bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Significant Unmet Oral Health Needs of Homebound Elderly Adults
Authors: Ornstein Katherine A. , DeCherrie Linda , Gluzman Rima , Scott Elizabeth S. , Kansal Jyoti , Shah Tushin , Katz Ralph , Soriano Theresa A.
Published: December 2014

Objectives

To assess the oral health status, use of dental care, and dental needs of homebound elderly adults and to determine whether medical diagnoses or demographic factors influenced perceived oral health.

Design

Cross‐sectional analysis.

Setting

Participants’ homes in New York City.

Participants

Homebound elderly adults (N = 125).

Measurements

A trained dental research team conducted a comprehensive clinical examination in participants’ homes and completed a dental use and needs survey and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index.

Results

Participants who reported a high level of unmet oral health needs were more likely to be nonwhite, although this effect was not significant in multivariate analysis. Individual medical diagnoses and the presence of multiple comorbidities were not associated with unmet oral health needs.

Conclusion

The oral health status of homebound elderly adults was poor regardless of their medical diagnoses. High unmet oral health needs combined with strong desire to receive dental care suggests there is a need to improve access to dental care for this growing population. In addition to improving awareness of geriatricians and primary care providers who care for homebound individuals, the medical community must partner with the dental community to develop home‐based programs for older adults.
High Rates of Native Hawaiian and Older Japanese Adults Hospitalized with Dementia in Hawai‘i
Authors: Sentell Tetine L. , Valcour Nicole , Ahn Hyeong Jun , Miyamura Jill , Nakamoto Beau , Chow Dominic , Masaki Kamal , Seto Todd B. , Chen John J. , Shikuma Cecilia
Published: December 2014

Data on dementia in Native Hawaiians and many Asian subgroups in the United States are limited. Inpatients with dementia have higher costs, longer stays, and higher mortality than those without dementia. This study compared rates of inpatients with a dementia diagnosis for disaggregated Asian and Pacific Islanders (Native Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino) with those of whites according to age (18–59, 60–69, 70–79, 80–89, ≤90) for all adults hospitalized in Hawai‘i between December 2006 and December 2010; 13,465 inpatients with a dementia diagnosis were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes. Rates were calculated using population size denominators derived from the U.S. Census. In all age categories, Native Hawaiians had the highest unadjusted rates of inpatients with dementia and were more likely to have a dementia diagnosis at discharge at younger ages than other racial and ethnic groups. In adjusted models (controlling for sex, residence location, and insurer), Native Hawaiian inpatients aged 18 to 59 (aRR = 1.50, 95% CI = 0.84–2.69), 60 to 69 (aRR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.74–3.68), 70 to 79 (aRR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.78–2.69), and 80 to 89 (aRR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.24–1.71) were significantly more likely to have dementia than whites, as were Japanese aged 70 to 79 (aRR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.01–1.67), 80 to 89 (aRR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.05–1.57), and 90 and older (aRR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.24–1.85). Japanese aged 18 to 59 had were significantly less likely to have dementia than whites (aRR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.17–0.94). These patterns have important public health and clinical care implications for Native Hawaiians and older Japanese populations. Future studies should consider whether preventable medical risk, caregiving, socioeconomic conditions, genetic disposition, or a combination of these factors are responsible for these findings.
Predictors of Admission After Emergency Department Discharge in Older Adults
Authors: Gabayan Gelareh Z. , Sarkisian Catherine A. , Liang Li‐Jung , Sun Benjamin C.
Published: December 2014

Objectives

To identify predictors of hospital inpatient admission of older Medicare beneficiaries after discharge from the emergency department (ED).

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Nonfederal California hospitals (n = 284).

Participants

Visits of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older discharged from California EDs in 2007 (n = 505,315).

Measurements

Using the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development files, predictors of hospital inpatient admission within 7 days of ED discharge in older adults (≥65) with Medicare were evaluated.

Results

Hospital inpatient admissions within 7 days of ED discharge occurred in 23,340 (4.6%) visits and were associated with older age (70–74: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07–1.17; 75–79: AOR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.13–1.23; ≥80: AOR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.35–1.46), skilled nursing facility use (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.72–1.94), leaving the ED against medical advice (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.67–1.98), and the following diagnoses with the highest odds of admission: end‐stage renal disease (AOR = 3.83, 95% CI = 2.42–6.08), chronic renal disease (AOR = 3.19, 95% CI = 2.26–4.49), and congestive heart failure (AOR = 3.01, 95% CI = 2.59–3.50).

Conclusion

Five percent of older Medicare beneficiaries have a hospital inpatient admission after discharge from the ED. Chronic conditions such as renal disease and heart failure were associated with the greatest odds of admission.
Highly‐active antiretroviral therapy and oral opportunistic microorganisms in HIV‐positive individuals of Thailand
Authors: Arirachakaran Pratanporn , Poovorawan Yong , Dahlén Gunnar
Published: December 2014

Aim

Oral mucosal lesions and opportunistic microorganisms in HIV‐positive Thais treated with highly‐active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for more than 5 years were investigated.

Methods

A total of 221 HIV‐infected patients, comprising 148 HIV patients undergoing HAART for more than 5 years, 20 non‐HAART HIV patients, 53 vertically‐transmitted (VT) HAART HIV patients, and 30 HIV‐negative controls, were examined for CD4+ counts, viral load, saliva secretion rate, and oral mucosal lesions. Samples from the tongue, gingival crevices, and mucosal lesions when present were cultured for the amounts of Candida, staphylococci, enterococci, and aerobic Gram‐negative bacilli.

Results

HAART (including HIV–VT) maintained oral microbial homeostasis predominated by alpha‐hemolytic streptococci similar to the non‐HIV controls and with a low prevalence of mucosal lesions. The HAART group had a reduced saliva secretion rate. The frequency and load of opportunistic microorganisms in the HAART group were similar to the non‐HAART group, which was significantly higher than the HIV‐negative controls. Candida spp. was found significantly more frequently on the tongue in HIV‐infected individuals with CD4+ counts <500 cells/mm3.

Conclusion

Although we did not find lower levels of mucosal lesions among HAART compared to non‐HAART individuals, HAART therapy could prolong the time before opportunistic oral pathogens overwhelm the commensal members of oral microbiota.
Melatonin decreases muscular oxidative stress and inflammation induced by strenuous exercise and stimulates growth factor synthesis
Authors: Borges Leandro da Silva , Dermargos Alexandre , Junior Edenilson Pinto da Silva , Weimann Eleine , Lambertucci Rafael Herling , Hatanaka Elaine
Published: December 2014

Strenuous exercise is detrimental to athletes because of the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Melatonin, a classic antioxidant, has been shown to exhibit beneficial effects regarding intense exercise and tissue repair. In this study, we evaluated the onset and resolution of inflammation in melatonin‐treated and nontreated rats subjected to a strenuous exercise session. We also analyzed the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Control and treated rats were subjected to exhaustive exercise after a period of 10 days of melatonin treatment (20 mg/dL). Plasma and muscle levels of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin 1 beta (IL‐1β), interleukin 6 (IL‐6), cytokine‐induced neutrophil chemoattractant‐2‐alpha/beta (CINC‐2α/β), l‐selectin, macrophage inflammatory protein‐3‐alpha (MIP‐3α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured prior to, immediately after, and 2 hr after exercise. Our data revealed decreases in the muscle concentrations of IL‐1β (35%), TNF‐α (13%), IL‐6 (48%), and TBARS (40%) in the melatonin‐treated group compared with the control group. We also observed decreases in the plasma concentrations of IL‐1β (17%) in the melatonin‐treated group. VEGF‐α concentrations and SOD activity increased by 179% and 22%, respectively, in the melatonin‐treated group compared with the control group. We concluded that muscle inflammation and oxidative stress resulting from exhaustive exercise were less severe in the muscles of melatonin‐treated animals than in the muscles of control animals. Thus, melatonin treatment may reverse exercise‐induced skeletal muscle inflammation and stimulate growth factor synthesis.
Melatonin treatment improves primary progressive multiple sclerosis: a case report
Authors: López‐González Antonio , Álvarez‐Sánchez Nuria , Lardone Patricia J. , Cruz‐Chamorro Ivan , Martínez‐López Alicia , Guerrero Juan M. , Reiter Russel J. , Carrillo‐Vico Antonio
Published: December 2014

We describe the case of a female patient who, at the age of 28, was diagnosed with symptoms of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). Glucocorticoid treatment was immediately initiated. The disease and the demyelinating lesions progressed during the following 9 years reaching Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 8.0 (patient essentially restricted to bed, a chair or perambulated in a wheelchair). At this point, the patient began taking melatonin at doses ranging from 50 to 300 mg per day. Melatonin was her only treatment for the next 4 years; during this interval, her EDSS progressively recovered to 6.0 (the person needs intermittent or unilateral constant assistance such as cane, crutch, or brace to walk 100 meters with or without resting). This long‐lasting improvement is likely due to melatonin usage since it is related in time and because of its exceptionally long duration.
Exploring Diversity in Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health Among Rural Dwelling Canadians
Authors: Janzen Bonnie , Karunanayake Chandima , Pahwa Punam , Dyck Roland , Rennie Donna , Lawson Josh , Pickett William , Bryce Rhonda , Hagel Louise , Zhao Guangming , Dosman James ,   on behalf of the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study Team
Published: December 2014

Purpose

To describe the patterning of socioeconomic inequalities in health among rural dwelling women and men in a Canadian province, exploring diversity in associations by measure of socioeconomic position, health outcome, and demographic characteristics.

Methods

Baseline data from the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study was used, an ongoing prospective cohort study examining the health of rural people in Saskatchewan, Canada. Of the 11,004 eligible addresses, responses to mailed questionnaires were obtained from 4,624 (42%) households, representing 8,261 women and men. Multiple logistic regression was the primary method of analysis; generalized estimating equations were utilized to account for household clustering. Associations between 5 health outcomes (self‐rated health, chronic obstructive lung disease, diabetes, heart attack, high blood pressure) and 4 indicators of socioeconomic position (income, education, financial strain, occupational skill level) were assessed, with age and gender as potential effect modifiers.

Findings

With the exception of occupational skill level, socioeconomic position (SEP) indicators were strongly and inversely related to most health outcomes, often in a graded manner. Associations between SEP and several health outcomes were weaker for older than younger participants (heart attack, high blood pressure, lung disease) and stronger among women compared to men (high blood pressure, lung disease).

Conclusions

The patterning of SEP‐health associations observed in this rural Canadian sample suggests the need for health promotion strategies and policy initiatives to be broadly targeted at individuals and families occupying a wide range of socioeconomic circumstances.
Reporting of Randomized Controlled Trials in Andrology Journals: A Quality Assessment
Authors: Jo Jung Ki , Chung Jae Hoon , Kim Kyu Shik , Song Soo Hyun , Lee Seung Wook
Published: December 2014

Introduction

Quality assessment of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is important to prevent the adoption of findings of low-quality trials into clinical practice.

Aim

The aim of this study was to analyze the quality of studies reporting RCTs in andrology journals (The Journal of Sexual Medicine [JSM], the Asian Journal of Andrology [AJA], the Journal of Andrology [JOA], the International Journal of Andrology [IJA]).

Methods

A quality assessment was conducted on all studies identified as RCTs published in andrology journals (JSM, AJA, JOA, IJA) until 2011. The review period was divided into three terms: early, mid, and late each journal.

Main Outcome Measures

The Jadad scale, van Tulder scale, and the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool (CCRBT) were employed. The RCTs were also categorized by country of origin, the inclusion of institutional review board (IRB) approval, funding, and blindness.

Results

There were1,954 original articles published in the JSM, 893 articles in the AJA, 2,527 articles in the JOA, and 2,086 articles in the IJA for the review period. There were 172 studies reporting on RCTs in the JSM, 33 RCTs in the AJA, 63 RCTs in the JOA, and 29 RCTs in the IJA. No significant increase in Jadad or van Tulder scale scores were found over time, nor were there any significant changes in the number of high-quality articles as assessed by CCRBT. However, significant differences in quality analysis were found according to blinding, funding, and IRB approval.

Conclusion

The number of original articles and RCTs in andrology increased over time. However, the ratio of RCTs to original articles as well as RCT quality was statistically insignificant. It would be required for the researchers to focus efforts in performing high-quality studies to ensure appropriate randomization, reviews by IRB, financial support, and inclusion of allocation concealment during study performance.
Malleable Penile Prosthesis is a Cost-Effective Treatment for Refractory Ischemic Priapism
Authors: Tausch Timothy J. , Zhao Lee C. , Morey Allen F. , Siegel Jordan A. , Belsante Michael J. , Seideman Casey A. , Flemons James R.
Published: December 2014

Introduction

Refractory ischemic priapism (RIP) can be difficult to treat, consuming significant healthcare-related resources. Acute insertion of a malleable penile prosthesis (MPP) has been reported as an effective therapy that treats the priapism and restores sexual function.

Aim

We report our 6-year, urban public hospital experience with acute insertion of MPP in patients with RIP.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients receiving MPPs for RIP from 2007 to 2013. Data analyzed included duration of erection, number of emergency room (ER) visits, hospital admissions, days of hospitalization, and postoperative course. Costs were estimated using standard Medicare reimbursement rates.

Main Outcome Measure

Healthcare-related costs of treatment of RIP episodes in men presenting to our institution.

Results

During the study period, 14 men underwent MPP placement acutely for refractory priapism. Thirteen presented with RIP, and one had stuttering priapism over a 14-day hospitalization. Etiologies included sickle cell anemia (4/13, 29%), medication-induced (3/14, 21%), and idiopathic (7/14, 50%). Average preoperative duration of RIP was 82 hours with considerable consumption of health-care resources (average US $83,818 estimated cost, 4 ER visits [range 1–27], 2 hospital admissions [range 1–5], 1.5 shunt procedures [range 1–3], 5 irrigation and drainage procedures using phenylephrine injection [range 2–20], and 5 hospital admission days [range 2–14]). All patients were discharged within 24 hours of MPP surgery.

Conclusions

The management of RIP is associated with multiple ER visits, prolonged hospital admissions, and significant resource utilization. MPP insertion is efficacious for the immediate resolution of refractory priapism, with potential cost and resource benefits.
Evaluation of the Effect of Orally Administered Acid Suppressants On Intragastric pH in Cats
Authors: Parkinson S. , Tolbert K. , Messenger K. , Odunayo A. , Brand M. , Davidson G. , Peters E. , Reed A. , Papich M.G.
Published: December 2014

Background

Acid suppressant drugs are a mainstay of treatment for cats with gastrointestinal erosion and ulceration. However, clinical studies have not been performed to compare the efficacy of commonly PO administered acid suppressants in cats.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To compare the effect of PO administered famotidine, fractionated omeprazole tablet (fOT), and omeprazole reformulated paste (ORP) on intragastricpHin cats. We hypothesized that both omeprazole formulations would be superior to famotidine and placebo.

Animals

Six healthy adultDSHcolony cats.

Methods

Utilizing a randomized, 4‐way crossover design, cats received 0.88–1.26 mg/kg PO q12hfOT, ORP, famotidine, and placebo (lactose capsules). IntragastricpHmonitoring was used to continuously record intragastricpHfor 96 hours beginning on day 4 of treatment. Plasma omeprazole concentrations at steady state (day 7) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet detection. Mean percentage time that intragastricpHwas ≥3 and ≥4 were compared among groups using ANOVA with a posthoc Tukey‐Kramer test (α = 0.05).

Results

The mean percentage time ± SD that intragastricpHwas ≥3 was 68.4 ± 35.0% forfOT, 73.9 ± 23.2% for ORP, 42.8 ± 18.6% for famotidine, and 16.0 ± 14.2% for placebo. Mean ± SD plasma omeprazole concentrations were similar in cats receivingfOTcompared to those receiving ORP and in a range associated with acid suppression reported in other studies.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

These results suggest that both omeprazole formulations provide superior acid suppression in cats compared to famotidine or placebo. Fractionated enteric‐coatedOTis an effective acid suppressant despite disruption of the enteric coating.
Trends in the selection of insecticide resistance in Anopheles gambiae s.l. mosquitoes in northwest Tanzania during a community randomized trial of longlasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying
Authors: MATOWO J. , KITAU J. , KAAYA R. , KAVISHE R. , WRIGHT A. , KISINZA W. , KLEINSCHMIDT I. , MOSHA F. , ROWLAND M. , PROTOPOPOFF N.
Published: December 2014

Anopheles gambiae s.l. (Diptera: Culicidae) in Muleba, Tanzania has developed high levels of resistance to most insecticides currently advocated for malaria control. The kdr mutation has almost reached fixation in An. gambiae s.s. in Muleba. This change has the potential to jeopardize malaria control interventions carried out in the region. Trends in insecticide resistance were monitored in two intervention villages using World Health Organization (WHO) susceptibility test kits. Additional mechanisms contributing to observed phenotypic resistance were investigated using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) bottle bioassays with piperonylbutoxide (PBO) and S,S,S‐tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) synergists. Resistance genotyping for kdr and Ace‐1 alleles was conducted using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In both study villages, high phenotypic resistance to several pyrethroids and DDT was observed, with mortality in the range of 12–23%. There was a sharp decrease in mortality in An. gambiae s.l. exposed to bendiocarb (carbamate) from 84% in November 2011 to 31% in December 2012 after two rounds of bendiocarb‐based indoor residual spraying (IRS). Anopheles gambiae s.l. remained susceptible to pirimiphos‐methyl (organophosphate). Bendiocarb‐based IRS did not lead to the reversion of pyrethroid resistance. There was no evidence for selection for Ace‐1 resistance alleles. The need to investigate the operational impact of the observed resistance selection on the effectiveness of longlasting insecticidal nets and IRS for malaria control is urgent.
Silica‐scaled chrysophytes from Hainan, Guangdong Provinces and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
Authors: Wei Yin‐Xin , Yuan Xiu‐Ping , Kristiansen Jørgen
Published: December 2014

Twenty five phytoplankton samples containing chrysophytes were collected in Hainan and Guangdong Provinces and in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in January 2010 and October to November 2011. Forty nine taxa of silica‐scaled chrysophytes were identified by means of transmission electron microscopy, twelve of them belonging to Paraphysomonadaceae and thirty seven to Synurales. Spiniferomonas cornuta, Paraphysomonas sp., Mallomonas hexareticulata, M. ceylanica, M. plumosa, M. ocellata, M. elevata and M. spinosa are reported for the first time from China. A new species, Paraphysomonas hainanensis Wei & Kristiansen, was found in a pond in Haikou City, Hainan Province. An amended description of Mallomonas spinosa Gusev is proposed. The sampled localities are situated in the tropical and subtropical region of southern China. There is great similarity in the geographical distribution of the observed silica‐scaled chrysophytes with that of east Asia, southeast Asia and south Asia, and their ecological characteristics are discussed.
Temporal patterns of orchid mycorrhizal fungi in meadows and forests as revealed by 454 pyrosequencing
Authors: Oja Jane , Kohout Petr , Tedersoo Leho , Kull Tiiu , Kõljalg Urmas
Published: December 2014

Orchid mycorrhizal (OrM) symbionts play a key role in the growth of orchids, but the temporal variation and habitat partitioning of these fungi in roots and soil remain unclear.

Temporal changes in root and rhizosphere fungal communities of Cypripedium calceolus, Neottia ovata and Orchis militaris were studied in meadow and forest habitats over the vegetation period by using 454 pyrosequencing of the full internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region.

The community of typical OrM symbionts differed by plant species and habitats. The root fungal community of N. ovata changed significantly in time, but this was not observed in C. calceolus and O. militaris. The rhizosphere community included a low proportion of OrM symbionts that exhibited a slight temporal turnover in meadow habitats but not in forests. Habitat differences in OrM and all fungal associates are largely attributable to the greater proportion of ectomycorrhizal fungi in forests.

Temporal changes in OrM fungal communities in roots of certain species indicate selection of suitable fungal species by plants. It remains to be elucidated whether these shifts depend on functional differences inside roots, seasonality, climate or succession.
Epoxycarotenoid‐mediated synthesis of abscisic acid in Physcomitrella patens implicating conserved mechanisms for acclimation to hyperosmosis in embryophytes
Authors: Takezawa Daisuke , Watanabe Naoki , Ghosh Totan Kumar , Saruhashi Masashi , Suzuki Atsushi , Ishiyama Kanako , Somemiya Shinnosuke , Kobayashi Masatomo , Sakata Yoichi
Published: December 2014

Plants acclimate to environmental stress signals such as cold, drought and hypersalinity, and provoke internal protective mechanisms. Abscisic acid (ABA), a carotenoid‐derived phytohormone, which increases in response to the stress signals above, has been suggested to play a key role in the acclimation process in angiosperms, but the role of ABA in basal land plants such as mosses, including its biosynthetic pathways, has not been clarified.

Targeted gene disruption of PpABA1, encoding zeaxanthin epoxidase in the moss Physcomitrella patens was conducted to determine the role of endogenous ABA in acclimation processes in mosses.

The generated ppaba1 plants were found to accumulate only a small amount of endogenous ABA. The ppaba1 plants showed reduced osmotic acclimation capacity in correlation with reduced dehydration tolerance and accumulation of late embryogenesis abundant proteins. By contrast, cold‐induced freezing tolerance was less affected in ppaba1, indicating that endogenous ABA does not play a major role in the regulation of cold acclimation in the moss.

Our results suggest that the mechanisms for osmotic acclimation mediated by carotenoid‐derived synthesis of ABA are conserved in embryophytes and that acquisition of the mechanisms played a crucial role in terrestrial adaptation and colonization by land plant ancestors.
Contrasting effects of nicotianamine synthase knockdown on zinc and nickel tolerance and accumulation in the zinc/cadmium hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri
Authors: Cornu Jean‐Yves , Deinlein Ulrich , Höreth Stephan , Braun Manuel , Schmidt Holger , Weber Michael , Persson Daniel P. , Husted Søren , Schjoerring Jan K. , Clemens Stephan
Published: December 2014

Elevated nicotianamine synthesis in roots of Arabidopsis halleri has been established as a zinc (Zn) hyperaccumulation factor. The main objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of nicotianamine‐dependent root‐to‐shoot translocation of metals.

Metal tolerance and accumulation in wild‐type (WT) and AhNAS2‐RNA interference (RNAi) plants were analysed. Xylem exudates were subjected to speciation analysis and metabolite profiling.

Suppression of root nicotianamine synthesis had no effect on Zn and cadmium (Cd) tolerance but rendered plants nickel (Ni)‐hypersensitive. It also led to a reduction of Zn root‐to‐shoot translocation, yet had the opposite effect on Ni mobility, even though both metals form coordination complexes of similar stability with nicotianamine. Xylem Zn concentrations were positively, yet nonstoichiometrically, correlated with nicotianamine concentrations. Two fractions containing Zn coordination complexes were detected in WT xylem. One of them was strongly reduced in AhNAS2‐suppressed plants and coeluted with 67Zn‐labelled organic acid complexes. Organic acid concentrations were not responsive to nicotianamine concentrations and sufficiently high to account for complexing the coordinated Zn.

We propose a key role for nicotianamine in controlling the efficiency of Zn xylem loading and thereby the formation of Zn coordination complexes with organic acids, which are the main Zn ligands in the xylem but are not rate‐limiting for Zn translocation.
Modality, Scale Structure, and Scalar Reasoning
Authors: Lassiter Daniel
Published: December 2014

Epistemic and deontic comparatives differ in how they interact with disjunction. I argue that this difference provides a compelling empirical argument against the semantics ofKratzer, which predicts that all modal comparatives should interact with disjunction in the same way. Interestingly, an identical distinction is found in the semantics of non‐modal adjectives:additiveadjectives like ‘heavy’ behave logically like epistemic comparatives, andintermediateadjectives like ‘hot’ behave like deontic comparatives. I characterize this distinction formally and argue that the divergence between epistemic and deontic modals explained if we structure their semantics around scalar concepts: epistemic modals should be analyzed using probability (an additive scale), and deontic modals using expected value (an intermediate scale).
Attitudes, Deontics and Semantic Neutrality
Authors: Cariani Fabrizio
Published: December 2014

It has been recently suggested that a semantic theory for deontic modals should be neutral between a very large range of normative and evaluative theories. This article aims to clarify this talk of neutrality, in particular its scope and motivation. My thesis is that neutrality is best understood as an empirical thesis about a fragment of natural language that includes deontic modals – not as a new,sui generismethodological constraint on natural language semantics.
On Necessity and Comparison
Authors: Rubinstein Aynat
Published: December 2014

The ability to compare possibilities and designate some as ‘better’ than others is a fundamental aspect of our use of modals and propositional attitude verbs. This article aims to support a proposal bySloman (1970) that certain modal expressions, in particular,ought, in fact have a more pronounced comparative backbone than others (e.g.must). The connection between ‘ought’ and ‘better’ is supported by linguistic data (some of it, on the lack of direct translations of weak necessity crosslinguistically, is new) and a proposal is advanced for modeling ideals in a way that makes room for non‐comparative, strong, priority‐type necessity.
The If P, Ought P Problem
Authors: Carr Jennifer
Published: December 2014

Kratzer semantics for modals and conditionals generates the prediction that sentences of the form if p, ought p are trivially true. As Frank and Zvolenszky show, for certain flavors of modality, like deontic modality, this prediction is false. I explain some conservative solutions to the problem, and then argue that they are inadequate to account for puzzle cases involving self‐frustrating oughts. These cases illustrate a general problem: there are two forms of information‐sensitivity in deontic modals. Even generalizations of Kratzer semantics that predict these two roles for information, e.g. Kolodny and MacFarlane, predict that they vary together. I propose a generalization of Kratzer semantics that allows the two roles for information to vary independently of each other.
Normativity in Reasoning
Authors: Broome John
Published: December 2014

Reasoning is a process through which premise‐attitudes give rise to a conclusion‐attitude. When you reason actively you operate on the propositions that are the contents of your premise‐attitudes, following a rule, to derive a new proposition that is the content of your conclusion‐attitude. It may seem that, when you follow a rule, you must, at least implicitly, have the normative belief that you ought to comply with the rule, which guides you to comply. But I argue that to follow a rule is to manifest a particular sort of disposition, which can be interpreted as an intention. An intention is itself a guiding disposition. It can guide you to comply with a rule, and no normative belief is required.
Procrastinate Revisited
Authors: Jackson Frank
Published: December 2014

How is what an agent ought to do at time t related to what they ought to do over a period of time that includes t? I revisit an example that sheds light on this question, taking account of issues to do with the agent's intentions and the distinction between subjective (or expective) and objective obligation.
Composite encapsulated papillary carcinoma and solid papillary carcinoma
Authors: Cui Xiaoyan , Wei Shi
Published: December 2014

Encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) and solid papillary carcinoma (SPC) are distinctive variants of intraductal papillary carcinomas, each accounting for <1% of breast carcinomas. Here we report a composite carcinoma consisting of EPC and SPC. A 73‐year‐old woman was found to have a high density mass in the left breast on mammogram. A biopsy showed intermediate to high grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Gross examination of the lumpectomy specimen revealed a solid, multinodular mass. Microscopic examination demonstrated two morphologically distinct intraductal carcinomas intermingled with each other. One had delicate papillae in multi‐cystic spaces surrounded by thick fibrous capsule, consistent with EPC. The other had solid tumor nests with delicate fibrovascular cores. The cells were monotonous with round nuclei and salt and pepper‐like chromatin, characteristic of SPC. The lack of myoepithelial cells within the papillae and at the periphery of the lesion was confirmed by immunostaining for p63 and CK5/6. Neuroendocrine differentiation of SPC was demonstrated by neuron specific enolase staining. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of composite EPC and SPC. It raises an interesting question as to a possible common pathway of carcinogenesis of these two rare variants.
The Thin Reed: Accommodating Weak Evidence for Critical Parameters in Cost‐Benefit Analysis
Authors: Weimer David L.
Published: December 2014

Policy analysis often demands quantitative prediction—especially cost‐benefit analysis, which requires the comprehensive quantification and monetization of all valued impacts. Using parameter estimates and their precisions, analysts can apply Monte Carlo simulation to create distributions of net benefits that convey the levels of certainty about the fundamental question of interest: Will net benefits be positive if the policy is adopted? An inappropriate focus on hypothesis testing of parameters rather than prediction sometimes leads analysts to treat statistically insignificant coefficients as if they, and their standard errors, are zero. One alternative method is to use all estimates and their standard errors whether or not the estimates are statistically significant. Another alternative is to use all estimates but to shrink them toward zero and adjust their standard errors in an effort to guard against regression to the mean. Comparing the three methods (only use statistically significant estimates and their standard errors, use all estimates and their standard errors, use shrunk estimates and adjusted standard errors) in Monte Carlo simulation suggests that treating statistically insignificant coefficients as zero rarely minimizes the mean squared error of prediction. Using shrunk estimates appears to provide a more robust minimization of the mean squared error of prediction. The simulations presented here suggest that routinely shrinking estimates is a robust approach if one believes that there is a substantial probability that the true value of the parameter is near zero.
Systematic Review of Health Economic Analyses of Measles and Rubella Immunization Interventions
Authors: Thompson Kimberly M. , Odahowski Cassie L.
Published: December 2014

Economic analyses for vaccine‐preventable diseases provide important insights about the value of prevention. We reviewed the literature to identify all of the peer‐reviewed, published economic analyses of interventions related to measles and rubella immunization options to assess the different types of analyses performed and characterize key insights. We searched PubMed, the Science Citation Index, and references from relevant articles for studies in English and found 67 analyses that reported primary data and quantitative estimates of benefit‐cost or cost‐effectiveness analyses for measles and/or rubella immunization interventions. We removed studies that we characterized as cost‐minimization analyses from this sample because they generally provide insights that focused on more optimal strategies to achieve the same health outcome. The 67 analyses we included demonstrate the large economic benefits associated with preventing measles and rubella infections using vaccines and the benefit of combining measles and rubella antigens into a formulation that saves the costs associated with injecting the vaccines separately. Despite the importance of population immunity and dynamic viral transmission, most of the analyses used static models to estimate cases prevented and characterize benefits, although the use of dynamic models continues to increase. Many of the analyses focused on characterizing the most significant adverse outcomes (e.g., mortality for measles, congenital rubella syndrome for rubella) and/or only direct costs, and the most complete analyses present data from high‐income countries.
A pilot study comparing a protocol using intermittent administration of glargine and regular insulin to a continuous rate infusion of regular insulin in cats with naturally occurring diabetic ketoacidosis
Authors: Gallagher Brandi R. , Mahony Orla M. , Rozanski Elizabeth A. , Buob Sibylle , Freeman Lisa M.
Published: December 2014

Objective

The goal of this pilot study was to compare regular insulin administered by continuous rate infusion (CRI) to an approach using insulin glargine and regular insulin administered intermittently.

Design

Prospective randomized clinical trial.

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Animals

Sixteen cats with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

Interventions

Cats with DKA were randomized to either low‐dose regular insulin CRI (CRI group;n= 8) or intermittent short‐ and long‐acting insulin injections (subcutaneous [SC] glargine plus intramuscular [IM] regular insulin; SC/IM group;n= 8).

Measurements and Main Results

Time of normalization of pH, bicarbonate, hyperglycemia, ketonemia, and appetite, as well as duration of hospitalization were recorded. Eleven of 16 cats (59%) survived to discharge, with no difference in survival between groups (P= 0.99). Times of resolution of hyperglycemia (P= 0.02) and ketonemia (P= 0.04), and normalization of pH (P= 0.04), and bicarbonate (P= 0.03) were significantly shorter in the SC/IM group. Cats in the SC/IM group also had a significantly shorter duration of hospitalization (SC/IM: median = 54 hr [range, 19–118 hr]; CRI: median = 111 hr [range, 58–271 hr];P= 0.04). Time of first meal was not significantly different between groups.

Conclusions

Although further research is required, an approach using intermittent short‐ and long‐acting insulin injections appeared to be an effective option for treatment of DKA in cats.
Systematic revision of Entomobryidae (Collembola) by integrating molecular and new morphological evidence
Authors: Zhang Feng , Deharveng Louis
Published: December 2014

Entomobryidae, the largest collembolan family, is traditionally classified at suprageneric level using a limited set of morphological structures, such as scales, antennal segmentation. Most tribal and subfamilial delimitations appear, however, disputable in the light of recent works. Integrating molecular and morphological evidence, we propose here a revision of the systematics of the family. In addition to traditional taxonomic characters, tergal specialized chaetae (S‐chaetae) are newly introduced, and their patterns are shown to be diversified at all levels from species to subfamilies. S‐chaetotaxic pattern on phylogenetic tree shows that evolution of S‐chaetae is not parallel between the different terga and that their patterns coincide well with the known molecular phylogeny, providing a powerful tool for the systematics of Entomobryidae. Orchesellinae sensu Soto‐Adames et al. (Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 101, 2008, 501); is divided into three subfamilies: Orchesellinae s. s., Bessoniellinae and Heteromurinae, the latter two upgraded from the original tribal level. Entomobryinae sensu Szeptycki (Morpho‐Systematic Studies on Collembola. IV. Chaetotaxy of the Entomobryidae and its Phylogenetical Significance, 1979), is no longer divided into scaled and unscaled tribes, and Lepidosira‐group is transferred from Seirinae to Entomobryinae. A key to subfamilies and tribes and a comparison with previous classifications of the Entomobryidae are provided. This study greatly improves the understanding of primary and secondary characters and erects the fundamental framework for the taxonomy of Entomobryidae.
Integral points on moduli schemes of elliptic curves
Authors: von Känel Rafael
Published: December 2014

We combine the method of Faltings (Arakelov, Paršin, Szpiro) with the Shimura–Taniyama conjecture to prove effective finiteness results for integral points on moduli schemes of elliptic curves. For several fundamental Diophantine problems, such as for example ‐unit and Mordell equations, this gives an effective method which does not rely on Diophantine approximation or transcendence techniques.
Modeling and Performance Analysis of an Integrated System: Variable Speed Operated Internal Combustion Engine Combined Heat and Power Unit–Photovoltaic Array
Authors: Radu Robert , Micheli Diego , Alessandrini Stefano , Casula Iosto , Radu Bogdan
Published: December 2014

The paper presents the model of a combined heat and power (CHP) unit, based on a variable speed internal combustion engine (ICE) interfaced with a photovoltaic (PV) system. This model is validated by means of experimental data obtained on an 85 kWe CHP unit fueled with natural gas and a PV system with a rated power of 17.9 kW. Starting from daily load profiles, the model is applied to investigate the primary energy saving (PES) of the integrated CHP + PV system in several operating conditions and for different sizes of PV array. The results demonstrate the dependence of the CHP performance on the operating mode and a limited convenience of the variable speed strategy. The integrated system operation leads to performance improvements, which depend on the size of the PV component.
Comparative Analysis of Single- and Dual-Media Thermocline Tanks for Thermal Energy Storage in Concentrating Solar Power Plants
Authors: Mira-Hernández Carolina , Flueckiger Scott M. , Garimella Suresh V.
Published: December 2014

A molten-salt thermocline tank is a low-cost option for thermal energy storage (TES) in concentrating solar power (CSP) plants. Typical dual-media thermocline (DMT) tanks contain molten salt and a filler material that provides sensible heat capacity at reduced cost. However, conventional quartzite rock filler introduces the potential for thermomechanical failure by successive thermal ratcheting of the tank wall under cyclical operation. To avoid this potential mode of failure, the tank may be operated as a single-medium thermocline (SMT) tank containing solely molten salt. However, in the absence of filler material to dampen tank-scale convection eddies, internal mixing can reduce the quality of the stored thermal energy. To assess the relative merits of these two approaches, the operation of DMT and SMT tanks is simulated under different periodic charge/discharge cycles and tank wall boundary conditions to compare the performance with and without a filler material. For all conditions assessed, both thermocline tank designs have excellent thermal storage performance, although marginally higher first- and second-law efficiencies are predicted for the SMT tank. While heat loss through the tank wall to the ambient induces internal flow nonuniformities in the SMT design over the scale of the entire tank, strong stratification maintains separation of the hot and cold regions by a narrow thermocline; thermocline growth is limited by the low thermal diffusivity of the molten salt. Heat transport and flow phenomena inside the DMT tank, on the other hand, are governed to a great extent by thermal diffusion, which causes elongation of the thermocline. Both tanks are highly resistant to performance loss over periods of static operation, and the deleterious effects of dwell time are limited in both tank designs.
Boiling Heat Transfer to Dilute Emulsions From a Vertical Heated Strip
Authors: Roesle Matthew L. , Lunde David L. , Kulacki Francis A.
Published: December 2014

Heat transfer measurements for nucleate pool boiling of a dilute emulsion on a short vertical surface are reported. The vertical surface is a thin steel ribbon of 1.35 mm height × 101 mm length. Direct current resistance heating produces boiling either on the surface or in the free convection boundary layer of dilute emulsions of pentane in water and FC-72 in water. Single phase and boiling heat transfer is measured for emulsions with a volume fraction of the dispersed component of 0.1% and 0.5% in a pool at approximately 25 °C. The dispersed component is created by a simple atomization process and no surfactants are employed to maintain the droplets of the dispersed phase in suspension. In free convection, the presence of the dispersed component somewhat impedes heat transfer, but when boiling commences enhancement of heat transfer is observed. Boiling is observed in the emulsions at lower surface temperatures than for water alone, and significantly more superheat is required to initiate boiling of the dispersed component than would be needed for a pool of the dispersed component alone. Consequently, a temperature over shoot is observed prior to initiation of boiling, and such an over shoot has been observed in several prior studies. Boiling heat fluxes are compared to recently published measurements of boiling in similar emulsions on a small diameter horizontal wire. Boiling generally occurs at a slightly higher degree of superheat of the dispersed component on the heated strip as compared to thin wires.
High Order Bubble Dynamics in Incompressible Liquid
Authors: Sharipov Vasilii
Published: December 2014

A semi-analytical approximation to the solution of the radial Fourier equation describing liquid temperature dynamics in the vicinity of a spherical bubble is presented. This approximation opens a possibility to construct a computationally efficient bubble model that is flexible enough to simulate different bubble dynamics behavior like bubble growth, collapse, and oscillations. In turn, it allows development of two-pressure computer codes aiming at simulation of processes in liquid with bubbles that are important for industrial applications. The model is based on the system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and is presented together with results of simulations and comparison with some available experimental data. Additionally, scenarios like strong bubble parameter oscillations in largely subcooled water and abrupt liquid pressure change are considered. As respective simulations show, the latter may lead to subsequent hydrogen explosion if hydrogen–oxygen mixture is presented in the bubble. This may be important for boiling water reactor piping safety analysis.
A Correlation for the Air-Side Heat Transfer Coefficient Assessment in Continuous Flat-Plate Finned Heat Exchangers
Authors: Tarrad Ali Hussain , Khudor Damiaa Saad
Published: December 2014

A simplified correlation for the air-side heat transfer coefficient exhibited from plate finned heat exchangers was accomplished. The development of the present formula was based on the implementation of the Buckingham-pi theorem. The physical dimensions of the plate fin parameters and tube geometry of the heat exchanger were incorporated in the correlation to reveal their effect on air-side heat transfer coefficient. It is intended to be used for air dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures in the range 16–40 °C and 13–20 °C through the tube banks, respectively. It is valid for transverse to longitudinal tube pitches ratio of XT/XL = 0.75 and 0.83. The air-side Reynolds number based on maximum flow velocity and equivalent tube diameter to be in the range of 2.2 × 103 ≤ Re ≤ 8.75 × 103. The total mean absolute errors of the predicted overall heat transfer coefficient and heat duty were 10% and 13%, respectively.
Biomass Gasification for Gas Turbine Based Power Generation
Authors: Paisley Mark A. , Anson Donald
Published: December 2014

The Biomass Power Program of the US Department of Energy (DOE) has as a major goal the development of cost-competitive technologies for the production of power from renewable biomass crops. The gasification of biomass provides the potential to meet his goal by efficiently and economically producing a renewable source of a clean gaseous fuel suitable for use in high efficiency gas turbines. This paper discusses the development and first commercial demonstration of the Battelle high-throughput gasification process for power generation systems. Projected process economics are presented along with a description of current experimental operations coupling a gas turbine power generation system to the research scale gasifier and the process scaleup activities in Burlington, Vermont.