bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Employment changes in the sustainable energy sector in Scotland
Authors: McQuaid Ronald William , Bergmann Ariel
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to consider the development of “Green” jobs in one region of the European Union, Scotland, where the government has sought to develop renewable and sustainable energy industries and associated employment.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper analyses selected secondary data and policy documents and conceptualises issues concerning employment in the renewable energy sector.

Findings

– It analyses published data and projections on employment in renewable energy sectors, considering the reasons for the lower actual job creation. Many of the jobs in the renewable energy sector are likely to be high skilled, so there is need to support the development of low-skilled workers and job seekers so that they can enter and progress in the industry. Similarly there is a strong gender bias in the industry which may similarly reduce the entry and retention of the best staff and inhibit social equity.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper suggests that “Career first” recruitment and development policies are needed which emphasise improving both productivity and the “quality” and attractiveness of sustainable, long-term careers in the sector.

Practical implications

– In addition to relying on general labour attraction policies and separate industry-specific skills initiatives for those already in work, more attention needs to be given to developing sustainable employment with career progression for people moving into, or already in, the industry.

Originality/value

– The links between support for those moving into jobs and developing the skills of existing workers in sustainable industries have been under researched and this paper adds new conceptual developments, in terms of “Career” first approaches and empirical analysis of employment in renewable industries in Scotland.
Egyptian public’s concern for global warming
Authors: Mostafa Mohamed
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– Despite the growing scientific evidence regarding risks caused by global warming and climate change, virtually no studies have been conducted to investigate general public’s attitudes toward this phenomenon in a non-Western context. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors influencing concern for global warming in a representative sample of 2,551 respondents in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study uses logistic and Bayesian logistic regression modeling techniques to test the influence of post-materialistic tendencies, religiosity, political orientation and locus of control on concern for global warming in Egypt.

Findings

– Results contradict the post-materialist hypothesis and show that concern for global warming is driven by religiosity, political orientation and internal locus of control.

Originality/value

– The findings highlight the importance of investigating the specificity of global warming and environmental concern in a non-Western context.
Impacts of socio economic factors on perceptions of being safe while using Kuwaiti roads
Authors: AlSaeid Hana , Almutairi Talal , Matar Hamad , Al-Ajmi Faraj F. , Alrashidi Fawaz A. , Husain Mohammad A. E. , Saleh Wafaa
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate road users attitudes and preferences towards accidents and safety measures in Kuwait. The paper also quantifies impacts of user’s attitudes on the perception of being safe while using roads in Kuwait.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, a review of relevant literature, has been carried out, then a questionnaire has been piloted and implemented to collect data. The main survey was carried out in 2013. A total of 700 distributed questionnaires resulted in the return of 427 completed questionnaires.

Findings

– Results show that socio economic, attitudes and work commitment factors, all contribute to the behaviour and attitudes of road users in Kuwait.

Research limitations/implications

– Data are limited due to time constraints.

Originality/value

– There is very little knowledge of modelling and analysing factors which affect drivers’ behaviour towards safety in Kuwait.
Neuroprotective effects of various doses of topiramate against methylphenidate induced oxidative stress and inflammation in rat isolated hippocampus
Authors: Motaghinejad Majid , Motevalian Manijeh , Shabab Behnaz
Published: December 2015

Methylphenidate (MPH) abuse causes neurodegeneration. The neuroprotective effects of topiramate (TPM) have been reported but its putative mechanism remains unclear. The current study evaluates the role of various doses of TPM on protection of rat hippocampal cells from MPH‐induced oxidative stress and inflammation in vivo. Seventy adult male rats were divided into six groups. Group 1 received normal saline (0.7 mL/rat) and group 2 was injected with MPH (10 mg/kg) for 21 days. Groups 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 concurrently were treated by MPH (10 mg/kg) and TPM (10, 30, 50, 70 and 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)), respectively for 21 days. After drug administration, the open field test (OFT) was used to investigate motor activity. Oxidative, antioxidant and inflammatory factors were measured in isolated hippocampus. Also, the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level was measured by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and Western blotting. Cresyl violet staining of Dentate Gyrus (DG) and CA1 cell layers of the hippocampus were also performed. MPH significantly disturbs motor activity in OFT and TPM (70 and 100 mg/kg) decreased this disturbance. Also MPH significantly increased lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial reduced state of glutathione (GSH) level, interleukin (IL)‐1β and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and BDNF level in isolated hippocampal cells. Also superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activity significantly decreased. Various doses of TPM attenuated these effects and significantly decreased MPH‐induced oxidative damage, inflammation and hippocampal cell loss and increased BDNF level. This study suggests that TPM has the potential to be used as a neuroprotective agent against oxidative stress and neuroinflammation induced by frequent use of MPH.
One Hundred and One Cases of Plastic Bag Suffocation in the Milan Area Between 1993 and 2013—Correlations, Circumstances, Pathological and Forensic Evidences and Literature Review
Authors: Crudele Graziano Domenico Luigi , Di Candia Domenico , Gentile Guendalina , Marchesi Matteo , Rancati Alessandra , Zoja Riccardo
Published: December 2015

Plastic Bag Suffocation is a rare cause of death in developed countries and almost unknown in the rest of the world. This study aims to retrospectively evaluate cases of PBS _asphyxia in Milan's Department of Legal Medicine from 1993 to 2013. Cases were selected from the database of 21,472 autopsies performed in the considered timeframe. One hundred and one cases were considered to be cases of Plastic Bag Suffocation, comprised of 100 suicides, no accidental events and 1 homicide. The most relevant elements pertaining to this type of death were evaluated for both the corpses and the crime scenes. From this study the typical PBS victim is an adult male, aged 52.3 years on average, depressed or afflicted by chronic or terminal diseases, and found at home. In 42.6% of cases, the victims were found with the plastic bag still positioned over their head, fastened by tying. Also common among these cases are drugs, alcohol and chemical abuses. According to the collected data, it is impossible to outline a pathognomonic detrimental background that leads to this cause of death. Crime scene investigation is, therefore, the one and only technical resource for evaluating these cases.
Fast Source Camera Identification Using Content Adaptive Guided Image Filter
Authors: Zeng Hui , Kang Xiangui
Published: December 2015

Source camera identification (SCI) is an important topic in image forensics. One of the most effective fingerprints for linking an image to its source camera is the sensor pattern noise, which is estimated as the difference between the content and its denoised version. It is widely believed that the performance of the sensor‐based SCI heavily relies on the denoising filter used. This study proposes a novel sensor‐based SCI method using content adaptive guided image filter (CAGIF). Thanks to the low complexity nature of the CAGIF, the proposed method is much faster than the state‐of‐the‐art methods, which is a big advantage considering the potential real‐time application of SCI. Despite the advantage of speed, experimental results also show that the proposed method can achieve comparable or better performance than the state‐of‐the‐art methods in terms of accuracy.
Preparation of an Aroma Fraction from Dried Bonito by Steam Distillation and Its Effect on Modification of Salty and Umami Taste Qualities
Authors: Ogasawara Yasushi , Mochimaru Shinsuke , Ueda Reiko , Ban Masayasu , Kabuto Shizuya , Abe Keiko
Published: December 2015

To study the effects of dried bonito aroma on taste perception, dried bonito aroma fraction (DBAF) as a steam distillate in liquid was added to the salt solutions containing 5 different salt concentrations (0.68% to 1.5% [w/v]) before sensory evaluations. Perception of the taste qualities of salt solutions with added DBAF varied depending on the salt concentration. At low salt concentrations (0.68% to 0.83%), after‐taste intensity of saltiness and overall taste intensity were significantly enhanced by the addition of DBAF. This suggests that DBAF can be applied to a low‐salt seasoning at these salt concentrations. Umami taste intensity was significantly enhanced by the addition of DBAF at all salt concentrations (0.68% to 1.5%). The addition of heat‐treated DBAF, which no longer had the dried bonito odor, exerted no significant influences on any taste descriptors. As the result of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis, sulfur‐containing compounds, pyrazines, alcohols, and phenols were contained in DBAF and not detected in heat‐treated DBAF. Because these compounds contributed to the dried bonito odor, the taste modifications were thought to be induced by these compounds. The effects of the DBAF on Japanese noodle soup (mentsuyu) were also examined. The saltiness intensity of 1.2% salt concentration of mentsuyu containing both DBAF and DBS (dried bonito stock) as a hot water extract of dried bonito was not significantly differ from that of 1.5% salt concentration of mentsuyu not containing any of them. It will thus be possible to develop a reduced salt seasoning by combining DBAF and DBS.
Umami Increases Consumer Acceptability, and Perception of Sensory and Emotional Benefits without Compromising Health Benefit Perception
Authors: Miyaki Takashi , Retiveau‐Krogmann Annlyse , Byrnes Erin , Takehana Shunji
Published: December 2015

This study was undertaken to understand how consumers in the United States perceive umami‐rich products, specifically low sodium chicken noodle soup. Results suggest that the addition of monosodium l‐glutamate (MSG) at a concentration of 0.1% to 0.5%, alone or in synergy with 5’‐ribonucleotides of inosine monophosphate (IMP) at 0.1% not only increases consumer acceptance but also positively impacts other aspects of consumer perception. Regardless of concentration of MSG and IMP, samples enhanced in umami compounds were perceived as more savory, flavorful, and less bland while providing a more homemade, fresh, and healthy wholesome taste than a control sample. From a functional and emotional benefit standpoint, when consuming umami‐rich samples, consumers reported feeling significantly higher general satisfaction (they felt more content, relaxed, satisfied, less disappointed, dissatisfied…) and heightened positive emotions (happy, excited, indulgent…) than under the control condition. The feeling of being healthy while consuming the dish was not compromised. Last, when asked how they would feel if serving the soup sample to their family or friends, consumers projected feeling more positively under the umami‐rich conditions (more happy, competent, loving, less dissatisfied or disappointed) compared to the control condition.
Oridonin derivative ameliorates experimental colitis by inhibiting activated T‐cells and translocation of nuclear factor‐kappa B
Authors: Liu Qian Qian , Wang Hai Li , Chen Ke , Wang Shu Bei , Xu Ying , Ye Qiao , Sun Yun Wei
Published: December 2015

Objective

To confirm the potential therapeutic efficacy of HAO472 against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we investigated the modulatory functions of HAO472 in a mouse model of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)‐induced colitis.

Methods

Colitis was induced via an intrarectal injection of TNBS in mice. HAO472 (5.0 mg/kg or 7.5 mg/kg) or 1 mg/kg dexamethasone (DX) was injected intraperitoneally into the mice after the TNBS administration. Behavioral and weight changes, macroscopic and histological assessments of colon, the expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interferon (IFN)‐γ and interleukin (IL)‐17A, cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) in the colonic tissues were evaluated. The effect of HAO472 on NF‐κB signaling pathway in lymphocytes was also invesigated.

Results

HAO472 significantly ameliorated the clinical symptoms, reduced the severity of the inflammation and decreased mortality in the mouse model. HAO472 also reduced TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐17A, iNOS/COX‐2 and lymphocyte proliferation. These changes were associated with a significant decrease in NF‐κB p65 expression and activity.

Conclusion

HAO472 has positive effects on TNBS‐induced colitis by modulating the subsets and functions of lymphocytes, suppressing inflammation and inhibiting the nuclear translocation of NF‐κB p65 subunits.
Adherence to an Accelerated Diagnostic Protocol for Chest Pain: Secondary Analysis of the HEART Pathway Randomized Trial
Authors: Mahler Simon A. , Riley Robert F. , Russell Gregory B. , Hiestand Brian C. , Hoekstra James W. , Lefebvre Cedric W. , Nicks Bret A. , Cline David M. , Askew Kim L. , Bringolf John , Elliott Stephanie B. , Herrington David M. , Burke Gregory L. , Miller Chadwick D.
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Accelerated diagnostic protocols (ADPs), such as the HEART Pathway, are gaining popularity in emergency departments (EDs) as tools used to risk stratify patients with acute chest pain. However, provider nonadherence may threaten the safety and effectiveness of ADPs. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and impact of ADP nonadherence.

Methods

A secondary analysis of participants enrolled in the HEART Pathway RCT was conducted. This trial enrolled 282 adult ED patients with symptoms concerning for acute coronary syndrome without ST‐elevation on electrocardiogram. Patients randomized to the HEART Pathway (N = 141) were included in this analysis. Outcomes included index visit disposition, nonadherence, and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at 30 days. MACE was defined as death, myocardial infarction, or revascularization. Nonadherence was defined as: 1) undertesting—discharging a high‐risk patient from the ED without objective testing (stress testing or coronary angiography) or 2) overtesting—admitting or obtaining objective testing on a low‐risk patient.

Results

Nonadherence to the HEART Pathway occurred in 28 of 141 patients (20%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 14% to 27%). Overtesting occurred in 19 of 141 patients (13.5%, 95% CI = 8% to 19%) and undertesting in nine of 141 patients (6%, 95% CI = 3% to 12%). None of these 28 patients suffered MACE. The net effect of nonadherence was 10 additional admissions among patients identified as low‐risk and appropriate for early discharge (absolute decrease in discharge rate of 7%, 95% CI = 3% to 13%).

Conclusions

Real‐time use of the HEART Pathway resulted in a nonadherence rate of 20%, mostly due to overtesting. None of these patients had MACE within 30 days. Nonadherence decreased the discharge rate, attenuating the HEART Pathway's impact on health care use.
Intravenous Ondansetron and the QT Interval in Adult Emergency Department Patients: An Observational Study
Authors: Moffett Peter M. , Cartwright Laquisha , Grossart Elizabeth A. , O'Keefe Dustin , Kang Christopher S.
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Ondansetron is known to cause QT interval prolongation, but this effect and clinical significance has not been prospectively studied in adult emergency department (ED) patients. The primary objective was to determine the mean maximal corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation after intravenous (IV) administration of 4 mg of ondansetron. The secondary objective was to report any serious adverse cardiac electrical events.

Methods

This was a prospective, observational, single‐center cohort study conducted between 2012 and 2013 in an academic, military hospital ED. Adult patients ordered to receive 4 mg of IV ondansetron were eligible for the study. A six‐lead electrocardiogram was recorded at baseline and every 2 minutes after ondansetron administration for 20 minutes. The QTc was calculated using the Bazett formula. Serious adverse cardiac electrical events (nonsinus rhythm, severe bradycardia, and sudden cardiac death) were also recorded.

Results

Twenty‐two adult ED patients were enrolled. Ondansetron caused a mean prolongation of the QTc by 20 ms (95% confidence interval [CI] = 14 to 26 ms), with a mean proportion change from baseline of 5.2% (95% CI = 3.8% to 6.6%). There were zero (95% CI = 0 to 13%) reported serious adverse cardiac electrical events.

Conclusions

While QTc prolongation does occur in adult ED patients receiving IV ondansetron, the clinical impact is questionable.
Effectiveness of Educational Interventions to Increase Primary Care Follow‐up for Adults Seen in the Emergency Department for Acute Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Villa‐Roel Cristina , Nikel Taylor , Ospina Maria , Voaklander Britt , Campbell Sandra , Rowe Brian H.
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Patients with asthma commonly present to emergency departments (ED) with exacerbations. Asthma guidelines recommend close follow‐up with a primary care provider (PCP) after ED discharge; however, this linkage is often delayed or absent. The objective of this study was to assess whether ED‐directed educational interventions improve office follow‐up with PCPs after ED discharge for acute asthma.

Methods

Comprehensive literature searches were conducted in seven electronic databases (1946 to 2014). Randomized controlled clinical trials examining the effectiveness of educational interventions to increase office follow‐up with a PCP were included. Study quality was determined using the Cochrane risk of bias tool; fidelity of the interventions was assessed using the Treatment Fidelity Assessment Grid. Using study data, risk ratios (RRs),and the number needed to treat for benefit (NNTB) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random‐effects models.

Results

From 427 potentially relevant studies, five (n = 825) were included. The overall risk of bias was unclear, and the description of intervention fidelity varied across the studies. Educational interventions targeting either patients or PCPs led to a greater likelihood of having primary care follow‐up after ED discharge (RR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.31 to 1.87; I2 = 0%). The number needed to treat for benefit was six (95% CI = 4 to 11). No significant benefit was observed in reductions of relapses (RR = 1.3; 95% CI = 0.82 to 1.98; I2 = 23%) and admissions (RR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.24 to 1.06; I2 = 0%). Due to the small number of studies for each comparison, publication bias was not formally assessed.

Conclusions

ED‐directed educational interventions targeting either patients or providers increase the chance of having office follow‐up visits with PCPs after asthma exacerbations. Their impact on health‐related outcomes (e.g., relapse and admissions) remains unclear.
Monte Carlo Simulation Modeling of a Regional Stroke Team's Use of Telemedicine
Authors: Torabi Elham , Froehle Craig M. , Lindsell Christopher J. , Moomaw Charles J. , Kanter Daniel , Kleindorfer Dawn , Adeoye Opeolu
Published: December 2015

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate operational policies that may improve the proportion of eligible stroke patients within a population who would receive intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt‐PA) and minimize time to treatment in eligible patients.

Methods

In the context of a regional stroke team, the authors examined the effects of staff location and telemedicine deployment policies on the timeliness of thrombolytic treatment, and estimated the efficacy and cost‐effectiveness of six different policies. A process map comprising the steps from recognition of stroke symptoms to intravenous administration of rt‐PA was constructed using data from published literature combined with expert opinion. Six scenarios were investigated: telemedicine deployment (none, all, or outer‐ring hospitals only) and staff location (center of region or anywhere in region). Physician locations were randomly generated based on their zip codes of residence and work. The outcomes of interest were onset‐to‐treatment (OTT) time, door‐to‐needle (DTN) time, and the proportion of patients treated within 3 hours. A Monte Carlo simulation of the stroke team care‐delivery system was constructed based on a primary data set of 121 ischemic stroke patients who were potentially eligible for treatment with rt‐PA.

Results

With the physician located randomly in the region, deploying telemedicine at all hospitals in the region (compared with partial or no telemedicine) would result in the highest rates of treatment within 3 hours (80% vs. 75% vs. 70%) and the shortest OTT (148 vs. 164 vs. 176 minutes) and DTN (45 vs. 61 vs. 73 minutes) times. However, locating the on‐call physician centrally coupled with partial telemedicine deployment (five of the 17 hospitals) would be most cost‐effective with comparable eligibility and treatment times.

Conclusions

Given the potential societal benefits, continued efforts to deploy telemedicine appear warranted. Aligning the incentives between those who would have to fund the up‐front technology investments and those who will benefit over time from reduced ongoing health care expenses will be necessary to fully realize the benefits of telemedicine for stroke care.
Effect of Randomized Clinical Trial Findings on Emergency Management
Authors: Hudgins Joel D. , Fine Andrew M. , Bourgeois Florence T.
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Research findings are not consistently adopted in the clinical setting and there is a gap between best evidence and clinical practice across a range of conditions and settings. A number of factors may contribute to this discrepancy, including the direction of the research findings (i.e., whether positive or negative for an intervention). The objectives of this study were to measure the translation of results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) into clinical care and to determine whether the direction of the trial findings influence the uptake of research reports into clinical practice.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of clinical care provided in emergency departments (EDs) across the United States with data collected by the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 1992 to 2010. RCTs published in journals with the highest impact factors and conducted in ED settings were selected and data were extracted on the interventions under study, the patient populations examined, and the trial findings. Changes in clinical practice corresponding to the RCT results were measured by comparing the rates of treatment with the intervention during the 3‐year period before and after publication of the trial.

Results

Twenty‐one RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Ten studies reported positive interventions, of which nine (90%) were associated with an increased ED use of the intervention after trial publication. Four studies showing the lack of benefit of interventions were not used in ED practice prior to the trial and practice did not change in the postpublication period. The remaining eight trials presented negative findings or results comparing two different interventions, and of these, three (38%) were associated with small changes in the ED use of the interventions, consistent with the trial results.

Conclusions

In the ED setting, results of RCTs published in high‐impact journals are more likely to be translated into clinical care when they demonstrate the benefits of an intervention. Our findings indicate that direction of research evidence is an important factor when evaluating knowledge uptake into clinical practice.
Feasibility of Biosignal‐guided Chest Compression During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Proof of Concept
Authors: Sundermann Matthew L. , Salcido David D. , Koller Allison C. , Menegazzi James J.
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and is treated by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR involves both chest compressions and positive pressure ventilations when given by medical providers. Mechanical chest compression devices automate chest compressions and are beginning to be adopted by emergency medical services with the intent of providing high‐quality, consistent chest compressions that are not limited by human providers who can become fatigued. Biosignals acquired from cardiac arrest patients have been characterized in their ability to track the effect of CPR on the patient. The authors investigated the feasibility and appropriate response of a biosignal‐guided mechanical chest compression device in a swine model of cardiac arrest.

Methods

After a custom signal‐guided chest compression device was engineered, its ability to respond to biosignal changes in a swine model of cardiac arrest was tested. In a preliminary series of six swine, two biosignals were used: mean arterial pressure (MAP) and a mathematical derivative of the electrocardiogram waveform, median slope (MS). How these biosignals changed was observed when chest compression rate and depth were adjusted by the signal‐guided chest compression device, independent of the user. Chest compression rate and depth were adjusted by the signal‐guided chest compression device according to a preset threshold algorithm until either of the biosignals improved to satisfy a set “threshold” or until the chest compression rate and depth achieved maximum values. Defibrillation was attempted at the end of each resuscitation in an effort to achieve return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Results

The signal‐guided chest compression device responded appropriately to biosignals by changing its rate and depth. All animals exhibited positive improvements in their biosignals. During the course of the resuscitation, three of the six animals improved their MS biosignal to reach the MS threshold, while two of the six animals improved their MAP biosignal to reach the MAP threshold. In the six experiments conducted, defibrillation was attempted on five animals, and two animals achieved ROSC.

Conclusions

In this proof‐of‐concept study, a signal‐guided chest compression device was demonstrated to be capable of responding to biosignal input and delivering chest compressions with a broad range of rates and depths.
Cognitive reserve in bipolar disorder: relation to cognition, psychosocial functioning and quality of life
Authors: Anaya C. , Torrent C. , Caballero F. F. , Vieta E. , Bonnin C. del Mar , Ayuso‐Mateos J. L. ,   CIBERSAM Functional Remediation Group
Published: December 2015

Objective

Cognitive reserve (CR) is a concept that was postulated as a protective factor for some clinical symptoms after the observation that there is not a direct relationship between the degree of brain damage and its clinical manifestation. This study aimed to explore the association betweenCRand the main outcomes in bipolar disorder (BD): cognitive functions, psychosocial functioning and perceived quality of life.

Method

A sample of 224 euthymic bipolar patients was assessed with a neuropsychological battery, the Functioning Assessment Short Test and the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36).CRwas calculated through three proxies: estimated premorbid Intelligent Quotient, educational level and occupational attainment. Relationships betweenCRand cognitive functions, psychosocial functioning and quality of life were assessed by multiple linear regression models.

Results

HigherCRwas associated with better cognitive functioning (P< 0.001 in processing speed, working memory, verbal and visual memory, and executive function;P= 0.026 in attention) and better psychosocial functioning (P= 0.008). For quality of life,CRwas positively associated with the physical component of theSF‐36 (P= 0.016) but negatively associated with the mental component (P= 0.004).

Conclusion

The results suggest thatCRmay play an important role in the course and prognosis of bipolar patients and it should be considered in both clinical and research settings related toBD.
Exact Confidence Intervals for Proportions Estimated by Group Testing with Different Group Sizes
Authors: Dres Konstantine A. , Hepworth Graham , Watson Ray
Published: December 2015

Group testing is the process of combining individual samples and testing them as a group for the presence of an attribute. The use of such testing to estimate proportions is an important statistical tool in many applications. When samples are collected and tested in groups of different size, complications arise in the construction of exact confidence intervals. In this case, the numbers of positive groups has a multivariate distribution, and the difficulty stems from a lack of a natural ordering of the sample points. Exact two‐sided intervals such as the equal‐tail method based on maximum likelihood estimation, and those based on joint probability or likelihood ratio statistics, have been previously considered. In this paper several new estimators are developed and assessed. We show that the combined tails (or Blaker) method based on a suitable ordering statistic, is the best choice in this setting. The methods are illustrated using a study involving the infection prevalence of Myxobolus cerebralis among free‐ranging fish.
The impact of 10‐minute activity breaks outside the classroom on male students’ on‐task behaviour and sustained attention: a randomised crossover design
Authors: Wilson Andrew N. , Olds Timothy , Lushington Kurt , Petkov John , Dollman James
Published: December 2015

Aim

The aim was to evaluate the impact of a brief activity bout outside the classroom on boys’ attention and on‐task behaviour in the classroom setting.

Methods

Fifty‐eight boys (mean age 11.2 ± 0.6 years) were recruited from a boys’ elementary school in Adelaide, South Australia. Two year 5 and, similarly, two year 6 classes were assigned using a crossover design to either four weeks of a 10 minute Active Lesson Break followed by four weeks of a 10 minute Passive Lesson Break (reading) or visa versa. Attention was quantified using a computerised psychomotor vigilance task, and on‐task behaviour by direct observation.

Results

Neither the Active Lesson nor the Passive Lesson condition significantly affected sustained attention or on‐task behaviour, and there were no significant differences between conditions.

Conclusion

There was no impact on participants’ sustained attention or on‐task behaviour after a short activity break between lessons. Brief activity breaks outside the classroom do not compromise participants’ on‐task behaviour or attention levels upon returning to the classroom, although improvement in these variables is not seen either. However, the results suggest that active breaks are effective for accruing moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity without compromising classroom behaviours.
Low maternal education and socio‐economic status were associated with household food insecurity in children under five with diarrhoea in Bangladesh
Authors: Chowdhury Mohammad Rocky Khan , Khan MMH , Rafiqul Islam Md. , Perera Nirmala K. P. , Shumack Matthew K. , Kader Manzur
Published: December 2015

Aim

Household food insecurity (HFI) is insufficient access to nutritionally safe and adequate foods to meet the dietary needs for an active and healthy life. We examined the prevalence and determinants of HFI in Bangladeshi children under five with diarrhoea.

Methods

This study included 365 children (55% boys) who had diarrhoea in the two weeks before the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS‐2011). The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to assess HFI and Pearson's chi‐square test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the association between HFI and multilevel factors.

Results

The prevalence of HFI among children under five with diarrhoea in the two weeks prior to the BDHS‐2011 survey was 48%. HFI was significantly higher among the children of uneducated mothers, who were two times more likely to experience HFI, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.14 and children who were from the lowest socio‐economic status families, who were more than seven times more likely to experience HFI, with an adjusted OR of 7.55.

Conclusion

Low maternal education and low socio‐economic status were significantly associated with HFI in Bangladeshi children under five with diarrhoea and public health campaigns should take this into account.
Mediators between education and dental pain: a cross‐sectional study to assess the role of dental services utilization
Authors: Constante Helena M. , Peres Marco A. , Schroeder Fernanda C. , Bastos João L.
Published: December 2015

This study tested whether the pattern of dental services utilization and the reason for the last dental visit mediate the association between educational attainment and dental pain. This is a cross‐sectional analysis (n= 1099) based on data from a prospective cohort study in adults, southern Brazil. The mediating effects were assessed by including interaction terms in logistic regression models and by theKHBmethod, which estimated the direct, mediated, and total effects of education on dental pain. The prevalence of dental pain was 17.5%. Individuals with less than 12 yr of study who visited the dentist to solve dental problems had a 20% higher odds of reporting dental pain than those with 12 or more years of study, who sought the dentist for preventive reasons. Dental services should also focus on preventive measures, especially if less‐educated individuals visit the dentist only to treat problems; this may help reduce the frequency of negative oral health outcomes, including dental pain.
Predation and selection for antibiotic resistance in natural environments
Authors: Leisner Jørgen J. , Jørgensen Niels O. G. , Middelboe Mathias
Published: December 2015

Genes encoding resistance to antibiotics appear, like the antibiotics themselves, to be ancient, originating long before the rise of the era of anthropogenic antibiotics. However, detailed understanding of the specific biological advantages of antibiotic resistance in natural environments is still lacking, thus limiting our efforts to prevent environmental influx of resistance genes. Here, we propose that antibiotic‐resistant cells not only evade predation from antibiotic producers but also take advantage of nutrients released from cells that are killed by the antibiotic‐producing bacteria. Thus, predation is potentially an important mechanism for driving antibiotic resistance during slow or stationary phase of growth when nutrients are deprived. This adds to explain the ancient nature and widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance in natural environments unaffected by anthropogenic antibiotics. In particular, we suggest that nutrient‐poor environments including indoor environments, for example, clean rooms and intensive care units may serve as a reservoir and source for antibiotic‐producing as well as antibiotic‐resistant bacteria.
Impact of violated high‐dose refuge assumptions on evolution of Bt resistance
Authors: Campagne Pascal , Smouse Peter E. , Pasquet Rémy , Silvain Jean‐François , Le Ru Bruno , Van den Berg Johnnie
Published: December 2015

Transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins have been widely and successfully deployed for the control of target pests, while allowing a substantial reduction in insecticide use. The evolution of resistance (a heritable decrease in susceptibility to Bt toxins) can pose a threat to sustained control of target pests, but a high‐dose refuge (HDR) management strategy has been key to delaying countervailing evolution of Bt resistance. The HDR strategy relies on the mating frequency between susceptible and resistant individuals, so either partial dominance of resistant alleles or nonrandom mating in the pest population itself could elevate the pace of resistance evolution. Using classic Wright‐Fisher genetic models, we investigated the impact of deviations from standard refuge model assumptions on resistance evolution in the pest populations. We show that when Bt selection is strong, even deviations from random mating and/or strictly recessive resistance that are below the threshold of detection can yield dramatic increases in the pace of resistance evolution. Resistance evolution is hastened whenever the order of magnitude of model violations exceeds the initial frequency of resistant alleles. We also show that the existence of a fitness cost for resistant individuals on the refuge crop cannot easily overcome the effect of violated HDR assumptions. We propose a parametrically explicit framework that enables both comparison of various field situations and model inference. Using this model, we propose novel empiric estimators of the pace of resistance evolution (and time to loss of control), whose simple calculation relies on the observed change in resistance allele frequency.
Medical management of large colonic impactions
Authors: Hallowell G. D.
Published: December 2015

Large colonic impactions are a common cause of abdominal pain in the horse. This review aims to discuss normal function of the large colon, risk factors for development of colonic impactions, diagnosis and optimal strategies for management and prevention based on the evidence available.
Evidence‐based considerations for control of Parascaris spp. infections in horses
Authors: Nielsen M. K.
Published: December 2015

Parascaris spp. infection is virtually ubiquitous in young foals and worm burdens can achieve high numbers. The most important disease manifestation is impaction of the small intestine, which occurs in a small proportion of infected foals but is associated with a guarded prognosis for survival. Control of Parascaris spp. is complicated by emerging resistance to currently available anthelmintic drug classes. Resistance to macrocyclic lactones has been reported worldwide and a few studies have also documented signs of resistance to pyrantel salts and benzimidazoles. Foals generally develop immunity to Parascaris spp. parasites around age 6 months, but a proportion of weanlings and yearlings can harbour smaller burdens at age 8–10 months. Older horses have occasionally been reported with substantial ascarid burdens as well. Qualitative detection of ascarid eggs has good diagnostic value whereas an actual egg count does not correlate well with the size of the worm burden. A recent investigation documented the applicability of a transabdominal ultrasound technique for semiquantitatively monitoring ascarid burdens in foals. Control of ascarids is complicated by the limited drug classes available for treating this parasite, and by the fact that foals are often concurrently infected with strongyles. In many cases, none of the 3 available anthelmintic classes are simultaneously effective against both parasite groups, so close monitoring is required to select the most appropriate anthelmintic in each case.
Warming alters coupled carbon and nutrient cycles in experimental streams
Authors: Williamson Tanner J. , Cross Wyatt F. , Benstead Jonathan P. , Gíslason Gísli M. , Hood James M. , Huryn Alexander D. , Johnson Philip W. , Welter Jill R.
Published: December 2015

Although much effort has been devoted to quantifying how warming alters carbon cycling across diverse ecosystems, less is known about how these changes are linked to the cycling of bioavailable nitrogen and phosphorus. In freshwater ecosystems, benthic biofilms (i.e. thin films of algae, bacteria, fungi, and detrital matter) act as biogeochemical hotspots by controlling important fluxes of energy and material. Understanding how biofilms respond to warming is thus critical for predicting responses of coupled elemental cycles in freshwater systems. We developed biofilm communities in experimental streamside channels along a gradient of mean water temperatures (7.5–23.6 °C), while closely maintaining natural diel and seasonal temperature variation with a common water and propagule source. Both structural (i.e. biomass, stoichiometry, assemblage structure) and functional (i.e. metabolism, N2‐fixation, nutrient uptake) attributes of biofilms were measured on multiple dates to link changes in carbon flow explicitly to the dynamics of nitrogen and phosphorus. Temperature had strong positive effects on biofilm biomass (2.8‐ to 24‐fold variation) and net ecosystem productivity (44‐ to 317‐fold variation), despite extremely low concentrations of limiting dissolved nitrogen. Temperature had surprisingly minimal effects on biofilm stoichiometry: carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratios were temperature‐invariant, while carbon:phosphorus (C:P) ratios declined slightly with increasing temperature. Biofilm communities were dominated by cyanobacteria at all temperatures (>91% of total biovolume) and N2‐fixation rates increased up to 120‐fold between the coldest and warmest treatments. Although ammonium‐N uptake increased with temperature (2.8‐ to 6.8‐fold variation), the much higher N2‐fixation rates supplied the majority of N to the ecosystem at higher temperatures. Our results demonstrate that temperature can alter how carbon is cycled and coupled to nitrogen and phosphorus. The uncoupling of C fixation from dissolved inorganic nitrogen supply produced large unexpected changes in biofilm development, elemental cycling, and likely downstream exports of nutrients and organic matter.
Predicting tree biomass growth in the temperate–boreal ecotone: Is tree size, age, competition, or climate response most important?
Authors: Foster Jane R. , Finley Andrew O. , D'Amato Anthony W. , Bradford John B. , Banerjee Sudipto
Published: December 2015

As global temperatures rise, variation in annual climate is also changing, with unknown consequences for forest biomes. Growing forests have the ability to capture atmospheric CO2and thereby slow rising CO2concentrations. Forests’ ongoing ability to sequester C depends on how tree communities respond to changes in climate variation. Much of what we know about tree and forest response to climate variation comes from tree‐ring records. Yet typical tree‐ring datasets and models do not capture the diversity of climate responses that exist within and among trees and species. We address this issue using a model that estimates individual tree response to climate variables while accounting for variation in individuals’ size, age, competitive status, and spatially structured latent covariates. Our model allows for inference about variance within and among species. We quantify how variables influence aboveground biomass growth of individual trees from a representative sample of 15 northern or southern tree species growing in a transition zone between boreal and temperate biomes. Individual trees varied in their growth response to fluctuating mean annual temperature and summer moisture stress. The variation among individuals within a species was wider than mean differences among species. The effects of mean temperature and summer moisture stress interacted, such that warm years produced positive responses to summer moisture availability and cool years produced negative responses. As climate models project significant increases in annual temperatures, growth of species likeAcer saccharum,Quercus rubra, andPicea glaucawill vary more in response to summer moisture stress than in the past. The magnitude of biomass growth variation in response to annual climate was 92–95% smaller than responses to tree size and age. This means that measuring or predicting the physical structure of current and future forests could tell us more about future C dynamics than growth responses related to climate change alone.
Long‐Term Effects of Renal Sympathetic Denervation on Hypertensive Patients With Mild to Moderate Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Kiuchi Márcio Galindo , Graciano Miguel Luis , Carreira Maria Angela Magalhães de Queiroz , Kiuchi Tetsuaki , Chen Shaojie , Lugon Jocemir Ronaldo
Published: December 2015

Thirty patients who underwent percutaneous renal denervation, which was performed by a single operator following the standard technique, were enrolled in this study. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 2 (n=19), 3 (n=6), and 4 (n=5) were included. Data were obtained at baseline and at monthly intervals for the first 6 months. At 7 months, follow‐up data were collected bimonthly until month 12, after which data were collected on a quarterly basis. Baseline blood pressure values (mean±standard deviation) were 185±18/107±13 mm Hg in the office and 152±17/93±11 mm Hg through 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Three patients with stage 4 CKD required chronic renal replacement therapy (one at the 13‐month follow‐up and two at the 14‐month follow‐up) after episodes of acute renal injury; their follow‐up was subsequently discontinued. The office blood pressure values at the 24‐month follow‐up were 131±15/87±9 mm Hg (P<.0001, for both comparisons); the corresponding ABPM values were 132±14/84±12 mm Hg (P<.0001, for both comparisons). The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate increased from 61.9±23.9 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 88.0±39.8 mL/min/1.73 m2 (P<.0001). The urine albumin:creatinine ratio decreased from 99.8 mg/g (interquartile range, 38.0–192.1) to 11.0 mg/g (interquartile range, 4.1–28.1; P<.0001 mg/g). At the end of the follow‐up period, 21 patients (70% of the initial sample) were no longer classified as having CKD.
Pattern of Blood Pressure Response in Patients With Severe Asymptomatic Hypertension Treated in the Emergency Department
Authors: Rock Wasseem , Zbidat Khaled , Schwartz Naama , Elias Mazen , Minuhin Itamar , Shapira Reuma , Grossman Ehud
Published: December 2015

Severe asymptomatic hypertension (SAH) is a common cause of emergency department (ED) visits. Despite recommendations against using short‐acting blood pressure (BP)–lowering drugs in the ED, it is still a common practice. The authors characterized BP response in the ED utilizing 24‐hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Patients with SAH who were not admitted to the hospital were recruited. All patients underwent 24‐hour ABPM. A total of 21 patients (14 females) with a mean age of 58±16 years were studied. BP decreased from 199±16/101±17 mm Hg to 154±34/83±23 mm Hg after 5 hours but then rose to 174±25/94±17 mm Hg after 19 hours. In 17 patients, systolic BP was ≥180 mm Hg after 6.7±5.3 hours. Two patients experienced severe hypotension (systolic BP <90 mm Hg). Thus, data from a single site in Israel support the current recommendations for management of SAH in the ED.