and the specificity was 97% (130/134). Diagnostic pitfalls are discussed with respect to eight FNAs with discrepant histology. Histological outcome was not available for 740 cases (80.4%): excluding 88 non‐diagnostic FNAs, 324 (49.7%) had non‐neoplastic diagnoses (not indicating surgery) and 328 (50.3%) had neoplastic diagnoses, which included recurrences/metastases of known tumours. Patients with other neoplasms on FNA were lost to follow‐up and may have had surgery elsewhere. Cases with clinical concerns were discussed at weekly multidisciplinary meetings.

Conclusion

Salivary gland FNA is crucial in the distinction of non‐neoplastic from neoplastic lesions, emphasizing the fact that FNA is an excellent triage tool for surgery. Salivary gland FNA has a high sensitivity and specificity. However, it is important to interpret the cytological diagnoses in the light of clinical findings and imaging. Diagnostic pitfalls are seen in a minority of cases and could potentially be overcome with the help of recently described diagnostic and prognostic markers.
Cost‐effectiveness of intensive multifactorial treatment compared with routine care for individuals with screen‐detected Type 2 diabetes: analysis of theADDITION‐UKcluster‐randomized controlled trial
Authors: Tao L. , Wilson E. C. F. , Wareham N. J. , Sandbæk A. , Rutten G. E. H. M. , Lauritzen T. , Khunti K. , Davies M. J. , Borch‐Johnsen K. , Griffin S. J. , Simmons R. K.
Published: February 2015

Aims

To examine the short‐ and long‐term cost‐effectiveness of intensive multifactorial treatment compared with routine care among people with screen‐detected Type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Cost–utility analysis inADDITION‐UK, a cluster‐randomized controlled trial of early intensive treatment in people with screen‐detected diabetes in 69UKgeneral practices. Unit treatment costs and utility decrement data were taken from published literature. Accumulated costs and quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated usingADDITION‐UKdata from 1 to 5 years (short‐term analysis,n = 1024); trial data were extrapolated to 30 years using theUKPDSoutcomes model (version 1.3) (long‐term analysis;n = 999). All costs were transformed to theUK2009/10 price level.

Results

Adjusted incremental costs to theNHSwere £285, £935, £1190 and £1745 over a 1‐, 5‐, 10‐ and 30‐year time horizon, respectively (discounted at 3.5%). Adjusted incrementalQALYs were 0.0000, – 0.0040, 0.0140 and 0.0465 over the same time horizons. Point estimate incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs) suggested that the intervention was not cost‐effective although the ratio improved over time: theICERover 10 years was £82 250, falling to £37 500 over 30 years. TheICERfell below £30 000 only when the intervention cost was below £631 per patient: we estimated the cost at £981.

Conclusion

Given conventional thresholds of cost‐effectiveness, the intensive treatment delivered inADDITIONwas not cost‐effective compared with routine care for individuals with screen‐detected diabetes in theUK. The intervention may be cost‐effective if it can be delivered at reduced cost.
Aceruloplasminemia presents as Type 1 diabetes in non‐obese adults: a detailed case series
Authors: Vroegindeweij L. H. P. , van der Beek E. H. , Boon A. J. W. , Hoogendoorn M. , Kievit J. A. , Wilson J. H. P. , Langendonk J. G.
Published: February 2015

Aim

To detect features that might lead to the early diagnosis and treatment of aceruloplasminemia, as initiation of treatment before the onset of neurological symptoms is likely to prevent neurological deterioration.

Methods

The PubMed and OMIM databases were searched for published cases of aceruloplasminemia. Diagnostic criteria for aceruloplasminemia were undetectable or very low serum ceruloplasmin, hyperferritinemia and low transferrin saturation. Clinical, biochemical and radiological data on the presentation and follow‐up of the cases were extracted and completed through e‐mail contact with all authors.

Results

We present an overview of 55 aceruloplasminemia cases, including three previously unreported cases. Diabetes mellitus was the first symptom related to aceruloplasminemia in 68.5% of the patients, manifesting at a median age of 38.5 years, and often accompanied by microcytic or normocytic anaemia. The combination preceded neurological symptoms in almost 90% of the neurologically symptomatic patients and was found 12.5 years before the onset of neurological symptoms.

Conclusions

There is a diagnostic window during which diabetes and anaemia are present although there is an absence of neurological symptoms. Screening for aceruloplasminemia in adult non‐obese individuals presenting with antibody‐negative, insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus and unexplained anaemia is recommended. The combination of ferritin and transferrin saturation provides a sensitive initial measure for aceruloplasminemia.
Continuous glucose monitoring in people with diabetes: the randomized controlled Glucose Level Awareness in Diabetes Study (GLADIS)
Authors: New J. P. , Ajjan R. , Pfeiffer A. F. H. , Freckmann G.
Published: February 2015

Aims

To investigate the best glucose monitoring strategy for maintaining euglycaemia by comparing self‐monitoring of blood glucose with continuous glucose monitoring, with or without an alarm function.

Methods

A 100‐day, randomized controlled study was conducted at four European centres, enrolling 160 patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, on multiple daily insulin injections or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Participants were randomized to continuous glucose monitoring without alarms (n = 48), continuous glucose monitoring with alarms (n = 49) or self‐monitoring of blood glucose (n = 48).

Results

Time spent outside the glucose target during days 80–100 was 9.9 h/day for the continuous glucose monitoring without alarms group, 9.7 h/day for the continuous glucose monitoring with alarms group and 10.6 h/day for the self‐monitoring of blood glucose group (P = 0.18 and 0.08 compared with continuous glucose monitoring without and with alarms, respectively).The continuous glucose monitoring with alarms group spent less time in hypoglycaemia compared with the self‐monitoring of blood glucose group (1.0 h/day and 1.6 h/day, respectively; 95% CI −1.2 to −0.1; P = 0.030). Among those treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, time spent outside the glucose target was significantly different when comparing continuous glucose monitoring without alarms and self‐monitoring of blood glucose (−1.9 h/day; 95% CI −3.8 to 0.0; P = 0.0461) and when comparing continuous glucose monitoring with alarms and self‐monitoring of blood glucose (−2.4 h/day; 95% CI −4.1 to −0.5; P = 0.0134). There was no difference in HbA1c reduction from baseline in the three groups; however, the proportion of participants with a reduction of ≥ 6 mmol/mol (≥ 0.5%) was higher in the continuous glucose monitoring without alarms (27%) and continuous glucose monitoring with alarms groups (25%) than in the self‐monitoring of blood glucose group (10.6%).

Conclusions

This study shows that the use of continuous glucose monitoring reduces time spent outside glucose targets compared with self‐monitoring of blood glucose, especially among users of insulin pumps.
The True Meaning of ‘Social Justice’: A Catholic View of Hayek
Authors: Rhonheimer Martin
Published: February 2015

Hayek's well‐known dismissal of the concept of ‘social justice’ is examined and questioned. While basically agreeing with Hayek's critique, the author argues that we should not entirely reject this concept, although it is often used in a vague and emotional way – ‘social justice talk’. Drawing on the tradition of classical liberalism and Catholic social teaching, he makes the case for the true meaning of social justice, which applies to the basic legal and institutional framework of a society rather than the distributional outcomes of market processes.
Muhammad's Conception of Property as A Bundle of Rights
Authors: Koehler Benedikt
Published: February 2015

Property was first conceived of as a bundle of rights in early Islam. The legal instrument that crystallised this Islamic conception was the waqf, a legal entity delivering public welfare in accordance with the wishes of a benefactor. Trusts, which evolved in the thirteenth century, have a rationale analogous to that of waqfs, and in fact may have replicated the legal template of waqfs. The finding that waqfs are germane to Islam has ramifications for policies on waqfs in contemporary Islamic societies.
spThin: an R package for spatial thinning of species occurrence records for use in ecological niche models
Authors: Aiello‐Lammens Matthew E. , Boria Robert A. , Radosavljevic Aleksandar , Vilela Bruno , Anderson Robert P.
Published: February 2015

Spatial thinning of species occurrence records can help address problems associated with spatial sampling biases. Ideally, thinning removes the fewest records necessary to substantially reduce the effects of sampling bias, while simultaneously retaining the greatest amount of useful information. Spatial thinning can be done manually; however, this is prohibitively time consuming for large datasets. Using a randomization approach, the ‘thin’ function in the spThin R package returns a dataset with the maximum number of records for a given thinning distance, when run for sufficient iterations. We here provide a worked example for the Caribbean spiny pocket mouse, where the results obtained match those of manual thinning.
Spawning and nursery areas, longitudinal and cross‐shelf migrations of the Merluccius capensis stock in the northern Benguela
Authors: Wilhelm Margit R. , Jarre Astrid , Moloney Coleen L.
Published: February 2015

We investigate the spatial distributions of juvenile and adult hake Merluccius capensis on the Namibian continental shelf using data from 25 biomass surveys (1990–2007) to identify (i) nursery/spawning areas, their spatial or temporal separation and change and (ii) length, depth and latitude preference patterns. The density of fish (number‐of‐fish per 30‐min‐haul) was examined in relation to fish total length (TL) and latitude and TL and bottom depth. Nursery aggregations were most frequent in central (22–25°S) and southern (26–29°S) Namibia, increasing in density in the south since 2000. Hatch dates of ≤17 cm fish were calculated from juvenile growth rates. Peaks occurred in winter and summer‐autumn in the centre and slightly later in the south. Spawning areas appear to have shifted southward since the late 1970s, showing the plasticity of this stock as a response to fishing pressure and environmental variability and change. Merluccius capensis show a stable pattern of latitude preference over the 25 surveys examined. They first occur on the mid‐shelf <9 cm, generally moving to the inner‐shelf at 9–15 cm (<1 yr old). They generally prefer the northern and mid‐shelf area between 24 and 45 cm (1.5–3.5 yr old), probably for feeding and building resources for spawning purposes. They later move to the outer‐shelf and return southward and to the mid‐shelf region to spawn at ≥45 cm TL (≥3.5 years old), a contained stock unit in the northern Benguela. We propose a complete migration life history of M. capensis for the first time, showing their extensive longitudinal migrations, similar to Merluccius species elsewhere.
Spatial dynamics of the bearded goby and its key fish predators off Namibia vary with climate and oxygen availability
Authors: Salvanes Anne Gro V. , Bartholomae Chris , Yemane Dawit , Gibbons Mark J. , Kainge Paul , Krakstad Jens‐Otto , Rouault Mathieu , Staby Arved , Sundby Svein
Published: February 2015

Hypoxia [O2 < 2.0 mL L−1 (87 μmol kg−1)] and severely hypoxic water masses [O2 < 0.5 mL L−1 (21.8 μmol kg−1)] are increasing in coastal marine ecosystems due to eutrophication and warming. Here, we investigate the response of the suboxic‐tolerant endemic fish, Sufflogobius bibarbatus, to variations in the thermal and oxygen environment, as well as to predation pressure, using 22 yr worth of satellite and in situ data. We show that environmental variation and predation pressure affect the goby population, which has expanded over the last decade while that of horse mackerel has contracted. These changes co‐occurred with a general warming in the north and central shelf areas (north of 24.5°S). Spring warming positively affected both goby and hake abundances, but not the horse mackerel, suggesting different responses to surface temperature. The goby habitat contracted when predators were abundant, particularly in the north, which is the fringe of its distributional area. The implications of the differential tolerance of gobies and their predators for climate variations are discussed.
Spatio‐temporal trends in diversity of demersal fish species in the Benguela current large marine ecosystem region
Authors: Yemane Dawit , Mafwila Samuel K. , Kathena John , Nsiangango Silvi E. , Kirkman Steve P.
Published: February 2015

Biodiversity is changing at an unprecedented rate on a global scale as a complex response to several anthropogenic changes, in addition to the background natural environmental variability and cycles. In the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem region (BCLME), aspects of demersal fish species diversity were studied between 1985 and 2010 in three countries (Angola, Namibia, and South Africa) using scientific survey data (depending on country). The study was aimed to address multi‐tiered objectives: to document patterns of diversity (as measured by the different indices of diversity) in the three countries; to relate these patterns to various explanatory variables (depth, latitude, longitude, bottom temperature, and total catch) using a generalized additive model; and to compare the patterns of diversity and importance of potential drivers of biodiversity across the BCLME region. Results showed contrasting diversity patterns between the three countries in terms of both the form and strength of the relationship with different sets of predictors. Species richness S, Pielou's evenness index J', and Shannon–Wiener index H' were shown to increase with increasing depth in all three countries. In addition, both the overall and depth‐dependent latitudinal pattern in S showed local and regional level bottlenecks in biodiversity, and the latitudinal pattern of S was similar to the pattern of bottom temperature. Overall, the species richness of demersal fish species (S) was found to increase as one moved towards the equator, in line with similar studies that reported an increase in richness with latitude.
Changes in macro‐ and micronutrient contents of grasses and forbs following Miscanthus x giganteus feedstock, hydrochar and biochar application to temperate grassland
Authors: Schimmelpfennig S. , Kammann C. , Moser G. , Grünhage L. , Müller C.
Published: February 2015

Biochar and hydrochar application to soil holds promise for climate change mitigation. This study provides first insights into the nutrient concentration and removal of grassland vegetation after addition of various carbon compounds together with pig slurry. Four treatments: control (no carbon application), feedstock, hydrochar and biochar from Miscanthus x giganteus were applied at a permanent grassland site near Giessen, Germany. Changes in plant functional groups, biomass production and nutrition status were monitored over 2 years. Total biomass production was not affected by the carbon amendments. However, biochar favoured growth of forbs over grasses, while legume growth was increased by all carbon amendments. The initial nutrient concentrations of the carbon compounds were enriched according to their degree of carbonization, potentially providing nutrients to plants. The plant biomass from hydro‐ and biochar amended plots, added up over 2 years, exhibited higher potassium concentrations compared to biomass from feedstock and control plots. All carbon amendments led to lower sodium concentrations in total biomass, compared to the control. Uncarbonized feedstock led to increased manganese concentrations in total biomass, while the concentrations of all other heavy metals were not influenced by any carbon amendment, compared to the control. From a plant and animal nutritional point of view, none of the carbon amendments reduced grassland yield or fodder quality. The study suggests that hydrochar and, even more so, biochar may provide a source of potassium to plants.
Combination benefit of cognitive rehabilitation plus donepezil for Alzheimer's disease patients
Authors: Matsuzono Kosuke , Hishikawa Nozomi , Takao Yoshiki , Wakutani Yosuke , Yamashita Toru , Deguchi Kentaro , Abe Koji
Published: February 2015

Objects

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most important diseases in aging society, and non‐drug therapy might be an alternative therapeutic approach. Thus, we evaluated the add‐on effect of cognitive rehabilitation on AD patients under donepezil treatment.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 55 AD patients with a Mini‐Mental State Examination score of 15–25, dividing them into two groups depending on whether they were receiving ambulatory cognitive rehabilitation (group D + R, n = 32) or not (group D, n = 23) in Kurashiki Heisei Hospital over 1 year. The present cognitive rehabilitation included physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy for 1–2 h once or twice a week.

Results

Between group D and group D + R, there was no significant difference in baseline data, such as age, Mini‐Mental State Examination score, periventricular hyperintensity on magnetic resonance imaging, deep white matter hyperintensity on magnetic resonance imaging or donepezil dose (4.1 mg/day). At 1 year later, however, the Mini‐Mental State Examination score improved only in group D + R from 21.7 to 24.0 (**P < 0.001), whereas that of group D remained at 21.5 with both groups of donepezil 5.0 mg/day.

Conclusion

The combination of cognitive rehabilitation plus a choline esterase inhibitor donepezil showed a better effect for the cognitive function of AD patients than drug only therapy at 1 year. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 200–204.
Prevalence and treatment pattern ofParkinson's disease dementia inKorea
Authors: Oh Yoon‐Sang , Kim Joong‐Seok , Park In‐Seok , Shim Yong‐Soo , Song In‐Uk , Park Jeong‐Wook , Lee Phil‐Hyu , Lyoo Chul‐Hyung , Ahn Tae‐Beom , Ma Hyo‐Il , Kim Yong‐Duk , Koh Seong‐Beom , Lee Seung‐Jae , Lee Kwang‐Soo
Published: February 2015

Aim

The aim of the present study was to investigate the point prevalence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in patients withParkinson's disease (PD).

Methods

A total of 1200 patients withPDfrom 12 hospitals were included in the study. All patients were grouped into normal cognition,MCIand dementia subgroups. General cognitive status and dementia severity were assessed by theKorean version of theMini‐MentalStateExamination,ClinicalDementiaRating andGlobalDeteriorationScale, and parkinsonian motor status was assessed by theHoehn andYahr staging score. Associated sleep behaviors and other medical conditions were checked. Prescribing patterns of antidementia medications were analyzed.

Results

Cognitive impairment was frequent in patients withPD;MCIwas found in 38.9% of patients, whereas dementia was in 38.3% of patients. The prevalence of cognitive impairment increased with increasing age and longer disease duration, and the symptoms of postural instability and symptoms mimicking rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder were associated with cognitive impairment. Many dementia patients (95.2%) and 23.6% ofMCIpatients were treated with antidementia drugs, with rivastigmine the most frequently used.

Conclusion

The point prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients withPDwas 77.2%. Cognitive impairment was associated with age, disease duration and specific parkinsonian motor/non‐motor symptoms. Over 90% of the patients with dementia were treated with antidementia medication, and rivastigmine was the most frequently used for the management of dementia.Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 230–236.
Geriatric oral lesions: A multicentric study
Authors: Dhanuthai Kittipong , Rojanawatsirivej Somsri , Somkotra Tewarit , Shin Hong‐In , Hong Sam‐Pyo , Darling Mark , Ledderhof Nicholas , Khalili Maryam , Thosaporn Watcharaporn , Rattana‐arpha Pornpop , Saku Takashi
Published: February 2015

Aim

To carry out an oral biopsy survey in geriatric patients from the participating institutions.

Methods

The biopsy records of the participating institutions were reviewed for oral lesions from patients aged 65 years and older diagnosed from 2003 to 2012. Demographic data and the site of the lesions were collected. Histopathological diagnoses were categorized into two categories: non‐neoplastic lesions (reactive/inflammatory lesion, cyst, allergic/immunologic disorders, potentially malignant disorders, infection and others) and neoplastic lesions (benign and malignant tumors). Data were analyzed by appropriate statistics using stata11.

Results

Of the 76 045 accessioned cases, 11 346 cases (14.92%) were in geriatric patients. The mean age of the patients was 72.98 ± 6.25 years. A total of 5010 cases (44.16%) were diagnosed in males, whereas 6336 cases (55.84%) were diagnosed in females. The male‐to‐female ratio was 0.79:1. Non‐neoplastic lesions outnumbered the neoplastic counterpart. The five most prevalent oral lesions in the geriatric population in the present study in descending order of frequency were squamous cell carcinoma, focal fibrous hyperplasia (irritation fibroma), radicular cyst, osteomyelitis and epithelial dysplasia, respectively. The site of predilection was labial/buccal mucosa, followed by gingiva, mandibular bone, tongue and maxillary bone, respectively.

Conclusions

The geriatric oral lesions from the present study showed a similar trend with studies based on histopathological data, but different from the studies based on clinical data. This study also shed more light on potentially malignant disorders, as well as benign and malignant tumors. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 237–243.
Multiphase Modeling of Geologic Carbon Sequestration in Saline Aquifers
Authors: Bandilla Karl W. , Celia Michael A. , Birkholzer Jens T. , Cihan Abdullah , Leister Evan C.
Published: February 2015

Geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) is being considered as a climate change mitigation option in many future energy scenarios. Mathematical modeling is routinely used to predict subsurface CO2 and resident brine migration for the design of injection operations, to demonstrate the permanence of CO2 storage, and to show that other subsurface resources will not be degraded. Many processes impact the migration of CO2 and brine, including multiphase flow dynamics, geochemistry, and geomechanics, along with the spatial distribution of parameters such as porosity and permeability. In this article, we review a set of multiphase modeling approaches with different levels of conceptual complexity that have been used to model GCS. Model complexity ranges from coupled multiprocess models to simplified vertical equilibrium (VE) models and macroscopic invasion percolation models. The goal of this article is to give a framework of conceptual model complexity, and to show the types of modeling approaches that have been used to address specific GCS questions. Application of the modeling approaches is shown using five ongoing or proposed CO2 injection sites. For the selected sites, the majority of GCS models follow a simplified multiphase approach, especially for questions related to injection and local‐scale heterogeneity. Coupled multiprocess models are only applied in one case where geomechanics have a strong impact on the flow. Owing to their computational efficiency, VE models tend to be applied at large scales. A macroscopic invasion percolation approach was used to predict the CO2 migration at one site to examine details of CO2 migration under the caprock.
The Prevalence and Impact of Headache in Brazil
Authors: Queiroz Luiz P. , Silva Junior Ariovaldo A.
Published: February 2015

Background/Objectives

In Brazil, several epidemiological studies on headache have been produced, most with an emphasis on prevalence and the association of primary headaches with some sociodemographic characteristics of the population. Data on the burden of headache, however, are scarce. The aim of this paper is to review all Brazilian population‐based studies on headache, as well as to analyze the Migraine Disability Assessment Score (MIDAS) data collected with the PhD thesis of the senior author (LPQ).

Method

A literature review was performed using the keywords (“headache” or “migraine”) and (“epidemiology” or “prevalence”) and (Brazil). Another part of this paper will look at unpublished data on disability (MIDAS), collected with the prevalence data of the Brazilian nationwide epidemiological study of headache.

Results

There are 6 published epidemiological studies of headache in Brazil. The mean 1‐year prevalence of headache in Brazil is 70.6%, of migraine 15.8%, of tension‐type headache (TTH) 29.5%, and of chronic daily headache (CDH) 6.1%. Disability is significantly higher: in females compared to males; in patients with migraine and CDH compared to patients with TTH; and in those with headaches ≥15 days per month rather than those with episodic headaches. There was also a positive relationship between pain intensity and severity of disability. Patients with higher disability used more both abortive and prophylactic medication.

Conclusions

The mean prevalence of headache in Brazil, and some of its subtypes, is similar to the rates described in other countries of the world. Disability is higher in females, in patients with migraine, in individuals with headaches ≥15 days per month, and in those with severe head pain.
The Visual System in Migraine: From the Bench Side to the Office
Authors: Kowacs Pedro A. , Utiumi Marco A. , Piovesan Elcio J.
Published: February 2015

Background

Throughout history, migraine‐associated visual symptoms have puzzled patients, doctors, and neuroscientists. The visual aspects of migraine extend far beyond the aura phenomena, and have several clinical implications.

Methods

A narrative review was conducted, beginning with migraine mechanisms, then followed by pertinent aspects of the anatomy of visual pathways, clinical features, implications of the visual system on therapy, migraine on visually impaired populations, treatment of visual auras and ocular (retinal) migraine, effect of prophylactic migraine treatments on visual aura, visual symptoms induced by anti‐migraine or anti‐headache drugs, and differential diagnosis.

Results

A comprehensive narrative review from both basic and clinical standpoints on the visual aspects of migraine was attained; however, the results were biased to provide any useful information for the clinician.

Conclusion

This paper achieved its goals of addressing and condensing information on the pathophysiology of the visual aspects of migraine and its clinical aspects, especially with regards to therapy, making it useful not only for those unfamiliar to the theme but to experienced physicians as well.
Migraine Mimics
Authors: Evans Randolph W.
Published: February 2015

The symptoms of migraine are non‐specific and can be present in many other primary and secondary headache disorders, which are reviewed. Even experienced headache specialists may be challenged at times when diagnosing what appears to be first or worst, new type, migraine status, and chronic migraine.
Thermal mud maturation: organic matter and biological activity
Authors: Centini M. , Tredici M. R. , Biondi N. , Buonocore A. , Maffei Facino R. , Anselmi C.
Published: February 2015

Synopsis

Objective

Many of the therapeutic and cosmetic treatments offered in spas are centred on mud therapy, to moisturize the skin and prevent skin ageing and rheumatic diseases. Thermal mud is a complex matrix composed of organic and inorganic elements which contribute to its functions. It is a natural product derived from the long mixing of clay and thermal water. During its maturation, organic substances are provided by the microalgae, which develop characteristic of the composition of thermal water.

Methods

The aim of this study was to identify methods for introducing objective parameters as a basis for characterizing thermal mud and assessing its efficacy. Samples of thermal mud were collected at the Saturnia spa, where there are several sulphureous pools. The maturation of the mud was evaluated by organic component determination using extractive methods and chromatographic analysis (HPLC, GC‐MS, SPME). We also studied the radical scavenging activity of mud samples at different stages of maturation, in a homogeneous phase, using several tests (DPPH, ORAC, ABTS).

Results

We identified several classes of compounds: saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, hydroxyl acids, dicarboxylic acids, ketoacids, alcohols and others. SPME analysis showed the presence of various hydrocarbons compounds (C11–C17) and long‐chain alcohols (C12–C16). Six or seven months seemed appropriate to complete the process of maturation, and the main effect of maturation time was the increase of lipids. Six‐month mud showed the highest activity. The hydrophilic extract was more active than the lipophilic extract.

Conclusion

The results indicate that maturation of thermal mud can be followed on the basis of the changes in its organic composition and antioxidant properties along the time. They also highlight the need to develop reference standards for thermal muds in relation to assess their use for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes.
Oxidization of squalene, a human skin lipid: a new and reliable marker of environmental pollution studies
Authors: Pham D.‐M. , Boussouira B. , Moyal D. , Nguyen Q.L.
Published: February 2015

Synopsis

A review of the oxidization of squalene, a specific human compound produced by the sebaceous gland, is proposed. Such chemical transformation induces important consequences at various levels. Squalene by‐products, mostly under peroxidized forms, lead to comedogenesis, contribute to the development of inflammatory acne and possibly modify the skin relief (wrinkling). Experimental conditions of oxidation and/or photo‐oxidation mechanisms are exposed, suggesting that they could possibly be bio‐markers of atmospheric pollution upon skin. Ozone, long UVA rays, cigarette smoke… are shown powerful oxidizing agents of squalene. Some in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo testings are proposed as examples, aiming at studying ingredients or products capable of boosting or counteracting such chemical changes that, globally, bring adverse effects to various cutaneous compartments.
Treatment of basal cell carcinoma in Scandinavia: evidence or eminence based?
Authors: Helsing Per , Gjersvik Petter , Tarstedt Mikael
Published: February 2015

Background

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a locally destructive form of skin cancer, mainly affecting Caucasians. There are multiple treatment options for BCC, with excisional surgery being most widely used. Choice of treatment may be dependent on clinical guidelines, local therapeutic traditions, and/or personal experience. Sweden is the only Scandinavian country with treatment guidelines for BCC.

Methods

Eighty‐six dermatologists from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway that were attending a meeting on photodynamic therapy were presented case history and clinical photographs of nine different BCCs and asked to select their treatment of choice among multiple options by the use of an electronic audience response system.

Results

Treatment of choice differed substantially between dermatologists from the three countries. Swedish dermatologists more often chose excisional surgery (median 50%, range 0–90%) than their Danish (median 19%, range 0–44%) and Norwegian (median 35%, range 0–65%) colleagues. Very few Swedish dermatologists chose radiation therapy in the four cases where this was an option. Photodynamic therapy was more often selected by Norwegian dermatologists compared to Swedish and Danish dermatologists.

Conclusions

The treatment choices of Swedish dermatologists in cases of BCC are generally in line with Swedish treatment guidelines. National treatment guidelines for BCC should be established in all countries, including Denmark and Norway.
Protein–protein interaction network of gene expression in the hydrocortisone‐treated keloid
Authors: Chen Rui , Zhang Zhiliang , Xue Zhujia , Wang Lin , Fu Mingang , Lu Yi , Bai Ling , Zhang Ping , Fan Zhihong
Published: February 2015

Objectives

In order to explore the molecular mechanism of hydrocortisone in keloid tissue, the gene expression profiles of keloid samples treated with hydrocortisone were subjected to bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

Firstly, the gene expression profiles (GSE7890) of five samples of keloid treated with hydrocortisone and five untreated keloid samples were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Secondly, data were preprocessed using packages in R language and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using a significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) protocol. Thirdly, the DEGs were subjected to gene ontology (GO) function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, the interactions of DEGs in samples of keloid treated with hydrocortisone were explored in a human protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, and sub‐modules of the DEGs interaction network were analyzed using Cytoscape software.

Results

Based on the analysis, 572 DEGs in the hydrocortisone‐treated samples were screened; most of these were involved in the signal transduction and cell cycle. Furthermore, three critical genes in the module, including COL1A1, NID1, and PRELP, were screened in the PPI network analysis.

Conclusions

These findings enhance understanding of the pathogenesis of the keloid and provide references for keloid therapy.
Role of the PbTiO3 Seed Layer on the Crystallization Behavior of PZT Thin Films
Authors: Mhin Sungwook , Nittala Krishna , Cozzan Clayton , Kim Kyeongwon , Robinson Douglas S. , Sanchez Luz M. , Polcawich Ronald G. , Jones Jacob L.
Published: February 2015

The role of a highly crystalline and oriented lead titanate (PTO) seed layer on the subsequent phase and texture evolution of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films is investigated in situ using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) during crystallization. Crystalline PTO seed layers were first prepared via a 2‐methoxyethanol route. Amorphous PZT with a Zr/Ti ratio of 52/48 was then deposited on the seed layer using the same synthesis route and subsequently crystallized in situ during XRD. During heating, a tetragonal‐to‐cubic transformation of the seed layer occurs prior to the formation of perovskite PZT. Subsequent nucleation of the crystalline PZT occurs in the cubic phase. Simultaneous to nucleation of PZT, development of a dominant 100 texture component was observed in the PZT phase of the thin films. The results indicate that 100 textured PTO nucleates 100 texture of PZT thin films during crystallization.