bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nominal Group Technique consultation of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme
Authors: Hutchings Hayley A , Rapport Frances L , Wright Sarah , Doel Marcus A , Clement Clare , Lewis Keir E
Published: February 2014

Objective:The purpose of the study was to determine what patients, professionals and significant others regarded as the most important positive- and challenging aspects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programmes for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and to gain insight into how such programmes could be developed and improved.

Method:A modified Nominal Group Technique method was used in three consultation workshops (one with COPD patients who had recently undertaken a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme; one with ‘significant others’ of the same patients; one with secondary care professionals who deliver the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme).

Results:Each of three workshops resulted in the production of approximately ten positive- and ten challenging aspects related to Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programmes.  These were further developed by a process of thematisation into seven broad themes.  The most important was ‘the patient’, followed by ‘physical health’; jointly ranked as third were: ‘mental health’ and ‘knowledge and education’.  ‘The programme’ and ‘professional characteristics’ were jointly ranked as fifth, with ‘the future’ being ranked as the least important theme.

Conclusions:The modified Nominal Group Technique method allowed the development of a ranked thematic list that illustrated the important positive- and challenging aspects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programmes for patients with COPD. These themes should be core to planning future Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programmes, particularly if patients and carer views are to be considered.
KEGGViewer, a BioJS component to visualize KEGG Pathways
Authors: Villaveces Jose M. , Jimenez Rafael C. , Habermann Bianca H.
Published: February 2014

Summary: Signaling pathways provide essential information on complex regulatory processes within the cell. They are moreover widely used to interpret and integrate data from large-scale studies, such as expression or functional screens. We present KEGGViewer a BioJS component to visualize KEGG pathways and to allow their visual integration with functional data.

Availability: KEGGViewer is an open-source tool freely available at the BioJS Registry. Instructions on how to use the tool are available at http://goo.gl/dVeWpg and the source code can be found at http://github.com/biojs/biojs and DOI:10.5281/zenodo.7708.
PsicquicGraph, a BioJS component to visualize molecular interactions from PSICQUIC servers
Authors: Villaveces Jose M. , Jimenez Rafael C. , Habermann Bianca H.
Published: February 2014

Summary: Protein interaction networks have become an essential tool in large-scale data analysis, integration, and the visualization of high-throughput data in the context of complex cellular networks. Many individual databases are available that provide information on binary interactions of proteins and small molecules. Community efforts such as PSICQUIC aim to unify and standardize information emanating from these public databases. Here we introduce PsicquicGraph, an open-source, web-based visualization component for molecular interactions from PSIQUIC services.

Availability: PsicquicGraph is freely available at the BioJS Registry for download and enhancement. Instructions on how to use the tool are available here http://goo.gl/kDaIgZ and the source code can be found at http://github.com/biojs/biojs and DOI:10.5281/zenodo.7709.
PPI layouts: BioJS components for the display of Protein-Protein Interactions
Authors: Salazar Gustavo A. , Meintjes Ayton , Mulder Nicola
Published: February 2014

Summary: We present two web-based components for the display of Protein-Protein Interaction networks using different self-organizing layout methods: force-directed and circular. These components conform to the BioJS standard and can be rendered in an HTML5-compliant browser without the need for third-party plugins. We provide examples of interaction networks and how the components can be used to visualize them, and refer to a more complex tool that uses these components.

Availability: http://github.com/biojs/biojs; http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7753
BioJS DAGViewer: A reusable JavaScript component for displaying directed graphs
Authors: Kalderimis Alexis , Stepan Radek , Sullivan Julie , Lyne Rachel , Lyne Michael , Micklem Gos
Published: February 2014

Summary: The DAGViewer BioJS component is a reusable JavaScript component made available as part of the BioJS project and intended to be used to display graphs of structured data, with a particular emphasis on Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs). It enables users to embed representations of graphs of data, such as ontologies or phylogenetic trees, in hyper-text documents (HTML). This component is generic, since it is capable (given the appropriate configuration) of displaying any kind of data that is organised as a graph. The features of this component which are useful for examining and filtering large and complex graphs are described.

Availability: http://github.com/alexkalderimis/dag-viewer-biojs; http://github.com/biojs/biojs; http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8303.
Sequence, a BioJS component for visualising sequences
Authors: Gomez John , Jimenez Rafael
Published: February 2014

Summary: Sequences are probably the most common piece of information in sites providing biological data resources, particularly those related to genes and proteins. Multiple visual representations of the same sequence can be found across those sites. This can lead to an inconsistency compromising both the user experience and usability while working with graphical representations of a sequence. Furthermore, the code of the visualisation module is commonly embedded and merged with the rest of the application, making it difficult to reuse it in other applications. In this paper, we present a BioJS component for visualising sequences with a set of options supporting a flexible configuration of the visual representation, such as formats, colours, annotations, and columns, among others. This component aims to facilitate a common representation across different sites, making it easier for end users to move from one site to another.

Availability: http://www.ebi.ac.uk/Tools/biojs; http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8299
wigExplorer, a BioJS component to visualise wig data
Authors: Thanki Anil S. , Jimenez Rafael C. , Kaithakottil Gemy G. , Corpas Manuel , Davey Robert P.
Published: February 2014

Summary: wigExplorer is a BioJS component whose main purpose is to provide a platform for visualisation of wig-formatted data. Wig files are extensively used by genome browsers such as the UCSC Genome Browser. wigExplorer follows the BioJS standard specification, requiring a simple configuration and installation. wigExplorer provides an easy way to navigate the visible region of the canvas and allows interaction with other components via predefined events.

Availability: http://github.com/biojs/biojs; http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7721
DNAContentViewer a BioJS component to visualise GC/AT Content
Authors: Thanki Anil S. , Caim Shabhonam , Corpas Manuel , Davey Robert P.
Published: February 2014

Summary: Compositional GC/AT content of DNA sequences is a useful feature in genome analysis. GC/AT content provides useful information about evolution, structure and function of genomes, giving clues about their biological function and organisation. We have developed DNAContentViewer, a BioJS component for visualisation of compositional GC/AT content in raw sequences. DNAContentViewer has been integrated in the BioJS project as part of the BioJS registry of components. DNAContentViewer requires a simple configuration and installation. Its design allows potential interactions with other components via predefined events.

Availability: http://github.com/biojs/biojs; doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7722.
BioJS: an open source standard for biological visualisation – its status in 2014
Authors: Corpas Manuel , Jimenez Rafael , Carbon Seth J , García Alex , Garcia Leyla , Goldberg Tatyana , Gomez John , Kalderimis Alexis , Lewis Suzanna E , Mulvany Ian , Pawlik Aleksandra , Rowland Francis , Salazar Gustavo , Schreiber Fabian , Sillitoe Ian , Spooner William H , Thanki Anil S. , Villaveces José M , Yachdav Guy , Hermjakob Henning
Published: February 2014

BioJS is a community-based standard and repository of functional components to represent biological information on the web. The development of BioJS has been prompted by the growing need for bioinformatics visualisation tools to be easily shared, reused and discovered. Its modular architecture makes it easy for users to find a specific functionality without needing to know how it has been built, while components can be extended or created for implementing new functionality. The BioJS community of developers currently provides a range of functionality that is open access and freely available. A registry has been set up that categorises and provides installation instructions and testing facilities at http://www.ebi.ac.uk/tools/biojs/. The source code for all components is available for ready use at https://github.com/biojs/biojs.
Conditional Value-at-Risk Approximation to Value-at-Risk Constrained Programs: A Remedy via Monte Carlo
Authors: Hong L. Jeff , Hu Zhaolin , Zhang Liwei
Published: February 2014

We study optimization problems with value-at-risk (VaR) constraints. Because it lacks subadditivity, VaR is not a coherent risk measure and does not necessarily preserve the convexity. Thus, the problems we consider are typically not provably convex. As such, the conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) approximation is often used to handle such problems. Even though the CVaR approximation is known as the best convex conservative approximation, it sometimes leads to solutions with poor performance. In this paper, we investigate the CVaR approximation from a different perspective and demonstrate what is lost in this approximation. We then show that the lost part of this approximation can be remedied using a sequential convex approximation approach, in which each iteration only requires solving a CVaR-like approximation via certain Monte Carlo techniques. We show that the solution found by this approach generally makes the VaR constraints binding and is guaranteed to be better than the solution found by the CVaR approximation and moreover is empirically often globally optimal for the target problem. The numerical experiments show the effectiveness of our approach.
Wind Resource Assessment in Abadan Airport in Iran
Authors: Nedaei Mojtaba
Published: February 2014

Renewable energies have potential for supplying of relatively clean and mostly local energy. Wind energy generation is expected to increase in the near future and has experienced dramatic growth over the past decade in many countries. Wind speed is the most important parameter in the design and study of wind energy conversion systems. Probability density functions such as Weibull and Rayleigh are often used in wind speed and wind energy analyses. This paper presents an assessment of wind energy at three heights during near two years based on Weibull distribution function in Abadan Airport. Extrapolation of the 10 m and 40 m data, using the power law, has been used to determine the wind speed at height of 80 m. According to the results wind speed at 80 m height in Abadan is ranged from 5.8 m/s in Nov to 8.5 m/s in Jun with average value of 7.15 m/s. In this study, different parameters such as Weibull parameters, diurnal and monthly wind speeds, cumulative distribution and turbulence intensity have been estimated and analyzed. In addition Energy production of different wind turbines at different heights was estimated. The results show that the studied site has good potential for Installation of large and commercial wind turbines at height of 80 m or higher. Keywords: Abadan, Iran, wind energy, wind resource, wind turbine, Weibull
Design and Performance Analysis of a Biodiesel Engine Driven Refrigeration System for Vaccine Storage
Authors: Kamsuk K , Damrongsak D , Tippayawong N
Published: February 2014

A compact, stand-alone, refrigeration module powered by a small biodiesel engine for vaccine storage in rural use was proposed. The engine was of single cylinder, four-stroke, direct injection with displacement of 0.296 cm3 and compression ratio of 20:1. The refrigeration system was modified from an automotive vapor compression system. The system performance was analytically investigated. From the simulation, it was found to have acceptable operation over a range of speeds and loads. Performance of the system in terms of fuel consumption and torque tended to decrease with an increase in engine speed. The modular system was able to operate at cooling loads above 4.6 kW, with proper speed ratio between the engine and the compressor. Overall, primary energy ratio of the refrigeration was found to be maximum at 0.54.
Renewable Energy in Eastern North Africa in Terms of Patterns of Coupling to Czisch European HVDC Super Grid
Authors: Boubaker K , Colantoni A , Allegrini E
Published: February 2014

In this study, wind energy potential and perspectives in the eastern North Africa region (Tunisia) have been investigated in terms of connectivity to the projected Czisch European HVDC super grid. A simplified extracted scheme of this grid has been used as a guide to optimize transportation efficiency through the whole net. Wind, as an available and easily exploitable renewable energy was showing to have a promising future for 2025 horizon in the context of a connected net with the European Union, despite local sub-grids disparities. This is also to emphasis HVDC technology adequacy for economical power transmission over very long distances and connection between differently established grids.
Characteristics of Waste Plastics Pyrolytic Oil and Its Applications as Alternative Fuel on Four Cylinder Diesel Engines
Authors: Nugroho Pratama Nosal , Saptoadi Harwin
Published: February 2014

Waste plastics recycling using pyrolysis method is not only able to decrease a number of environment pollutant but also able to produce economical and high quality hydrocarbon products. Two experiments were conducted to completely study Waste Plastic Pyrolytic Oil (WPPO) characteristics and its applications.  First experiment investigated oil characteristics derived from pyrolysis process in two stages batch reactors: pyrolysis and catalytic reforming reactor, at maximum temperature 500oC and 450oC respectively. Waste Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), Polyethylene Terepthalate (PET) and others were used as raw material. Nitrogen flow rate at 0.8 l/minutes was used to increase oil weight percentage. Indonesian natural zeolite was used as catalyst. Then, second experiment was carried out on Diesel Engine Test Bed (DETB) used blending of WPPO and Biodiesel fuel with a volume ratio of 1:9. This experiment was specifically conducted to study how much potency of blending of WPPO and biodiesel in diesel engine. The result of first experiment showed that the highest weight percentage of WPPO derived from mixture of PE waste (50%wt), PP waste (40%wt) and PS waste (10%wt) is 45.13%wt. The more weight percentage of PE in feedstock effected on the less weight percentage of WPPO, the more percentage of C12-C20 content in WPPO and the higher calorific value of WPPO. Characteristics of WPPO such as, Specific Gravity, Flash point, Pour Point, Kinematic Viscosity, Calorific value and percentage of C12-C20 showed interesting result that WPPO could be developed as alternative fuel on diesel fuel blending due to the proximity of their characteristics. Performance of diesel engine using blending of WPPO and biodiesel on second experiment gave good result so the WPPO will have great potency to be valuable alternative liquid fuel in future, especially on stationary diesel engine and transportation engine application.
Woodfuel in Rwanda: Impact on Energy, Poverty, Environment and Policy Instruments analysis
Authors: Mazimpaka Ernest
Published: February 2014

Rwanda’s geographical and socio-economic situations have shaped the energy situation and limited access to modern fuels. Woodfuel is the main source of energy for households and its trade a source of income and jobs in rural areas. Currently 85.2% of households’ land holding is less than 1 ha, insufficient to grow food and fuelwood for a household of the average size of 5.5 persons. Without well documented reports of the individual impact of each deforestation factor, woodfuels have been most blamed. This paper investigates how the current woodfuel industry impacts on energy, poverty and forests and analyses the woodfuel policy instruments. Considering woodfuel consumption under an only environmental or energy perspective has resulted in a search for a narrowly environmental or energy solution. Both failed to solve the problem of forest depletion. Current regulations limit the benefits traditionally derived from woodfuel commoditisation leading to a negative attitude towards policy instruments. The processes involved in producing charcoal and using it as a cooking fuel is inefficient and resource intensive. The barriers to large dissemination of improved cooking stoves include availability, relatively low cost of woodfuels, lack of improved stove diversity on the local market and weak government policy in regard to the woodfuel industry. Policies aiming to substitute or reduce woodfuel consumption, have not achieved the desired results and their implementations have not unarguably reduced deforestation. The paper recommends the community-based woodfuel production as sustainable management approaches to mobilise community support for sustainable forestry management and woodfuel production.
Soybean Opportunity as Source of New Energy in Indonesia
Authors: Muchlish Adie M. , Krisnawati Ayda
Published: February 2014

These last few years, the name of soybeans soared as a source of biodiesel. Soy biodiesel is an alternative fuel produced from soybean oil. Soybean potential as an alternative renewable energy source because it is expected to have the highest energy content compared to other alternative fuels. Opportunities to develop biodiesel using soybean oil in Indonesia is quite large, considering the soybean is a commodity that is already known and widely cultivated almost in all over Indonesia. In addition, the use of soybean for biofuel feedstock is expected to motivate farmers to cultivate soybeans, so their use is not limited to non-energy raw materials. Soybean varieties that have a high oil content as well as high yield is a source of major biodiesel feedstock. From 73 soybean varieties that have been released in Indonesia, has an average oil content of 18%. Varieties with high oil content can be used as raw material for biodiesel. Research on the use of soy as an ingredient of energy crops (biodiesel) have been carried out. In fact, soybean oil is the vegetable oil feedstock for most of the biodiesel being produced in the United States today. With the potential for soybean crops in Indonesia, both in terms of availability of land and varieties, the use of soybean oil for biofuel development in Indonesia is the flagship prospective materials for bio fuel substitute than other plants in the future.
Assessing The Current Indonesia’s Electricity Market Arrangements and The Opportunities to Reform
Authors: Setyawan Dhani
Published: February 2014

Existing subsidy arrangements and institutional settings in the Indonesian electricity sector distort investment decisions and lead to higher cost. Electricity supply is characterized by natural monopoly characteristics, requiring different management by governments than sectors with more straightforward market characteristics. Many countries have undergone significant re-structuring of their electricity sectors, away from one, state owned and vertically integrated monopoly supplier to a setting whereby competition has emerged either at the generation level and/or the retail level. Transmission and distribution networks are typically heavily regulated and transparent access arrangements are put in place as part of the restructuring efforts. The analysis showed that the current structure of Indonesia’s electricity sector firmly within Model 2 (the single buyer model) and highlights that Indonesia is currently towards the less-competitive end of the spectrum of Model 2, identifying significant potential for efficiency enhancing reforms within this structure. Constitutional limitations have hampered previous efforts to restructure the sector in Indonesia but there is significant room for incremental reform to improve incentives in the sector and reduce the cost of generation in the process.
Mesopotamian Political History: The Perversities
Authors: Richardson Seth
Published: February 2014

This essay outlines approaches and problems in writing ancient Mesopotamian political history. A brief review of Assyriological studies is contrasted to political history generally. What follows are six points of theory which present problems and opportunities for moving these studies forward, based on a refocus away from the state; the strategic use of ambiguity by political entities; the role of social forgetting; the productive use of absences of evidence; a renewed effort at period history; and an appraisal of environmental explanations of historical change.
Study on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Thick Low-Alloy Quench and Tempered Steel Welded Joint
Authors: Debnath Subhrajit , Mukherjee Manidipto , Pal Tapan Kumar
Published: February 2014

Low-alloy quench and tempered (Q&T) steel plates having yield strength of a minimum of 670 MPa are used extensively for the fabrication of impellers, penstocks, excavators, dumpers, and raw material handling devices, where welding is an important and probably most economic and productive process of joining. Thick low-alloy Q&T steel plates having a relatively high carbon equivalent (∼0.6) are frequently susceptible to a crack-sensitive microstructure leading to cold cracking. Thus, the welding parameters need to be carefully selected for these grades of steel to obtain the desired microstructure and properties. The present study deals with the characterization of microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of thick (38 mm) welded low-alloy quench and tempered steel plates (A 517 Grade F by ASTM) with the shielded metal arc welding process using a low hydrogen covered electrode (E 11018 M). The microstructural characterization was done for top (P1), middle (P2), and bottom (P3) regions of the weldment by optical microscope and transmission electron microscope to understand the microstructural features. The micrographs of the weld and coarse-grain heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) of the three regions mainly show variation in lath martensite and different morphologies of ferrite. Interestingly, the weld metal and CGHAZ in the middle (P2) region show coarse grains compared to the other two regions where grain size is more or less the same and finer. Furthermore, among the three regions, the P3 region, in general, has comparatively higher hardness and toughness. The high cycle fatigue test under two load ratios (i.e., R = 0.1 and −1) conducted only on specimens extracted from the P3 region, because of its better properties, shows better fatigue performance of weld joint under R = 0.1.
Effect of Combined Cold Temperature and Fatigue Load on Performance of G40.21 Steel
Authors: Hamdoon Muhsin , Das Sreekanta , Zamani Nader
Published: February 2014

Many structures such as bridge decks and ship hulls are required to withstand fatigue load cycles throughout their service life. These structures are also required to withstand zero and subzero temperatures if located in northern and Arctic regions, where winter temperatures can drop down to −40°C. The combined effects of cold temperature and cyclic loads can lead to potential damage to the material performance and subsequent failure. In this study, CSA G40.21 350WT steel, which is typically used in ship building, was tested in strain-controlled fatigue load cycles to determine the effect of zero and subzero temperatures on the mechanical properties and fatigue life. The experimental results show a significant effect of temperature on the fatigue life of this steel. The tensile strength was not affected by low temperatures. The yield strength and fracture strength increased and the ductility decreased at low temperatures. This paper discusses the test procedure, test parameters, and test data obtained from this study.
“Historically Informed” Corpus Studies
Authors: Gjerdingen Robert O.
Published: February 2014

Musicians can choose between various “historicist” or “presentist” ways of performing works from the past. Music scholars who study early music sometimes are forced to make similar choices. If one thinks of corpus studies in music as an objective form of counting the “elements of music,” the question of what constitutes an “element” can involve similar historicist/presentist dilemmas. The article examines three historically significant characteristics of European art music—three historicist features—that are not always recognized in presentist corpus studies. For an illustrative example, a comparison is made between how the cadenza doppia in a Bach toccata for organ might be represented in a corpus study as either a two-voice framework or a series of Roman numerals in the tradition of Allen McHose (1947). Because that type of cadence was a commonplace in Bach’s time and in Bach’s compositions, a corpus analysis should be able to detect its multiple occurrences as a core element of the music.
Koch’s Metrical Theory and Mozart’s Music
Authors: Ito John Paul
Published: February 2014

Mirka (2009) has recently argued that the 18th-century metrical theories of Heinrich Christoph Koch can be revelatory for a reconstruction of contemporary ways of hearing Viennese high classicism. Koch’s claims revolve around interactions between the metrical placement of cadences and the articulation of specific beat levels, and these claims are most specific and testable for common time and 6/8. This paper reports two statistical surveys of works by Mozart that were designed to gauge the fit between the corpus and Koch’s theory. In the works examined, the theory was strongly supported for common time, strongly disconfirmed for 6/8, and weakly supported for the other meters encountered. It is argued that these results point toward caution regarding the use of Koch’s theories but not toward their outright rejection, and that unexpected statistical contrasts within the corpus indicate the need for a fine-grained approach to meter in music of the later 18th century.
How Jazz Musicians Improvise
Authors: Norgaard Martin
Published: February 2014

It is well known that jazz improvisations include repeated rhythmic and melodic patterns. What is less understood is how those patterns come to be. One theory posits that entire motor patterns are stored in procedural memory and inserted into an ongoing improvisation. An alternative view is that improvisers use procedures based on the rules of tonal jazz to create an improvised output. This output may contain patterns but these patterns are accidental and not stored in procedural memory for later use. The current study used a novel computer-based technique to analyze a large corpus of 48 improvised solos by the jazz great Charlie Parker. To be able to compare melodic patterns independent of absolute pitch, all pitches were converted to directional intervals listed in half steps. Results showed that 82.6% of the notes played begin a 4-interval pattern and 57.6% begin interval and rhythm patterns. The mean number of times the 4-interval pattern on each note position is repeated in the solos analyzed was 26.3 and patterns up to 49-intervals in length were identified. The sheer ubiquity of patterns and the pairing of pitch and rhythm patterns support the theory that pre-formed structures are inserted during improvisation. The patterns may be encoded both during deliberate practice and through an incidental learning processes. These results align well with related processes in both language acquisition and motor learning.
MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Metabolic and body composition effects of newer antiretrovirals in HIV-infected patients
Authors: Srinivasa Suman , Grinspoon Steven K
Published: February 2014

In the absence of a cure, HIV-infected patients are being successfully treated with antiretroviral therapies (ART) and living longer. Indeed, an increasing number of HIV-infected patients are living beyond the age of 50 years, and in that regard, the use of ART has transformed HIV into a chronic medical condition. As more HIV-infected patients are virologically controlled and living longer, the trajectory of disease morbidity has shifted, however, primarily from opportunistic infections and immune dysfunction to metabolic complications. Evidence suggests that HIV-infected patients acquire significant metabolic risks, including lipodystrophic changes, subclinical atherosclerosis, and insulin resistance. The etiology of these metabolic complications specifically in HIV-infected patients is not entirely clear but may be related to a complex interaction between long-term consequences of infection and HIV itself, chronic use of antiretrovirals, and underlying inflammatory processes. Previous classes of ART, such as protease inhibitors (PIs) and reverse transcriptase inhibitors, have been implicated in altering fat redistribution and lipid and glucose homeostasis. Advances in drug development have introduced newer ART with strategies to target novel mechanisms of action and improve patient adherence with multi-class drug combinations. In this review, we will focus on these newer classes of ART, including selected entry inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and multi-class drug combinations, and two newer PIs, and the potential of these newer agents to cause metabolic complications in HIV-infected patients. Taken together, further reduction of morbidity in HIV-infected patients will require increasing awareness of the deleterious metabolic complications of ART with subsequent management to mitigate these risks.
Land protection and timber harvesting along productivity and diversity gradients in the Northern Rocky Mountains
Authors: Belote R. Travis , Aplet Gregory H.
Published: February 2014

Understanding the complex and reciprocal ways in which ecosystem functions (such as productivity) and biodiversity interact may provide important insights into sustaining ecosystem services and protecting species diversity. Despite years of research, observed relationships between productivity and biodiversity have been varied and hypotheses explaining patterns are diverse and equivocal. The ways in which patterns of productivity‐biodiversity relationships can inform conservation may depend on understanding how gradients in human land use map onto gradients of productivity and biodiversity. Here, we used diverse publicly available spatial datasets on ecosystem productivity, tree diversity, climate, and land cover to explore two broad questions in ecoregions of Montana: (1) what is the relationship between productivity and tree diversity and (2) are land use gradients (from timber harvesting to wilderness protection) related to gradients of productivity and diversity? We also investigated the possible climatic and topographic drivers of these ecological and anthropogenic patterns. We found the most productive ecoregions support greater numbers of tree species, which appears to be influenced by precipitation but not temperature gradients. The most productive and diverse ecoregions included greater amounts of timber harvesting disturbance and associated road densities. The amount of protected area within ecoregions was highest at intermediate levels of productivity and diversity and was strongly related to mean elevation of ecoregions. Our results suggest that climate‐influenced productivity gradients may influence patterns of biodiversity and are related to patterns in human land use. Further, given the existing conditions and current distribution of protected areas, we recommend that the most altered productive and diverse ecoregions may offer opportunities both for additional protection and for holistic restoration programs.
Estimating mean plant cover from different types of cover data: a coherent statistical framework
Authors: Damgaard C.
Published: February 2014

Plant cover is measured by different methods and it is important to be able to estimate mean cover and to compare estimates of plant cover across different sampling methods in a coherent statistical framework. Here, a framework that incorporates (1) pin‐point cover data, (2) visually determined cover data, and (3) ordinal cover classification systems (e.g., Braun‐Blanquet cover data) is presented and tested on simulated plant cover data. The effect of measurement error when applying a visual determination of plant cover is considered. Generally, the estimation of the mean plant cover was well‐behaved and unbiased for all the three methods, whereas the estimate of the intra‐plot correlation tended to be upward biased and especially so if the plant cover data was collected using the Braun‐Blanquet method. It was surprising that the Braun‐Blanquet sampling procedure provided mean plant cover estimates that were comparable to the other sampling schemes. This method shows promise in the attempt to use the large amount of historic Braun‐Blanquet plant cover data in the investigation of the underlying causes for observed vegetation changes.
Self-Presentation on the Web: Agencies Serving Abused and Assaulted Women
Authors: Sorenson Susan B. , Shi Rui , Zhang Jingwen , Xue Jia
Published: February 2014

Objectives. We examined the content and usability of the Web sites of agencies serving women victims of violence.

Methods. We entered the names of a systematic 10% sample of 3774 agencies listed in 2 national directories into a search engine. We took (in April 2012) and analyzed screenshots of the 261 resulting home pages and the readability of 193 home and first-level pages.

Results. Victims (94%) and donors (68%) were the primary intended audiences. About one half used social media and one third provided cues to action. Almost all (96.4%) of the Web pages were rated “fairly difficult” to “very confusing” to read, and 81.4% required more than a ninth-grade education to understand.

Conclusions. The service and marketing functions were met fairly well by the agency home pages, but usability (particularly readability and offer of a mobile version) and efforts to increase user safety could be improved. Internet technologies are an essential platform for public health. They are particularly useful for reaching people with stigmatized health conditions because of the anonymity allowed. The one third of agencies that lack a Web site will not reach the substantial portion of the population that uses the Internet to find health information and other resources.
Tooth Loss in Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta Relative to Other Regions in the United States, 1999–2010
Authors: Gorsuch Marina Mileo , Sanders Seth G. , Wu Bei
Published: February 2014

Objectives. We examined regional variation in tooth loss in the United States from 1999 to 2010.

Methods. We used 6 waves of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and data on county characteristics to describe regional trends in tooth loss and decompose diverging trends into the parts explained by individual and county components.

Results. Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta had higher levels of tooth loss than the rest of the country in 1999. From 1999 to 2010, tooth loss declined in the United States. However, Appalachia did not converge toward the US average, and the Mississippi Delta worsened relative to the United States. Socioeconomic status explained the largest portion of differences between regions in 1999, but a smaller portion of the trends. The Mississippi Delta is aging more quickly than the rest of the country, which explains 17% of the disparity in the time trend.

Conclusions. The disadvantage in tooth loss is persistent in Appalachia and growing in the Mississippi Delta. The increasing disparity is partly explained by changes in the age structure but is also associated with behavioral and environmental factors.
Recommendations for Third Molar Removal: A Practice-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Cunha-Cruz Joana , Rothen Marilynn , Spiekerman Charles , Drangsholt Mark , McClellan Lyle , Huang Greg J. ,   for the Northwest Practice-Based Research Collaborative in Evidence-Based Dentistry
Published: February 2014

Objectives. We investigated general dentists’ reasons for recommending removal or retention of third molars and whether patients adhered to dentists’ recommendations.

Methods. In a 2-year prospective cohort study (2009–2011) in the Pacific Northwest, we followed 801 patients aged 16 to 22 years from 50 general dental practices. Generalized estimating equations logistic regressions related patient and dentist characteristics to dentists' recommendations to remove third molars and to patient adherence.

Results. General dentists recommended removal of 1683 third molars from 469 (59%) participants, mainly to prevent future problems (79%) or because a third molar had an unfavorable orientation or was unlikely to erupt (57%). Dentists recommended retention and monitoring of 1244 third molars from 366 (46%) participants, because it was too early to decide (73%), eruption path was favorable (39%), or space for eruption was sufficient (26%). When dentists recommended removal, 55% of participants adhered to this recommendation during follow-up, and the main reason was availability of insurance (88%).

Conclusions. General dentists frequently recommended removal of third molars for reasons not related to symptoms or pathology, but rather to prevent future problems.
Determinants of Care Seeking for Children With Pneumonia and Diarrhea in Guatemala: Implications for Intervention Strategies
Authors: Bruce Nigel , Pope Daniel , Arana Byron , Shiels Christopher , Romero Carolina , Klein Robert , Stanistreet Debbi
Published: February 2014

Objectives. We identified barriers to care seeking for pneumonia and diarrhea among rural Guatemalan children.

Methods. A population-based survey was conducted twice from 2008 to 2009 among 1605 households with children younger than 5 years. A 14-day calendar recorded episodes of carer-reported pneumonia (n = 364) and diarrhea (n = 481), and formal (health services, public, private) and informal (neighbors, traditional, local shops, pharmacies) care seeking.

Results. Formal care was sought for nearly half of severe pneumonias but only for 27% within 2 days of onset, with 31% and 18%, respectively, for severe diarrhea. In multivariable analysis, factors independently associated with formal care seeking were knowing the Community Emergency Plan, mother’s perception of illness severity, recognition of World Health Organization danger signs, distance from the health center, and having someone to care for family in an emergency.

Conclusions. Proximal factors associated with recognizing need for care were important in determining formal care, and were strongly linked to social determinants. In addition to specific action by the health system with an enhanced community health worker role, a systems approach can help ensure barriers are addressed among poorer and more remote homes.
The Association Between Food Prices and the Blood Glucose Level of US Adults With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Anekwe Tobenna D. , Rahkovsky Ilya
Published: February 2014

Objectives. We estimated the association between the price of healthy and less-healthy food groups and blood sugar among US adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods. We linked 1999–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey health information to food prices contained in the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database. We regressed blood sugar levels on food prices from the previous calendar quarter, controlling for market region and a range of other covariates. We also examined whether the association between food prices and blood sugar varies among different income groups.

Results. The prices of produce and low-fat dairy foods were associated with blood sugar levels of people with type 2 diabetes. Specifically, higher prices for produce and low-fat dairy foods were associated with higher levels of glycated hemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose 3 months later. Food prices had a greater association with blood sugar for low-income people than for higher-income people, and in the expected direction.

Conclusions. Higher prices of healthy foods were associated with increased blood sugar among people with type 2 diabetes. The association was especially pronounced among low-income people with type 2 diabetes.
The Drinking Water Disparities Framework: On the Origins and Persistence of Inequities in Exposure
Authors: Balazs Carolina L. , Ray Isha
Published: February 2014

With this article, we develop the Drinking Water Disparities Framework to explain environmental injustice in the context of drinking water in the United States. The framework builds on the social epidemiology and environmental justice literatures, and is populated with 5 years of field data (2005–2010) from California’s San Joaquin Valley. We trace the mechanisms through which natural, built, and sociopolitical factors work through state, county, community, and household actors to constrain access to safe water and to financial resources for communities. These constraints and regulatory failures produce social disparities in exposure to drinking water contaminants. Water system and household coping capacities lead, at best, to partial protection against exposure. This composite burden explains the origins and persistence of social disparities in exposure to drinking water contaminants.
Nuclear Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Counterterrorism: Impacts on Public Health
Authors: Dreicer Mona , Pregenzer Arian
Published: February 2014

Reducing the risks of nuclear war, limiting the spread of nuclear weapons, and reducing global nuclear weapons stockpiles are key national and international security goals. They are pursued through a variety of international arms control, nonproliferation, and counterterrorism treaties and agreements.

These legally binding and political commitments, together with the institutional infrastructure that supports them, work to establish global norms of behavior and have limited the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Beyond the primary security objectives, reducing the likelihood of the use of nuclear weapons, preventing environmental releases of radioactive material, increasing the availability of safe and secure nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, and providing scientific data relevant to predicting and managing the consequences of natural or human-caused disasters worldwide provide significant benefits to global public health.
Social Branding to Decrease Smoking Among Young Adults in Bars
Authors: Ling Pamela M. , Lee Youn Ok , Hong Juliette , Neilands Torsten B. , Jordan Jeffrey W. , Glantz Stanton A.
Published: February 2014

Objectives. We evaluated a Social Branding antitobacco intervention for “hipster” young adults that was implemented between 2008 and 2011 in San Diego, California.

Methods. We conducted repeated cross-sectional surveys of random samples of young adults going to bars at baseline and over a 3-year follow-up. We used multinomial logistic regression to evaluate changes in daily smoking, nondaily smoking, and binge drinking, controlling for demographic characteristics, alcohol use, advertising receptivity, trend sensitivity, and tobacco-related attitudes.

Results. During the intervention, current (past 30 day) smoking decreased from 57% (baseline) to 48% (at follow-up 3; P = .002), and daily smoking decreased from 22% to 15% (P < .001). There were significant interactions between hipster affiliation and alcohol use on smoking. Among hipster binge drinkers, the odds of daily smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.30, 0.63) and nondaily smoking (OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.42, 0.77) decreased significantly at follow-up 3. Binge drinking also decreased significantly at follow-up 3 (OR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.53, 0.78).

Conclusions. Social Branding campaigns are a promising strategy to decrease smoking in young adult bar patrons.
Community Violence Perpetration and Victimization Among Adults With Mental Illnesses
Authors: Desmarais Sarah L. , Van Dorn Richard A. , Johnson Kiersten L. , Grimm Kevin J. , Douglas Kevin S. , Swartz Marvin S.
Published: February 2014

Objectives. In a large heterogeneous sample of adults with mental illnesses, we examined the 6-month prevalence and nature of community violence perpetration and victimization, as well as associations between these outcomes.

Methods. Baseline data were pooled from 5 studies of adults with mental illnesses from across the United States (n = 4480); the studies took place from 1992 to 2007. The MacArthur Community Violence Screening Instrument was administered to all participants.

Results. Prevalence of perpetration ranged from 11.0% to 43.4% across studies, with approximately one quarter (23.9%) of participants reporting violence. Prevalence of victimization was higher overall (30.9%), ranging from 17.0% to 56.6% across studies. Most violence (63.5%) was perpetrated in residential settings. The prevalence of violence-related physical injury was approximately 1 in 10 overall and 1 in 3 for those involved in violent incidents. There were strong associations between perpetration and victimization.

Conclusions. Results provided further evidence that adults with mental illnesses experienced violent outcomes at high rates, and that they were more likely to be victims than perpetrators of community violence. There is a critical need for public health interventions designed to reduce violence in this vulnerable population.
The Prevalence of Harmful Content on Outdoor Advertising in Los Angeles: Land Use, Community Characteristics, and the Spatial Inequality of a Public Health Nuisance
Authors: Lowery Bryce C. , Sloane David C.
Published: February 2014

Objectives. Our study sought to examine associations between the content of outdoor advertising and neighborhood ethnic/racial and socioeconomic composition to see whether particular communities disproportionately host harmful content.

Methods. We constructed a spatial database of photographs taken from June 2012 until December 2012 in 7 identically zoned communities in Los Angeles, California, to compare outdoor advertising area and content. We selected communities to contrast by ethnicity/race, income, education, and youth population.

Results. At-risk communities and communities of color hosted more outdoor advertising depicting harmful content than other communities. Among included neighborhoods, harmful content and the proportion of outdoor advertising overall were most prevalent in communities of Asian Americans and Latino Americans. In all communities, harmful content represented at least 24% of outdoor advertising space.

Conclusions. This study provides evidence of the potential for land-use decisions to result in spatially inequitable health impacts. Although dictating the placement of outdoor advertising through zoning may seem sensible, such a decision might have the unintended consequence of disadvantaging the well-being of local communities. Neighborhood factors require more contextually nuanced public health and land-use policy.
Same Strategy Different Industry: Corporate Influence on Public Policy
Authors: Shelley Donna , Ogedegbe Gbenga , Elbel Brian
Published: February 2014

In March 2013 a state judge invalidated New York City’s proposal to ban sales of sugar-sweetened beverages larger than 16 ounces; the case is under appeal. This setback was attributable in part to opposition from the beverage industry and racial/ethnic minority organizations they support. We provide lessons from similar tobacco industry efforts to block policies that reduced smoking prevalence. We offer recommendations that draw on the tobacco control movement’s success in thwarting industry influence and promoting public health policies that hold promise to improve population health.