bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Healthy living according to adults with intellectual disabilities: towards tailoring health promotion initiatives
Authors: Kuijken N. M. J. , Naaldenberg J. , Nijhuis‐van der Sanden M. W. , van Schrojenstein‐Lantman de Valk H. M. J.
Published: December 2015

Background

A healthy lifestyle can prevent several health problems experienced by adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). For the development of effective and usable health promoting interventions for people with ID, the perspective of the intended audience should be taken into account. The aim of this qualitative study was to gain insight into the perspectives of people with mild to moderate ID on healthy living.

Method

Qualitative study. Five semi‐structured focus groups were conducted with a total of 21 adults with mild to moderate ID in the Netherlands. Discussions focused on three main themes: (1) perceptions of own health, (2) what participants consider as healthy living and (3) factors experienced to be related to the ability to live healthily. Interviews were analysed thematically resulting in two main domains: (1) perceptions of what is healthy and unhealthy and (2) factors that participants experience to be related to their ability to live healthily.

Results

For participants, healthy living entails more than healthy food and exercising: feeling healthy, happiness and level of independence are perceived as important as well. Factors experienced to relate to their ability to live healthily were (a lack of) motivation, support from others and environmental factors such as available health education, (a lack of) facilities and a(n) (dis)advantageous location of work or residence.

Conclusions

This qualitative study shows that adults with mild to moderate ID have a good understanding of what being healthy and living healthily constitute. As they face several difficulties in their attempts to live healthily, existing health promotion programmes for people with ID must be tailored to individual preferences and motivations and adapted for individual physical disabilities. Moreover, because of their dependency on others, tailoring should also be focused on the resources and hindering factors in their physical and social environment.
Validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the Therapeutic Factors Inventory–19: A study of family peer education self‐help groups
Authors: Kageyama Masako , Nakamura Yukako , Kobayashi Sayaka , Yokoyama Keiko
Published: December 2015

Aim

Therapeutic factors are crucial mechanisms that promote change in self‐help group members. Measuring therapeutic factors may improve practitioners' skills for assessment in whole‐group contexts. The present authors, therefore, examined the validity and reliability of a Japanese version of the Therapeutic Factors Inventory–19.

Methods

The Therapeutic Factors Inventory–19 was examined using a self‐report questionnaire completed by members of 38 family peer education self‐help groups. The instrument measured the following four factors: instillation of hope, secure emotional expression, awareness of relational impact, and social learning.

Results

Participants were 246 group members. Test–retest reliability was analyzed using data from 46 participants. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a goodness of fit of 0.85 and a root mean square error of approximation of 0.088. Multitrait scaling analyses showed that items for instillation of hope and secure emotional expression factors correlated higher with their own factors than other factors. Each factor and the total average of the 19 items were significantly correlated with the Group Benefit Scale and Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. When level of interaction with other members was higher, subjects perceived a stronger presence of therapeutic factors. The intraclass correlation coefficients of each factor at a week interval were 0.848–0.915. Cronbach's alpha of each factor and all items ranged 0.767–0.960.

Conclusion

In the case of family peer education self‐help groups, there is acceptable validity and reliability for the average score of all items, and for the instillation of hope and secure emotional expression factors. However, more work is needed to increase the generalizability.
Detection of high‐risk human papillomavirus using menstrual blood in women with high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or high‐risk human papillomavirus infections: A pilot study
Authors: Lee Banghyun , Cho Hye‐Yon , Jeon Kum Jin , Kim Kidong , Lee Jung Ryeol , Moon Jung Joo , No Jae Hong , Kim Yong‐Beom
Published: December 2015

Aim

Few studies have reported that human papillomavirus (HPV) tests using menstrual blood (MB) may be a convenient and effective screening modality for cervical cancer. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of detecting high‐risk (HR)‐HPV from MB in women with high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or HR‐HPV infections dependent on menstrual days.

Materials and Methods

In this prospective exploratory pilot study, a clinical trial was conducted in 19 women. On enrollment into the study, gynecologists collected cervical cells. On the first and second day of menstruation, MB was self‐collected by patients using a sanitary pad with a filter. The distribution of HPVs from MB and the accuracy of menstrual HR‐HPV tests were evaluated using HPV genotyping. The agreement rate of detecting HR‐HPVs using cervical and MB samples was also investigated.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the MB HR‐HPV test for detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3 or worse were 87.5%, 45.5%, 53.8%, and 83.3%, respectively, during both menstrual cycle day (MCD) 1 and 2 and MCD 1 only; and 62.5%, 27.3%, 38.5%, and 50.0%, respectively, during MCD 2 only. For CIN 3 or worse, the agreement rate between positive cervical and MB HR‐HPV test results was 87.5% during MCD 1 and 62.5% during MCD 2.

Conclusions

We demonstrated the possibility of using the MB HPV test as a screening modality for cervical cancer.
Developing core dental public health competencies for predoctoral dental and dental hygiene students
Authors: Mascarenhas Ana Karina , Atchison Kathryn Ann
Published: December 2015

Dental professionals are an “underutilized” workforce, when it comes to advocating for prevention and wellness in populations. The goal of this HRSA‐funded project is to develop dental public health (DPH) competencies and curriculum for US predoctoral dental and dental hygiene programs. These competencies and accompanying curriculum are designed to better prepare the oral health workforce to meet the needs of the entire population, including the chronically underserved, those challenged by poor health literacy, or communities encountering barriers to accessing oral health care. By increasing the DPH competency of all graduating dental providers, in population‐based approaches to preventing oral diseases rather than the existing exclusive focus on treatment, the number of providers who can respond to a population or the public's unmet needs and challenges, both in private practices and publicly supported clinics, will increase. This paper describes the competency development process and the eight competencies that were identified.
Developing a flexible core Dental Public Health curriculum for predoctoral dental and dental hygiene schools
Authors: Atchison Kathryn , Mascarenhas Ana Karina , Bhoopathi Vinodh
Published: December 2015

Objective

The curriculum for graduating dental and dental hygiene students must prepare them to contribute to the improvement or maintenance of health for individual patient's and the public's health. The objective is to describe the background for and the process used to develop a core Dental Public Health Curriculum for such students.

Methods

The process used was to solicit and review existing dental public health curriculum in dental and dental hygiene schools; review curriculum for other health professionals; identify the themes needed to frame the curriculum; select usable materials and identify gaps in existing curricular materials; and develop appropriate curriculum materials that would embody the competencies developed for undergraduate dental and dental hygiene education.

Results

Twenty‐three topics were identified as embodying the eight competencies. Based on these topics, six courses, Principles of Dental Public Health, Evidence‐Based Dentistry, Ethics and Dental Public Health, Dental Public Health Policy and Advocacy, Oral Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, and Oral Health Literacy and Dental Public Health, were prepared. Each course includes syllabus, PowerPoint presentations, student assignments and activities, instructor guide, and classroom discussion points. Depending on the hours available in the existing curriculum at the dental or hygiene school, lecture presentations and take home assignments/discussions may be used independently or in combination with presentations from other courses. In addition, individual discussions and activities may be used to integrate dental public health materials into other courses.

Conclusion

A flexible curriculum is available at the AAPHD website to enable the incorporation of DPH topics into the curriculum.
Establishing a speaker's bureau to teach dental public health curriculum in predoctoral dental and dental hygiene programs
Authors: Bhoopathi Vinodh
Published: December 2015

The opening of new dental schools and dental hygiene programs in the past decade has further exacerbated the shortage of faculty, including those with dental public health (DPH) expertise to teach. Therefore, one of the aims for the American Association of Public Health Dentistry's (AAPHD) Predoctoral Dental Public Health Competencies and Curriculum Project (Project), to develop DPH competencies and curriculum, was to establish a speakers bureau of interested dental professionals to teach the curriculum in dental schools and dental hygiene programs at the predoctoral level. This paper describes the process for establishing a speakers bureau including identifying and training individuals to teach the developed DPH curriculum. The speakers bureau and its availability were promoted through the AAPHD website and through letters to deans of dental schools and directors of dental hygiene programs.
Humanitarian intervention after Syria
Authors: Sarvarian Arman
Published: December 2015

This paper examines the legal status of humanitarian intervention in the aftermath of the abortive military operation in Syria. In tracing the history of the doctrine up to the beginning of the Syria crisis, it asserts that the negative reaction to the abortive use of force has reinforced the unlawfulness of humanitarian intervention. In appraising in detail the legal positions of the UK, the USA, France and other states, it analyses the interplay of constitutional law and international law in the Syria crisis with reference to the role of consultations of national parliaments. It asserts that the Syrian precedent illustrates the difficulty of identifying the opinio iuris of a state in which the input of international law through legal advice and public debate affects the output of that state through the expression of its legal position on doctrinal questions. By scrutinising the approach of the British government in consulting the House of Commons in relation to the continuing operations against Islamic State in Iraq, it argues that the National Security Strategy review in 2015 should address the concerns expressed by parliamentary committees regarding consultation of Parliament, the provision of legal advice and the lawfulness of humanitarian intervention.
The effect of clinical characteristics on the performance of galactomannan and PCR for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in febrile neutropenic patients
Authors: Oz Yasemin , Aslan Muge , Aksit Filiz , Metintas Selma , Gunduz Eren
Published: December 2015

Rapid diagnosis and early treatment of invasive aspergillosis is crucial for the management of the patients with haematological malignancy. We evaluated 358 sera from 78 febrile neutropenic episodes in patient with invasive aspergillosis (IA) (one proven, 17 probable, and 60 possible) and 83 episodes in patients with no IA according to the EORTC/MSG criteria. Patient's specimens were tested by Mycassay Aspergillus PCR (first commercial real‐time PCR test) and in house real‐time PCR to investigate the presence of Aspergillus DNA, and by ELISA for detect the galactomannan (GM) antigen. We systematically investigated the medical background that can be effective on the test results. The hospitalisation period was longer in proven/probable episodes when compared with no IA (P = 0.001) and possible episodes. With regard to duration of neutropenia, the differences between both proven/probable with no IA (P = 0.023) and possible with no IA (P = 0.002) were highly significant. Similarly, the rates of T cell suppressant therapy in group proven/probable and possible episodes were significantly higher than in no IA (P = 0.005). There are significant differences in the performance of GM and PCR‐based tests among studies, and standardisation is required. Therefore, it can be useful to determine the effective factors on these tests. The use of larger volume of sera improved the performance of real‐time PCR for detection of Aspergillus DNA in high‐risk adult patients in the present study. Some host factors such as duration of neutropenia and administration of T cell suppressants related to the development of IA.
Dialysis modality, vascular access and mortality in end‐stage kidney disease: A bi‐national registry‐based cohort study
Authors: Kasza Jessica , Wolfe Rory , McDonald Stephen P , Marshall Mark R , Polkinghorne Kevan R
Published: December 2015

Aim

There remains debate on which dialysis modality offers better survival outcomes for patients. We compare the survival of patients undergoing home haemodialysis (HD) with a permanent vascular access, facility HD with a permanent vascular access, facility HD with a central venous catheter or peritoneal dialysis.

Methods

We considered adult patients from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry who commenced dialysis between 1 October 2003 and 31 December 2011. Patients were followed until death, transplant, loss to follow‐up or 31 December 2011. Marginal structural models for mortality were used to account for time‐varying treatment, comorbidities and baseline covariates. Unmeasured differences between treatment groups may remain even after adjustment for measured differences, so the potential effects of unmeasured confounding were explicitly modelled.

Results

There were 20,191 patients who underwent ≥90 days of dialysis (median 2.25 years, interquartile range 1–3.75 years). There were significant differences in age, gender, comorbidities and other variables between treatment groups at baseline. Thirty per cent of patients had at least one treatment change. Relative to facility HD with permanent access, the risk of death for home HD patients with a permanent access was lower in the first year (at 9 months: hazard ratio 0.41, 95% CI 0.25–0.67, adjusted for all baseline covariates). Findings were robust to unmeasured confounding within plausible ranges.

Conclusion

Relative to facility HD with permanent vascular access, home HD conferred better survival prospects, while peritoneal dialysis was associated with a higher risk and facility HD with a catheter the highest risk, especially within the first year of dialysis.
Strategies for the production of cell wall‐deconstructing enzymes in lignocellulosic biomass and their utilization for biofuel production
Authors: Park Sang‐Hyuck , Ong Rebecca Garlock , Sticklen Mariam
Published: December 2015

Microbial cell wall‐deconstructing enzymes are widely used in the food, wine, pulp and paper, textile, and detergent industries and will be heavily utilized by cellulosic biorefineries in the production of fuels and chemicals. Due to their ability to use freely available solar energy, genetically engineered bioenergy crops provide an attractive alternative to microbial bioreactors for the production of cell wall‐deconstructing enzymes. This review article summarizes the efforts made within the last decade on the production of cell wall‐deconstructing enzymes in planta for use in the deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass. A number of strategies have been employed to increase enzyme yields and limit negative impacts on plant growth and development including targeting heterologous enzymes into specific subcellular compartments using signal peptides, using tissue‐specific or inducible promoters to limit the expression of enzymes to certain portions of the plant or certain times, and fusion of amplification sequences upstream of the coding region to enhance expression. We also summarize methods that have been used to access and maintain activity of plant‐generated enzymes when used in conjunction with thermochemical pretreatments for the production of lignocellulosic biofuels.
Rare idiopathic interstitial pneumonias: LIP and PPFE and rare histologic patterns of interstitial pneumonias: AFOP and BPIP
Authors: Kokosi Maria A. , Nicholson Andrew G. , Hansell David M. , Wells Athol U.
Published: December 2015

In the 2013 reclassification of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs), two rare IIPs (idiopathic lymphoid interstitial pneumonia (LIP), idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (IPPFE)) and two rare histologic patterns (acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP), bronchiolocentric pattern of interstitial pneumonia (BPIP)) are described. All these entities are rare with small series published to date, mostly containing primary and secondary forms of disease. LIP is histologically characterized by diffuse polyclonal lymphoid cell infiltrate surrounding the airways and expanding the interstitium. Thin‐walled cysts and diffuse ground glass are considered the typical radiologic features. The clinical course is highly variable with corticosteroid responsiveness evident in approximately half of cases. IPPFE is defined histologically by coexisting upper lobe pleural and intra‐alveolar fibrosis with elastosis. Dense subpleural irregular fibrosis and consolidation are the cardinal radiologic features. A history of recurrent lower respiratory tract infection is frequent. Responses to immunomodulation have not been reported and the rate of progression appears to be highly variable. AFOP is a rare histologic pattern lying within the spectrum of acute/subacute lung injury, characterized by organizing pneumonia and intra‐alveolar fibrin deposition without hyaline membranes. BPIP is characterized histologically by fibrosis and/or inflammation confined to the alveolar interstitium around bronchovascular bundles, overlapping with peribronchial metaplasia and fibrosis in some series. Currently, AFOP and BPIP are both best viewed as histological entities rather than true clinical disorders, in the absence of characteristic associated imaging patterns and clinical features.
Is Forgotten Evidence a Problem for Evidentialism?
Authors: McCain Kevin
Published: December 2015

The “problem of forgotten evidence” is a common objection to evidentialist theories of epistemic justification. This objection is motivated by cases where someone forms a belief on the basis of supporting evidence and then later forgets this evidence while retaining the belief. Critics of evidentialist theories argue that in some of these cases the person's belief remains justified. So, these critics claim that one can have a justified belief that is not supported by any evidence the subject possesses. I argue that these critics are mistaken.
Beyond the Tools of the Trade: Heidegger and the Intelligibility of Everyday Things
Authors: Magid Oren
Published: December 2015

In everyday life, we constantly encounter and deal with useful things without pausing to inquire about the sources of their intelligibility. In Div. I of Being and Time, Heidegger undertakes just such an inquiry. According to a common reading of Heidegger's analysis, the intelligibility of our everyday encounters and dealings with useful things is ultimately constituted by practical self‐understandings (such as being a gardener, shoemaker, teacher, mother, musician, or philosopher). In this paper, I argue that while such practical self‐understandings may be sufficient to constitute the intelligibility of the tools and equipment specific to many practices, these “tools of the trade” are only a small portion of the things we encounter, use, and deal with on a daily basis. Practical self‐understandings cannot similarly account for the intelligibility of the more mundane things—like toothbrushes and sidewalks—used in everyday life. I consider whether an anonymous self‐understanding as “one,” “anyone,” or “no one in particular” —das Man—might play this intelligibility‐constituting role. In examining this possibility, another type of self‐understanding comes to light: cultural identities. I show that the cultural identities into which we are “thrown,” rather than practical identities or das Man, constitute the intelligibility of the abundance of mundane things that fill our everyday lives. Finally, I spell out how this finding bears on our understanding of Heidegger's notion of authenticity.
Use of botulinum toxin type A in symptomatic accessory soleus muscle: first five cases
Authors: Isner‐Horobeti M.‐E. , Muff G. , Lonsdorfer‐Wolf E. , Deffinis C. , Masat J. , Favret F. , Dufour S. P. , Lecocq J.
Published: December 2015

Symptomatic accessory soleus muscle (ASM) can cause exercise‐induced leg pain due to local nerve/vascular compression, muscle spasm, or local compartment syndrome. As intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) can reduce muscle tone and mass, we investigated whether local BTX‐A injections relieve the pain associated with symptomatic ASM. We describe five patients presenting peri/retromalleolar exertional pain and a contractile muscle mass in the painful region. Com‐pression neuropathy was ruled out by electromyo‐graphic analysis of the lower limb muscles. Doppler ultrasonography was normal, excluding a local vascular compression. ASM was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. After a treadmill stress test, abnormal intramuscular pressure values in the ASM, confirmed the diagnosis of compartment syndrome only in one patient. All five patients received BTX‐A injections in two points of the ASM. The treatment efficacy was evaluated based on the disappearance of exercise‐induced pain and the resumption of normal physical and sports activities. After BTX‐A injection, exertional pain disappeared and all five patients resumed their normal level of physical and sports performances. Neither side effects nor motor deficits were observed. BTX‐A is well tolerated in patients with ASM and could be used as a new conservative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of symptomatic ASM before surgery.
Female Crime Fighters in Television and Film: Implications and Future Directions
Authors: Davidson Janet T.
Published: December 2015

This article examines the literature surrounding images of the female crime fighter in fictionalized television and film. The continued growth of the crime drama, alongside stagnant growth of women in law enforcement, necessitates a closer look at this genre. Current media images serve to reinforce women's roles as either support for male crime fighters and/or as highly sexualized members of the force. Work in this area demonstrates a large‐scale reinforcement of constructed gender norms that may impact how the women are treated on the job as well as their overall retention and recruitment in law enforcement. More scholarly focus on the media representations and related impacts is called for.
Understanding Symbolic Boundaries and Improving Quantitative Analysis of Social Exclusion by Improving the Operationalization of Boundary Work
Authors: Vila‐Henninger Luis
Published: December 2015

In survey research, how can we measure actors' judgments concerning who is a member of a particular social group and who is not? How can we measure changes in this process over time? Within the sociology of culture, the operationalization of boundary work, or decisions of group membership, has been relatively overlooked. Similarly, measurement of changes in boundaries has been relatively overlooked as well. An important first step is to better match the operationalization of boundary work with theory. To do so, I argue that survey items concerning decisions of social exclusion measured in the Likert scale can be used. In addition to allowing scholars to compare those who exclude with those who include (often measured as Strongly Agree/Agree vs. Disagree/Strongly Disagree), the Likert scale offers a measurement of boundary strength: how strongly respondents are committed to their exclusionary judgments (Agree vs. Strongly Agree, Disagree vs. Strongly Disagree). A novel element of boundary change can then be measured as variation over time in commitment to exclusionary judgment in time series data. A boundary that has increased in strength would be one for which respondents increase in their emotional commitment to their exclusionary judgment over time.
Next Generation Science Standards: A National Mixed‐Methods Study on Teacher Readiness
Authors: Haag Susan , Megowan Colleen
Published: December 2015

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) science and engineering practices are ways of eliciting the reasoning and applying foundational ideas in science. As research has revealed barriers to states and schools adopting theNGSS, this mixed‐methods study attempts to identify characteristics of professional development (PD) that will supportNGSSadoption and to improve teacher readiness. In‐service science teachers from across the nation were targeted for the survey and responses represented 38 states. Research questions included: How motivated and prepared are in‐service 7–12 teachers to useNGSSscience and engineering practices? What is the profile of 7–12 in‐service teachers who are motivated and feel prepared to useNGSSscience and engineering practices? The study revealed that teachers identified engineering most frequently as aPDneed to improve theirNGSSreadiness. High school teachers rated themselves as more prepared than middle school and all teachers who use Modeling Instruction expressed higherNGSSreadiness. These findings and their specificity contribute to current knowledge, and can be utilized by districts in selectingPDto support teachers in preparing to implement theNGSSsuccessfully.
Emergence of cutaneous neosporosis in a dog receiving immunosuppressive therapy: molecular identification and management
Authors: Legnani Sara , Pantchev Nikola , Forlani Annalisa , Zini Eric , Schares Gereon , Balzer Jörg , Roccabianca Paola , Ferri Filippo , Zanna Giordana
Published: December 2015

Background

Neosporosis is a multisystemic disease caused by the intracellular protozoan Neospora caninum. In dogs the disease primarily affects the central nervous system. Canine cutaneous neosporosis is a rare condition often associated with old age or concurrent immunosuppressive treatments for different underlying conditions.

Animals

A 10‐year‐old female spayed golden retriever dog affected by primary immune‐mediated myelofibrosis and treated with immunosuppressive therapies for 6 weeks that developed severe cutaneous lesions.

Methods

Definitive diagnosis was based on several investigation techniques including serology (immunoblotting), immunohistochemistry (IHC), species‐specific conventional and real‐time PCR, and DNA sequencing.

Results

Remission of cutaneous neosporosis was obtained with the administration of clindamycin while the concurrent immunosuppressive therapy was maintained to manage the underlying primary condition.

Conclusions and clinical importance

To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first report of species‐specific PCR and DNA sequencing used as diagnostic methods for canine cutaneous neosporosis emerging in a dog receiving immunosuppressive therapy.
DISTRIBUTION AND SHORT‐ AND LONG‐TERM EFFECTS OF INJECTED GELIFIED ETHANOL INTO THE LUMBOSACRAL INTERVERTEBRAL DISC IN HEALTHY DOGS
Authors: Mackenzie Shawn D. , Brisson Brigitte A. , Gaitero Luis , Caswell Jeff L. , Liao Penting , Sinclair Melissa , Chalmers Heather J.
Published: December 2015

Radiopaque gelified ethanol preparation has been described as a useful agent for treatment of humans with intervertebral disc protrusion. The material is injected into the nucleus pulposus under image guidance with intention to cause the protruded disc material to recede. Because treatment options for dogs with chronic protrusions are limited, new and minimally invasive treatments are desirable. The aim of this experimental, descriptive, prospective study was to assess the feasibility and safety of percutaneous injection of gelified ethanol into the lumbosacral intervertebral disc of dogs. Lumbosacral intervertebral discs of normal dogs (n = 9) were imaged with magnetic resonance imaging and then injected with gelified ethanol using image guidance. The accuracy of gelified ethanol placement in the nucleus pulposus and presence of leakage of the injected material were documented. Postinjection computed tomography (CT) findings (n = 9), short‐term (n = 9) and long‐term (n = 4) follow‐up magnetic resonance imaging and CT findings were compared to document the distribution of the injected preparation and identify effects on adjacent tissues. Percutaneous injection of the intervertebral disc was successful in delivering radiopaque gelified ethanol to the nucleus pulposus in all dogs. Leakage of the injected material into the vertebral canal was present in three dogs immediately following injection and in another additional dog at 1 year following injection. All dogs tolerated the injection well and had no clinical adverse reactions within the study period. Findings indicated that injection of the nucleus pulposus of healthy dogs was well tolerated, even in the presence of mild leakage of material from the intervertebral disc.
Long‐term effect of different tillage systems on the emergence and demography of Bromus diandrus in rainfed cereal fields
Authors: Recasens J , García A L , Cantero‐Martínez C , Torra J , Royo‐Esnal A
Published: December 2015

The adoption of no‐tillage systems in semi‐arid cereal fields in northern Europe has resulted in difficulties in controlling Bromus diandrus. However, in some fields, lower densities are observed in continuous long‐term no‐tillage management than in other reduced tillage systems. A cumulative effect on the seedbank could promote changes in the period of seedling emergence and in population demography. This study evaluated the effect of long‐term mouldboard plough (MbP), chisel plough (ChP), subsoiler (SS) and no‐tillage (NT) on the population dynamics of B. diandrus. The work was carried out in a barley (Hordeum vulgare)–wheat (Triticum aestivum)–barley rotation during three seasons where these soil management systems had been applied for the last 22 years. Cumulative emergence (CE) and densities of B. diandrus followed a gradient of ChP > SS > NT > MbP. This cumulative effect over time resulted in significant differences in population demography. A previous hydrothermal emergence model developed for this species estimated the percentage of emergence prior to the date of sowing to be: 71%, 92% and 53% for the seasons 2008–2009, 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 respectively. Furthermore, the reduction in CE observed was on average 53% in SS, 92% in NT and 98% in MbP in comparison with that recorded in ChP. The long‐term effect of different tillage systems tended to cause changes to soil characteristics (photo‐inhibition of germination, soil temperature, water availability) affecting B. diandrus demography, reaching equilibrium in weed densities over years, which were significantly lower in MbP and NT than in ChP or SS.
Determination of fatty acids content, global antioxidant activity and energy value of weed seeds from agricultural fields in France
Authors: Bretagnolle F , Matejicek A , Gregoire S , Reboud X , Gaba S
Published: December 2015

The ecological consequences of seed size variation have been studied extensively in plants. Curiously, little attention has been paid to the qualitative and quantitative variation of the seed‐stored molecules and on their ecological significance. Here, we analysed the oil content and oil composition of ca. 200 weed seed species from agricultural fields in France based on single seed accessions, concentrating on interspecies differences and ignoring within‐species variation. The relationships between seed weight, oil %, fatty acids (FAs) and the energetic value of the seed and its antioxidant properties were also investigated. The antioxidant activity could contribute to protect the oily seed reserves from alteration over time. Among the species analysed, we found a considerable quantitative (oil%) and qualitative variation of FAs stored in the seeds. Such variation was largely related to the plant family of the different species, but intrafamily variation was also found. Heavier seeds contained less oil on a per gram basis than lighter seeds, suggesting a trade‐off between seed weight and oil ratio in the seed and that oil storage strategy depends on seed size. Moreover, oily seeds contained more polyunsaturated FAs. However, contrary to our hypothesis, we did not found a higher antioxidant capability in oily seed extracts than in non‐oily seeds, nor to the quantitative or to the qualitative variation of FAs in the seeds. Considering the role of these important trait variations on weed ecological strategies, such as germination period, seed predation rate and competition–colonisation trade‐off, could improve the sustainable management of weed communities.
The Influence of Clinical Decision Support on Diagnostic Accuracy in Nurse Practitioners
Authors: Vetter Mary Jo
Published: December 2015

Background

Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) at the point of care are evidence‐based interventions that have demonstrated incremental positive impact on quality of healthcare delivery over the past two decades. Existing best practices inform strategies to promote adoption and achievement of targeted outcomes. The purpose of this improvement project was to conduct a pilot implementation to understand the contextual factors and readiness for dissemination of a newly acquired electronic CDSS by evaluating its influence on diagnostic accuracy in nurse practitioners (NPs) functioning in a community health setting.

Aims

The specific aims of this project were to measure and compare diagnostic accuracy in a pilot group before and after CDSS use, educate clinicians about the system and pilot its use, and then leverage the experience to design the practice–wide CDSS dissemination strategy.

Methods

The project engaged a subset of NPs from a home–based primary care practice and other organizational stakeholders who provided tangible support and necessary resources for successful adoption of this innovation in practice. A structured conceptual model of Evidence‐Based Practice Improvement enhanced with elements of the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Sciences framework was used to guide the development, implementation and evaluation of this practice improvement initiative.

A group of seven NP representatives of the practice participated in the project. Data collection was composed of small tests of change (plan‐do‐study‐act) cycles at the local practice level, measuring achievement of improvement of the chosen outcome of correctness of medical diagnosis evidenced by appropriate substantiating clinical documentation.

Linking evidence to action

In this home visiting primary care practice setting, use of a CDSS by NPs achieved eventual improvement in diagnostic accuracy and clinical documentation, as demonstrated on chart audit, though the improvement was not sustained over time. The pilot findings ultimately informed decision making about CDSS dissemination strategies and future uses of the system. When appropriately deployed, a CDSS offers the potential to improve professional practice, support differential diagnosis and evidence‐based treatment, and provide detailed information about the disease state to facilitate robust clinical documentation.
Revelación y teología de las religiones: J. Dupuis y A. Torres Queiruga en diálogo
Authors: Restrepo Jaramillo Luis Guillermo
Published: December 2015

¿Es posible la legitimación del pluralismo religioso desde la revelación cristiana? Entre los muchos teólogos contemporáneos que se han ocupado de la cuestión, proponemos un diálogo entre J. Dupuis y A. Torres Queiruga, que permite afirmar que la revelación por hechos y palabras, como la presenta la Dei Verbum, supone una acción salvífica de Dios en las religiones del mundo. El pluralismo religioso, entonces, no es extraño al plan divino de salvación.
Texto, narrador y lector en Lc 10,25-37
Authors: Barrios Hernando
Published: December 2015

Exégesis y hermenéutica, comprensión, explicación y aplicación del texto son operaciones que continúan divorciadas en los inicios del siglo XXI. El análisis narrativo se encamina al diálogo texto-lector en el contexto de las racionalidades
relacionadas con la literatura, la comunicación y la filosofía del lenguaje. Texto-narrador-lector forman un triángulo inseparable, tanto en la génesis como en la interpretación del texto. El artículo presenta la exégesis narrativa de Lc 10,25-37 a partir de la relación texto-narrador-lector, sujetos con su propio horizonte y con la posibilidad de diálogo entre ellos.
Thermal outgassing rates of low-carbon steels
Authors: Park Chongdo , Ha Taekyun , Cho Boklae
Published: December 2015

Outgassing rates of three low-carbon steels were measured using rate-of-rise and throughput methods. Outgassing rates of water vapor during pump-down were higher than those of stainless steels, probably due to the nature of native surface oxide layer. However, hydrogen outgassing rates without a high temperature pretreatment were as low as (1–4) × 10−10 Pa m3 s−1 m−2, which is much lower than that of untreated stainless steels. No dramatic reduction was observed in H2 outgassing after vacuum annealing at 850 °C for 12 h, suggesting that the low-carbon steels had been fully degassed during the steelmaking processes. This may be due to the use of the Ruhrstahl-Hausen vacuum process during steel refining instead of an older process, such as argon-oxygen decarburization. The extremely low H2 outgassing rate from low-carbon steels makes them applicable for use in ultrahigh vacuum or even extreme high vacuum applications, particularly where magnetic field shielding is needed.
Identification of trap locations in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors by varying photon flux during sub-bandgap optical pumping
Authors: Kang Tsung Sheng , Lin Yi-Hsuan , Ahn Shihyun , Ren Fan , Gila Brent P. , Pearton Stephen J. , Cheney David J.
Published: December 2015

By varying the photon flux during sub-bandgap optical pumping, the locations of traps associated with sub-bandgap laser pumping in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) were identified. Fixed photon flux of sub-bandgap optical pumping was previously employed to determine the activation energies of traps in AlGaN/GaN HEMT; traps with activation energies of 0.73 eV, both 0.73 and 1.91 eV or all three trap states detected for the 671, 532, or 477 nm laser illumination, respectively. However, by illuminating the HEMTs with lower photon fluxes from 532 or 447 nm lasers, the traps with 0.73 eV were absent, and only the traps associated with higher activation energies were activated by the laser light. This indicated that the traps related to the activation energies of 1.91 and 2.35 eV are likely located at the surface of the HEMTs. Photon flux dependent gate-lag measurements were also conducted. Laser illumination of 671 nm did not affect the drain current during the gate lag measurement, implying the traps linked to the activation energy of 0.73 eV are not present in the AlGaN layer of the HEMT structure. On the other hand, the 1.91 and 2.35 eV trap states were distributed in the AlGaN layer of the HEMTs. This approach to selectively exciting the defect states provides a nondestructive method of probing the ionization levels and spatial location of traps in wide bandgap heterostructures.
Selective dry etching of TiN nanostructures over SiO2 nanotrenches using a Cl2/Ar/N2 inductively coupled plasma
Authors: Lee Sang Bruno , Gour Marie-Josée , Darnon Maxime , Ecoffey Serge , Jaouad Abdelatif , Sadani Benattou , Drouin Dominique , Souifi Abdelkader
Published: December 2015

An inductively coupled plasma etch process for the fabrication of TiN nanostructures over nanotopography is presented. Using a Cl2/Ar/N2 plasma, a selectivity of 50 is achieved over SiO2. The effect of N2 flow rate on the etch rates and the nonvolatile residues on TiN sidewalls is investigated. As N2 flow rate is increased up to 50 sccm, a change in the deposition of the nonvolatile residues on TiN sidewalls is observed. The current density–voltage characterizations of TiN devices fabricated with TiN nanostructure sidewalls are presented. The measured current densities of two different samples etched with low and high N2 flow rate, respectively, demonstrated the presence after cleaning of an insulating layer deposited on the sidewalls for low N2 flow rate only.
Electrical characterization of atomic layer deposited Al2O3/InN interfaces
Authors: Jia Ye , Dabiran Amir M. , Singisetti Uttam
Published: December 2015

In this article, the authors report the electrical properties of atomic layer deposited Al2O3/InN interfaces evaluated by capacitance–voltage (C-V), current–voltage (I-V), and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy techniques. I-V characteristics show low leakage currents (300 pA/μm2) in the deposited dielectrics. However, C-V curves show that ex situ surface treatments with hydrochloric acid, ammonium sulfide, and hydrobromic acid has little effect on the surface electron accumulation layer, with an estimated interface state density over 4×1013/cm2. The effect of the surface treatments on valance band offset between Al2O3 and InN was also investigated.
Nutritional Status and Daytime Pattern of Protein Intake on Match, Post-Match, Rest and Training Days in Senior Professional and Youth Elite Soccer Players
Authors: Bettonviel Armand E.O. , Brinkmans Naomi Y.J. , Russcher Kris , Wardenaar Floris C. , Witard Oliver C.
Published: December 2015

The nutritional status of elite soccer players across match, postmatch, training and rest days has not been defined. Recent evidence suggests the pattern of dietary protein intake impacts the daytime turnover of muscle proteins and, as such, influences muscle recovery. We assessed the nutritional status and daytime pattern of protein intake in senior professional and elite youth soccer players and compared findings against published recommendations. Fourteen senior professional (SP) and 15 youth elite (YP) soccer players from the Dutch premier division completed nutritional assessments using a 24-hr web-based recall method. Recall days consisted of a match, postmatch, rest, and training day. Daily energy intake over the 4-day period was similar between SP (2988 ± 583 kcal/day) and YP (2938 ± 465 kcal/day; p = .800). Carbohydrate intake over the combined 4-day period was lower in SP (4.7 ± 0.7 g·kg-1 BM·day-1) vs. YP (6.0 ± 1.5 g·kg-1 BM·day-1, p = .006) and SP failed to meet recommended carbohydrate intakes on match and training days. Conversely, recommended protein intakes were met for SP (1.9 ± 0.3 g·kg-1 BM·day-1) and YP (1.7 ± 0.4 g·kg-1 BM·day-1), with no differences between groups (p = .286). Accordingly, both groups met or exceeded recommended daily protein intakes on individual match, postmatch, rest and training days. A similar “balanced” daytime pattern of protein intake was observed in SP and YP. To conclude, SP increased protein intake on match and training days to a greater extent than YP, however at the expense of carbohydrate intake. The daytime distribution of protein intake for YP and SP aligned with current recommendations of a balanced protein meal pattern.
Rationally engineered Cas9 nucleases with improved specificity
Authors: Slaymaker Ian M. , Gao Linyi , Zetsche Bernd , Scott David A. , Yan Winston X. , Zhang Feng
Published: December 2015

Making the correct cut

The CRISPR/Cas system is a prokaryotic immune system that targets and cuts out foreign DNA in bacteria. It has been adopted for gene editing because it can be designed to recognize and cut specific locations in the genome. A challenge in developing clinical applications is the potential for off-target effects that could result in DNA cleavage at the wrong locations. Slaymaker
et al.
used structure-guided engineering to improve the specificity of
Streptococcus pyogenes
Cas9 (SpCas9). They identified enhanced-specificity variants (eSpCas9) that display reduced off-target cleavage while maintaining robust on-target activity

Science
, this issue p.
84
Muscle memory helps with heartache
Authors: Dalkara Deniz
Published: December 2015

Mesoderm-derived iPSC muscle progenitor cells can engraft and repair injured skeletal and cardiac muscles.
Athletic groin pain (part 1): a prospective anatomical diagnosis of 382 patients—clinical findings, MRI findings and patient-reported outcome measures at baseline
Authors: Falvey É C , King E , Kinsella S , Franklyn-Miller A
Published: December 2015

Background

Athletic groin pain remains a common field-based team sports time-loss injury. There are few reports of non-surgically managed cohorts with athletic groin pain.

Aim

To describe clinical presentation/examination, MRI findings and patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores for an athletic groin pain cohort.

Methods

All patients had a history including demographics, injury duration, sport played and standardised clinical examination. All patients underwent MRI and PRO score to assess recovery. A clinical diagnosis of the injured anatomical structure was made based on these findings. Statistical assessment of the reliability of accepted standard investigations undertaken in making an anatomical diagnosis was performed.

Result

382 consecutive athletic groin pain patients, all male, enrolled. Median time in pain at presentation was (IQR) 36 (16–75) weeks. Most (91%) played field-based ball-sports. Injury to the pubic aponeurosis (PA) 240 (62.8%) was the most common diagnosis. This was followed by injuries to the hip in 81 (21.2%) and adductors in 56 (14.7%) cases. The adductor squeeze test (90° hip flexion) was sensitive (85.4%) but not specific for the pubic aponeurosis and adductor pathology (negative likelihood ratio 1.95). Analysed in series, positive MRI findings and tenderness of the pubic aponeurosis had a 92.8% post-test probability.

Conclusions

In this largest cohort of patients with athletic groin pain combining clinical and MRI diagnostics there was a 63% prevalence of PA injury. The adductor squeeze test was sensitive for athletic groin pain, but not specific individual pathologies. MRI improved diagnostic post-test probability. No hernia or incipient hernia was diagnosed.

Clinical trial registration number

NCT02437942.