bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of societal costs in Alzheimer's disease: GERAS study baseline results
Authors: Dodel Richard , Belger Mark , Reed Catherine , Wimo Anders , Jones Roy W. , Happich Michael , Argimon Josep M. , Bruno Giuseppe , Vellas Bruno , Haro Josep Maria
Published: April 2015

Background

To identify the main factors associated with societal costs of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in community‐dwelling patients across three European countries.

Methods

Baseline cost data from a prospective, observational study were used. Assessments included patients' cognition, activities of daily living (ADLs) and behavioral symptoms, and caregiver burden. Cost calculations (2010) from the societal perspective were based on patient/caregiver resource use. Generalized linear models estimated factors associated with costs.

Results

Mean monthly costs per patient differed for France (€1881), Germany (€2349), and the UK (€2016), with informal care costs accounting for 50% to 61%. Independent factors associated with costs across all countries were ADL total score, patient living arrangements, caregiver working status, and caregiver burden (all P < .05). Additional factors were significant for the pooled cohort or individual countries.

Conclusions

Several patient and caregiver factors, including factors associated with informal care, should be included when evaluating care options for patients with AD.
Is it Cute or Does it Count? Learning to Teach for Meaningful Social Studies in Elementary Grades
Authors: Bauml Michelle
Published: April 2015

Using a framework of conceptual and practical tools ( Grossman et al., 2000 ), this study explores ways in which a social studies methods course affected beginning teachers’ beliefs and pedagogical approaches for meaningful social studies instruction in elementary grades. Participants included 75 preservice teachers who completed open-ended questionnaires before and after the course, and again one year later as student teachers. Three participants were observed teaching social studies lessons during student teaching to determine how the methods course impacted their nascent instructional practices. The study adds to our understanding about “what sticks” in teacher education and offers insights to researchers and to teacher educators who aim to equip future teachers for “powerful and purposeful” ( NCSS, 2009 ) social studies instruction.
KRAS as a predictor of poor prognosis and benefit from postoperative FOLFOX chemotherapy in patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer
Authors: Deng Yanhong , Wang Li , Tan Shuyun , Kim George P. , Dou Ruoxu , Chen Dianke , Cai Yue , Fu Xinhui , Wang Lei , Zhu Jun , Wang Jianping
Published: April 2015

Purpose

The KRAS gene frequently mutates in colorectal cancer (CRC). Here we investigated the prognostic and predictive role of KRAS mutation in patients with stage II or III CRC.

Experimental design

A consecutive cohort of patients with stage II or III CRC from a single center database was studied. The association between KRAS status, adjuvant FOLFOX therapy, and 3‐year disease‐free survival (3‐y DFS) was analyzed.

Results

Of our 433 patients, 166 (38.3%) exhibited the KRAS mutation. Among the 190 patients who did not receive adjuvant therapy, those with KRAS mutation tumors had a worse 3‐y DFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.924; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.078–3.435; P = 0.027). Among patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, KRAS mutation was not correlated with worse 3‐y DFS (HR, 1.083; 95% CI, 0.618–1.899; P = 0.781). Adjuvant chemotherapy improved 3‐y DFS only among patients with KRAS mutant tumors (78.0% vs 69.2%) on multivariate analysis adjusted for age, stage, grade, site, vessel invasion, and carcinoembryonic antigen level (HR, 0.454; 95% CI, 0.229–0.901; P = 0.024). In contrast, there was no benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in the KRAS wild‐type group (84.3% vs 82.0%).

Conclusions

KRAS mutation indicates poor prognosis. FOLFOX adjuvant chemotherapy benefits patients with stage II or III colorectal cancer with KRAS mutant tumors and is worth further investigation.
Ultrasound‐Guided Distal Bicep Tendon Injection Using a Posterior Approach
Authors: Mautner Kenneth , Stafford Cleo D. , Nguyen Patrick
Published: April 2015

Distal biceps tendinopathy is an uncommon but increasingly diagnosed condition in persons with elbow pain. When traditional treatments are unsuccessful, practitioners have performed ultrasound (US)‐guided tendon injections in this region using an anterior approach. Although success has been reported with this technique, this approach may lead to neurovascular injury. This case report is the first in the literature to describe a US‐guided distal bicep tendon injection using a posterior approach. The patient had an excellent clinical outcome with no adverse events. This outcome suggests that a US‐guided posterior percutaneous tendon injection might be a safe, viable, nonsurgical option for recalcitrant distal biceps tendinopathy.
Multi-millennial streamflow dynamics in two forested watersheds on Vancouver Island, Canada
Authors: Brown Kendrick J. , Schoups Gerrit
Published: April 2015

Holocene streamflow was reconstructed for two rivers on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada in 500-yr intervals. The San Juan River watershed is located on the wetter western side of the island, whereas the Koksilah River watershed is positioned on the drier eastern side. Both watersheds are forested. To reconstruct streamflow, temporal changes in precipitation (estimated using a pollen-based transfer function) and evapotranspiration were established for each watershed and integrated into a water balance model, calibrated using modern data. While seasonal streamflow variability was maintained throughout the Holocene, with greater flow in the winter relative to the summer, the amount of discharge has changed markedly through time. Lowest simulated flow occurred in the earliest Holocene, with low-flow conditions beginning earlier in the year and extending later into the fall. Such conditions may have inhibited salmon from using many of the smaller rivers in the region. Streamflow steadily increased throughout the early Holocene so that by ca. 6500 cal yr before present near-modern flow regimes were established. As climate changes in the future, the San Juan and Koksilah watersheds are expected to remain as pluvial hydroclimatic regimes, though with an extended season of low flow similar to conditions during the early Holocene.
(3E,7E)-3,7-Bis(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)-5,7-dihydropyrrolo[2,3-f]indole-2,6(1H,3H)-dione based polymers for ambipolar organic thin film transistors
Authors: He Yinghui , Guo Chang , Sun Bin , Quinn Jesse , Li Yuning
Published: April 2015

A novel acceptor, (3E,7E)-3,7-bis(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)-5,7-dihydropyrrolo[2,3-f]indole-2,6(1H,3H)-dione, is synthesized and used for donor–acceptor polymer semiconductors.
A high pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experimental method for characterization of solid-liquid interfaces demonstrated with a Li-ion battery system
Authors: Maibach Julia , Xu Chao , Eriksson Susanna K. , Åhlund John , Gustafsson Torbjörn , Siegbahn Hans , Rensmo Håkan , Edström Kristina , Hahlin Maria
Published: April 2015

We report a methodology for a direct investigation of the solid/liquid interface using high pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HPXPS). The technique was demonstrated with an electrochemical system represented by a Li-ion battery using a silicon electrode and a liquid electrolyte of LiClO4 in propylene carbonate (PC) cycled versus metallic lithium. For the first time the presence of a liquid electrolyte was realized using a transfer procedure where the sample was introduced into a 2 mbar N2 environment in the analysis chamber without an intermediate ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) step in the load lock. The procedure was characterized in detail concerning lateral drop gradients as well as stability of measurement conditions over time. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements demonstrate that the solid substrate and the liquid electrolyte can be observed simultaneously. The results show that the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) composition for the wet electrode is stable within the probing time and generally agrees well with traditional UHV studies. Since the methodology can easily be adjusted to various high pressure photoelectron spectroscopy systems, extending the approach towards operando solid/liquid interface studies using liquid electrolytes seems now feasible.
On identifying relationships between the flood scaling exponent and basin attributes
Authors: Medhi Hemanta , Tripathi Shivam
Published: April 2015

Floods are known to exhibit self-similarity and follow scaling laws that form the basis of regional flood frequency analysis. However, the relationship between basin attributes and the scaling behavior of floods is still not fully understood. Identifying these relationships is essential for drawing connections between hydrological processes in a basin and the flood response of the basin. The existing studies mostly rely on simulation models to draw these connections. This paper proposes a new methodology that draws connections between basin attributes and the flood scaling exponents by using observed data. In the proposed methodology, region-of-influence approach is used to delineate homogeneous regions for each gaging station. Ordinary least squares regression is then applied to estimate flood scaling exponents for each homogeneous region, and finally stepwise regression is used to identify basin attributes that affect flood scaling exponents. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is tested by applying it to data from river basins in the United States. The results suggest that flood scaling exponent is small for regions having (i) large abstractions from precipitation in the form of large soil moisture storages and high evapotranspiration losses, and (ii) large fractions of overland flow compared to base flow, i.e., regions having fast-responding basins. Analysis of simple scaling and multiscaling of floods showed evidence of simple scaling for regions in which the snowfall dominates the total precipitation.
A review on nanomechanical resonators and their applications in sensors and molecular transportation
Authors: Arash Behrouz , Jiang Jin-Wu , Rabczuk Timon
Published: April 2015

Nanotechnology has opened a new area in science and engineering, leading to the development of novel nano-electromechanical systems such as nanoresonators with ultra-high resonant frequencies. The ultra-high-frequency resonators facilitate wide-ranging applications such as ultra-high sensitive sensing, molecular transportation, molecular separation, high-frequency signal processing, and biological imaging. This paper reviews recent studies on dynamic characteristics of nanoresonators. A variety of theoretical approaches, i.e., continuum modeling, molecular simulations, and multiscale methods, in modeling of nanoresonators are reviewed. The potential application of nanoresonators in design of sensor devices and molecular transportation systems is introduced. The essence of nanoresonator sensors for detection of atoms and molecules with vibration and wave propagation analyses is outlined. The sensitivity of the resonator sensors and their feasibility in detecting different atoms and molecules are particularly discussed. Furthermore, the applicability of molecular transportation using the propagation of mechanical waves in nanoresonators is presented. An extended application of the transportation methods for building nanofiltering systems with ultra-high selectivity is surveyed. The article aims to provide an up-to-date review on the mechanical properties and applications of nanoresonators, and inspire additional potential of the resonators.
Ultrasonic guided wave sensing performance of a magnetostrictive transducer using Galfenol flakes-polymer composite patches
Authors: Yoo Byungseok , Na Suok-Min , Flatau Alison B. , Pines Darryll J.
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we investigate ultrasonic guided wave (GW) sensing performance of a magnetostrictive composite patch sensor (MCPS) in use of a structural health monitoring system for metallic plates. A composite patch of the MCPS consisted of magnetostrictive powders and binding epoxy, where flake- and granular-type Galfenol and spherical nickel particles were considered to examine the effect of particle shape on sensing capability and directional sensitivity. Galfenol flakes with the surface parallel to the (200) crystallographic planes exhibit good field sensitivities in magnetic and magnetostrictive properties when an in-plane field is applied. Shape anisotropy disappears for the conventional spherical shape, accompanying with a large magnetizing field and poor field sensitivity. The 60-kHz GW was successfully captured by the three different MCPSs. Among them, the MCPS with the Galfenol flakes showed the best sensing performance because of their excellent field sensitivities in magnetization and magnetostriction. In addition, the composite patch was configured into a uniaxial comb shape to promote the magnetic shape anisotropy feature of the magnetostrictive patch by itself. Due to the unique configuration of the Galfenol composite patch, the equivalent MCPS presented outstanding directional sensitivity for the GWs propagating along the orientation of the comb fingers.
Cycles, randomness, and transport from chaotic dynamics to stochastic processes
Authors: Gaspard Pierre
Published: April 2015

An overview of advances at the frontier between dynamical systems theory and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics is given. Sensitivity to initial conditions is a mechanism at the origin of dynamical randomness—alias temporal disorder—in deterministic dynamical systems. In spatially extended systems, sustaining transport processes, such as diffusion, relationships can be established between the characteristic quantities of dynamical chaos and the transport coefficients, bringing new insight into the second law of thermodynamics. With methods from dynamical systems theory, the microscopic time-reversal symmetry can be shown to be broken at the statistical level of description in nonequilibrium systems. In this way, the thermodynamic entropy production turns out to be related to temporal disorder and its time asymmetry away from equilibrium.
Communication: Note on detailed balance in symmetrical quasi-classical models for electronically non-adiabatic dynamics
Authors: Miller William H. , Cotton Stephen J.
Published: April 2015

It is noted that the recently developed symmetrical quasi-classical (SQC) treatment of the Meyer-Miller (MM) model for the simulation of electronically non-adiabatic dynamics provides a good description of detailed balance, even though the dynamics which results from the classical MM Hamiltonian is “Ehrenfest dynamics” (i.e., the force on the nuclei is an instantaneous coherent average over all electronic states). This is seen to be a consequence of the SQC windowing methodology for “processing” the results of the trajectory calculation. For a particularly simple model discussed here, this is shown to be true regardless of the choice of windowing function employed in the SQC model, and for a more realistic full classical molecular dynamics simulation, it is seen to be maintained correctly for very long time.
Back to basics: an audit of measurement of infant growth at presentation to hospital
Authors: Williams Lesley Alison , Ware Robert S. , Davies Peter S. W.
Published: April 2015

Objectives Infants who present or are admitted to hospital with illness or with inadequate growth and development are those most at risk of decreased nutritional status. However, not all infants who present or are admitted to hospital have their growth assessed. The aim of the present study was to identify how frequently anthropometric measurements were documented in charts of infants presenting and/or admitted to a tertiary paediatric hospital. Methods A systematic random sample of hospital charts of infants who had presented to the emergency department between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2012 was audited retrospectively for the presence of appropriate documentation of measurement. Results In all, 465 charts were audited, representing 10% of infants who presented to the emergency department in the year. The frequency of anthropometric measures was: birthweight 103 (22%), presentation weight 275 (59%), length 8 (2%), head circumference 15 (3%), percentiles 27 (6%) and body mass index score 1 (0%). Age of the infant was significantly associated with recording of birthweight. There were no significant relationships found between gender, socioeconomic status, gestational age, delivery type and recording of diagnosis and birthweight. Conclusions Infant measurements were not recorded on many occasions. Assessment of growth as a marker of illness or nutritional deficit has been poorly assessed in this group. This is a missed opportunity to assess infant growth in this population, which has been found to be at risk of decreased nutritional status. Identification and treatment of growth deficits are a cost-effective method of optimising infant health worldwide. What is known about this topic? Infants who present or are admitted to hospital with illness or with inadequate growth and development are those most at risk of decreased nutritional status. What does this paper add? Not all infants who present or are admitted to hospital have their growth assessed. What are the implications for practitioners? It is important in a paediatric setting to identify who is responsible for measuring and recording infant growth. Measurement of weight, height and head circumference is a basic, low-cost method of measuring infant growth in the hospital setting.
Synthesis, Absorption, and Fluorescence Studies of Coumaryl-Labelled Amino Acids and Dipeptides Linked Via Triazole Ring
Authors: Kumari Santosh , Joshi Sunita , Shakoor S. M. Abdul , Agarwal Devesh S. , Panda Siva S. , Pant Debi D. , Sakhuja Rajeev
Published: April 2015

Fluorophores based on 4-triazolyl, 7-hydroxy-4-triazolylmethyl, 4-O-triazolylmethyl, and 7-O-triazolylmethyl coumaryl-tagged amino acids and dipeptides were synthesized by copper-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between azido- or alkynyl-functionalized coumarins with alkynyl- or azido-functionalized amino acid and dipeptides in good-to-excellent yields. Steady-state absorption and the fluorescence properties of the synthesized conjugates were studied. The chemical applicability of these amino acid and peptide-based fluorophores was successfully demonstrated by their linear elongation by further tagging them with appropriate C- or N-terminus amino acid.
The molecular epidemiology of Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum
Authors: Ma Daphne Y. , Giacani Lorenzo , Centurión-Lara Arturo
Published: April 2015

Pathogens adapt and evolve in response to pressures exerted by host environments, leading to generation of genetically diverse variants. Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum displays a substantial amount of interstrain diversity. These variants have been identified in various parts of the world, indicating transmission linkage between geographical regions. Genotyping is based on molecular characterisation of various loci in the syphilis treponeme genome, but still require further development and continued research, as new bacterial types are continually being detected. The goal for studying the molecular epidemiology of Treponema pallidum variants is the global monitoring of the transmission of genetically distinct organisms with different drug sensitivities and, potentially, different virulence proprieties.
Syphilis among adolescents and young adults in Cincinnati, Ohio: testing, infection and characteristics of youth with syphilis infection
Authors: Patterson-Rose Sherine , Mullins Tanya L. Kowalczyk , Hesse Elizabeth A. , Lehmann Corinne , Widdice Lea E.
Published: April 2015

Little is known about the epidemiology of syphilis among adolescents and young adults. This study examined, among more than 17 000 young people aged 13–22 years old, trends in rates of syphilis testing and infection; characteristics of infected adolescents; and agreement about syphilis staging and treatment between provider and chart reviewer. Rates of syphilis testing increased but rates of syphilis infection did not increase significantly over a 5-year period. A majority of infected men reported only opposite-sex sexual contact. High agreement between providers and chart reviewers was found. These findings demonstrate the need for complete assessment of risk factors and use of local epidemiology in screening practices.
Eligibility of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Patients for First-Line Palliative Intent nab-Paclitaxel Plus Gemcitabine Versus FOLFIRINOX
Authors: Peixoto Renata D. , Ho Maria , Renouf Daniel J. , Lim Howard J. , Gill Sharlene , Ruan Jenny Y. , Cheung Winson Y.
Published: April 2015

Objectives:

The PRODIGE and MPACT trials showed superiority of FOLFIRINOX and nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (NG) over gemcitabine alone, respectively. However, both had strict inclusion criteria. We sought to determine the characteristics of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC) which inform the appropriateness of first-line chemotherapy FOLFIRINOX and NG in routine practice.

Materials and Methods:

Patients with MPC who initiated palliative chemotherapy with gemcitabine from 2000 to 2011 at the British Columbia Cancer Agency were identified. Clinicopathologic variables and outcomes were retrospectively collected and compared among groups. Eligibility criteria for each regimen were in accordance with the respective pivotal phase III trials.

Results:

A total of 473 patients were included: 25% of the patients were eligible for FOLFIRINOX versus 45% for NG. Main reasons for FOLFIRINOX ineligibility were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS)≥2 (56.5%), age older than 75 years (19.0%), and bilirubin>1.5× upper limit of normal (18.6%), whereas those for NG ineligibility were bilirubin > upper limit of normal (24.5%), ECOG PS≥3 (14.6%), and cardiac dysfunction (13.8%). Univariate analyses revealed that FOLFIRINOX and NG-eligible patients had longer median overall survival than their respective ineligible group (8.6 vs. 4.7 mo, P<0.001; 6.7 vs. 4.9 mo, P=0.008, respectively). After accounting for ECOG PS in the multivariate model, however, eligibility for either FOLFIRINOX or NG no longer predicted for better overall survival.

Conclusions:

The majority of patients with MPC are not candidates to either NG or FOLFIRINOX due to restrictive eligibility requirements. Specific trials addressing the unmet needs of protocol ineligible patients are warranted.
Parents’ and Children's Acceptance of Skim Chocolate Milks Sweetened by Monk Fruit and Stevia Leaf Extracts
Authors: Li X.E. , Lopetcharat K. , Drake M.A.
Published: April 2015

Chocolate milk increases milk consumption of children, but high sugar content raises health concerns. Interest in sugar reduction and parents’ preference for natural sweeteners necessitates further research on natural nonnutritive sweeteners. However, it is important to maintain consumer acceptability, especially for children, while reducing sugar in chocolate milk. The objectives of this study were to identify the sweetness intensity perception of stevia leaf (STV) and monk fruit (MK) extracts in skim chocolate milk (SCM), to evaluate STV and MK as the sole or partial sweetener source for SCM for young adults (19 to 35 y) and children (5 to 13 y), and to determine if information on natural nonnutritive sweeteners impacted parents’ acceptability of SCM. Power function and 2‐alternative forced choice studies were used to determine the iso‐sweetness of nonnutritive sweeteners to a sucrose control in SCM (51.4 g/L, SUC control). Young adults (n = 131) evaluated 9 different SCM (SUC control, STV, MK, STV:sucrose blends, or MK:sucrose blends) in a completely randomized 2‐d test. Children (n = 167) evaluated SUC control SCM and SCM with 39.7 g/L sucrose and 46 mg/L MK (MK25) or 30 mg/L STV (STV25). Parents evaluated SUC control, MK25, and STV25 in a balanced crossover design with a 40‐d wait time between primed or unprimed ballots. Chocolate milks solely sweetened by nonnutritive sweeteners were less acceptable compared with SUC control by young adults. MK25 and STV25 were acceptable by young adults and children. The presentation of chocolate milk label information had different effects on parental acceptance. Traditional parents preferred sucrose sweetened SCM, and label conscious parents preferred SCM with natural nonnutritive sweeteners.
A Proposed Food Breakdown Classification System to Predict Food Behavior during Gastric Digestion
Authors: Bornhorst Gail M. , Ferrua Maria J. , Singh R. Paul
Published: April 2015

The pharmaceutical industry has implemented the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), which is used to classify drug products based on their solubility and intestinal permeability. The BCS can help predict drug behavior in vivo, the rate‐limiting mechanism of absorption, and the likelihood of an in vitro–in vivo correlation. Based on this analysis, we have proposed a Food Breakdown Classification System (FBCS) framework that can be used to classify solid foods according to their initial hardness and their rate of softening during physiological gastric conditions. The proposed FBCS will allow for prediction of food behavior during gastric digestion. The applicability of the FBCS framework in differentiating between dissimilar solid foods was demonstrated using four example foods: raw carrot, boiled potato, white rice, and brown rice. The initial hardness and rate of softening parameter (softening half time) were determined for these foods as well as their hypothesized FBCS class. In addition, we have provided future suggestions as to the methodological and analytical challenges that need to be overcome prior to widespread use and adoption of this classification system. The FBCS gives a framework that may be used to classify food products based on their material properties and their behavior during in vitro gastric digestion, and may also be used to predict in vivo food behavior. As consumer demand increases for functional and “pharma” food products, the food industry will need widespread testing of food products for their structural and functional performance during digestion.
Comparison of Properties of New Sources of Partially Purified Inulin to Those of Commercially Pure Chicory Inulin
Authors: Mudannayake Deshani C. , Wimalasiri Kuruppu M.S. , Silva Kahandage F.S.T. , Ajlouni Said
Published: April 2015

Newly developed inulin powders were prepared from roots ofAsparagus falcatus(AF) andTaraxacum javanicum(TJ) plants grown in Sri Lanka. Inulin content, analyzed by enzymatic spectrophotometric as well as high‐performance liquid chromatographic methods, showed that AF and TJ inulin powders contain 65.5% and 45.4% (dry wt) inulin, respectively, compared with 72% dry wt in the commercially available chicory inulin. Treating the AF and TJ inulin powders using ion exchange techniques significantly (P < 0.05) reduced their contents of micro (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe) and macro (Na, K, Ca, Mg) elements. Enzymatic hydrolysis of inulin into fructose and glucose by fructanase, and FT‐IR analyses proved that the developed AF and TJ inulins have characteristic molecular composition similar to commercial inulin. TJ inulin contained significantly (P < 0.05) greater amounts of total phenolics (4.37 mg GAE/g), total flavonoids (2.79 mg QE/g), and antioxidant capacity (833.11 mM TE/g) than AF inulin, which contained 1.33 mg GAE/g of total phenolics, 0.43 mg QE/g of total flavonoids, and 406.26 mM TE/g antioxidant capacity. The current study suggests that the newly developed inulin from AF and TJ roots could be used as an alternative commercial source of inulin for the food industry.
Preparation of desiccation‐resistant aquatic‐living Nostoc flagelliforme (Cyanophyceae) for potential ecological application
Authors: Gao Xiang , Yang Yi‐Wen , Cui Li‐Juan , Zhou De‐Bao , Qiu Bao‐Sheng
Published: April 2015

Nostoc flagelliforme is a terrestrial edible cyanobacterium that grows in arid and semi‐arid steppes. The continued over‐exploitation in the last century has led to a sharp decline of this resource and a severe deterioration of the steppe ecology. Liquid‐cultured N. flagelliforme serves as promising algal ‘seeds’ for resource restoration. In this study, macroscopic (or visible) aquatic‐living colonies (MaACs) of N. flagelliforme were developed under weak light and high nitrogen conditions. In a 24 day shake‐flask culture, MaACs were propagated by about 4.5‐fold in biomass without loss of their macro‐morphology; at the same time, the addition of weak UV‐B treatment resulted in slightly bigger MaACs. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) k30, a water‐soluble polymer, was used to generate the coating around MaACs, and after full desiccation, the coated MaACs could recover their photosynthetic physiological activity when rehydrated, with 4% PVP k30 for coating being most effective. In contrast, PVP k30‐coated microscopic aquatic‐living colonies of N. flagelliforme and non‐coated MaACs showed no resistance to full desiccation. The macroscopic morphology or structure of MaACs should be crucial for the formation of protection by PVP k30 coating. PVP k30‐coated MaACs were more approaching to actual application for resource restoration.
The Delphi technique in ecology and biological conservation: applications and guidelines
Authors: Mukherjee Nibedita , Hugé Jean , Sutherland William J. , McNeill Jeffrey , Van Opstal Maarten , Dahdouh‐Guebas Farid , Koedam Nico
Published: April 2015

Many areas of science, including conservation and environmental management, regularly require engaging stakeholders or experts to produce consensus or technical inputs. The Delphi technique is an iterative and anonymous participatory method used for gathering and evaluating such expert‐based knowledge.

We outline the methodology of the Delphi technique and provide a taxonomy of its main variants. In addition, we refine the technique by providing suggestions to address common limitations (e.g. time consumption, attrition rate) in order to make the method more suitable for application in ecology and conservation.

A comprehensive search for studies that have applied the Delphi technique in conservation and environmental management resulted in 36 papers. The Delphi technique has been applied to a range of issues, including developing decision support systems and predicting ecological impacts of climate change.

The papers reviewed suggest that the Delphi technique is an efficient, inclusive, systematic and structured approach that can be used to address complex issues. A major strength compared to other group‐based techniques is the reduced influence of social pressures among respondents.

The Delphi technique is relatively little used and seems undervalued. Given its wide range of possible applications, it could be applied more widely in evaluating evidence and providing expert judgments.
Evolution of adult size depends on genetic variance in growth trajectories: a comment on analyses of evolutionary dynamics using integral projection models
Authors: Chevin Luis‐Miguel
Published: April 2015

Integral projection models (IPMs) are an extension of stage‐structured population models to continuous classes or traits, such as body size. Recent studies have used age‐structured IPMs to investigate the relative contributions of evolutionary versus demographic responses of quantitative traits to environmental change. However, I argue here that evolutionary responses are likely to be underestimated by this approach, because it does not fully capture how phenotypic differences between individuals and genotypes accumulate along life, and are transmitted across generations.

Trait transitions upon survival and reproduction are treated in IPMs by two classes of functions. First, an ‘inheritance’ function relates the trait of a newborn to that of its adult parent, on the time‐scale of a reproductive event. Secondly, growth functions relate the traits of surviving individuals between successive ages. This differs from the quantitative genetic approach, where parent–offspring resemblance is generally quantified for age‐specific trait values, and on the time‐scale of a generation. More importantly, it is unclear to what extent age‐structured IPMs account for the fact that phenotypic and genetic variances of adult size are largely caused by differential growth among individuals and genotypes in multicellular organisms.

I use simple simulations of growth trajectories to ask what the transition functions from IPMs can tell us about the contribution of genetic evolution to phenotypic change. These simulations illustrate that a flat inheritance function is perfectly compatible with substantial response to selection in adults. They further show that the growth functions from IPMs may obscure genetic differences in body size that accumulate along life owing to genetic variation in growth trajectories.

IPMs are a powerful tool for investigating age‐dependent components of phenotypic selection, and the demographic consequences of plastic responses that act through environmental effects on growth. But using age‐structured IPMs to project evolutionary dynamics requires combining them with measurements of age‐specific additive genetic variances and cross‐age additive genetic covariances, to accurately describe the accumulation of phenotypic differences across ages, and their transmission across generations.
Flight behaviour of vegetable pests and their natural enemies under different ultraviolet‐blocking enclosures
Authors: Dáder B. , Plaza M. , Fereres A. , Moreno A.
Published: April 2015

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particularly in the UV‐A + B range (280–400 nm) is a fraction of the solar spectrum that regulates almost every aspect of insect behaviour, including orientation towards hosts, alighting, arrestment and feeding behaviour. To study the role of UV radiation on the flight activity of five insect species of agricultural importance (pests Myzus persicae, Bemisia tabaci and Tuta absoluta, and natural enemies Aphidius colemani and Sphaerophoria rueppellii), one‐chamber tunnels were covered with six cladding materials with different light transmittance properties ranging from 2% to 83% UV and 54% to 85% photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Inside each tunnel, insects were released from tubes placed in a platform suspended from the ceiling. Specific targets varying with insect species were placed at different distances from the platform. Evaluation parameters were designed for each insect and tested separately. The ability of insects to leave the platform was assessed, as well as the number of captures, eggs or mummies in each target, either sticky traps or plants. Our results suggest differences in flight activity among insect species and UV‐blocking nets. The UV‐opaque film drastically prevented aphids, and whiteflies from flying outside the tubes whereas T. absoluta, syrphids and parasitoids were not affected. Aphid flight behaviour was affected by the UV‐opaque film compared to the other nets, especially in the furthest target of the tunnel. Fewer aphids reached distant traps under UV‐absorbing nets, and significantly more aphids could fly to the end of tunnels covered with non‐UV‐blocking materials. Orientation of B. tabaci and T. absoluta was also negatively affected by the UV‐opaque film although in a different trend. Unlike aphids, differences in B. tabaci captures were mainly found in the closest targets. UV transmittance did not have any effects on parasitoids, and S. rueppellii, implying cues other than visual for these insects under our experimental conditions. Further effects of photoselective enclosures on greenhouse pests and their natural enemies are discussed.
Sex Differences in the Pathways to Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Study of Opposite‐Sex Twin Pairs
Authors: Kendler Kenneth S. , Edwards Alexis C. , Gardner Charles O.
Published: April 2015

Background

We sought to develop an empirical, broad‐based developmental model for sex differences in risk for symptoms of alcohol use disorders, here called alcohol problems (APs).

Methods

We assessed 18 risk factors in 5 developmental tiers in both members of 1,377 opposite‐sex dizygotic twin pairs from the Virginia population‐based twin registry. Analyses were conducted by structural modeling, examining within‐pair differences.

Results

The best‐fitting model explained 73% of the variance in men and 71% in women for last yearAP. Forty‐nine percent of paths differed significantly across sexes. Ten variables had appreciably different predictive effects onAPin males versus females. Three were stronger in females: familial risk, early‐onset anxiety disorders, and nicotine dependence. Seven predictors had a stronger total effect in males: novelty seeking, conduct disorder, childhood sexual abuse, parental loss, neuroticism, low self‐esteem, and low marital satisfaction.

Conclusions

In a co‐twin control design, which matches sisters and brothers on genetic and familial–environmental background, we found numerous sex differences in predictors of last yearAP. Factors that were more prominent in men and in women were diverse, reflecting both internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. The model was slightly more successful at predictingAPin men than in women.
Pharmacists' knowledge about use of topical corticosteroids in atopic dermatitis: Pre and post continuing professional development education
Authors: Smith Saxon D , Lee Andrew , Blaszczynski Alex , Fischer Gayle
Published: April 2015

Background/Objectives

Topical corticosteroids (TCS) are the standard of care in paediatric atopic dermatitis (pAD). Parents commonly cite TCS phobia as a major impediment to treatment adherence. Misinformation on TCS side‐effects can impact on perceptions of TCS safety. We aimed to assess pharmacists' beliefs and information on the safety of TCS in pAD treatment and determine whether their beliefs could be modified.

Methods

Australian pharmacists attending a continuing professional development conference were assessed before and after an evidence‐based lecture on the use of TCS in pAD. Responses were recorded in real time on electronic keypads.

Results

The mean response rate was 86% of the 292 surveyed. Of responders, 64% recognised that treatment non‐adherence was a major reason for treatment failure in pAD. The post‐education session assessment demonstrated a major attitude shift compared to the pre‐education assessment. After education, pharmacists would instruct parents/patients to apply TCS until the eczema is clear (27 vs 92% pre and post‐education, P < 0.0001). The proportion that would instruct patients to use TCS sparingly dropped from 54 to 8% (P < 0.0001). The belief that cutaneous atrophy was the commonest side‐effect dropped from 46 to 7% (P < 0.0001). The belief that side‐effects from TCS would occur, even if used appropriately, dropped from 56 to 11% post‐education (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The significant knowledge gaps about the use and safety of TCS in pAD in Australian pharmacists and their advice to patients potentially contributes to poor treatment concordance. These attitudes appear modifiable through targeted, evidence‐based education delivered by a dermatologist.
A Linked Dataset of medical educational resources
Authors: Dietze Stefan , Taibi Davide , Yu Hong Qing , Dovrolis Nikolas
Published: April 2015

Reusable educational resources became increasingly important for enhancing learning and teaching experiences, particularly in the medical domain where resources are particularly expensive to produce. While interoperability across educational resources metadata repositories is yet limited to the heterogeneity of metadata standards and interface mechanisms with a lack of shared or aligned controlled vocabularies, Linked Data (LD) principles, based on W3C standards and supported through a wide range of tools, open up opportunities to alleviate such problems. We introduce the “mEducator Linked Educational Resources” dataset, which offers a range of open educational resources for the medical domain, exposed through LD principles. Data have been generated through a combination of manual curation and semi‐automated harvesting techniques, and state‐of‐the‐art enrichment and clustering techniques were deployed in order to classify and categorize data, toward improved reusability and access. Data are currently used by a range of educational applications and is accessible for third parties and developers, for instance through the LinkedUp Catalog and other registries, to facilitate further take‐up and applications.
Documenting Napping: The Agentic Force of Documents and Human Action
Authors: Alasuutari Maarit
Published: April 2015

The article examines the question of the agentic force of documents in institutional practices and proposes a conceptual model of the agentic relation between documentation and human actors. For this aim, it presents an empirical case study of Finnish early childhood education and care. The study deals with individual education plans (IEPs), which are an example of child documentation that aims at an individualised and participatory pedagogy. The analytical focus is on a single topic of an IEP, the child's afternoon naps, and how these are negotiated in the three‐party encounter between a parent, a practitioner and the IEP document. The theoretical framework draws on the theories of documentality and institutional ethnography, on the analytic of government, and on the idea of domestication. The analysis applies the approach of discursive constructionism. By analysing the negotiations related to napping, the study demonstrates not only aspects of the agentic force of the IEP document, but also human resistance of it.
The Documentation of Children's Learning in Early Childhood Education
Authors: Schulz Marc
Published: April 2015

In recent years, systematic documentation techniques focusing on children's learning have been increasingly established in institutions of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). This article addresses the problem of a lack of empirically based knowledge regarding how these techniques are implemented in practice. It refers to theories of practice and performativity in its discussion of assessment and documentation as collective practices in which actors, instruments and practices conjointly produce selections. Based on ethnographic research, it shows how documentation practices in ECEC create the subject that is presupposed and intended to be the object of study: the ‘learning child’.
Children's Views of Documentation in the Relations between Home and School
Authors: Markström Ann‐Marie
Published: April 2015

The aim of the article was to shed light on children's experiences and views of documentation in home–school relations. The study draws on qualitative interviews with 52 pupils in Year 6 in Sweden. The analyses reveal pupils’ understanding of documents and documentation and how they form an important part of the communication between home and school. Furthermore, the analyses show that children see themselves positioned as objects and messengers between home and school, but also as subjects who resist and use documents and documentation in their own interests.
Current understanding of the pathogenesis of autoimmune inner ear disease: a review
Authors: Goodall A.F. , Siddiq M.A.
Published: April 2015

Background

Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) is a poorly understood form of sensorineural hearing loss that causes bilateral, asymmetric, progressive hearing loss, sometimes with vestibular symptoms, often associated with a systemic autoimmune disease, which is noteworthy as the only sensorineural loss responsive to medical therapy. Despite much research interest of the past 25 years, its aetiopathogenesis is still unproven.

Objective of review

To succinctly consolidate research and opinion regarding the pathogenesis of autoimmune inner ear disease, in ongoing efforts to elucidate the molecular and intracellular pathways that lead to inner ear damage, which may identify new targets for pharmacotherapy.

Type of review

Systematic review

Search strategy

PubMed/MEDLINE search using key terms to identify articles published between January 1980 and Apr 2014. Additionally, any landmark works discussed in this body of literature were obtained and relevant information extracted as necessary.

Evaluation method

Inclusion criterion was any information from animal or human studies with information relevant to possible aetiopathogenesis of AIED. Studies that focused on diagnosis, ameliorating symptoms or treatment, without specific information relevant to mechanisms of immune‐mediated injury were excluded from this work. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were digested and summarised.

Results

A proposed pathogenic mechanism of AIED involves inflammation and immune‐mediated attack of specific inner ear structures, leading to an excessive Th1 immune response with vascular changes and tissue damage in the cochlea. Studies have identified self‐reactive T cells and immunoglobulins, and have variously implicated immune‐complex deposition, microthrombosis and electrochemical disturbances causing impaired neurosignalling in the pathogenesis of AIED. Research has also demonstrated abnormalities in the cytokine milieu in subjects with AIED, which may prove a target for therapy in the future.

Conclusion

Ongoing research is needed to further elucidate the aetiopathogenesis of AIED and discern between various mechanisms of tissue injury. Large‐cohort clinical studies employing IL‐1 receptor blockade are warranted to determine its potential for future therapy.
Individual prevention courses for occupational skin diseases: changes in and relationships between proximal and distal outcomes
Authors: Schuler Michael , Spanier Katja , Lukasczik Matthias , Schwarze Monika , Musekamp Gunda , Osborne Richard H. , Faller Hermann , Pohrt Ute
Published: April 2015

Background

To treat people with occupational contact dermatitis, the German Accident Prevention and Insurance Association in the Health and Welfare Services offers 2‐day individual prevention (IP) seminars.

Objectives

We investigated whether there are short‐term and medium‐term changes in proximal (e.g. behaviour) and distal (e.g. symptoms) outcomes after an IP seminar, whether changes in proximal outcomes are associated with changes in distal outcomes, and whether subgroups can be identified that benefit in particular.

Patients/materials/methods

In a prospective study, 502 participants of 85 IP courses completed the health education impact questionnaire (heiQ™) and skin symptom questionnaire (Skindex‐29) at the start of the course, immediately thereafter, and after 6 months. Change was assessed according to standardized effect size. Regression techniques were used to analyse associations between proximal and distal outcomes.

Results

After 6 months, participants showed improved self‐management skills and preventive behaviour, and less fear of job loss, disease‐related symptoms, and emotional distress. Significant associations between proximal and distal outcomes were found. Participants who felt more limited by their skin disease showed greater effects.

Conclusions

The results are consistent with the assumption that IP courses provide a range of benefits for people with occupational contact dermatitis. Changes in distal outcomes may be influenced by changes in proximal outcomes.
Booms, Busts and Retirement Timing
Authors: Disney Richard , Ratcliffe Anita , Smith Sarah
Published: April 2015

Cyclical fluctuations—which affect both asset and labour markets—can have an ambiguous effect on retirement. We explore this empirically using data from the British Household Panel Survey, exploiting small area geographic identifiers to match local house prices, earnings and unemployment to respondents. We match stock prices via the date of interview. Our results show little evidence of any positive wealth effects despite large spatial and temporal variations in asset prices over the period analysed. We find more response to local labour market conditions—increases in unemployment are associated with earlier retirement, while increases in wages delay retirement.