bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ENHANCING COLLABORATION BETWEEN SCHOOL NURSES AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS WHEN PROVIDING A CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH MEDICAL NEEDS
Authors: Finch Maria E. Hernández , Finch W. Holmes , Mcintosh Constance E. , Thomas Cynthia , Maughan Erin
Published: June 2015

Students who are medically involved often require sustained related services, regular care coordination, and case management to ensure that they are receiving a free and appropriate public education. Exploring the collaboration efforts of school psychologists and school nurses for meeting the educational and related services needs of these students who require hospital transitions was the focus of a nationwide survey with these professionals. We also explored whether the needs of these students were being included in schools’ multi‐tiered frameworks, such as Response to Intervention, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and/or Multi‐Tiered System of Support, and whether inclusion impacts the professionals’ perceptions of the care coordination process and its effectiveness. School psychologists and school nurses generally reported working together and feeling sufficiently trained to help these students, although school nurses reported less collaboration. School professionals conveyed not having sufficient notice when children return from hospital stays, nor being provided sufficient discharge information, although they agreed that the children are not returning to school too soon. Involvement with a school's multi‐tiered framework and other case management systems was associated with comfort with the transition process, whereas level of experience, caseload, type of school, and number of schools served were not. Policy recommendations and practical strategies based on the findings are provided.
A method for barrier‐based incident investigation
Authors: Pitblado Robin , Potts Tony , Fisher Mark , Greenfield Stuart
Published: June 2015

Incident investigation is a formal requirement for high hazard facilities with the aim to learn from each incident and to prevent future recurrences. There are many published investigation methods, with most driving to the management system root cause and some applying newer barrier‐based methods. However, these methods either do not link tightly to the facility risk assessment or are very difficult to apply, and lessons from incidents that might reveal weaknesses, especially relating to major accidents, can be missed. This article describes a novel method for incident investigation (Barrier‐based Systematic Cause Analysis Technique) that combines the ideas of barrier‐based risk assessment with a well‐established systems‐based root cause analysis method (Systematic Cause Analysis Technique). The method described is efficient and can be applied by properly trained supervisors, and this potentially allows every incident or near‐miss event to be assessed in a consistent risk‐based format. The method clearly establishes links back to the facility risk assessment and thus identifies risk pathways that are potentially too optimistic (i.e., the risk is higher than predicted), and this can be due to initial optimism or degradation of safety barriers (human or hardware). © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 34: 328–334, 2015
Impact of assimilating temperature and salinity measurements by animal‐borne sensors on FOAM ocean model fields
Authors: Carse Fiona , Martin Matthew J. , Sellar Alistair , Blockley Edward W.
Published: June 2015

Temperature and salinity profiles are being obtained from instrumented marine mammals in near real‐time. The mammals, mostly elephant seals, sample to depths of up to 2000 m in high‐latitude regions where there are very few other in situ observations. This study investigates the impact of mammal temperature and salinity observations on the UK Met Office's global ocean forecasting model, focussing on impacts in the Southern Ocean region. Three reanalyses were performed, each assimilating a varying amount of seal data whilst holding all other conditions constant.

Assimilation of both temperature and salinity profiles from mammals has a detrimental effect on the model's temperature and salinity fields due to a high bias in the salinity values. Restricting assimilation to temperature profiles only has benefits for both temperature and salinity fields in regions of the ocean where seals are sampling, improving root‐mean‐square error statistics by between 1 and 6% compared to the case where no mammal data were assimilated. In addition, the assimilation of seal temperature profiles alters the mixed‐layer depth and repositions and increases gradients of some fronts compared to the no‐seals case.
Contraction and closure
Authors: Ripley David ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: June 2015

In this paper, I consider the connection between consequence relations and closure operations. I argue that one familiar connection makes good sense of some usual applications of consequence relations, and that a largeish family of familiar noncontractive consequence relations cannot respect this familiar connection.
Isolation and characterization of Paenibacillus polymyxa LY214, a camptothecin-producing endophytic bacterium from Camptotheca acuminata
Authors: Pu Xiang , Chen Fei , Yang Yun , Qu Xixing , Zhang Guolin , Luo Yinggang
Published: June 2015

Camptothecin (CPT) is mainly produced and extracted from Camptotheca acuminata and Nothapodytes foetida for pharmaceutical use, i.e., the starting material for chemical conversion to the clinical CPT-type drugs. As the third largest plant anticancer drug, the heavy demand on CPT from global market leads to many research efforts to identify new sources for CPT production. Herein we report the isolation and characterization of a CPT-producing endophytic bacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa LY214 from Camptotheca acuminata. A 10.7 μg l−1 of CPT was presented in the fermentation broth of P. polymyxa LY214. Its CPT production decreased sharply when the strain of the 2nd generation of P. polymyxa LY214 was cultured and fermented. However, the CPT production remained relatively constant from 2.8 μg l−1 of the 2nd generation to 0.8 μg l−1 of the 8th generation of P. polymyxa LY214 under optimized fermentation conditions. A 15- to 30-fold increase of CPT yield was observed when the optimized fermentation conditions, together with the addition of putative biosynthetic precursors of CPT and adsorbent resin XAD16, were applied to ferment the strains of the 7th and 8th generation of P. polymyxa LY214. Bioinformatics analysis of the relative species of P. polymyxa LY214 indicates its potential to produce CPT, which will be helpful to decipher the mysteries of CPT biosynthesis.
Evolutionary annotation of conserved long non-coding RNAs in major mammalian species
Authors: Bu DeChao , Luo HaiTao , Jiao Fei , Fang ShuangSang , Tan ChengFu , Liu ZhiYong , Zhao Yi
Published: June 2015

Mammalian genomes contain tens of thousands of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that have been implicated in diverse biological processes. However, the lncRNA transcriptomes of most mammalian species have not been established, limiting the evolutionary annotation of these novel transcripts. Based on RNA sequencing data from six tissues of nine species, we built comprehensive lncRNA catalogs (4,142–42,558 lncRNAs) covering the major mammalian species. Compared to protein- coding RNAs, expression of lncRNAs exhibits striking lineage specificity. Notably, although 30%–99% human lncRNAs are conserved across different species on DNA locus level, only 20%–27% of these conserved lncRNA loci are detected to transcription, which represents a stark contrast to the proportion of conserved protein-coding genes (48%–80%). This finding provides a valuable resource for experimental scientists to study the mechanisms of lncRNAs. Moreover, we constructed lncRNA expression phylogenetic trees across nine mammals and demonstrated that lncRNA expression profiles can reliably determine phylogenic placement in a manner similar to their coding counterparts. Our data also reveal that the evolutionary rate of lncRNA expression varies among tissues and is significantly higher than those for protein-coding genes. To streamline the processes of browsing lncRNAs and detecting their evolutionary statuses, we integrate all the data produced in this study into a database named PhyloNONCODE (http://www.bioinfo.org/phyloNoncode). Our work starts to place mammalian lncRNAs in an evolutionary context and represent a rich resource for comparative and functional analyses of this critical layer of genome.
Assessment of Site Suitability for Landfill Construction in Gbekele, Nigeria
Authors: Anomohanran Ochuko
Published: June 2015

Efficient management of solid waste is one problem which environmentalist, health workers and city planners face in Nigeria. This problem caused by the generation of over 80 million kilograms of solid waste per day requires adequate and modern facilities to guarantee a healthy environment. That is why this study seeks to evaluate the suitability of the study location for the siting of a landfill with negligible impact on the environment and the people of the area. In carrying out this study, geoelectric survey, geological logging and laboratory test of borehole cuttings were employed in determining the geotechnical and hydrogeological properties relevant for the siting of landfill. Other attributes such as topology and distances to major rivers, settlements, railway and airport were also determined in this study. Window based groundwater models known as WINFLOW and WINTRAN were used to investigate the migration patterns of selected contaminants and travel times from the landfill. The gradient of the area and the values obtained from the social economic parameters studied showed that the landfill will not have negative impact on the surrounding environment. Analysis of the groundwater flow, contaminant field and transport modelling showed that there is a diminutive risk of contamination from the landfill reaching the various settlements around the landfill and the major river. From the findings it is recommended that the landfill be sited in the area.
Post-Soviet collective memory: Russian youths about Soviet past
Authors: Kasamara Valeria , Sorokina Anna
Published: June 2015

The research is focused on the image of the Soviet Union and that of its successor — the Russian Federation — in the minds of the Russian student youth. The concept of collective memory, being interdisciplinary and highly debatable, has been used in the given paper in its broad socio-cultural sense meaning the attitudes of interconnected social groups regarding the past and the present.

The participants of the poll were 100 students from the leading Moscow universities. They had been born after the Soviet Union collapse, so, the majority of them have a very obscure idea of the Soviet reality, simultaneously feeling nostalgia for the Soviet political past. The results of the research show that the image of the Soviet Union drastically differs from that of Russia in the young people’s minds being positive and negative, respectively.
Promoting New Collaborations for Education Research in Geoscience
Authors: LaDue Nicole , Taber John , Hubenthal Michael
Published: June 2015

Encouraging Networks Between Geoscience and Geoscience Education (ENGAGE) Workshop; Arlington, Virginia, 18–20 January 2015
Glioblastoma Multiforme in a Patient with Isolated Hemimegalencephaly
Authors: Novak Zdenek , Brazdil Milan , Hermanova Marketa , Chrastina Jan
Published: June 2015

We present an exceptional case of a patient with hemimegalencephaly and secondary intractable epilepsy treated with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and subsequent glioblastoma development in the hemimegalencephalic hemisphere 6 years after surgery. VNS (at age 18 years) led to a 60% reduction of intractable seizures. However, symptoms of intracranial hypertension suddenly occurred 6 years after surgery. A computed tomography scan revealed a brain tumor in the hemimegalencephalic hemisphere. Pathologic examination confirmed glioblastoma multiforme. The genetic background of hemimegalencephaly is discussed here, with attention paid to the available data about the malignant transformation of malformations of cortical development (MCDs). The case points to the need for adequate clinical and radiologic follow-up care for patients with MCDs including hemimegalencephaly.
nextflu: real-time tracking of seasonal influenza virus evolution in humans
Authors: Neher Richard A. , Bedford Trevor
Published: June 2015

Summary: Seasonal influenza viruses evolve rapidly, allowing them to evade immunity in their human hosts and reinfect previously infected individuals. Similarly, vaccines against seasonal influenza need to be updated frequently to protect against an evolving virus population. We have thus developed a processing pipeline and browser-based visualization that allows convenient exploration and analysis of the most recent influenza virus sequence data. This web-application displays a phylogenetic tree that can be decorated with additional information such as the viral genotype at specific sites, sampling location and derived statistics that have been shown to be predictive of future virus dynamics. In addition, mutation, genotype and clade frequency trajectories are calculated and displayed.

Availability and implementation: Python and Javascript source code is freely available from https://github.com/blab/nextflu, while the web-application is live at http://nextflu.org.

Contact:  tbedford@fredhutch.org
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Vertical Transmission in 12-Month-Old Infants Born to HCV-Infected Women and Assessment of Maternal Risk Factors
Authors: Jhaveri Ravi , Hashem Mohamed , El-Kamary Samer S. , Saleh Doa'a A. , Sharaf Sahar A. , El-Mougy Fatma , Abdelsalam Lobna , Ehab Mohamed , El-Ghazaly Hesham
Published: June 2015

Background.  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an underappreciated cause of pediatric liver disease, most frequently acquired by vertical transmission (VT). Current guidelines that include the option of screening infants for HCV RNA at 1–2 months are based on data prior to current real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based testing. Previous studies have demonstrated VT rates of 4%–15% and an association with high maternal viral load. We evaluated HCV RNA in infants with HCV VT and assessed maternal risk factors in a prospective cohort in Cairo, Egypt.

Methods.  Pregnant women were screened for HCV from December 2012 to March 2014. For those with HCV viremia, their infants were tested at 12 months for HCV RNA using real-time PCR. Maternal risk factors assessed for HCV VT association included HCV RNA levels, mode of delivery, and maternal IL28B genotype.

Results.  Of 2514 women screened, a total of 54 women were viremic (2.1%) and delivered 56 infants. Of those, 51 infants of 49 women were tested at 12 months of age. Only 7 infants were viremic, with an HCV VT rate of 14.3% (7 of 49). Median HCV RNA in the infants was 2100 IU/mL. None of the maternal risk factors analyzed were associated with transmission.

Conclusions.  In Egypt where HCV is highly endemic, we observed an overall 12-month HCV VT rate of 14.3%. Further studies should focus on better identification of pregnant women more likely to vertically transmit HCV and earlier testing of infants to identify those likely to develop chronicity.
Pharmacokinetics and Acid‐suppressive Effects of Esomeprazole in Infants 1–24 Months Old With Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Omari Taher , Davidson Geoffrey , Bondarov Patrik , Nauclér Emma , Nilsson Catarina , Lundborg Per
Published: June 2015

Objectives:

To evaluate the pharmacokinetics and acid‐suppressive effects of esomeprazole in infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Patients and Methods:

In this single‐blind, randomized, parallel‐group study, 50 infants 1 to 24 months old with symptoms of GERD, and ≥5% of time with intraesophageal pH <4 during 24‐hour dual pH monitoring, received oral esomeprazole 0.25 mg/kg (n = 26) or 1 mg/kg (n = 24) once daily for 1 week. Intraesophageal and intragastric pH were recorded at 1 week, and blood samples were taken for pharmacokinetic analysis.

Results:

At baseline, mean percentages of time with intragastric pH >4 and intraesophageal pH <4 were 30.5% and 11.6%, respectively, in the esomeprazole 0.25 mg/kg group and 28.6% and 12.5% in the esomeprazole 1 mg/kg group. After 1 week of treatment, times with intragastric pH >4 were 47.9% and 69.3% in the esomeprazole 0.25 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg groups, respectively (P < 0.001 vs baseline), and times with intraesophageal pH <4 were 8.4% (P < 0.05 vs baseline) and 5.5% (P < 0.001 vs. baseline), respectively. The mean number of acid reflux episodes of >5 minutes duration decreased from 6 at baseline to 3 and 2 with esomeprazole 0.25 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg, respectively. The geometric mean AUC0–t of esomeprazole were 0.24 and 1.79 μmol·h/L for the 0.25 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg dosages of esomeprazole, respectively. Both esomeprazole dosages were well tolerated.

Conclusions:

Oral treatment with esomeprazole 0.25 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg was well tolerated and provided dose‐related acid suppression, dose‐related exposure to esomeprazole, and decreased esophageal acid exposure in infants 1–24 months old with GERD.
Esomeprazole for the Treatment of Erosive Esophagitis in Children
Authors: Tolia Vasundhara , Youssef Nader N. , Gilger Mark A. , Traxler Barry , Illueca Marta
Published: June 2015

Background:

Acid suppression with a proton pump inhibitor is standard treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease and erosive esophagitis in adults and increasingly is becoming first‐line therapy for children aged 1–17 years. We evaluated endoscopic healing of erosive esophagitis with esomeprazole in young children with gastroesophageal reflux disease and described esophageal histology.

Methods:

Children aged 1–11 years with endoscopically or histologically confirmed gastroesophageal reflux disease were randomized to esomeprazole 5 or 10 mg daily (<20 kg) or 10 or 20 mg daily (≥20 kg) for 8 weeks. Patients with erosive esophagitis underwent an endoscopy after 8 weeks to assess healing of erosions.

Results:

Of 109 patients, 49% had erosive esophagitis and 51% had histologic evidence of reflux esophagitis without erosive esophagitis. Of the 45 patients who had erosive esophagitis and underwent follow‐up endoscopy, 89% experienced erosion resolution. Dilation of intercellular space was reported in 24% of patients with histologic examination.

Conclusions:

Esomeprazole (0.2–1.0 mg/kg) effectively heals macroscopic and microscopic erosive esophagitis in this pediatric population with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Dilation of intercellular space may be an important histologic marker of erosive esophagitis in children.
Halothane Modulates the Type I Interferon Response to Influenza and Minimizes the Risk of Secondary Bacterial Pneumonia through Maintenance of Neutrophil Recruitment in an Animal Model
Authors: MacDonald Brian A. , Chakravarthy Krishnan V. , Davidson Bruce A. , Mullan Barbara A. , Alluri Ravi , Hakansson Anders P. , Knight Paul R.
Published: June 2015

AbstractAbstract

By using mice exposed to halothane or ketamine and infected with influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae, the authors demonstrated that the use of halogenated volatile anesthetics modulate the type I interferon response to influenza and enhance postinfection antibacterial immunity.

Background:

To minimize the risk of pneumonia, many anesthesiologists delay anesthesia-requiring procedures when patients exhibit signs of viral upper respiratory tract infection. Postinfluenza secondary bacterial pneumonias (SBPs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. An increased host susceptibility to SBP postinfluenza has been attributed to physical damage to the pulmonary epithelium, but flu-induced effects on the immune system are being shown to also play an important role. The authors demonstrate that halothane mitigates the risk of SBP postflu through modulation of the effects of type I interferon (IFN).

Methods:

Mice (n = 6 to 15) were exposed to halothane or ketamine and treated with influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Bronchoalveolar lavage and lung homogenate were procured for the measurement of inflammatory cells, cytokines, chemokines, albumin, myeloperoxidase, and bacterial load.

Results:

Halothane exposure resulted in decreased bacterial burden (7.9 ± 3.9 × 105
vs. 3.4 ± 1.6 × 108 colony-forming units, P < 0.01), clinical score (0.6 ± 0.2 vs. 2.3 ± 0.2, P < 0.0001), and lung injury (as measured by bronchoalveolar lavage albumin, 1.5 ± 0.7 vs. 6.8 ± 1.6 mg/ml, P < 0.01) in CD-1 mice infected with flu for 7 days and challenged with S. pneumoniae on day 6 postflu. IFN receptor A1 knockout mice similarly infected with flu and S. pneumoniae, but not exposed to halothane, demonstrated a reduction of lung bacterial burden equivalent to that achieved in halothane-exposed wild-type mice.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate that the use of halogenated volatile anesthetics modulates the type I IFN response to influenza and enhance postinfection antibacterial immunity.
Improved ribosome-footprint and mRNA measurements provide insights into dynamics and regulation of yeast translation
Authors: Weinberg David E. , Shah Premal , Eichhorn Stephen W. , Hussmann Jeffrey A. , Plotkin Joshua B. , Bartel David P.
Published: June 2015

Ribosome-footprint profiling provides genome-wide snapshots of translation, but technical challenges can confound its analysis. Here, we use improved methods to obtain ribosome-footprint profiles and mRNA abundances that more faithfully reflect gene expression inSaccharomyces cerevisiae. Our results support proposals that both the beginning of coding regions and codons matching rare tRNAs are more slowly translated. They also indicate that emergent polypeptides with as few as three basic residues within a 10-residue window tend to slow translation. With the improved mRNA measurements, the variation attributable to translational control in exponentially growing yeast was less than previously reported, and most of this variation could be predicted with a simple model that considered mRNA abundance, upstream open reading frames, cap-proximal structure and nucleotide composition, and lengths of the coding and 5’-untranslated regions. Collectively, our results reveal key features of translational control in yeast and provide a framework for executing and interpreting ribosome-profiling studies.
SSCM: A method to analyze and predict the pathogenicity of sequence variants
Authors: Vikram Sharad , Rasmussen Matthew D. , Evans Eric A. , Haque Imran S.
Published: June 2015

Abstract

The advent of cost-effective DNA sequencing has provided clinics with high-resolution information about patient’s genetic variants, which has resulted in the need for efficient interpretation of this genomic data. Traditionally, variant interpretation has been dominated by many manual, time-consuming processes due to the disparate forms of relevant information in clinical databases and literature. Computational techniques promise to automate much of this, and while they currently play only a supporting role, their continued improvement for variant interpretation is necessary to tackle the problem of scaling genetic sequencing to ever larger populations. Here, we present SSCM-Pathogenic, a genome-wide, allele-specific score for predicting variant pathogenicity. The score, generated by a semi-supervised clustering algorithm, shows predictive power on clinically relevant mutations, while also displaying predictive ability in noncoding regions of the genome.
Ordering structured populations in multiplayer cooperation games
Authors: Peña Jorge , Wu Bin , Traulsen Arne
Published: June 2015

Spatial structure greatly affects the evolution of cooperation. While in two-player games the condition for cooperation to evolve depends on a single structure coefficient, in multiplayer games the condition might depend on several structure coefficients, making it difficult to compare different population structures. We propose a solution to this issue by introducing two simple ways of ordering population structures: the containment order and the volume order. If population structure 𝒮1is greater than population structure 𝒮2in the containment or the volume order, then 𝒮1can be considered a stronger promoter of cooperation. We provide conditions for establishing the containment order, give general results on the volume order, and illustrate our theory by comparing different models of spatial games and associated update rules. Our results hold for a large class of population structures and can be easily applied to specific cases once the structure coefficients have been calculated or estimated.
In SilicoPredictive Modeling of CRISPR/Cas9 guide efficiency
Authors: Fusi Nicolo , Smith Ian , Doench John , Listgarten Jennifer
Published: June 2015

The CRISPR/Cas9 system provides unprecedented genome editing capabilities; however, several facets of this system are under investigation for further characterization and optimization, including the choice of guide RNA that directs Cas9 to target DNA. In particular, given that one would like to target the protein-coding region of a gene, hundreds of guides satisfy the basic constraints of the CRISPR/Cas9 Protospacer Adjacent Motif sequence (PAM); however, not all of these guides actually generate gene knockouts with equal efficiency. Leveraging a broad set of experimental measurements of guide knockout efficiency, we introduce a state-of-the artin silicomodeling approach to identify guides that will lead to more effective gene knockout. We first investigated which guide and gene features are critical for prediction (e.g., single- and di-nucleotide identity of the gene target), which are helpful (e.g., thermodynamics), and which are predictive but redundant (e.g., microhomology). We also investigated evaluation measures for comparing predictive models in the present context, suggesting that Area Under the Receiver Operating Curve is not ideal. Finally, we explored a variety of different model classes and found that use of gradient-boosted regression trees produced the best predictive performance. Pointers to our open-source software, code, and prediction server will be available athttp://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/azimuth.
RNF17 blocks promiscuous activity of PIWI proteins in mouse testes
Authors: Wasik Kaja A. , Tam Oliver H. , Knott Simon R. , Falciatori Ilaria , Hammell Molly , Vagin Vasily V. , Hannon Gregory J.
Published: June 2015

PIWI proteins and their associated piRNAs protect germ cells from the activity of mobile genetic elements. Two classes of piRNAs—primary and secondary—are defined by their mechanisms of biogenesis. Primary piRNAs are processed directly from transcripts of piRNA cluster loci, whereas secondary piRNAs are generated in an adaptive amplification loop, termed the ping-pong cycle. In mammals, piRNA populations are dynamic, shifting as male germ cells develop. Embryonic piRNAs consist of both primary and secondary species and are mainly directed toward transposons. In meiotic cells, the piRNA population is transposon-poor and largely restricted to primary piRNAs derived from pachytene piRNA clusters. The transition from the embryonic to the adult piRNA pathway is not well understood. Here we show that RNF17 shapes adult meiotic piRNA content by suppressing the production of secondary piRNAs. In the absence of RNF17, ping-pong occurs inappropriately in meiotic cells. Ping-pong initiates piRNA responses against not only transposons but also protein-coding genes and long noncoding RNAs, including genes essential for germ cell development. Thus, the sterility of Rnf17 mutants may be a manifestation of a small RNA-based autoimmune reaction.
Floods and famine: climate‐induced collapse of a tropical predator‐prey community
Authors: Ujvari Beata , Brown Gregory , Shine Richard , Madsen Thomas
Published: June 2015

Will climate change threaten wildlife populations by gradual shifts in mean conditions, or by increased frequency of extreme weather events?

Based on long‐term data (from 1991 to 2014), the aim of the present study was to analyse and compare the sensitivity of predator–prey demography to extreme climatic events versus normal, albeit highly variable, annual deviations in climatic conditions in the Australian wet–dry tropics.

From 1991 to 2005, predators (water pythons, Liasis fuscus) and their main prey (dusky rats, Rattus colletti) showed significant climate‐driven fluctuations in numbers.

These fluctuations were, however, trivial compared to the impact of two massive but brief deluges in 2007 and 2011, which virtually eliminated the dusky rats. The two floods resulted in the pythons experiencing an unprecedented famine in seven out of the last 8 years causing a massive shift in python demography, that is a significant reduction in feeding rates, reproductive output, growth rates, relative body mass, survival, mean body length and numbers (from 3173 in 1992 to 96 in 2013).

Our results demonstrate that attempts to predict faunal responses to climate change, even if based on long‐term studies, may be doomed to failure. Consequently, biologists may need to confront the uncomfortable truth that increased frequency of brief unpredictable bouts of extreme weather can influence populations far more than gradual deviations in mean climatic conditions.
Enhancing Clinical Content and Race/Ethnicity Data in Statewide Hospital Administrative Databases: Obstacles Encountered, Strategies Adopted, and Lessons Learned
Authors: Pine Michael , Kowlessar Niranjana M. , Salemi Jason L. , Miyamura Jill , Zingmond David S. , Katz Nicole E. , Schindler Joe
Published: June 2015

Objectives

Eight grant teams used Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality infrastructure development research grants to enhance the clinical content of and improve race/ethnicity identifiers in statewide all‐payer hospital administrative databases.

Principal Findings

Grantees faced common challenges, including recruiting data partners and ensuring their continued effective participation, acquiring and validating the accuracy and utility of new data elements, and linking data from multiple sources to create internally consistent enhanced administrative databases. Successful strategies to overcome these challenges included aggressively engaging with providers of critical sources of data, emphasizing potential benefits to participants, revising requirements to lessen burdens associated with participation, maintaining continuous communication with participants, being flexible when responding to participants' difficulties in meeting program requirements, and paying scrupulous attention to preparing data specifications and creating and implementing protocols for data auditing, validation, cleaning, editing, and linking. In addition to common challenges, grantees also had to contend with unique challenges from local environmental factors that shaped the strategies they adopted.

Conclusions

The creation of enhanced administrative databases to support comparative effectiveness research is difficult, particularly in the face of numerous challenges with recruiting data partners such as competing demands on information technology resources. Excellent communication, flexibility, and attention to detail are essential ingredients in accomplishing this task. Additional research is needed to develop strategies for maintaining these databases when initial funding is exhausted.
Availability of New Medicaid Patient Appointments and the Role of Rural Health Clinics
Authors: Richards Michael R. , Saloner Brendan , Kenney Genevieve M. , Rhodes Karin V. , Polsky Daniel
Published: June 2015

Objective

To examine the willingness to accept new Medicaid patients among certified rural health clinics (RHCs) and other nonsafety net rural providers.

Data Sources

Experimental (audit) data from a 10‐state study of primary care practices, county‐level information from the Area Health Resource File, and RHC information from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Study Design

We generate appointment rates for rural and nonrural areas by patient‐payer type (private, Medicaid, self‐pay) to then motivate our focus on within‐rural variation by clinic type (RHC vs. non‐RHC). Multivariate linear models test for statistical differences and assess the estimates’ sensitivity to the inclusion of control variables.

Data Collection

The primary data are from a large field study.

Principal Findings

Approximately 80 percent of Medicaid callers receive an appointment in rural areas—a rate more than 20 percentage points greater than nonrural areas. Importantly, within rural areas, RHCs offer appointments to prospective Medicaid patients nearly 95 percent of the time, while the rural (nonsafety net) non‐RHC Medicaid rate is less than 75 percent. Measured differences are robust to covariate adjustment.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that RHC status, with its alternative payment model, is strongly associated with new Medicaid patient acceptance. Altering RHC financial incentives may have consequences for rural Medicaid enrollees.
The Measurement of Stable Carbon Isotope Ratios of Eight Methamidophos Samples
Authors: Kawashima Hiroto
Published: June 2015

Between December 2007 and January 2008, people suffered from food poisoning in the Japanese prefectures of Chiba and Hyogo after eating frozen dumplings (gyoza) produced in China, which had very high concentrations (1490–19,290 ppm) of methamidophos (O,S‐dimethyl phosphoramidothioate). Thus, we measured the stable carbon isotope ratio of methamidophos using GC/C/IRMS to identify the source. We analyzed seven methamidophos reagents and one Chinese agricultural methamidophos chemical (MTD600) that contained many impurities. The δ13C values of the seven methamidophos reagents and MTD600 ranged from −49.23‰ to −31.90‰, with an average SD of 0.20‰, very high precision. This difference (17.33‰) was very large compared with that in previous reports and may be attributable to the material itself and the chemical processing of methamidophos. Criminals can easily obtain pesticides such as methamidophos; therefore, it is very important to identify the pesticide source and distribution route using stable isotopic science in the future.
Geologic, Fluid Inclusion and Stable Isotope Constraints on Mechanisms of Ore Deposition at the Datuanshan Copper Deposit, Middle–Lower Yangtze Valley, Eastern China
Authors: Yi CAO , Yangsong DU , Zhenshan PANG , Yilun DU , Shaolei KOU , Linjie CHEN , Fuping GAO , Guibi ZHOU
Published: June 2015

The Datuanshan deposit is one of the largest and most representative stratabound copper deposits in the Tongling area, the largest ore district in the Middle–Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt. The location of the orebodies is controlled by the interlayer–slipping faults between the Triassic and Permian strata, and all the orebodies are distributed in stratiform shape around the Mesozoic quartz monzodiorite dikes. Based on field evidence and petrographic observations, four mineralization stages in the Datuanshan deposit have been identified: the skarn, early quartz–sulfide, late quartz–sulfide and carbonate stages. Chalcopytite is the main copper mineral and mainly formed at the late quartz–sulfide stage. Fluid inclusions at different stages were studied for petrography, microthermometry, laser Raman spectrometry and stable isotopes. Four types of fluid inclusions, including three‐phase fluid inclusions (type 1), liquid‐rich fluid inclusions (type 2), vapour–rich fluid inclusions (type 3) and pure vapour fluid inclusions (type 4), were observed. The minerals from the skarn, early and late quartz–sulfide stages contain all fluid inclusion types, but only type 2 fluid inclusions were observed at the carbonate stage. Petrographic observations suggest that most of the inclusions studied in this paper are likely primary. The coexistence of different types of fluid inclusions with contrasting homogenization characteristics (to the liquid and vapour phase, respectively) and similar homogenization temperatures (the modes are 440–480°C, 380–400°C and 280–320°C for the skarn, early and late quartz–sulfide stages, respectively) in the first three stages, strongly suggests that three episodes of fluid boiling occurred during these stages, which is supported by the hydrogen isotope data. Laser Raman spectra identified CH4 at the skarn and early quartz–sulfide stages. Combined with other geological features, the early ore–forming fluids were inferred to be under a relatively reduced environment. The CO2 component has been identified at the late quartz–sulfide and carbonate stages, indicating that the late ore‐forming fluids were under a relatively oxidized environment, probably as a result of inflow of and mixing with meteoric water. In addition, microthermometric results of fluid inclusions and H–O isotope data indicate that the ore forming fluids were dominated by magmatic water in the early stages (skarn and early quartz–sulfide stages) and mixed with meteoric water in the late stages (late quartz–sulfide and carbonate stages). The evidence listed above suggests that the chalcopyrite deposition in the Datuanshan deposit probably resulted from the combination of multi‐episode fluid boiling and mixing of magmatic and meteoric water.
Hydrocarbon Inclusion Characteristics in the Cambrian‐Ordovician Carbonates of the TS2 Well: Implication for Deep Hydrocarbon Exploration in the Tahe Oilfield, Tarim Basin, Northwest China
Authors: Chunquan LI , Honghan CHEN
Published: June 2015

Going deep has been the strategy for the sustainable development of the Tahe Oilfield. Following the TS1 well in block 1, which revealed excellent combinations of hydrocarbon generation, migration and accumulation in the deeper parts of the Tarim Basin, the TS2 well was drilled to learn more about the prospectivity in the deeper parts of the main blocks of the Tahe Oilfield. Seventeen core samples were collected to perform fluid inclusion studies, including petrography, fluorescence microspectrometry, and microthermometry. The results show that the deeper parts of the Tahe Oilfield have a good hydrocarbon potential. The Cambrian source rocks can supply sufficient oil for not only the Cambrian reservoirs, but also for the Lower Ordovician reservoirs. The Cambrian‐Ordovician carbonates reservoirs experienced at least three oil charging events and one late gas charging event. Oil accumulations formed in the early stage of basin evolution were likely destroyed in the late stage with deep burial, tectonic movements, or invasion of hydrothermal fluids. Therefore, the deep hydrocarbon exploration of the Tahe Oilfield, even the whole Tarim Basin, should focus on gas accumulations, although oil accumulations, especially in Cambrian reservoirs, cannot be neglected.
Determining Fluid Compositions in the H2O‐NaCl‐CaCl2 System with Cryogenic Raman Spectroscopy: Application to Natural Fluid Inclusions
Authors: Haixia CHU , Guoxiang CHI
Published: June 2015

Previous cryogenic Raman spectroscopic analysis of H2O‐NaCl‐CaCl2 solutions has identified the Raman peaks of various hydrates of NaCl and CaCl2, and established a linear relationship between Raman band intensity of the hydrates and the composition of the solution (NaCl/(NaCl+CaCl2) molar ratio, or XNaCl) using synthetic fluids, which created the opportunity to quantitatively determine the solute composition of aqueous fluid inclusions with cryogenic Raman spectroscopy. This paper aims to test the feasibility of this newly established method with natural fluid inclusions. Twenty‐five fluid inclusions in quartz from various occurrences which show a high degree of freezing during the cooling processes were carefully chosen for cryogenic Raman analysis. XNaCl was calculated using their spectra and an equation established in a previous study. These inclusions were then analyzed with the thermal decrepitation‐SEM‐EDS method. The XNaCl values estimated from the two methods show a 1:1 correlation, indicating that the new, non‐destructive cryogenic Raman spectroscopic analysis method can indeed be used for fluid inclusion compositional study.
Outline of Uranium Resources Characteristics and Metallogenetic Regularity in China
Authors: Yuqi CAI , Jindai ZHANG , Ziying LI , Qingyin GUO , Jiye SONG , Honghai FAN , Wusheng LIU , Fucheng QI , Minglin ZHANG
Published: June 2015

Uranium, as one of twenty–six kinds of important minerals in China, is strategic resource and energy mineral, which has been thoroughly investigated in the project of National Potential Evaluation of Uranium Resource. During the implementation of this project, the authors summarized the metallogenic regularity of uranium resource in China systematically, through the researches of geological characteristics of uranium resource, uranium deposits type (genetic and prediction type), temporal and spatial distribution, and metallogenic series. Based on the investigation of present situation and progress in uranium exploration, this paper proposes the uranium deposits in China should be divided into 4 classes, 9 types, 21 subtypes in genetic, and 50 types in prediction; suggests to divide China into 29 uranium metallogenic belts and 20 uranium prospective area, and constructs 20 uranium polymetallic metallogenic series, through summarizing temporal and spatial distribution characteristics and metallogenic regularity of uranium deposits in China. The above research is beneficial to the comprehensive understanding of regional uranium metallogenic regularity, and will direct the uranium exploration in the future.
Are overdoses treated by ambulance services an opportunity for additional interventions? A prospective cohort study
Authors: Gjersing Linn , Bretteville‐Jensen Anne Line
Published: June 2015

Aims

To assess whether people who inject drugs (PWID) and who are treated for overdose by ambulance services have a greater mortality risk compared with other PWID, and to compare mortality risk within potentially critical time‐periods (1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 5 years) after an overdose attendance with the mortality risk within potentially non‐critical time‐periods (time before and/or after critical periods).

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting

Oslo, Norway.

Participants

A total of 172 PWID street‐recruited in 1997 and followed‐up until the end of 2004.

Measurements

Interview data linked to data from ambulance records, Norwegian Correctional Services, Opioid Substitution Treatment records and National Cause of Death Registry. Separate Cox regression models (one for each critical time‐period) were estimated.

Findings

Ambulance services treated 54% of the participants for an overdose during follow‐up. The mortality rate was 2.8 per 100 person‐years for those with an overdose and 3.3 for those without; the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 1.3 (95% CI = 0.6, 2.6, P = 0.482). Mortality risk was greater in all but the shortest critical time‐period following ambulance attendance than in the non‐critical periods. The mortality risk remained significantly elevated during critical periods, even when adjusted for total time spent in prison and substitution treatment. The HR ranged from 9.4 (95% CI = 3.5, 25.4) in the month after an overdose to 13.9 (95% CI = 6.4, 30.2) in the 5‐year period.

Conclusions

Mortality risk among people who inject drugs is significantly greater in time‐periods after an overdose attendance than outside these time‐periods.
Changes in the rate of nicotine metabolism across pregnancy: a longitudinal study
Authors: Bowker Katharine , Lewis Sarah , Coleman Tim , Cooper Sue
Published: June 2015

Aims

Increased nicotine metabolism during pregnancy could explain why nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) appears to be less effective on smoking cessation in pregnancy than in non‐pregnant smokers, but little is known about nicotine metabolism across pregnancy. This study was conducted to determine when changes in nicotine metabolism occur during pregnancy and to describe the magnitude of these changes.

Design

Longitudinal cohort study of pregnant smokers' nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR).

Setting and Participants

101 pregnant smokers recruited from hospital antenatal clinics in Nottingham, UK were asked to provide saliva samples at 8–14 weeks (n = 98), 18–22 weeks (n = 65), 32–36 weeks gestation (n = 47), 4 weeks postpartum (n = 44) and 12 weeks postpartum (n = 47).

Measurements

Nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR) was measured using the ratio of cotinine to its primary metabolite trans‐3'‐hydroxycotinine. Multi‐level modelling was used to detect any overall difference in NMR between time points. The 12 week postpartum NMR was compared with the NMRs collected antenatally and 4 weeks postpartum.

Findings

NMR changed over time (p = 0.0006). Compared with NMR at 12 weeks postpartum, NMR was significantly higher at 18–22 weeks (26% higher, 95% CI 12% to 38%) and 32–36 weeks (23% higher, 95% CI 9% to 35%). There was no significant difference between the 8‐14 weeks gestation or 4 weeks postpartum NMR and 12 weeks postpartum.

Conclusions

Nicotine metabolism appears to be faster during pregnancy; this faster metabolism is apparent from 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy and appears to fall by 4 weeks after childbirth.
Submergence of black ash logs to control emerald ash borer and preserve wood forAmericanIndian basketmaking
Authors: Poland Therese M. , Ciaramitaro Tina M. , Emery Marla R. , Crook Damon J. , Pigeon Ed , Pigeon Angie
Published: June 2015

Indigenous artisans in theGreatLakes region rely on the ring‐porous property of black ashFraxinus nigraMarshall (Oleaceae), which allows annual layers of xylem to be easily separated to make baskets that are important economic resources and vessels of culture.

The emerald ash borerAgrilus planipennisFairmaire (Coleoptera:Buprestidae) is threateningNorthAmerica's ash resource, including black ash and this centuries‐old art form, resulting in grave concern about the availability of black ash trees for basketmaking and about movement of black ash (along withA. planipennis) from areas where it is cut to lands where it is pounded and split to make baskets.

We evaluated the traditional practice of storing black ash logs submerged in water as a possible method for killing within‐tree life stages ofA. planipennisat the same time as preserving the wood's value for basketmaking.

Black ash trees infested with overwinteringA. planipennislarvae were felled and cut into 60‐cm bolts in 2010 and in 2011. These were submerged in a river for different lengths of time and, after treatment, placed into rearing tubes to determine survival and adult emergence, or dissected within 24 h to determine larval mortality, and then pounded and peeled into splints to assess colour and pliability.

In 2010, allA. planipennislarvae had died and no adults emerged from logs submerged in spring for 10 weeks or longer, whereas some larvae survived and adults emerged from logs submerged for up to 9 weeks.

In 2011, submergence for 18 weeks during winter or 14 weeks in spring resulted in complete mortality ofA. planipennislarvae and no emergence of adults at the same time as still preserving wood quality for basketmaking.