bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospective evaluation of treatment regimens, efficacy and safety of a recombinant factor VIII concentrate in haemophilia A: the German EffeKt study
Authors: Klamroth R. , Miesbach W. , Staritz P. ,   the German EffeKt Study Group
Published: March 2016

Introduction

Collecting clinical data under routine conditions remains important to monitor continuously efficacy and tolerability of an established product.

Aim

This prospective observational study aimed at evaluating efficacy and tolerability of full‐length sucrose‐formulated recombinant FVIII (rFVIII‐FS; KOGENATE® Bayer/KOGENATE® FS) in routine use and analysing concomitant diseases and medication.

Methods

Haemophilia A patients treated with rFVIII‐FS were followed up for 24 or 36 months. Efficacy, tolerability, concomitant medication and diseases were assessed at yearly intervals.

Results

Two hundred and twenty‐one documented patients were mainly pretreated, predominantly with prophylaxis (74%). On study, 54 (31%) patients in the efficacy set (n = 174) documented regular prophylaxis, 91 patients (52.3%) failed to document their prescribed prophylactic infusions, 25 (14.4%) received on‐demand treatment and four patients (2%) inhibitor adapted therapy. Patients on regular prophylaxis reported 8.4% of infusions for bleeding treatment and on‐demand patients reported 55.3%. Young patients experienced mainly trauma‐related bleedings and older patients reported spontaneous bleedings. Joint status was good overall. Median annual spontaneous joint bleeding rate in all groups was zero. A total of 79.0% of all bleedings were successfully treated with one or two infusions. Degenerative arthropathy and arterial hypertension were the most prominent concomitant diseases. Eighty‐seven patients (40.5%) took at least one concomitant drug on study, mostly drugs for pain treatment related to haemophilic arthropathy. Two patients presented with positive inhibitor titres on study, one of them was a previously untreated patient and the other had a positive inhibitor history.

Conclusion

This study corroborates the tolerability and efficacy profile of rFVIII‐FS.
Zn‐Cr Co‐Substitution Effect on Structural and Electromagnetic Properties of CuFe2O4 via Oxalate Decomposition Route
Authors: Gabal Mohamed
Published: March 2016

Zn‐Cr‐co‐substituted Cu1‐xZnxFe2‐2xCr2xO4 ferrites (where x = 0.0–0.5) were prepared via thermal decomposition of oxalate precursors. The thermal decomposition up to ferrites formation was followed by differential thermal analysis–thermogravimetry measurements. Mössbauer technique was used to predict the possible cation distribution of the entire system, and X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, and electromagnetic measurements were used for confirmation. The superparamagnetic characteristics estimated via Mössbauer studies, for samples with higher substitution, agreed well with vibrating sample magnetometer, magnetic susceptibility, and conductivity results. All the samples showed semiconducting properties in which conductivity decreases by increasing substitution. The effect of cationic substitution on the entire system was investigated and discussed.
Effect of maize type and extrusion‐cooking conditions on starch digestibility profiles
Authors: Robin Frédéric , Heindel Christina , Pineau Nicolas , Srichuwong Sathaporn , Lehmann Undine
Published: March 2016

This study aimed at evaluating the influence of screw speed (250–600 rpm), barrel temperature (100–160 °C) and water content (16.4–22.5%) on rapidly digestible (RDS), slowly digestible (SDS) and resistant (RS) starch levels of waxy, normal and high‐amylose maize starches. In native starches, an increase in amylose content was correlated with lower SDS content. After extrusion, this trend was reversed. Both waxy and normal maize starches became rapidly digested. However, for normal maize starch, some SDS fraction remained. In contrast, the high‐amylose maize starch showed a significant increase in digestibility and an increase in SDS content from 20.4% in the native starch up to 27.5% after extrusion. This high level of SDS may be attributed to the presence of some remaining granular structures and formation of crystalline orders, which have slow digestion properties.
Gene expression risk signatures maintain prognostic power in multiple myeloma despite microarray probe set translation
Authors: Hermansen N. E. U. , Borup R. , Andersen M. K. , Vangsted A. J. , Clausen N. T. , Kristensen D. L. , Nielsen F. C. , Gimsing P.
Published: March 2016

Introduction

Gene expression profiling (GEP) risk models in multiple myeloma are based on 3′‐end microarrays. We hypothesized that GEP risk signatures could retain prognostic power despite being translated and applied to whole‐transcript microarray data.

Methods

We studied CD138‐positive bone marrow plasma cells in a prospective cohort of 59 samples from newly diagnosed patients eligible for high‐dose therapy (HDT) and 67 samples from previous HDT patients with progressive disease. We used Affymetrix Human Gene 1.1 ST microarrays for GEP. Nine GEP risk signatures were translated by probe set match and applied to our data in multivariate Cox regression analysis for progression‐free survival and overall survival in combination with clinical, cytogenetic and biochemical risk markers, including the International Staging System (ISS).

Results

Median follow‐up was 66 months (range 42–87). Various translated GEP risk signatures or combinations hereof were significantly correlated with survival: among newly diagnosed patients mainly in combination with cytogenetic high‐risk markers and among relapsed patients mainly in combination with ISS stage III.

Conclusion

Translated GEP risk signatures maintain significant prognostic power in HDT myeloma patients. We suggest probe set matching for GEP risk signature translation as part of the efforts towards a microarray‐independent GEP risk standard. (ClicinalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00639054).
Hypophosphatasia: diagnosis and clinical signs – a dental surgeon perspective
Authors: Bloch‐Zupan Agnès
Published: March 2016

Background

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare inherited metabolic disease in which mutations in the ALPL gene (encoding tissue‐nonspecific alkaline phosphatase) result in varying degrees of enzyme deficiency. HPP manifests in a spectrum of symptoms, including early primary tooth loss (root intact) and alveolar bone mineralisation defects.

Objective

To provide an overview of HPP for dental professionals to help recognise and differentially diagnose patients for appropriate referral to a specialist team.

Methods

A non‐systematic review of publications on HPP was performed.

Results

Different forms of HPP are described, along with characteristic symptoms and laboratory findings. Diagnosis is challenging due to the rareness and variable presentation of symptoms. Low alkaline phosphatase levels are a signature of HPP, but reference ranges vary according to gender and age. Key features are defined and management strategies discussed, focusing on enzyme replacement therapy. Finally, a patient registry aimed at better defining the prevalence of HPP and raising awareness is described.

Conclusions

HPP is a rare disease with a wide spectrum of manifestations, with orodental symptoms featuring prominently in the natural history. Dental professionals may be positioned at the beginning of the diagnostic pathway; thus, recognition of HPP features for timely referral and optimal disease management is important.
Left Atrial Geometry Improves Risk Prediction of Thromboembolic Events in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: BISBAL FELIPE , GÓMEZ‐PULIDO FEDERICO , CABANAS‐GRANDÍO PILAR , AKOUM NAZEM , CALVO MIREIA , ANDREU DAVID , PRAT‐GONZÁLEZ SUSANNA , PEREA ROSARIO J. , VILLUENDAS ROGER , BERRUEZO ANTONIO , SITGES MARTA , BAYÉS‐GENÍS ANTONI , BRUGADA JOSEP , MARROUCHE NASSIR F. , MONT LLUÍS
Published: March 2016

LA Sphericity and Stroke Prediction

Background

Left atrial (LA) sphericity (LASP) is a new remodeling parameter based on LA shape analysis, with independent predictive value for recurrence after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Objectives

To evaluate the association between LASP and thromboembolic events (TE) in patients with AF.

Methods

Twenty‐nine AF patients and prior TE and 29 age‐ and gender‐matched controls were included. LASP was calculated using a 3D‐LA reconstruction. The LA appendage (LAA) volume and morphology were assessed. ROC curve analysis was performed for LASP, LA volume, LAA volume, and CHAD/CHA2D–VASc scores (Stroke2—the grouping variable—was excluded).

Results

Mean age of the study population was 61 ± 11 years (79.3% males, 53.4% hypertension, 8.6% diabetes). Patients with prior TE had higher LASP than those without (82.5 ± 3.3% vs. 80.2 ± 3.1%, P = 0.008); there were no differences in CHAD or CHA2D–VASc scores, LA volume, LAA volume, or LAA morphology. The C‐statistic was higher for LASP (0.71) than for other tested variables (CHAD score = 0.58, CHA2D–VASc score = 0.59, LA volume = 0.50, LAA volume = 0.46; P < 0.01 for all vs. LASP). The best cutoff value for LASP was 83.6% (sensitivity 0.52, specificity 0.90). Logistic regression analysis showed predictive value for LASP (OR 1.26 per each 1% increase [1.85–52.20], P = 0.013), but not for clinical risk scores. The addition of LASP to the CHAD and CHA2D–VASc scores increased the predictive value over the risk scores alone (P = 0.004), and reclassified 45.5% of patients with CHAD = 0 (no anticoagulation indicated) to moderate‐risk (anticoagulation indicated).

Conclusion

LA sphericity is associated with prior TE in AF patients and improves the performance of the CHAD and CHA2D–VASc scores alone.
Alcohol consumption and risk of periodontitis: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Jiantao , Lv Jian , Wang Wanchun , Jiang Xiubo
Published: March 2016

Aim

A meta‐analysis was conducted to quantitatively summarize the evidence from observational studies on alcohol consumption and risk of periodontitis.

Material and Methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science and Embase databases to identify eligible studies published in English. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by random‐effects models. Restricted cubic splines were used to assess the dose–response relationship.

Results

Eighteen studies were included in our meta‐analysis. The pooled RR of periodontitis for the highest with the lowest alcohol consumption was 1.59 (95% CI: 1.37–1.85). Significant associations were also found in stratified analysis by gender [males: (1.25, 95% CI: 1.11–1.41), females (2.15, 95% CI: 1.36–3.41)] and study design [cohort studies: 1.28 (1.04–1.57) and cross‐sectional studies: 1.66 (1.39–1.99)]. A linear dose–response relationship was found between alcohol consumption and periodontitis risk, and the risk of periodontitis increased by 0.4% [95% CI (1.002–1.007) (p = 0.002)] for each 1 g/day increment in alcohol consumption.

Conclusion

This meta‐analysis suggested that alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of periodontitis.
Core food intakes of Australian children aged 9–10 years: nutrients, daily servings and diet quality in a community cross‐sectional sample
Authors: Whitrow M. J. , Moran L. , Davies M. J. , Collins C. E. , Burrows T. L. , Edwards S. , Moore V. M.
Published: March 2016

Background

The present study aimed to evaluate core food intakes in 9–10‐year‐old Australian children by considering adequacy of nutrient intakes, comparing servings of core food groups with Australian recommendations and scoring overall diet quality.

Methods

Children from an established community‐based cohort study completed a semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Daily intakes of energy, macronutrients, micronutrients, servings of core (i.e. nutrient‐rich) foods and a diet quality index were calculated and compared with appropriate standards. Sex and socio‐economic differences were examined.

Results

The 436 children participating were from low to high socio‐economic status families. As a group, over half of the children met estimated average requirements for key macro‐ and micronutrients, with the exception of fibre (inadequate in 41% of boys and 24% of girls). Children obtained 55% of their daily energy from core foods. Most children had fewer than the recommended servings of vegetables (91%) and meat/alternatives (99.8%), whereas boys generally ate fewer servings of grains and cereals than recommended (87%), and girls ate fewer servings of dairy (83%). Diet quality scores indicated room for improvement (median score of 26 for boys and 25 for girls, out of a maximum of 73 points).

Conclusions

As a group, a large proportion of children were able to meet their daily nutrient requirements. However, achieving this through noncore foods meant that diets were high in salt, saturated fat and sugar; more servings of core foods and greater dietary diversity would be preferable. These results suggest that families need more support to optimise dietary patterns of children in this age group.
New Paths to Capitalist Agricultural Production in Africa: Experiences of Ghanaian Pineapple Producer–Exporters
Authors: Whitfield Lindsay
Published: March 2016

With the global restructuring of agri‐food markets since the 1980s, an impressive amount of scholarship has examined its impacts in African countries. However, little has been written on the emergence of local medium and large‐scale commercial farmers selling to export companies or controlling their own export marketing arrangements. This article examines Ghanaian commercial farmers producing and exporting fresh pineapples to European markets. This group of pineapple producer–exporters represents a path to capitalist agricultural production that can be conceptualized as capitalism from outside: where capital flows into the countryside, rather than accumulation occurring from above or below within the agrarian economy. The emergence of this form of agrarian capitalism is stimulated by opportunities in new high‐value agricultural export markets, but its stabilization depends on country‐specific characteristics such as rural social structures, property rights and state support. The article documents the conditions of emergence of this new group of Ghanaian capitalist farmers, the period of destabilization caused by increasing international competition that resulted in a small number of large‐scale agribusiness firms surviving, and the challenges that these agribusiness firms faced in stabilizing their capitalist agricultural production.
Marriage and Women's Health in Japan
Authors: Lim Sojung , Raymo James M.
Published: March 2016

In this study, we evaluate alternative hypotheses about the potentially harmful or beneficial effects of marriage on women's health and examine the factors underlying observed relationships between marriage and health. Using data from the Japanese Panel Survey of Consumers, an annual survey of a nationally representative sample of Japanese women (N = 1,610), our study advances current scholarship on marriage and health by focusing on a context characterized by a high degree of gender inequality. Results from models employing different approaches to the potential role of health‐related selection into marriage consistently indicate that marriage is associated with better mental and physical health and that the lower levels of employment among married women play an important role in explaining this relationship. Our findings highlight the importance of considering how the specific pathways linking marriage and health may vary across societies with different gender and institutional contexts.
Performance of CT Angiography on a Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit: Implications for Triage
Authors: John Seby , Stock Sarah , Masaryk Thomas , Bauer Andrew , Cerejo Russell , Uchino Ken , Winners Stacey , Rasmussen Peter , Hussain Muhammad S.
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND

There is a strong inverse relationship between outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke from emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO), and time to reperfusion from intra‐arterial therapy. Delay in transferring patients to thrombectomy‐capable centers is currently a major limitation. The mobile stroke unit (MSU) concept with onboard portable computed tomography (CT) scanner enables rapid performance of CT angiography (CTA) of the intracranial vessels to detect ELVO in the field, and allows for rapid triage of patients to interventional‐capable centers.

METHODS

Our institution implemented a mobile stroke treatment unit (MSTU) program that started on July 2014, and CTA capability was added on April 2015. The eligibility criteria, equipment, and method of CTA imaging are described. We report the first case of CTA being performed in the field in the United States to aid in triage of ELVO patients.

RESULTS

MSTU was dispatched for reported new onset of right hemiparesis in a patient. Teleneurological assessment detected findings consistent with a severe left middle cerebral artery (MCA) syndrome. Noncontrast CT head revealed left lenticulostriate hypoattenuation. A CTA was performed subsequently on the MSTU that showed an MCA cutoff. Based on these findings, patient was immediately transferred to the main hospital with neurointerventional capability, where he underwent successful recanalization with improvement in symptoms.

CONCLUSION

CTA is possible on an MSTU, enabling rapid detection and triage of ELVO cases directly to thrombectomy‐capable centers, which significantly reduces time to endovascular treatment.
Patterns of impaired oral health‐related quality of life dimensions
Authors: John M. T. , Rener‐Sitar K. , Baba K. , Čelebić A. , Larsson P. , Szabo G. , Norton W E. , Reissmann D. R.
Published: March 2016

How dental patients are affected by oral conditions can be described with the concept of oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL). This concept intends to make the patient experience measurable. OHRQoL is multidimensional, and Oral Function, Oro‐facial Pain, Oro‐facial Appearance and Psychosocial Impact were suggested as its four dimensions and consequently four scores are needed for comprehensive OHRQoL assessment. When only the presence of dimensional impact is measured, a pattern of affected OHRQoL dimensions would describe in a simple way how oral conditions influence the individual. By determining which patterns of impact on OHRQoL dimensions exist in prosthodontic patients and general population subjects, we aimed to identify in which combinations oral conditions’ functional, painful, aesthetical and psychosocial impact occurs. Data came from the Dimensions of OHRQoL Project with Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)‐49 data from 6349 general population subjects and 2999 prosthodontic patients in the Learning Sample (N = 5173) and the Validation Sample (N = 5022). We hypothesised that all 16 patterns of OHRQoL dimensions should occur in these individuals who suffered mainly from tooth loss, its causes and consequences. A dimension was considered impaired when at least one item in the dimension was affected frequently. The 16 possible patterns of impaired OHRQoL dimensions were found in patients and general population subjects in both Learning and Validation Samples. In a four‐dimensional OHRQoL model consisting Oral Function, Oro‐facial Pain, Oro‐facial Appearance and Psychosocial Impact, oral conditions’ impact can occur in any combination of the OHRQoL dimensions.
Fiscal Federalism and Electoral Accountability
Authors: AIDT TOKE S. , DUTTA JAYASRI
Published: March 2016

We evaluate how governance uncertainty—exemplified by turnout uncertainty—affects the trade‐off between internalization of externalities and political accountability in the design of the fiscal state. We show that centralization only weakens political accountability in the presence of negative externalities. Unlike positive externalities, negative externalities allow federal politicians to extract higher rents. This yields two new insights. First, decentralization can only Pareto dominate centralization in economies with negative externalities. Second, centralization may not be Pareto efficient in economies with positive externalities despite the fact that policy can be tailored to regional taste differences and centralization internalizes the positive externality.
Schooling and the Intergenerational Transmission of Values
Authors: GIUSTA MARINA DELLA , HASHIMZADE NIGAR , MYLES GARETH D.
Published: March 2016

We present a model of the evolution of identity via dynamic interaction between the choice of education and the transmission of values in a community from parents to children, when parents care about the preservation of their traditional community values, different from the values of the host society. We compare the educational and socioeconomic outcomes in different scenarios (melting pot versus multiculturalism). If schooling shifts children's identity away from their parents' values, parents may choose lower levels of education for their children, at the cost of reducing their future earnings. We show how this effect can be attenuated and reversed when the school or, indeed, the host society are willing to accommodate the values of the community and/or to adjust to these values; otherwise the community gradually becomes alienated. This approach may be applied to the analysis of temporal changes in values and attitudes in a community of immigrants, as well as ethnic, religious, or other minority groups.
Periodontal disease and percentage of calories from fat using national data
Authors: Hamasaki T. , Kitamura M. , Kawashita Y. , Ando Y. , Saito T.
Published: March 2016

Background and Objective

The association between periodontal disease and nutrient intake was examined using linked data from the 2005 National Health and Nutrition Survey, the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions and the Survey of Dental Diseases from the same year ‘using linked data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey, the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions and the Survey of Dental Diseases, all from 2005’. There has been increasing focus on the importance of nutritional factors in disease in recent years, but very few studies in Japan have looked at the association between periodontal disease and nutrients. Therefore, in the present study we investigated factors associated with periodontal disease, particularly in terms of nutrient intake.

Material and Methods

Data from 3043 individuals, ≥ 20 years of age (the original study sample comprised 4873 individuals, but those younger than 20 years of age and pregnant women were excluded from the present study) were compiled from linked responses to these three surveys from the same year. Permission to use the data was obtained from the Lifestyle‐Related Diseases Control General Affairs Division of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, Japan. Information including basic attributes, family structure, economic status, physical condition, lifestyle habits, diet, dental habits, blood data, intake of foods (including the categories of food) and nutrient‐related information were obtained from the linked data. The individual maximum Community Periodontal Index (CPI) was used as an index of periodontal disease. Subjects were divided, according to maximumCPI, into groups in which CPI = 0–2 or CPI = 3–4, and associations betweenCPIand basic attributes, family structure, economic status, physical condition, lifestyle habits, diet, blood data and food intake were analyzed.

Results

Multivariate analysis revealed that the percentage of calories from fat was a nutrient factor associated with periodontal disease, with the percentage of calories from fat being significantly lower in the group with advanced periodontal disease.

Conclusion

The results suggest that a low‐fat, high‐carbohydrate diet is related to periodontal disease. A more detailed analysis of this topic will be conducted in the future using different indices of periodontal disease.
Social Affiliation from Religious Disaffiliation: Evidence of Selective Mixing Among Youth with No Religious Preference During the Transition to College
Authors: Sepulvado Brandon , Hachen David , Penta Michael , Lizardo Omar
Published: March 2016

The number of individuals claiming a nonreligious identity in the United States is on the rise, with one‐fourth of the overall U.S. public failing to identify with any of the major religious traditions. In this article, we examine whether religious disaffiliation structures social network formation in a social context in which religious identification (and religiosity) is a salient cultural marker. We take advantage of unique data on the personal networks of youth transitioning into a college where religion is a culturally salient facet of everyday life. We hypothesize that, if there is nonreligious homophily, it may result from an attraction of the disaffiliated to each other or from a repulsion away from the religiously affiliated. Results of exponential random graph models suggest that both mechanisms may be at play. We find that religious “Nones” and affiliated non‐Catholics are disproportionately more likely to form and maintain relationships with one another and are relatively less likely to form and maintain relationships with members of their respective religious out‐groups. We close by outlining the implications of our findings and delineating promising avenues for future research.
Hepatitis C treatment failure is associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lu Mei , Li Jia , Rupp Loralee B. , Holmberg Scott D. , Moorman Anne C. , Spradling Philip R. , Teshale Eyasu H. , Zhou Yueren , Boscarino Joseph A. , Schmidt Mark A. , Lamerato Lois E. , Trinacty Connie , Trudeau Sheri , Gordon Stuart C. ,   the CHeCS Investigators
Published: March 2016

Sustained virological response (SVR) to antiviral therapy for hepatitis C (HCV) reduces risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but there is little information regarding how treatment failure (TF) compares to lack of treatment. We evaluated the impact of treatment status on risk of HCC using data from the Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study (CHeCS–an observational study based in four large US health systems, with up to 7 years of follow‐up on patients). Multivariable analyses were used to adjust for bias in treatment selection, as well as other covariates, followed by sensitivity analyses. Among 10 091 HCV patients, 3681 (36%) received treatment, 2099 (57%) experienced treatment failure (TF), and 1582 (43%) of these achieved sustained virological response (SVR). TF patients demonstrated almost twice the risk of HCC than untreated patients [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50–2.53]; this risk persisted across all stages of fibrosis. Several sensitivity analyses validated these results. Although African Americans were at increased risk of treatment failure, they were at lower risk for HCC and all‐cause mortality compared to White patients. SVR patients had lower risk of HCC than TF patients (aHR = 0.48, CI 0.31–0.73), whereas treatment – regardless of outcome – reduced all‐cause mortality (aHR = 0.45, CI 0.34–0.60 for SVR patients; aHR = 0.78, CI 0.65–0.93 for TF patients).
Isolated trees as nuclei of regeneration in tropical pastures: testing the importance of niche‐based and landscape factors
Authors: Derroire Géraldine , Coe Richard , Healey John R.
Published: March 2016

Questions

Our study tests the relative importance of different attributes of isolated trees in explaining the properties of the regeneration assemblage beneath their crowns to evaluate their effect on the composition of early successional stages and understand the processes underlying this effect. We asked: (1) does the regeneration assemblage contain a high proportion of individuals conspecific with the isolated tree; (2) how does the landscape surrounding an isolated tree influence the properties of the regeneration assemblage; and (3) what is the respective importance of structural variables and functional traits of isolated trees for their influence on the properties of the regeneration assemblage?

Location

Three pasture sites in Guanacaste Province, a tropical seasonally dry area, Costa Rica.

Methods

Ninety isolated trees were characterized by their position in the landscape relative to patches of trees, individual structural variables related to tree and crown size, and species functional traits. The assemblage of woody plants regenerating under their crowns was characterized by number of individuals and species, and taxonomic and functional composition. To understand the mechanisms underlying the facilitative effect of isolated trees on regeneration, correlations between their attributes and properties of the regeneration assemblage were assessed.

Results

We found that a low proportion of regenerating individuals were conspecific with the isolated trees beneath which they have established. Landscape factors influenced the regeneration but their effects were site‐dependent. The attributes of isolated trees correlated well with the functional composition of the regeneration assemblage: their structure and phenological habits with traits associated with drought tolerance, and their dispersal syndrome with the dispersal syndrome of the regeneration assemblage. However, isolated tree attributes correlated poorly with the regeneration assemblage's taxonomic composition.

Conclusions

Our study shows that an approach based on functional composition can provide a better understanding of community assembly mechanisms than does a taxonomic approach. Two main mechanisms are suggested to explain the influence of isolated trees on the regeneration assemblage: modification of micro‐scale environmental conditions (shade and moisture) and influence on dispersal agents. The effect of attributes of isolated trees on the properties of the regeneration assemblage predicts a long‐term legacy of the early stages of succession.
Gut microbes in correlation with mood: case study in a closed experimental human life support system
Authors: Li L. , Su Q. , Xie B. , Duan L. , Zhao W. , Hu D. , Wu R. , Liu H.
Published: March 2016

Background

Gut microbial community, which may influence our mood, can be shaped by modulating the gut ecosystem through dietary strategies. Understanding the gut–brain correlationship in healthy people is important for maintenance of mental health and prevention of mental illnesses.

Methods

A case study on the correlation between gut microbial alternation and mood swing of healthy adults was conducted in a closed human life support system during a 105‐day experiment. Gut microbial community structures were analyzed using high‐throughput sequencing every 2 weeks. A profile of mood states questionnaire was used to record the mood swings. Correlation between gut microbes and mood were identified with partial least squares discrimination analysis.

Key Results

Microbial community structures in the three healthy adults were strongly correlated with mood states. Bacterial genera Roseburia, Phascolarctobacterium, Lachnospira, and Prevotella had potential positive correlation with positive mood, while genera Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Anaerostipes were correlated with negative mood. Among which, Faecalibacterium spp. had the highest abundance, and showed a significant negative correlation with mood.

Conclusions & Inferences

Our results indicated that the composition of microbial community could play a role in emotional change in mentally physically healthy adults.
Preparing Student Nurses as Parent‐based Adolescent Sexual Health Educators: Results of a Pilot Study
Authors: Santa Maria Diane , Markham Christine , Crandall Stacy , Guilamo‐Ramos Vincent
Published: March 2016

Objectives

While health promotion and patient education are central to the scope of practice of professional nurses, they often feel ill‐equipped to assume the role of sexual health educator and lack adequate knowledge and skills to effectively engage parents in adolescent sexual and reproductive health efforts.

Design and Sample

Employing a mixed‐methods study consisting of both pre‐ and post‐test survey and exit interviews, a pilot study was conducted to assess the impact of implementing a parent‐based adolescent sexual health intervention on baccalaureate nursing student outcomes (N = 31).

Results

We found statistically significant improvements in student outcome expectancies of parenting strategies, barriers to sexual health communication, self‐efficacy, and sexual health counseling experience. Using thematic content analysis of exit interview content, emerging themes were (1) need for increased sexual and reproductive health (SRH) preparation, (2) wanting greater experience and opportunity for involvement in nursing research, and (3) educational gaps in family‐focused community public health.

Conclusions

Incorporating adolescent sexual health education into public health nursing clinical training can prepare nurses as parent‐based adolescent sexual health educators, a core competency for nurses working with families in communities and across all health care delivery settings.
Coordination between respiration and swallowing during non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation
Authors: Hori Ryuji , Isaka Masaaki , Oonishi Kazuhiko , Yabe Toru , Oku Yoshitaka
Published: March 2016

Background and objective

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the risk of silent aspiration is increased in non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation.

Methods

We analysed the coordination between respiration and swallowing, in 12 young volunteers and 10 elder volunteers, by simultaneously monitoring respiratory flow, laryngeal movement and swallowing sound in three different conditions: control, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and bi‐level positive airway pressure (BiPAP). A step‐wise multiple regression analysis was performed with the occurrence rate of inspiration after swallows as the dependent variable and various correlated variables as the independent variables.

Results

In both subject groups, the occurrence rate of inspiration after swallow was greater with BiPAP compared with control and CPAP conditions. Repetitive saliva swallowing test count and swallow non‐inspiratory flow occurrence rate were extracted as predictor variables for risk of inspiration after swallows during BiPAP treatment.

Conclusion

We found that the occurrence rate of inspiration after swallow is increased with BiPAP use irrespective of age. The results suggest that swallow non‐inspiratory flow may trigger inspiratory support in the BiPAP mode, resulting in a risk of aspiration.
Zircon U–Pb and Molybdenite Re–Os Ages of the Lakange Porphyry Cu–Mo Deposit, Gangdese Porphyry Copper Belt, Southern Tibet, China
Authors: Leng Qiu‐Feng , Tang Ju‐Xing , Zheng Wen‐bao , Lin Bin , Tang Pan , Wang Hao , Li Hai‐Feng
Published: March 2016

The Lakange porphyry Cu–Mo deposit within the Gangdese metallogenic belt of Tibet is located in the southern–central part of the eastern Lhasa block, in the Tibetan Tethyan tectonic domain. This deposit is one of the largest identified by a joint Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau geological survey project undertaken in recent years. Here, we present the results of the systematic logging of drillholes and provide new petrological, zircon U–Pb age, and molybdenite Re–Os age data for the deposit. The ore‐bearing porphyritic granodiorite contains elevated concentrations of silica and alkali elements but low concentrations of MgO and CaO. It is metaluminous to weakly peraluminous and has A/CNK values of 0.90–1.01. The samples contain low total REE concentrations and show light REE/heavy REE (LREE/HREE) ratios of 17.51–19.77 and (La/Yb)N values of 29.65–41.05. The intrusion is enriched in the large‐ion lithophile elements (LILE) and depleted in the HREE and high field‐strength elements (HFSE). The ore‐bearing porphyritic granodiorite yielded a Miocene zircon U–Pb crystallization age of 13.58 ± 0.42 Ma, whereas the mineralization within the Lakange deposit yielded Miocene molybdenite Re–Os ages of 13.20 ± 0.20 and 13.64 ± 0.21, with a weighted mean of 13.38 ± 0.15 Ma and an isochron age of 13.12 ± 0.44 Ma. This indicates that the crystallization and mineralization of the Lakange porphyry were contemporaneous. The ore‐bearing porphyritic granodiorite yielded zircon εHf(t) values between −3.99 and 4.49 (mean, −0.14) and two‐stage model ages between 1349 and 808 Myr (mean, 1103 Myr). The molybdenite within the deposit contains 343.6–835.7 ppm Re (mean, 557.8 ppm). These data indicate that the mineralized porphyritic granodiorite within the Lakange deposit is adakitic and formed from parental magmas derived mainly from juvenile crustal material that partly mixed with older continental crust during the evolution of the magmas. The Lakange porphyry Cu–Mo deposit and numerous associated porphyry–skarn deposits in the eastern Gangdese porphyry copper belt (17–13 Ma) formed in an extensional tectonic setting during the India–Asia continental collision.
Oral health services within community‐based organizations for young children with special health care needs
Authors: Cruz Stephanie , Chi Donald L. , Huebner Colleen E.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

To identify the types of oral health services offered by community‐based organizations to young children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and the barriers and facilitators to the provision of these in a nonfluoridated community.

Methods

Thirteen key informant interviews with representatives from early intervention agencies, advocacy groups, and oral health programs who provide services to CSHCN in Spokane county, Washington. We used a content analysis to thematically identify oral health services as proactive or incidental and the barriers and facilitators to their provision.

Results

We identified four types of oral health services: screenings, parent education, preventive dental care, and dental referrals. Barriers to providing all four services included limited agency resources, restrictive administrative and system‐level policies, and low demand from parents. A barrier to providing education and preventive dental care was community disagreement regarding fluoride. A barrier to providing dental referrals was the perceived lack of dentists who could treat CSHCN. Facilitators included community partnerships among the organizations and utilization of the statewide oral health program.

Conclusions

Oral health services for young CSHCN are limited and often delivered in response to oral health problems. Coordinated efforts between community‐based organizations, health providers, and advocates are necessary to ensure the provision of comprehensive care, including preventive and restorative services, to all young CSHCN.
Reduced alloimmunization in mice following repeated transfusion with pathogen‐reduced platelets
Authors: Muench Marcus O. , Heitman John W. , Inglis Heather , Fomin Marina E. , Marschner Susanne , Goodrich Raymond P. , Norris Philip J. , Jackman Rachael P.
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND

Allogeneic transfusion can result in alloimmunization, leading to platelet (PLT) refractoriness and rejection of solid organ transplants. Previously we demonstrated that pathogen reduction using UV light and riboflavin (UV + R) eliminates the immunogenicity of white blood cells (WBCs) in vitro, blocks alloimmunization from transfusion in mice, and results in reduced ex vivo cytokine responses to subsequent untreated transfusions. We sought to determine if repeated transfusion with pathogen‐reduced PLT‐rich plasma (PRP) would eventually cause breakthrough alloimmunization or enhanced tolerance.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

BALB/cJ mice were transfused weekly for 2, 4, or 8 weeks with C57Bl/6J PRP that was either untreated or pathogen reduced with UV + R and leukoreduced or not. Alloimmunization was determined by measuring donor antibody levels, ex vivo cytokine responses, and 24‐hour donor PLT recovery. The role of donor antibodies in PLT refractoriness was also assessed by transfer of diluted immune sera into naïve recipients.

RESULTS

Donor antibody levels increased with the number of transfusions, but levels were significantly reduced using either UV + R or leukoreduction, and combining UV + R and leukoreduction gave the best protection. Priming of ex vivo cytokine responses required WBCs and remained suppressed with repeated UV + R–treated transfusion. PLT recovery was reduced with UV + R in naïve mice, and multiply transfused mice had poor PLT recovery even when antibody levels were relatively low. Approximately 1/100 dose of serum from a multiply transfused mouse was sufficient for complete rejection of donor PLTs.

CONCLUSIONS

Pathogen reduction significantly reduces alloimmunization in repeatedly transfused mice and combined with leukoreduction provides a high level of protection from alloimmunization.
Myocardial triggers involved in activation of remote ischaemic preconditioning
Authors: Donato Martín , Goyeneche María A. , Garces Mariana , Marchini Timoteo , Pérez Virginia , del Mauro Julieta , Höcht Christian , Rodríguez Manuel , Evelson Pablo , Gelpi Ricardo J.
Published: March 2016

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Ischaemia–reperfusion of peripheral tissues protects the heart from subsequent myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion injury, a phenomenon referred to as remote ischaemic preconditioning (rIPC). This study evaluated the possible myocardial triggers of rIPC.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Remote ischaemic preconditioning reduces infarct size through a vagal pathway and a mechanism involving phosphorylation of Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase, opening of mitochondrial ATP‐dependent K+ channels and an increase in mitochondrial H2O2 production. All these phenomena occur before the myocardial ischaemia; hence, they could act as ‘triggers’ of rIPC.

It has been proposed that remote ischaemic preconditioning (rIPC) activates a parasympathetic neural pathway. However, the myocardial intracellular mechanism of rIPC remains unclear. Here, we characterized some of the intracellular signals participating as rIPC triggers. Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischaemia and 120 min of reperfusion (Non‐rIPC group). In a second group, before the isolation of the heart, an rIPC protocol (three cycles of hindlimb ischaemia–reperfusion) was performed. The infarct size was measured with tetrazolium staining. Expression/phosphorylation of Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and mitochondrial H2O2 production were evaluated at the end of the rIPC protocol, before myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion. The rIPC significantly decreased the infarct size and induced Akt and eNOS phosphorylation. The protective effect on infarct size was abolished by cervical vagal section, l‐NAME (an NO synthesis inhibitor) and 5‐hydroxydecanoate (a mitochondrial ATP‐dependent K+ channel blocker). Mitochondrial production of H2O2 was increased by rIPC, whereas it was abolished by cervical vagal section, l‐NAME and 5‐hydroxydecanoate. We conclude that rIPC activates a parasympathetic vagal pathway and a mechanism involving the phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS, the opening of mitochondrial ATP‐dependent K+ channels and the release of H2O2 by the mitochondria. All these phenomena occur before myocardial ischaemia and could act as triggers of rIPC.
F-atom kinetics in SF6/Ar inductively coupled plasmas
Authors: Yang Wei , Zhao Shu-Xia , Wen De-Qi , Liu Wei , Liu Yong-Xin , Li Xue-Chun , Wang You-Nian
Published: March 2016

The F-atom kinetics in SF6 and SF6/Ar inductively coupled plasmas (ICPs) were investigated using a global model. This report particularly focuses on the effects of ICP power and Ar fraction on F-atom density and its main production and loss mechanisms. The results are presented for a relatively wide pressure range of 1–100 mTorr. Very different behaviors were observed for Ar fractions in the low- and high-pressure limits, which can be attributed to different electron kinetics. In addition, the authors found that increasing the Ar fraction in the SF6/Ar plasma has almost the same effects on the F-atom kinetics as increasing the power in the SF6 plasma. This is because a high electron density occurs in both cases. Moreover, it was confirmed that, for both sample types, a cycle of F atoms formed in the bulk plasma. The source of these is F2 molecules that are first formed on the chamber wall and then emitted. Finally, the simulations of F-atom kinetics are validated by quantitatively comparing the calculated electron and F-atom densities with identical experimental discharge conditions.
Self-reported and measured stress related responses associated with exposure to wind turbine noise
Authors: Michaud David S. , Feder Katya , Keith Stephen E. , Voicescu Sonia A. , Marro Leonora , Than John , Guay Mireille , Denning Allison , Bower Tara , Villeneuve Paul J. , Russell Evan , Koren Gideon , van den Berg Frits
Published: March 2016

The current study was the first to assess stress reactions associated with wind turbine noise (WTN) exposure using self-reported and objective measures. Randomly selected participants, aged 18–79 yr (606 males; 632 females), living between 0.25 and 11.22 km from wind turbines, were exposed to outdoor calculated WTN levels up to 46 dBA (response rate 78.9%). Multiple regression modeling left the great majority (77%–89%) of the variance in perceived stress scale (PSS) scores, hair cortisol concentrations, resting blood pressure, and heart rate unaccounted for, and WTN exposure had no apparent influence on any of these endpoints. PSS scores were positively, but weakly, related to cortisol concentrations and resting heart rate (Pearson r = 0.13 and r = 0.08, respectively). Across WTN categories, modeled mean PSS scores ranged from 13.15 to 13.84 (p = 0.8614). Modeled geometric means for hair cortisol concentrations, resting mean systolic, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate were 150.54–191.12 ng/g (p = 0.5416), 113.38–116.82 mmHg (p = 0.4990), 67.98–70.34 mmHg (p = 0.5006), and 68.24–70.71 bpm (p = 0.5223), respectively. Irrespective of WTN levels, diastolic blood pressure appeared to be slightly (2.90 mmHg 95% CI: 0.75,5.05) higher among participants highly annoyed by blinking lights on turbines (p = 0.0081). Collectively, the findings do not support an association between exposure to WTN up to 46 dBA and elevated self-reported and objectively defined measures of stress.
Estimating annoyance to calculated wind turbine shadow flicker is improved when variables associated with wind turbine noise exposure are considered
Authors: Voicescu Sonia A. , Michaud David S. , Feder Katya , Marro Leonora , Than John , Guay Mireille , Denning Allison , Bower Tara , van den Berg Frits , Broner Norm , Lavigne Eric
Published: March 2016

The Community Noise and Health Study conducted by Health Canada included randomly selected participants aged 18–79 yrs (606 males, 632 females, response rate 78.9%), living between 0.25 and 11.22 km from operational wind turbines. Annoyance to wind turbine noise (WTN) and other features, including shadow flicker (SF) was assessed. The current analysis reports on the degree to which estimating high annoyance to wind turbine shadow flicker (HAWTSF) was improved when variables known to be related to WTN exposure were also considered. As SF exposure increased [calculated as maximum minutes per day (SFm)], HAWTSF increased from 3.8% at 0 ≤ SFm < 10 to 21.1% at SFm ≥ 30, p < 0.0001. For each unit increase in SFm the odds ratio was 2.02 [95% confidence interval: (1.68,2.43)]. Stepwise regression models for HAWTSF had a predictive strength of up to 53% with 10% attributed to SFm. Variables associated with HAWTSF included, but were not limited to, annoyance to other wind turbine-related features, concern for physical safety, and noise sensitivity. Reported dizziness was also retained in the final model at p = 0.0581. Study findings add to the growing science base in this area and may be helpful in identifying factors associated with community reactions to SF exposure from wind turbines.