bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Here comes the SUN: Self‐assessed unmet need, worsening health outcomes, and health care inequity
Authors: Gibson Grant , Grignon Michel , Hurley Jeremiah , Wang Li
Published: April 2019

Utilization‐based approaches have predominated the measurement of socioeconomic‐related inequity in health care. This approach, however, can be misleading when preferences over health and health care are correlated with socioeconomic status, especially when the underlying focus is on equity of access. We examine the potential usefulness of an alternative approach to assessing inequity of access using a direct measure of possible barriers to access—self‐reported unmet need (SUN)—which is documented to vary with socioeconomic status and is commonly asked in health surveys. Specifically, as part of an assessment of its external validity, we use Canadian longitudinal health data to test whether self‐reported unmet need in one period is associated with a subsequent deterioration in health status in a future period, and find that it is. This suggests that SUN does reflect in part reduced access to needed health care, and therefore may have a role in assessing health system equity as a complement to utilization‐based approaches.
The influence of misperceptions about social norms on substance use among school‐aged adolescents
Authors: Amialchuk Aliaksandr , Ajilore Olugbenga , Egan Kevin
Published: April 2019

Individuals often have biased perceptions about their peers' behavior. We use an economic equilibrium analysis to study the role social norms play in substance use decisions. Using a nationally representative dataset, we estimate the effect of misperception about friends' alcohol, smoking, and marijuana use on consumption of these substances by youths in grades 7–12. Overestimation of friend's substance use significantly increases adolescent's own use approximately 1 year later, and the estimated effect is robust across specifications including individual‐level fixed effects regression. The effect size is bigger for boys than for girls. The estimates for those who initially underestimated the norm suggest the possibility of a rebound/boomerang effect.
Estimating conversion rates: A new empirical strategy with an application to health care in Italy
Authors: Chiappero‐Martinetti Enrica , Salardi Paola , Scervini Francesco
Published: April 2019

This study proposes a new empirical strategy for assessing how “efficient” different individuals and groups are in converting their available resources into achievements. Following the capabilities approach, pioneered by Amartya Sen, we employ the concept of “conversion rates” to capture the efficiency of the link from resources to achievements. The methodology is both simpler and more conceptually precise than previous options, this offering the potential to support significant expanded work in this area. The proposed methodology is then tested in relation to health care in Italy. The findings suggest that investments in education may carry particular health benefits for women, which public resources are particularly important for the elderly, and that single individuals pose special challenges because they benefit less from all types of resources than married couples. The results thus highlight significant heterogeneities in the abilities of different groups to convert public, private, and nonfinancial resources into health, and we conclude by noting the possible consequences for health care and public policies.
Disseminated Trichosporon asahii infection in a combined liver‐kidney transplant recipient successfully treated with voriconazole
Authors: Sah Ranjit , Soin Arbindra singh , Chawla Sony , Wadhwa Teena , Gupta Neha
Published: April 2019

Introduction

Trichosporon asahii is an emerging cause of systemic fungal infection in an immunocompromised host. Several life threatening disseminated T. asahii infection in single solid organ (liver or kidney) transplant recipients, in neutropenic and hematological malignancy patients have been reported.

Case presentation (Methods and Results)

A 49‐year old gentleman who underwent simultaneous living‐donor liver transplantation (donor sister) and kidney transplant (donor wife) developed fever and subsegmental patchy consolidation with right sided pleural effusion on fourth postoperative day. Central line blood stream infection was suspected. Blood culture grew creamy white colonies of T. asahii on blood agar with characteristic dirty‐green colonies on CHROMagar. Laboratory analysis of pleural fluid also revealed budding yeast cells identified as T. asahii. Microscopy of the isolates showed hyphae, arthroconidia, and blastospores. The isolates were identified as T. asahii by VITEK MS which uses matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) technology. Initially liposomal amphotericin B and micafungin was initiated, but due to lack of clinical and microbiological response, patient was switched to voriconazole. Simultaneously, tacrolimus doses were reduced to one‐third in view of interaction with voriconazole. Subsequently, patient improved with resolution of fever and microbiological cure.

Conclusion

This is the first case report of disseminated T. asahii infection in a combined liver‐kidney transplant recipient successfully treated with voriconazole. Azole antifungal are the promising drug of choice for systemic T. asahii infection. Drug interactions should be considered while using these antifungal agents.
ABCA1 variants rs2230806 (R219K), rs4149313 (M8831I), and rs9282541 (R230C) are associated with susceptibility to coronary heart disease
Authors: Wang Fangfang , Ji Yuan , Chen Xin , Song Ying , Huang Shenglan , Zhou Changle , Huang Changgen , Chen Zengguang , Zhang Liangfeng , Ge Jiyong
Published: April 2019

Background

To investigate the association between three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ABCA1 gene and susceptibility to coronary heart disease (CHD) in Chinese Han population.

Methods

A total of 484 CHD patients and 488 controls were included in the study. Three SNPs rs2230806 (R219K), rs4149313 (M8831I), and rs9282541 (R230C) in ABCA1 gene were genotyped by SNaPshot.

Results

Single nucleotide polymorphism rs1800977 was associated with susceptibility to CHD (AA vs GG, P = 0.013; A vs G, P = 0.029; recessive model, P = 0.020). Rs4149313 (AA vs GG, P = 0.010; recessive model, P = 0.011) and rs9282541 (T vs C, P = 0.029; dominant model, P = 0.039) were also risk factor for CHD.

Conclusion

This study suggests that three SNPs rs2230806, rs4149313, and rs9282541 in ABCA1 gene are significantly associated with susceptibility to CHD; further mechanism should be performed to be applied to drug research and development.
Comparison of droplet digital PCR and direct Sanger sequencing for the detection of the BRAFV600E mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zhuo , Sun Kejing , Jing Changwen , Cao Haixia , Ma Rong , Wu Jianzhong
Published: April 2019

Background

The BRAFV600E mutation status is a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Although it is a commonly used method, Sanger sequencing has several limitations in detecting the BRAFV600E mutation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) as an alternative method for the detection of the BRAFV600E mutation in PTC patients.

Methods

Samples from a total of 120 patients with PTC and 30 patients with benign nodular thyroid disease who underwent thyroid surgery were collected. The BRAFV600E mutation status of the PTC patients was tested by Sanger sequencing and ddPCR.

Results

The BRAFV600E mutation was detected in 67 samples (44.67%) by Sanger sequencing and 92 samples (61.33%) by ddPCR. The detection of the mutation by the two methods was inconsistent in twenty‐five samples (16.67%). The sensitivity and specificity of the ddPCR method were 100% and 69.88%, respectively, and the positive predictive and negative predictive values were 72.83% and 100%, respectively. The concordance rate between the two methods in detecting the BRAFV600E mutation was 83.33%. Neither Sanger sequencing nor ddPCR detected BRAFV600E in 30 patients with benign nodular thyroid disease. The 92 samples with the BRAFV600E mutation were detected by ddPCR at a fractional abundance from 0.28% to 45.40% as follows: ≥10% (59 samples, 64.13%), 5%‐10% (8 samples, 8.70%), and ≤5% (25 samples, 27.17%). The BRAFV600E mutation was detected in all 59 samples at a fractional abundance ≥10% and in four samples at a fractional abundance from 5% to 10%, and no BRAFV600E mutation was detected at a fractional abundance ≤5% by Sanger sequencing.

Conclusions

ddPCR was a reliable, highly sensitive alternative method for the detection of the BRAFV600E mutation in PTC patients.
Thriving at work: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Kleine Anne‐Kathrin , Rudolph Cort W. , Zacher Hannes
Published: April 2019

Thriving at work refers to a positive psychological state characterized by a joint sense of vitality and learning. On the basis of Spreitzer and colleagues' model, we present a comprehensive meta‐analysis of antecedents and outcomes of thriving at work (K = 73 independent samples, N = 21,739 employees). Results showed that thriving at work is associated with individual characteristics, such as psychological capital (rc = .47), proactive personality (rc = .58), positive affect (rc = .52), and work engagement (rc = .64). Positive associations were also found between thriving at work and relational characteristics, including supportive coworker behavior (rc = .42), supportive leadership behavior (rc = .44), and perceived organizational support (rc = .63). Moreover, thriving at work is related to important employee outcomes, including health‐related outcomes such as burnout (rc = −.53), attitudinal outcomes such as commitment (rc = .65), and performance‐related outcomes such as task performance (rc = .35). The results of relative weights analyses suggest that thriving exhibits small, albeit incremental predictive validity above and beyond positive affect and work engagement, for task performance, job satisfaction, subjective health, and burnout. Overall, the findings of this meta‐analysis support Spreitzer and colleagues' model and underscore the importance of thriving in the work context.
An evaluation of East Asian summer monsoon forecast with the North American Multimodel Ensemble hindcast data
Authors: Nie Huiwen , Guo Yan
Published: April 2019

The abilities of three models (Climate Forecast System version 2 [CFSv2], Canadian Coupled Climate Model version 3 [CanCM3] and Canadian Coupled Climate Model version 4 [CanCM4]) in the North American Multimodel Ensemble for the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) forecast were evaluated with their 29‐year hindcast data (1982–2010). Many EASM features including monsoon precipitation centres, large‐scale monsoon circulations and monsoon onset and retreat are generally captured by the three models and their ensemble mean, and the multimodel ensemble has the best performance. Since the East Asian domain includes the tropical western North Pacific summer monsoon (WNPSM) and the subtropical continent monsoon, two well‐known monsoon indices, the WNPSM index (WNPSMI) and EASM index (EASMI), and their associated low‐level winds and precipitation anomalies are well forecasted by the models. However, the forecast performance generally decreases as the leads increase, and the performance of EASMI is not as good as that of WNPSMI. CFSv2 forecasts well at leads up to 6 months whereas the skill of CanCM3 (CanCM4) decreases rapidly when the lead increases to 2 months (3 months). The failure of CanCM3 is mainly attributed to the poor forecast of the relationship of EASMI with the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation and Northern Indian Ocean‐western North Pacific (WNP) sea surface temperature anomaly. However, the causes of the poor forecast of CanCM4 for EASMI require further investigation. Sources of the forecast error (FE), which is the difference between model and observation for monsoon precipitation, are more significant than those of the predictability error (PE), which originates from the initial condition error, indicating that model deficiency plays a dominant role in limiting the EASM precipitation forecast. However, the PE cannot be neglected over the tropical western Pacific in CFSv2, over the WNP in CanCM3 and over the Tibetan Plateau in CanCM4. As the lead time increases, the FE does not remarkably change whereas the PE decreases significantly.
Improving diurnal rainfall phase over the Southern Great Plains in warm seasons by using a convective triggering design
Authors: Wang Yi‐Chi , Hsu Huang‐Hsiung
Published: April 2019

This study reports the improvements in the diurnal rainfall phase over the Southern Great Plains (SGP) with the Community Atmosphere Model by incorporating two convective initiation designs into the Zhang–Mcfarlane scheme. To capture the convection initiation of the nocturnal rainfall regime, the triggers emphasized the importance of suppression of convective inhibition and identification of elevated buoyancy for initiating convection. Consistent with the single‐column study of Wang et al. (2015), the model rainfall bias reduced with an increase in the heavy nocturnal rainfall and with the suppression of the spurious daytime convection in global domain experiments. We found that, with the climate model resolution of 1°, the nocturnal convection over the SGP can be well represented when the destabilization mechanisms of potentially buoyant layer at the low‐level troposphere is appropriately captured. Such destabilization is caused by the moisture convergence between the Rocky Mountains–SGP circulations and the uplifted low‐level jets from the Gulf of Mexico. Similar improvements are also found in other regions on the lee side of high terrains, such as the Tibetan Plateau.
Impact of top management team sociodemographic faultlines on speed of foreign direct investment expansion: An emerging market perspective
Authors: Chhabra Ankita , Popli Manish
Published: April 2019

In an emerging market context, the strength of sociodemographic faultlines of the top management team (TMT) might negatively impact the speed of firm's foreign direct investment (FDI) expansion. Building on upper echelon perspectives, the study proposes testable propositions on the role of sociodemographic faultlines (based on age, caste, and language) of the TMT on the speed of firm's FDI expansion. The role of decision‐making in TMT is crucial for embarking upon such strategic actions and analyzing those that are pertinent for the international business scholarship. Furthermore, we propose that the degree of inward foreign competition faced by the firms and the prior international experience of the TMT will moderate this relationship.
Premature deaths due to head and neck cancers in canada: A nationwide analysis from 1980 to 2010
Authors: Atchison Kayla Marie , Pham Truong‐Minh , Sikdar Khokan C. , Weeks Lee‐Anne , Karosas Anthony Paul Vytautas , Sinnarajah Aynharan , Dort Joseph C. , Cheung Winson Y. , Shack Lorraine
Published: April 2019

Objectives/Hypothesis

To examine if there has been a reduction in premature mortality due to head and neck cancers and their subtypes in the Canadian population between 1980 and 2010.

Study Design

Retrospective database review.

Methods

Mortality data for head and neck cancers were obtained from the World Health Organization's mortality database. Years of life lost (YLL) was calculated according to Canadian life tables. A new measure, average lifespan shortened (ALSS), was calculated as a ratio of YLL over the expected lifespan.

Results

During the period of interest, decreases in age standardized rates of death adjusted to the World Standard Population were observed mainly among men. The adjusted YLL rates remained unchanged with respect to oral cancers in women, but slightly decreased for oral cancers in men and for laryngeal cancers in both sexes. Our new measure of ALSS showed that in 1980, patients with oral cancers lost an average of 20% of their lifespan, whereas in 2010, men and women still lost approximately 20% and 18%, respectively. Patients with laryngeal cancers lost 18% of their lifespan in both sexes in 1980 and 17% in 2010. The ALSS subanalysis showed that the largest gain of lifespan was observed for cancers of the hypopharynx in men and for cancers of the floor of mouth and nasopharynx in women.

Conclusions

There appears to be modest improvements in premature mortality due to head and neck cancers in Canada over a 30‐year period, with the exception of oral cancers in men. Changes in premature mortality varied slightly by cancer subtypes.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 130:911–917, 2020
Printability of Methacrylated Gelatin upon Inclusion of a Chloride Salt and Hydroxyapatite Nano‐Particles
Authors: Comeau Patricia , Willett Thomas
Published: April 2019

3D biomaterial printing requires an ink to have suitable printability characteristics, as well as creating a final construct of controllable swelling and stiffness. To tune such properties, the impact of adding different levels of chloride salts (NaCl and CaCl2) and hydroxyapatite nano‐particles (nHA) to a highly concentrated and photo‐crosslinkable methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) is investigated. By adding up to 100 mmCaCl2or 1.11mNaCl, the GelMA viscosity decreases from that of control GelMA (no salt). Interestingly, a 25G needle and strong photo‐polymerization kinetics are able to overcome the low viscosity of the 50CaG ink during printing. Adding further CaCl2increases GelMA viscosity, while decreasing both the swelling and dynamic modulus of the UV‐cured construct observed in water. As all UV‐cured constructs have a dynamic modulus greater than 1 MPa, this novel system is able to match the dynamic modulus of articular cartilage—a feat not previously reported for a GelMA‐based system. Lastly, nHA inclusion improves ink printability, as well as decreases swelling and increases dynamic modulus of the final construct. Overall, this study leads to the successful development of a new advanced functional ink which will be beneficial in the 3D printing of biomaterials toward tissue engineering applications.
The effects of pelvic floor muscle therapy on symptoms, voiding, and pelvic floor muscle activity parameters in children with overactive bladder
Authors: Pekbay Yelda , Ergin Oguz , Topuz Bahadir , Sarikaya Selçuk , Acar Zeynep Zübeyde , Irkilata Hasan Cem , Dayanç Murat
Published: April 2019

Introduction

Refractory overactive bladder (OAB) in children can be treated with second line modalities such as as biofeedback, transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS), and botulinum toxin. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of biofeedback‐assisted pelvic floor muscle therapy (PFMT) on symptoms, bladder capacity, uroflowmetry, and pelvic floor muscle activity (PFMA) in children with resistant OAB or dysfunctional voiding (DV) with associated seconder bladder overactivity (DV/SBO).

Materials and Methods

A total of 24 children with resistant OAB were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups as: group‐1 pure OAB and group‐2 DV/SBO. Children were evaluated with voiding diary, uroflowmetry‐EMG, PFMA before and after treatment. All patients were treated with PFMT.

Results

Urgency cured or improved in 12 of 17 (71%) of children in group‐1 and in six of seven (86%) children in group‐2 (P < 0.0001 and 0.031, respectively). Other symptoms cured or improved with 64%‐100% recovery rates in group‐1 and 50%‐80% in group‐2. Maximum voided volume (maxVV) in voiding diary increased from 81.6 to 150.9 mL in group‐1 and from 115.6 to 175.7 mL in group‐2 (P < 0.0001 and 0.063, respectively). Mean work value of PFMA increased and mean rest value of PFMA decreased significantly (P < 0.0001, 0.018 and P = 0.002 and 0.018, respectively).

Conclusion

The measurement of PFMA in children with refractory OAB or DV/SBO gives information on the strength and endurance of PFMs. In children with refractory OAB or DV/SBO, biofeedback‐assisted PFMT provides symptomatic improvement and increases functional bladder capacity.
Time‐dependent functional, morphological, and molecular changes in diabetic bladder dysfunction in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice
Authors: Yang Xu‐feng , Wang Jing , Rui‐Wang  , Xu Yi‐fei , Chen Fang‐jun , Tang Li‐yao , Ren Wen‐kang , Fu Li‐jun , Tan Bo , Huang Ping , Cao Hong‐ying
Published: April 2019

Aim

Diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD) is one of the most common and bothersome complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aimed to investigate the functional, structural, and molecular changes of the bladder at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after DM induction by streptozotocin (STZ) in male C57BL/6 mice.

Methods

Male C57BL/6J mice were injected with STZ (130 mg/kg). Then, diabetic general characteristics, cystometry test, histomorphometry, and contractile responses to α, β‐methylene ATP, KCl, electrical‐field stimulation, carbachol were performed at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after induction. Finally, protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of myosin Va and SLC17A9 were quantified.

Results

DM mice exhibited lower body weight, voiding efficiency and higher water intake, urine production, fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, bladder wall thickness, maximum bladder capacity, residual volume, bladder compliance. In particular, nonvoiding contractions has increased more than five times at 6 weeks. And the amplitudes of spontaneous activity, contractile responses to all stimulus was about two times higher at 6 weeks but cut almost in half at 12 weeks. The protein and mRNA expressions of myosin Va and SLC17A9 were about two times higher at 6 weeks, but myosin Va was reverted nearly 40% while SLC17A9 is still higher at 12 weeks.

Conclusions

DBD transitioned from a compensated state to a decompensated state in STZ‐induced DM mice at 9 to 12 weeks after DM induction. Our molecular data suggest that the transition may be closely related to the alterations of myosin Va and SLC17A9 expression levels in the bladder with time.
A scalable parallel finite element framework for growing geometries. Application to metal additive manufacturing
Authors: Neiva Eric , Badia Santiago , Martín Alberto F. , Chiumenti Michele
Published: April 2019

This work introduces an innovative parallel fully‐distributed finite element framework for growing geometries and its application to metal additive manufacturing. It is well known that virtual part design and qualification in additive manufacturing requires highly accurate multiscale and multiphysics analyses. Only high performance computing tools are able to handle such complexity in time frames compatible with time‐to‐market. However, efficiency, without loss of accuracy, has rarely held the centre stage in the numerical community. Here, in contrast, the framework is designed to adequately exploit the resources of high‐end distributed‐memory machines. It is grounded on three building blocks: (1) hierarchical adaptive mesh refinement with octree‐based meshes; (2) a parallel strategy to model the growth of the geometry; and (3) state‐of‐the‐art parallel iterative linear solvers. Computational experiments consider the heat transfer analysis at the part scale of the printing process by powder‐bed technologies. After verification against a three‐dimensional (3D) benchmark, a strong‐scaling analysis assesses performance and identifies major sources of parallel overhead. A third numerical example examines the efficiency and robustness of (2) in a curved 3D shape. Unprecedented parallelism and scalability were achieved in this work. Hence, this framework contributes to take on higher complexity and/or accuracy, not only of part‐scale simulations of metal or polymer additive manufacturing but also in welding, sedimentation, atherosclerosis, or any other physical problem where the physical domain of interest grows in time.
Impact analysis of change in component reliabilities in safety‐critical systems
Authors: Singh Pooja , Singh Lalit
Published: April 2019

A safety‐critical system or life‐critical system is a system whose failure or malfunction may result in one (or more) of the following outcomes: death or serious injury to people and loss or severe damage to equipment/property. Such systems are very common in nuclear power plants and are composed of several components, performing different functions. The criticality of these components is ranked according to the criticality of the functions they perform. Therefore, the impact of component failure on system will be different for different components. It is essential to determine the impact of failure of any component on overall system to take preventive and corrective actions. This paper proposes a technique to determine the criticality of the components for their impact on the overall system using Bayesian approach. The theoretical basis and effectiveness of the proposed technique is shown and validated on a real case study of a nuclear power plant system.
Compositional characterization of complex protopeptide libraries via triboelectric nanogenerator Orbitrap mass spectrometry
Authors: Bouza Marcos , Li Anyin , Forsythe Jay G. , Petrov Anton , Wang Zhong Lin , Fernández Facundo M.
Published: April 2019

Rationale

Understanding of the molecular processes that led to the first biomolecules on Earth is one of the key aspects of origins‐of‐life research. Depsipeptides, or polymers with mixed amide and ester backbones, have been proposed as plausible prebiotic precursors for peptide formation. Chemical characterization of depsipeptides in complex prebiotic‐like mixtures should benefit from more efficient ion sources and ultrahigh‐resolution mass spectrometry (UHR‐MS) for elemental composition elucidation.

Methods

A sliding freestanding (SF) Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG) was coupled to glass nanoelectrospray emitters for the analysis of a depsipeptide library created using 11 amino acids and 3 alpha‐hydroxy acids subjected to environmentally driven polymerization. The TENG nanoelectrospray ionization (nanoESI) source was coupled to an UHR Orbitrap mass spectrometer operated at 1,000,000 resolution for detecting depsipeptides and oligoesters in such libraries. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments were performed on an Orbitrap Q‐Exactive mass spectrometer.

Results

Our previous proteomics‐like approach to depsipeptide library characterization showed the enormous complexity of these dynamic combinatorial systems. Here, direct infusion UHR‐MS along with de novo sequencing enabled the identification of 524 sequences corresponding to 320 different depsipeptide compositions. Van Krevelen and mass defect diagrams enabled better visualization of the chemical diversity in these synthetic libraries.

Conclusions

TENG nanoESI coupled to UHR‐MS is a powerful method for depsipeptide library characterization in an origins‐of‐life context.
Synthesis of Imidazolium Derivatives Comprising a Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Structure
Authors: Walther Sebastian , Strehmel Veronika
Published: April 2019

The synthesis of new imidazolium derivatives is discussed in this work that are substituted with a fatty acid methyl ester structure. These new compounds were made from methyl oleate. The synthetic way started with epoxidation of methyl oleate followed by epoxy ring opening reaction using imidazole. 4‐Iodomethyl styrene was used for quaternization of the resulting imidazole substituent bound at the fatty acid methyl ester on the one hand. Reaction of the hydroxy group with methacrylic anhydride followed by quaternization of the imidazole substituent using benzyl bromide was carried out on the other hand. Halide exchange by bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide resulted in two new imidazolium compounds comprising a fatty acid methyl ester structure. These new imidazolium compounds exhibit low glass transition temperatures that are typical for ionic liquids. They may be interesting as surfactants, as starting materials for polyelectrolyte manufacturing, as barrier materials for coatings, and as source for N‐heterocyclic carbenes.
Green economy: Private sectors’ response to climate change
Authors: Ansah Richard Hannis , Sorooshian Shahryar
Published: April 2019

The focus of this paper is to present a discussion of the role of the private sector in response to the need for climate change adaptations. The study, which was conducted through a literature review, investigates the concept of the green economy and climate change, as well as businesses’ commitment to advance climate actions in ways that build resilience in vulnerable communities in developing countries. The paper calls on companies with national, regional, and/or global reach to adopt or develop strategies that improve resource efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce the loss of biodiversity. Businesses can accelerate this transition by aligning their investments with climate change adaptation opportunities, and thus, “green” the economy. In addition, green growth could be achieved through tactical public and private investments in mitigating climate change. The paper concludes that the private sector is a key sector in addressing the challenges of vulnerable communities, and it has much to contribute to the planning, development, and implementation of climate adaptation strategies, including sector‐specific expertise, technology, efficiency, financing, and entrepreneurship. Finally, some social conditions and environmental boundaries have been highlighted in this paper to attract the attention of business leaders who are trying to build initiatives and advance climate actions that will reduce socio‐community risks from climate change. Also, comprehensive initiatives and strategies have been recommended to private companies seeking to address climate vulnerabilities.
Clinical Observations and the Anatomical Basis of Blindness After Facial Hyaluronic Acid Injection
Authors: Zhang Lei , Pan Lei , Xu Hong , Yan Sheng , Sun Yi , Wu Woffles T. L. , Wu Sufan
Published: April 2019

Background

Blindness or visual loss is the most serious complication resulting from facial hyaluronic acid (HA) injection. In this study, three recent clinical cases were analyzed, and the relevant anatomy of cadavers was evaluated to investigate the mechanism behind visual impairment due to HA injection.

Methods

Three patients with different extents of visual loss after HA injection were studied. Ophthalmic testing and corresponding treatments were performed, and the clinical progress was observed. In addition, thirty-six fresh Asian cadaver hemifaces were anatomized to investigate the morphology of the ophthalmic artery and its branches. The minimum dose of HA for central retinal artery embolism was calculated based on the ophthalmic arterial volumes of cadavers.

Results

Visual impairment was more severe in central retinal artery occlusion and combined intraocular branch occlusion than in posterior ciliary artery occlusion. During follow-up, no improvement was observed in terms of visual impairment. Cadaver study reconfirmed that the ophthalmic artery included facial and intraocular branches. The ophthalmic arterial volumes running from the supraorbital artery and supratrochlear artery to the central retinal artery were 0.083 cm3 and 0.089 cm3, respectively.

Conclusions

The severity of blindness caused by HA injection may be associated with the occlusion site. Our clinical observations indicate that conventional treatments, such as retrobulbar hyaluronidase injection, are insufficient to relieve visual impairment. Injecting as little as 0.08 ml of HA into the facial branch is enough to cause central retinal artery embolism. Limiting the volume per injection could represent a simple prophylactic strategy.

Level of Evidence V

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
God, Soul and the Meaning of Life
Authors: Metz Thaddeus
Published: April 2019

This Element critically explores the potential relevance of God or a soul for life's meaning as discussed in recent Anglo-American philosophical literature. There have been four broad views: God or a soul is necessary for meaning in our lives; neither is necessary for it; one or both would greatly enhance the meaning in our lives; one or both would substantially detract from it. This Element familiarizes readers with all four positions, paying particular attention to the latter two, and also presents prima facie objections to them, points out gaps in research agendas and suggests argumentative strategies that merit development.
The judicial role in protecting democracy from populism
Authors: Prendergast David
Published: April 2019

Populist political movements claim to be democratic in expressing what the people want, against the political establishment. These claims are misconceived to begin with in presupposing a definitive unitary people. Nonetheless, constitutional democracies face a special challenge to resist these claims in principle because they are unmistakably democratic sounding claims; they purport to empower popular will so that the people can rule themselves. Populist movements can be successful at the ballot box and push political culture in antidemocratic directions through democratic means, all the while claiming democratic legitimacy. The very processes of democracy are under threat. Traditionally, political winners are not motivated to change the system that saw them elected; populists are different in this regard. The populist challenge prompts a revisit of the debate about the democratic legitimacy of judges being empowered to displace the decisions of elected legislative assemblies (the constitutional review debate). An underdeveloped aspect of the constitutional review debate was the scope for courts to intervene specifically in political processes to correct them when they have gone awry and to help prevent them going awry in the first place. Judicial intervention is costly in democratic terms, and yet democracy has to be protected. This Article analyzes the search for a balance between popular will shaping democratic processes and judicially managed constitutional limitations on popular will shaping those processes. The recommended judicial role is styled as courts protecting—not perfecting—democracy, and it is a John Hart Ely-inspired modification of a separation of powers defense of constitutional review. In addressing the populist challenge, courts can, in principle, try to be a step ahead in anticipating and, where they can, slowing degradation of democracy and thereby helping to prevent it.
Accumulated lifecourse adversities and depressive symptoms in later life among older men and women in England: a longitudinal study
Authors: Falkingham Jane , Evandrou Maria , Qin Min , Vlachantoni Athina
Published: April 2019

This paper investigates the association between accumulated major lifecourse adversities and later-life depressive symptoms among older people in England, both at a single point in time (prevalence) and the onset over time during later life (incidence), using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Using retrospective data on the experience of major life adversities from childhood onwards, five latent classes were identified: no/few lifecourse adversities (58.6%), lost relationship (27.0%), chained adversities (2.4%), childhood adversities (6.3%) and war-related adversities (5.7%). Older people who had experienced ‘chained adversities’, ‘childhood adversities’ and ‘a lost relationship’ had higher odds of presenting current depressive symptoms in 2006, even after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, health-risk behaviours and social resources. Longitudinal analysis indicated that amongst respondents who were clear of depression in 2006, those older people who had experienced childhood adversities, a lost relationship and war-related adversities experienced a higher risk of having a new case of depressive symptoms. Results further indicate that women's mental health in later life is more sensitive to earlier life adversities than men's. The study shows that intervention earlier in the lifecourse may have benefits for the individual both contemporaneously and over the longer term.
INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL DELIBERATION: INTRODUCTION
Authors: Romeijn Jan-Willem , Roy Olivier
Published: April 2019

Deliberation is the process through which we decide what do to, or what to believe. When we think about what to do, we are engaged in practical deliberation. Theoretical deliberation is when we think about what to believe, or about which judgement to make.
ON A MULTIVARIATE GENERALIZED POLYA PROCESS WITHOUT REGULARITY PROPERTY
Authors: Cha Ji Hwan , Badía F.G.
Published: April 2019

Most of the multivariate counting processes studied in the literature are regular processes, which implies, ignoring the types of the events, the non-occurrence of multiple events. However, in practice, several different types of events may occur simultaneously. In this paper, a new class of multivariate counting processes which allow simultaneous occurrences of multiple types of events is suggested and its stochastic properties are studied. For the modeling of such kind of process, we rely on the tool of superposition of seed counting processes. It will be shown that the stochastic properties of the proposed class of multivariate counting processes are explicitly expressed. Furthermore, the marginal processes are also explicitly obtained. We analyze the multivariate dependence structure of the proposed class of counting processes.
Estimating within-flock transmission rate parameter for H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in Minnesota turkey flocks during the 2015 epizootic
Authors: Ssematimba A. , Malladi S. , Hagenaars T. J. , Bonney P. J. , Weaver J. T. , Patyk K. A. , Spackman E. , Halvorson D. A. , Cardona C. J.
Published: April 2019

Better control of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks requires deeper understanding of within-flock virus transmission dynamics. For such fatal diseases, daily mortality provides a proxy for disease incidence. We used the daily mortality data collected during the 2015 H5N2 HPAI outbreak in Minnesota turkey flocks to estimate the within-flock transmission rate parameter (β). The number of birds in Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious and Recovered compartments was inferred from the data and used in a generalised linear mixed model (GLMM) to estimate the parameters. Novel here was the correction of these data for normal mortality before use in the fitting process. We also used mortality threshold to determine HPAI-like mortality to improve the accuracy of estimates from the back-calculation approach. The estimated β was 3.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3–4.3) per day with a basic reproduction number of 12.8 (95% CI 9.2–17.2). Although flock-level estimates varied, the overall estimate was comparable to those from other studies. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the estimated β was highly sensitive to the bird-level latent period, emphasizing the need for its precise estimation. In all, for fatal poultry diseases, the back-calculation approach provides a computationally efficient means to obtain reasonable transmission parameter estimates from mortality data.
Optimal Spatial-Dynamic Management of Groundwater Conservation and Surface Water Quality with On-Farm Reservoirs
Authors: Kovacs Kent , Wailes Eric , West Grant , Popp Jennie , Bektemirov Kuatbay
Published: April 2019

We examine how much on-farm reservoirs can increase groundwater quantity and improve surface water quality using a spatial-dynamic model of farm profit maximization in the Arkansas Delta. Sensitivity analysis of the farm profit objective by including the value of surface water quality and the groundwater buffer value evaluates how accounting for environmental value affects the optimal crop mix, water use, and farm profits. The best policy for a critical water resource area is to have the government cost share construction of on-farm reservoirs because groundwater conservation and surface water quality goals are achieved efficiently for a modest redistribution of income.
Historical Impacts of Precipitation and Temperature on Farm Production in Kansas
Authors: Lambert David K.
Published: April 2019

We quantify weather effects on output and incomes for a panel of Kansas farmers. The effects of weather are largely asymmetric with negative temperature and precipitation values affecting output and income differently than above average observations. Precipitation effects depend on timing and seasonal averages. The number of days exceeding 32.2°C (i.e., the “hot” years) negatively impacts production and income measures, although the impact is positive for crop output in the cooler years. The results indicate the importance of including weather in predicting output and income and designing risk management instruments to mitigate weather trends and variability.
Economics and Uncertainty of Lignocellulosic Biofuel Production from Energy Cane and Sweet Sorghum in South Texas
Authors: Monge Juan J. , Ribera Luis A. , Jifon John L. , da Silva Jorge A. , Richardson James W.
Published: April 2019

Government support uncertainty, scarce yield information, and the inherent risk in bioeconomic phenomena are some of the deterrents faced by investors in the nascent cellulosic biofuel industry. A financial probabilistic model was developed to contrast the economic feasibility of producing cellulosic biofuels from energy cane and sweet sorghum using three technologies: hydrolysis, pyrolysis, and gasification. Hydrolysis and pyrolysis proved feasible (showed possibilities of a positive net present value) without government support and conditioned to stochastic feedstock yields and biofuel prices. Gasification was feasible with government support. Improved feedstock and biofuel productivity would considerably raise the feasibility probabilities for hydrolysis and pyrolysis without government support.
Switchgrass Harvest Time Effects on Nutrient Use and Yield: An Economic Analysis
Authors: Cahill Nathanial , Popp Michael , West Charles , Rocateli Alexandre , Ashworth Amanda , Farris Rodney , Dixon Bruce
Published: April 2019

This article analyzes economic tradeoffs among harvest date, fertilizer applied, nutrient removal, and switchgrass yield as they vary with respect to input and output prices. Economic sensitivity analyses suggest that higher biomass prices lead to earlier harvest. Optimal harvest time occurs beyond time of maximum yield because nutrient removal in the biomass is an important economic consideration. Switchgrass price premia that reflect the cost of non-optimal harvest time are driven by standing crop yield loss, nutrient removal, storage loss, and opportunity cost. These price premia could provide a mechanism to compensate producers for alternative harvest times and aid with logistics management.
Cost-Effective Targeting for Reducing Soil Erosion in a Large Agricultural Watershed
Authors: Smith Craig M. , Williams Jeffrey R. , Nejadhashemi Amirpouyan , Woznicki Sean A. , Leatherman John C.
Published: April 2019

Erosion of agricultural croplands is a significant contributor of sedimentation to reservoirs. Here, physiographic and economic models for a large agricultural watershed (2377 square miles with 27 subwatersheds) are integrated for the reduction of sedimentation of one Midwestern reservoir. Sediment reduction and the cost-effectiveness of three agricultural best management practices (no-till, filter strip, and permanent vegetation) implementation were considered under three modeling scenarios: random assignment; the globally most cost-effective approach; and a cost-effective targeting approach. This study demonstrates how physiographic and economic data can be harnessed to yield readily comprehendible cost-effective targeting maps. Cost-effective targeting may be preferable to watershed managers for its “user-friendliness” without too great a sacrifice of the globally most cost-efficient solution.
Adoption of Milk and Feed Forward Pricing Methods by Dairy Farmers
Authors: Wolf Christopher A. , Widmar Nicole J. Olynk
Published: April 2019

Increasing volatility in milk and feed prices has led to higher levels of market and financial risk for dairy farmers. We examine dairy farmer use of forward pricing methods for milk sales and feed purchases. Operators with larger herds, higher levels of education, and those farm businesses that were not organized as sole proprietorships were more likely to have used forward pricing. We also examine reasons dairy farm operators had not used these tools to date and find that the most common reason was lack of knowledge. These findings may be used to target educational seminars and outreach to dairy farm managers.
Pasture-Based versus Conventional Milk Production: Where Is the Profit?
Authors: Gillespie Jeffrey , Nehring Richard
Published: April 2019

Costs and returns of pasture-based dairy production are compared with those of conventional production using matching samples. Both whole-farm and dairy enterprise-level estimates are made using the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Resource Management Survey data. Conventional farms are matched to pasture-based farms on the basis of operation scale, scope, region, and farmer demographics and adoption of technology. Results show for pasture-based production lower net farm income on per-cow, per-hundredweight milk produced, and total bases. On an enterprise basis, results show for pasture-based production, higher net return over operating cost and lower net return over total cost per hundredweight milk produced.
The Impact of Food Safety Incidents Across Brands: The Case of the Peter Pan Peanut Butter Recall
Authors: Bakhtavoryan Rafael , Capps Oral , Salin Victoria
Published: April 2019

The effect of negative publicity on consumer demand for brands is examined in the context of recall of a peanut butter brand as a result of pathogen contamination. The recall was associated with negative impacts for the implicated brand and positive effects on the leading competitor brand. Consumers responded to the foodborne illness outbreak within three weeks. The case demonstrates that consumer response is an incentive for companies to prevent safety lapses and that the problems of one brand do not necessarily harm rivals within the category.
National Brands, Private Labels, and Food Price Inflation
Authors: Volpe Rickard James
Published: April 2019

This article investigates the extent to which national brand and private label (store brand) prices behave differently as food price inflation changes. Empirical tests using a range of indices support the hypotheses that rising commodity and fuel prices lead to relatively larger surges in private label prices. When food prices are rising or high, the average price difference between national brands and private labels shrinks. The findings have implications for understanding the welfare effects of private labels. Moreover, they suggest that food price inflation is stronger for low-income households as food prices rise.
Economic and Nutritional Implications from Changes in U.S. Agricultural Promotion Efforts
Authors: Ho Shuay-Tsyr , Rickard Bradley J. , Liaukonyte Jura
Published: April 2019

Promotion programs that subsidize advertising for exported agricultural products continue to be used despite much criticism that they are an inefficient use of taxpayer money. At the same time, others have advocated for an increase in funds to support domestic advertising for fruits and vegetables. We investigate the economic and nutritional effects from changes in both export and domestic promotion expenditures for horticultural and nonhorticultural commodities. Simulation results show that even modest decreases in trade promotion expenditures coupled with a corresponding increase in domestic promotion efforts have the capacity to influence domestic market conditions, caloric intake, and nutrient consumption.