bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new approach of graded damage modelling
Authors: Stolz Claude
Published: November 2018

To prevent the problem of spurious localisation in damage mechanics, it is necessary to control the damage gradient amplitude. The body is decomposed in three domains: the undamaged body where ([Formula: see text]), the transition zone ([Formula: see text]) and the totally broken body ([Formula: see text]). For the thick level set (TLS) model, damage is a function of the signed distance to the surface [Formula: see text]. In this article, we propose to control the damage gradient using a convex internal constraint. This point of view produces a new description of graded damage. Analytical solutions on spheres and cylinders under radial loading are given and discussed. For particular internal constraints, the TLS results are recovered.
Toxicity and Mutagenicity Evaluation Following RISUG Contraception Reversal in Rats
Authors: Ansari Abdul S. , Hussain Mubarik , Khan Sadi Rehan , Badar Ayesha , Lohiya N. K.
Published: November 2018

Reestablishment of fertility, after a male contraceptive method, is of great concern. In this context, RISUG (Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance) has been evaluated for its mutagenicity following reversibility with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) in Wistar albino rats. Animals were divided into 7 groups, namely, sham-operated control, vas occlusion with RISUG for 90 and 360 days, reversal with DMSO and NaHCO3 after 90 and 360 days, respectively. The testis, cauda epididymis, cauda epididymal spermatozoa, and serum were evaluated for apoptosis and hormonal status through various assays. RISUG was subjected to Ames test at dose levels of 10, 50, and 100 µL. Results of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick end labeling and caspase-3 assays in testes and cauda epididymis revealed that the percentage of positive cells in the experimental groups was comparable to sham-operated control. Annexin V assay in cauda epididymal spermatozoa showed slight elevation in group II ( P < 0.05), whereas in the remaining groups, minimum numbers of positive sperms were found. Hormone profile, namely, testosterone, prolactin, cortisol, prostate-specific antigen, and sperm antibody concentration, remained unchanged. In Ames test, no significant increase was observed in the number of revertant colonies on plates containing RISUG in the presence and absence of S9 mix in all 3 strains. Therefore, the reversal of RISUG-induced contraception by solvent vehicle DMSO/NaHCO3 was successful without any toxicity at the cellular levels.
Characterization of Jc Virus Dna Amplified from Urine of Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Stoner Gerald L , Agostini Hansjürgen T , Ryschkewitsch Caroline F , Baumhefner Robert W , Tourtellotte Wallace W
Published: November 2018

Thirty-seven chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, 20 of whom were taking cyclosporine, were examined for excretion of JC virus (JCV) in the urine. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA in urinary cell extracts detected JCV in 30% of the MS urines. In the cyclosporine treated group four of 20 (20%) excreted JCV, whereas in the untreated group seven of 17 (41%) excreted JCV. Thus, cyclosporine treatment did not enhance urinary excretion of the virus. A control group consisting of an unselected series of 89 patients donating urine in a general medical clinic and 16 healthy volunteers showed 41% with detectable urinary JCV. Thirty-three percent of the control females excreted JCV (18154), as did 49% of the control males (25151). Although the percentage of MS patients excreting detectable virus was not increased compared to the control group, the presence of JCV in the urine provides or convenient source of the virus for further characterization. Genotyping of DNA fragments amplified from the VPI region indicates mainly the presence of JCV Type 1 in these chronic progressive MS patients. This is also the type that predominates in the control group. An apparent recombinant between Type 1 and Type 3 (African) within the VPI region, tentatively designated Type 113 (or Type 4), was found in both the MS group and the controls. A larger series of MS patients that includes relapsing/remitting disease will be required to determine whether the genotype profile of JCV excreted in the urine of MS patients differs significantly from controls.
Social determinants of child trafficking addressed by government and non-government strategies in South and Southeast Asia: an integrative review
Authors: Gautam Poudel Pragya , Barroso Cristina S.
Published: November 2018

Aims: Child trafficking in South and Southeast Asia is widespread and deeply troubling. While several agencies have initiated anti-child-trafficking interventions, it is unknown whether they address the 21 social determinants of child trafficking identified by Perry and McEwing (2013). The aim of this integrative review was to explore the anti-child-trafficking strategies employed by governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that target the social determinants of child trafficking in South and Southeast Asia, and identify which levels of the socio-ecological model (SEM) they address. Methods: The authors performed a literature search for journal articles and reports by researchers, local or national governments, and international organizations on the prevention of child trafficking in eight South Asian and eight Southeast Asian nations. Identified manuscripts were analyzed to determine which social determinants and socio-ecological levels were addressed by the programs described. Results: Sixteen journal articles and 31 reports from the gray literature were identified. The government and NGO anti-child-trafficking strategies in 16 South and Southeast Asian nations addressed 15 and 12 of the 21 social determinants, respectively. Social determinants at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, and policy levels of SEM were addressed, but failed to address the organizational level. Conclusions: The gravity of child trafficking necessitates that interventions address all of the 21 social determinants of child trafficking at all levels of the SEM. The authors found no account on any anti-child-trafficking intervention from four South Asian and five Southeast Asian nations. Dissemination and continuous evaluation of anti-trafficking interventions are warranted.
The Quest for Environmental Law Equilibrium
Authors: Waite Andrew
Published: November 2018

This article demonstrates that environmental law is not only dictated by environmental imperatives and principles, but is also affected profoundly in practice by the rules on enforcement, access to information, participation and access to justice on one hand and the behaviour of the environmental ‘actors’ on the other.

It shows that the mandatory enforcement requirements in the contaminated land legislation and the EU Environmental Liability Directive are likely to make their impact much greater and therefore (possibly) more effective than if enforcement were discretionary. The ability of private parties to enforce the law as in the case of criminal prosecutions and judicial review (especially in the case of the EU Environmental Liability Directive) is likely to give encouragement to the regulatory authorities to do their job properly. The approach of the environmental ‘actors’ is crucial not only to whether and how environmental law operates in practice but also to its development.

In order to decide whether the environmental law equation balances to achieve equilibrium, the overall effect of individual rules and of the combined total of all environmental laws must be considered. This applies not just to the rules on paper, but rather to how they work in practice. Accordingly, it is important to examine each of the ‘onion layers’ carefully. To that end the author explores briefly several significant environmental regimes before presenting his conclusion.
Reconciling Renewable Energy and the Local Impacts of Hydro-Electric Development
Authors: Pillai Aylwin , Reid Colin T. , Black Andrew R.
Published: November 2018

The UK and Scottish governments’ policy commitments to renewable energy, driven by recognition of the impacts of global warming and climate change, have led to increasing interest in all aspects of renewable energy. This article is concerned with how the Scottish Executive is able to reconcile new hydro-electric developments as a source of renewable energy with the local impacts of those developments. The outcome of a recent application for consent to construct a hydro-electric scheme at Shieldaig and Slattadale in Wester Ross provides an illustration of the issues involved. The local environmental impacts of hydroelectric development are considerable and the application of environmental impact assessment to the approval procedure for new schemes means that a much broader range of environmental impacts is now considered than ever before. The decision shows the importance of compliance with European Community environmental law, and is particularly interesting for its application of the precautionary principle to prevent impacts on protected species.
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Justice-Involved Youth: The Effect of Trauma and Programming on Different Recidivistic Outcomes
Authors: Kowalski Melissa A.
Published: November 2018

Studies have demonstrated that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are prevalent in justice-involved youth and related to recidivism. However, the effect of programming on reducing reoffending for youth with a trauma history is not well researched. This study aims to examine the prevalence of ACEs across different subsets of justice-involved youth, as well as the impact of family-based programming and aggression replacement training (ART) for youth exposed to ACEs. Presence of ACEs among 50,862 in Washington State is examined via multiple statistical tests. Results indicate that ACEs are prevalent in this sample, with higher ACE scores being associated with a greater risk of reoffending for different types of recidivism. Both family-based programming and ART had an impact on recidivism for males, while only completion of ART resulted in a decreased odds of reoffending for females. However, an intervention between programming and ACEs was nonsignificant, indicating that these particular interventions are not more beneficial for youth exposed to trauma than they are for the general justice-involved youth population. Findings outline the need to give ACEs serious consideration in the juvenile justice system, as these trauma experiences can inform case management and programming.
Total Energy Expenditure by the Doubly-Labeled Water Method in Rural Preschool Children in Cuba
Authors: Hernández-Triana Manuel , Salazar Gabriela , Díaz Erik , Sánchez Vivian , Basabe Beatriz , González Soraya , Díaz Maria Elena
Published: November 2018

An evaluation of the capacity of the Cuban Nutrition Program for covering the energy requirements of children was carried out in children 5.0 ± 1.0 years of age in a rural mountain community in Cuba. Five males and six females (19 ± 3.05 kg average weight) with a mean BMI 15.4 ± 2.2 kg/m2) were included in the study. Six of the subjects were well-nourished, three were undernourished, and two were overweight. Total energy expenditure was determined by the doubly-labeled water technique. Resting metabolic rate was measured by indirect calorimetry. Energy intake, measured by a three-day weighed dietary record, was 1,527 kcal/day (6.39 MJ). The total energy expenditure of the well-nourished children was 11.8% lower than present energy recommendations (1,773 kcal). This implies that well-nourished children who are moderately to heavily physically active require 82.6 kcal/kg per day. The physical activity level of normal Cuban children is nearly 1.8, which is much higher than that reported in studies of children from industrialized countries using the doubly-labeled water technique. The measured daily energy intake was 1.7 times the resting metabolic rate RMR and 1.04 times the total energy expenditure.
Design of a Prospective, Randomized Evaluation of an Integrated Nutrition Program in Rural Viet Nam
Authors: Marsh David R. , Pachón Helena , Schroeder Dirk G. , Ha Tran Thu , Dearden Kirk , Lang Tran Thi , Hien Nguyen Dhanh , Tuan Doan Anh , Thach Tran Duc , Claussenius David
Published: November 2018

Few prospective studies of child growth and its determinants take place in programmatic contexts. We evaluated the effect of Save the Children's (SC) community empowerment and nutrition program (CENP) on child growth, care, morbidity, empowerment, and behavioral determinants. This paper describes the research methods of this community-based study. We used a longitudinal, prospective, randomized design. We selected 12 impoverished communes with documented child malnutrition, three comparison, and three intervention communes in each of two districts in Phu Tho Province, west of Hanoi. SC taught district trainers in November 1999 to train local health volunteers to implement the 10-month CENP, including situation analysis, positive deviance (PD) inquiry, growth monitoring and promotion, nutrition education and rehabilitation program (NERP), deworming, and monitoring. PD inquiries aim to discover successful care practices in poor households that likely promote well-nourished children. NERPs are neighborhood-based, facilitated group learning sessions where caregivers of malnourished children learn and practice PD and other healthy behaviors. We dewormed all intervention and comparison children. We weighed all children less than 24 months of age living in the intervention and comparison communes and randomly selected 240 children (120 intervention and 120 comparison). We gathered information on nutritional status, diet, illness, care, behavioral determinants, empowerment, and program quality, monthly for six months with a re-survey at 12 months. We collected most information through maternal interview but also observed hygiene and program quality, and videotaped feedings at home. Some implementation and research limitations will attenuate CENP impact and measurement of its effectiveness.
Implementation of Nutrition Education and Rehabilitation Programs (NERPs) in Viet Nam
Authors: Dickey Vanessa C. , Pachón Helena , Marsh David R. , Lang Tran Thi , Claussenius David R. , Dearden Kirk A. , Ha Tran Thu , Schroeder Dirk G.
Published: November 2018

Rigorous assessments of program quality are uncommon in developing countries. We evaluated the quality of the two-week, volunteer-facilitated, caregiver-child rehabilitation “hearth,” or nutrition education and rehabilitation program (NERP), sessions in Save the Children's integrated nutrition program in Viet Nam. Field workers observed attendance, food contribution, food preparation, meal consumption, health message delivery, hygiene, and weighing at 240 NERP days at 59 NERP centers during seven months of implementation. Participation in cooking NERP meals (75.8%), washing mothers’ and children's hands (75.7% and 81.6%, respectively), and weighing (74.5% on days 1 and 12) were high, but attendance rates (50.3%), food contributions (20.3%), and health message delivery (20.0%) were lower than expected, all with wide variation among communes, ecology, NERP day, and NERP round. Contrary to protocol, food was often delivered to malnourished children who stayed at home to accommodate caregivers’ workloads and other constraints. While home-delivery of food prevented caregivers from learning from each other in a group, it did bring “tangible messages” (i.e., a large serving size of a new food) to the doorstep. Health volunteers were wise to stress active learning over repetitive message delivery. In summary, these NERPs were probably typical of previous NERPs although comparable quality measures are lacking. Despite imperfect implementation, the NERP's active-learning and local problem-solving helped achieve measurable impact on growth, diet, morbidity, and empowerment despite uncommon program challenges, such as uncharacteristically low baseline levels of malnutrition and high population dispersion. Regular quality monitoring may enhance impact even further.
Empowerment in Rural Viet Nam: Exploring Changes in Mothers and Health Volunteers in the Context of an Integrated Nutrition Project
Authors: Hendrickson Julia L. , Dearden Kirk , Pachón Helena , An Ngyuyen Hoi , Schroeder Dirk G. , Marsh David R.
Published: November 2018

Empowerment is often cited as a fundamental component of health promotion strategies. Anecdotes suggest that Save the Children's integrated nutrition project empowers local women and health volunteers. The aim of this research was to document the degree to which this is being accomplished. Using qualitative methodologies, we conducted a cross-sectional assessment to compare self-reported changes in identified empowerment domains among 17 program health volunteers and 20 mothers involved in a child nutrition intervention and among five Women's Union leaders and five mothers in a non-intervention comparison commune. Intervention mothers reported increased knowledge, confidence, and information sharing about child-care and feeding, while non-intervention mothers reported minimal changes in these domains. Both intervention health volunteers and non-intervention Women's Union leaders expressed improvements in knowledge, confidence, and relationships with community members. In this study we found that the relative increases in empowerment were greater for mothers than for health volunteers. Intervention mothers reported more sharing of information on child relationships with community members than Women's Union leaders. The increased information sharing has positive implications for spread of key messages to families that did not directly participate in intensive feeding and the sustainability of the intervention's impact. Future research should focus on developing culturally specific concepts of empowerment to better understand the effects of empowerment efforts. This study's identification of empowerment domains will inform future empowerment studies in Vietnam.
Work outside the Home is the Primary Barrier to Exclusive Breastfeeding in Rural Viet Nam: Insights from Mothers who Exclusively Breastfed and Worked
Authors: Dearden Kirk A. , Quan Le Nga , Do Mai , Marsh David R. , Pachón Helena , Schroeder Dirk G. , Lang Tran Thi
Published: November 2018

This study assessed barriers to exclusive breastfeeding in rural Viet Nam and identified how a few mothers were able to exclusively breastfeed despite barriers. A cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative assessment was carried out among 120 mothers of infants less than six months old in northern Viet Nam. Only 24% of the mothers exclusively breastfed. Adjusting for infant's age and who attended delivery, the risk of not exclusively breastfeeding was 14.0 times greater for women who had returned to work than for women who had not. Exclusively breastfeeding mothers (n = 4) who worked differed from other mothers in important ways. They all felt they had enough milk, all knew the appropriate time to introduce foods and liquids, and most were supported in their breastfeeding decisions by commune health workers and family members. This research suggests strategies that can be implemented now to increase exclusive breastfeeding in rural work environments. These include improving knowledge about the introduction of water and semi-solids, addressing perceptions of milk insufficiency, securing support from others, and presenting mothers with options for exclusively breastfeeding, even when they work outside the home.
The Positive Deviance Approach: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future
Authors: Lapping Karin , Marsh David R. , Rosenbaum Julia , Swedberg Eric , Sternin Jerry , Sternin Monique , Schroeder Dirk G.
Published: November 2018

The positive deviance (PD) approach offers an alternative to needs-based approaches for development. The “traditional” application of the PD approach for childhood malnutrition involves studying children who grow well despite adversity, identifying uncommon, model practices among PD families, and designing an intervention to transfer these behaviors to the mothers of malnourished children. A common intervention for child malnutrition, the so-called “hearth,” brings mothers together to practice new feeding and caring behaviors under the encouragement of a village volunteer. Hearths probably work because they modify unmeasured behavioral determinants and unmonitored behaviors, which, in turn, result in better child growth. Some health outcomes require a better understanding of behavioral determinants and are not best served by hearth-like facilitated group skills-building. We propose testing “booster PD inquiries” during implementation to confirm behavioral determinants and efficiently focus interventions. We share early experience with the PD approach for HIV/AIDS and food security. The attributable benefit of the PD approach within a program has not been quantified, but we suspect that it is a catalyst that accelerates change through the processes of community attention getting, awareness raising, problem-solving, motivating for behavior change, advocacy, and actual adopting new behaviors. Program-learners should consider identifying and explicitly attempting to modify the determinants of critical behavior(s), even if the desired outcome is a change in health status that depends on multiple behaviors; measure and maintain program quality, especially at scale; and creatively expand and test additional roles for PD within a given program.
A Method of Preserving and Testing the Acceptability of Gac Fruit Oil, A Good Source of β-Carotene and Essential Fatty Acids
Authors: Vuong L. T. , King J. C.
Published: November 2018

Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng) is indigenous to Vietnam and other countries in Southeast Asia. Its seed pulp contains high concentrations of carotenoids, especially the provitamin A, β-carotene. In northern Vietnam, gac fruits are seasonal and are mainly used in making a rice dish called xoi gac. The purpose of this study was to develop a method to collect and preserve gac fruit oil, to evaluate the nutritional composition of the oil, and to assess the acceptability of the gac oil by typical Vietnamese homemakers. One hundred women participated in training to learn how to prepare the fruits and operate the oil press. The women also participated in a survey of gac fruit use and their habitual use of animal fat and vegetable oil. Among all the participants in the training and surveys, 35 women actually produced oil from gac fruits grown in the village, using manual oil presses and locally available materials. The total carotene concentration in gac fruit oil was 5,700 μg/ml. The concentration of β-carotene was 2,710 μg/ml. Sixty-nine percent of total fat was unsaturated, and 35% of that was polyunsaturated. The average daily consumption of gac fruit oil was estimated at 2 ml per person. The daily β-carotene intake (from gac fruit oil) averaged approximately 5 mg per person. It was found that gac oil can be produced locally by village women using manual presses and locally available materials. The oil is a rich source of β-carotene, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids. Although the β-carotene concentration declines with time without a preservative or proper storage, it was still high after three months. The oil was readily accepted by the women and their children, and consumption of the oil increased the intake of β-carotene and reduced the intake of lard.
Iron Deficiency: Global Prevalence and Consequences
Authors: Stoltzfus Rebecca J.
Published: November 2018

Iron deficiency is considered to be one of most prevalent forms of malnutrition, yet there has been a lack of consensus about the nature and magnitude of the health consequences of iron deficiency in populations. This paper presents new estimates of the public health importance of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), which were made as part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2000 project. Iron deficiency is considered to contribute to death and disability as a risk factor for maternal and perinatal mortality, and also through its direct contributions to cognitive impairment, decreased work productivity, and death from severe anemia. Based on meta-analysis of observational studies, mortality risk estimates for maternal and perinatal mortality are calculated as the decreased risk in mortality for each 1 g/dl increase in mean pregnancy hemoglobin concentration. On average, globally, 50% of the anemia is assumed to be attributable to iron deficiency. Globally, iron deficiency ranks number 9 among 26 risk factors included in the GBD 2000, and accounts for 841,000 deaths and 35,057,000 disability-adjusted life years lost. Africa and parts of Asia bear 71% of the global mortality burden and 65% of the disability-adjusted life years lost, whereas North America bears 1.4% of the global burden. There is an urgent need to develop effective and sustainable interventions to control iron-deficiency anemia. This will likely not be achieved without substantial involvement of the private sector.
Effect of Iron-Deficiency Anemia on Cognitive Skills and Neuromaturation in Infancy and Childhood
Authors: Walter Tomas
Published: November 2018

Iron-deficiency anemia in infancy has been consistently shown to negatively influence performance in tests of psychomotor development. In most studies of short-term follow-up, lower scores did not improve with iron therapy, despite complete hematologic replenishment.

The negative impact on psychomotor development of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) in infancy has been well documented in more than a dozen studies during the last two decades. Two studies will be presented here to further support this assertion. Additionally, we will present some data referring to longer follow-up at 5 and 10 years as well as data concerning recent descriptions of the neurologic derangements that may underlie these behavioral effects.

To evaluate whether these deficits may revert after long-term observation, a cohort of infants was re-evaluated at 5 and 10 years of age. Two studies have examined children aged 5 years who had anemia as infants using comparable tools of cognitive development showing persisting and consistent important disadvantages in those who were formerly anemic. These tests were better predictors of future achievement than psychomotor scores. These children were again examined at 10 years and showed lower school achievement and poorer fine-hand movements. Studies of neurologic maturation in a new cohort of infants aged 6 months included auditory brain stem responses and naptime 18-lead sleep studies. The central conduction time of the auditory brain stem responses was slower at 6, 12, and 18 months and at 4 years, despite iron therapy beginning at 6 months. During the sleep-wake-fulness cycle, heart-rate variability—a developmental expression of the autonomic nervous system—was less mature in anemic infants. The proposed mechanisms are altered auditory-nerve and vagal-nerve myelination, respectively, as iron is required for normal myelin synthesis.
Effect of a Multiple-Micronutrient-Fortified Fruit Powder Beverage on the Nutrition Status, Physical Fitness, and Cognitive Performance of Schoolchildren in the Philippines
Authors: Solon Florentino S. , Sarol Jesus N. , Bernardo Allan B. I. , Solon Juan Antonio A. , Mehansho Haile , Sanchez-Fermin Liza E. , Wambangco Lorena S. , Juhlin Kenton D.
Published: November 2018

This study aimed to determine the effect of a multiple-micronutrient-fortified beverage on the micronutrient status, physical fitness, and cognitive performance of schoolchildren. The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of schoolchildren assigned to receive either the fortified or nonfortified beverage with or without anthelmintic therapy. Data on hemoglobin level, urinary iodine excretion (UIE) level, physical fitness, and cognitive performance were collected at baseline and at 16 weeks post-intervention. The fortified beverage significantly improved iron status among the subjects that had hemoglobin levels < 11 g/dl at baseline. The proportion of children who remained moderately to severely anemic was significantly lower among those given the fortified beverage. In the groups that received the fortified product, the median UIE level increased, whereas among those who received the placebo beverage, the median UIE level was reduced significantly. Iron- and/or iodine-deficient subjects who received the fortified beverage showed significant improvements in fitness (post-exercise reduction of heart rate) and cognitive performance (nonverbal mental ability score). The study showed that consumption of a multiple-micronutrient-fortified beverage for 16 weeks had significant effects on iron status, iodine status, physical fitness, and cognitive performance among iron- and/or iodine-deficient Filipino schoolchildren. Anthelmintic therapy improved iron status of anemic children and iodine status of the iron-adequate children at baseline but it had no effect on physical fitness and cognitive performance. The results from the clinical study showed that a multiple-micronutrient-fortified beverage could play an important role in preventing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies.
Evaluation of Weight for Height: Validation of a Visual Scale
Authors: Casanueva Esther , Magaña Laura , Cárdenas Tania
Published: November 2018

The design and validation of an instrument for use in programmes for the detection of alterations in the nutrition status of non-pregnant, non-lactating women of fertile age is described. A group of 150 non-pregnant, non-lactating women was studied to classify them in one of Sheldon's five somatotypes according to the visual perception of a trained observer, as well as a self-classification by each woman. Also, the percentage of weight for height for each somatotype was estimated. The sensitivity and specificity of the cut-off points for the percentage of weight for height were calculated in an independent group of 105 women and were found acceptable.
Pitfalls and Experiences in Nutritional Research on the Elderly in Developing Countries
Authors: Solomons Noel W.
Published: November 2018

Life expectancy is increasing in developing countries. Gerontology, the study of the biology of ageing, has had only limited application to third world populations. The published literature on ageing and the elderly in developing countries is generally sparse and primarily descriptive. Nutrition and diet, however, comprise an important fraction of the extant literature. Barriers to gerontological research in the third world include the traditional focus on maternal and child health, limited human and material resources, and methodological pitfalls inherent in the study of ageing. Additional pitfalls related to the ecological and genetic characteristics of pre-industrialized and transitional countries, per se, must also be recognized and avoided. This will allow gerontological research to flourish and create understanding of the problems of ageing in the third world.
Shift in Abundance From Seedling to Juvenile Gives Lianas Advantage Over Trees: A Case Study in the Atlantic Forest Hotspot
Authors: César Ricardo Gomes , Leite Hellen Patricia Pecchi , Martins Júlia Teixeira , Amarante Kerolin Moreira , Torres Bianca Frota , Mello Felipe Nery Arantes , Vidal Edson Jose , Brancalion Pedro Henrique Santin
Published: November 2018

The Atlantic Forest has been threatened by frequent human disturbances that affect its ecological processes. Lianas are an important component of tropical forest dynamics and, under chronic disturbance, may proliferate vigorously, potentially arresting secondary succession and hindering forest recovery. Our study aims to analyze abundance and diversity of liana and trees in different life stages in a disturbed semidecidual seasonal tropical forest fragment in southeast Brazil. We sampled the species richness and relative abundance in the following life stages of lianas and trees: I—seed (as seed arrival and seed bank processes), II—seedling, III—juvenile, and IV—adult. Lianas are more abundant than trees after the seedling stage, while trees showed more rarefied species richness only at the seed rain stage. Our results show that dispersal does not seem to be a bottleneck for either liana or tree community in disturbed fragments, but competition at the seedling stage may give lianas advantage over trees. Lianas may proliferate abundantly in forest fragments, even decades after disturbance. We recommend interventions for the management and restoration of disturbed forest fragments dominated by lianas to target this life form in life stages where they suppress the forest community, such as after the seedling stage.
Smoking is the dominating modifiable risk factor in younger patients with STEMI
Authors: Gleerup Hanne Bechmann , Dahm Christina C , Thim Troels , Jensen Svend Eggert , Jensen Lisette Okkels , Kristensen Steen Dalby , Bøtker Hans Erik , Maeng Michael
Published: November 2018

Aims:

Smoking is an important modifiable risk factor for myocardial infarction. It is unclear whether smoking habits at the time of an incident ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) differ across age groups and sex.

Methods and results:

We included patients with incident STEMI registered in the Western Denmark Heart Registry from 2005 to 2015 ( n=9914). Patients were divided into four age groups (30–49, 50–59, 60–69 and ⩾70 years) with the latter serving as reference. Smoking was the most prevalent modifiable risk factor in 30–49-year-old patients (74% vs. hypertension 15%, hyperlipidaemia 10% and diabetes 7%). The smoking prevalence decreased with increasing age, while treatment for hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes increased with increasing age. Smoking was five times (odds ratio (OR) 5.15; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.37–6.07) more prevalent among 30–49-year-old patients with STEMI than the reference group. Differences according to sex were significant as the OR for current smoking in women was 9.88 (95% CI 6.94–14.08) compared to OR 3.78 (95% CI 3.12–4.58) in men.

Conclusions:

Despite public information campaigns and general warnings, smoking remains the most prevalent modifiable risk factor in younger patients with STEMI.
Growing Up Thinking of God’s Beliefs: Theory of Mind and Ontological Knowledge
Authors: Di Dio Cinzia , Isernia Sara , Ceolaro Chiara , Marchetti Antonella , Massaro Davide
Published: November 2018

The study of social cognition involves the attribution of states of mind to humans, as well as, quite recently, to nonhuman creatures, like God. Some studies support the role of social cognition in religious beliefs, whereas others ascribe religious beliefs to an ontological knowledge bias. The present study compares these distinct approaches in 37 catholic children aged 4 to 10 years, who were administered an adapted version of the unexpected content task assessing false beliefs of different agents: a human, a dog, a robot, and God. The children were also administered an intentionality understanding task, a component of mentalization abilities, and an interview on ontological knowledge assessing emotions, intentions, imagination, and epistemic knowledge. In line with previous research, the results showed that children did not attribute false beliefs to God as they did to the human and to other nonhuman agents. Importantly, while false-belief attribution to the human was associated with the children’s ability to attribute mental states (intentionality understanding), false-belief attribution to God was related to children’s ontological knowledge. We conclude that, contrary to false-belief attribution to the human and to other nonhuman agents, children’s understanding of God’s mind is largely a function of ontological knowledge about God, rather than of children’s social cognitive functions.
A Survey on Topics Rating for the Undergraduate and Diploma in Environmental Health
Authors: Arshad Kamaruddin , Lean Qi Ying , Ming Long Chiau , Mahalingam Sundara Rajan , Tiong Chua Say , Abdullah Amir Heberd , Shafie Farah Ayuni
Published: November 2018

Environmental health (EH) is the study of environment and environmental factors affecting the health of human. Identifying the most relevant and up-to-date and updated teaching topics of EH programs is vital to ensure competent practitioners are nurtured. Thus, this study aimed to attain the view of current content of EH programs for EH professionals and intended to recommend topics necessary for education and practice. The level of importance of current and newly proposed topics for EH courses at diploma and bachelor’s level was assessed using a cross-sectional survey design. Practicing EH programs graduates were invited via social media and e-mails to participate in the survey. The respondents were asked to rank the importance of different EH topics based on 5-point Likert-type scale. Descriptive statistics were employed to report the importance of EH curricula at Malaysian tertiary institutions. It was found that between diploma’s and bachelor’s level, the bachelor’s graduates were expected to have high exposure in existing topics such as vector control management, legislation for EH and safety, health and safety risk assessment, as well as newly proposed topics including critical literature evaluation and innovation in creating awareness activities. The findings from this survey could serve as a guide to improvise EH curricula to ensure the EH programs continue to produce students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and competencies.
Functional Analysis Is Dead: Long Live Functional Analysis
Authors: Hofmann Stefan G. , Hayes Steven C.
Published: November 2018

In this rejoinder, we discuss the commonalities and differences of the commentaries to our target article. Each commentary agreed with our basic message that intervention science needs to move from the DSM-governed protocols-for-syndrome approach to process-based treatments. Functional analysis has been a guiding principle since the early days of behavior therapy but lost its dominance with the rise of the latent disease model of psychiatry. This model gave rise to disorder-specific treatments with limited benefit to patients and science. We now have the tools and expertise to study human complexity grounded in an understanding of processes of change drawn from and fully applicable to the psychological level of analysis.
Factors Influencing Plastic Surgeons When Selecting New Colleagues
Authors: Oxley Paul J. , Lotto Jeremy A.
Published: November 2018

Introduction:

As plastic surgeons are continuing to form larger groups, it is essential to select candidates who will contribute to a positive work environment. This article shows which traits may be the most valuable when selecting candidates and in which ways a selection committee may want to focus their search.

Methods:

For the study, the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons’ members answered a survey containing questions about demographics, the factors which influence the selection process, and their hiring experiences. Responses were separated and compared in groups based on gender, practice type, group size, and years practising. Significance was established if P < .05 using the χ2 test.

Results:

The most and least important factors regarding hiring a new group member were established. Statistically significant results were obtained between several different factors, including hiring a non-Canadian, the importance of the candidate’s professional reputation, the number of publications by the candidate, and the presence or absence of program director letters. A majority (54%) of society members regret having hired a candidate, with the vast majority of these (75%) indicating personality and work ethic issues as opposite to professional skills as the uncomplimentary feature.

Conclusion:

This study has identified the key features which influence hiring new candidates. The need to develop a more efficient hiring process has been identified and has highlighted the difficulty faced by Canadian plastic surgery groups when recruiting new members.
Inter- and Intra-industry Trade Relations between Bangladesh and India: Empirical Results
Authors: Islam Anisul M.
Published: November 2018

Bangladesh and India are two neighbouring countries in South Asia having strong political, diplomatic, trade and economic ties with each other. This article reviews and updates on the inter- and intra-industry trade relationship between these two countries using more recent data. More specifically, it examines the relative position of the two countries in global trade followed by trends and patters of bilateral trade using aggregative data. At a disaggregate level, the commodity composition of Bangladesh exports to and imports from India by major product categories is examined focusing on the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) to review and update the degree of inter-industry trade. Further, the Grubel–Lloyd index (GLI; Grubel & Lloyd, 1975 ) is examined to measure the degree of intra-industry trade by major commodity groups. The article finds that India has a much stronger relative position in the global trade vis-à-vis Bangladesh. India is also found to dominate Bangladesh in bilateral trade, resulting in a very large and persistent trade deficit of Bangladesh with India. At a disaggregated level, the article finds that India has a comparative advantage in more products than Bangladesh and that the GLI shows that the degree of intra-industry trade is almost negligible between the two countries.
Healing Rates and Functional Outcomes After Triple-Loaded Single-Row Versus Transosseous-Equivalent Double-Row Rotator Cuff Tendon Repair
Authors: Tashjian Robert Z. , Granger Erin K. , Chalmers Peter N.
Published: November 2018

Background:

Although healing rates and outcomes of arthroscopic single-row rotator cuff repairs have been compared with double-row repairs, none have utilized triple-loaded anchors.

Purpose:

To compare healing and function after single-row repairs with triple-loaded anchors versus double-row repairs with a suture-bridge technique.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A single surgeon performed arthroscopic rotator cuff repair on 47 consecutive patients with an easily reducible full-thickness rotator cuff tear of medium size (1-3 cm). A retrospective cohort study was performed in which the first 25 patients underwent repair with a double-row suture-bridge (DRSB) technique. The next 22 patients underwent repair with a single-row technique with triple-loaded anchors and simple stitches (SRTL) after a change in technique by the surgeon. Twenty-one DRSB and 18 SRTL repairs were evaluated preoperatively and at a minimum of 12 months postoperatively with a visual analog scale for pain, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons form, and the Simple Shoulder Test. Healing was evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging at a minimum of 12 months.

Results:

When DRSB repairs were compared with SRTL repairs, there were no significant differences in patient age (61 vs 65 years), tear size (2.3 vs 2.1 in the sagittal plane; 2.0 vs 1.8 cm in the coronal plane), Goutallier fatty infiltration (supraspinatus grade: stage 0, 38%; stage 1, 38%; stage 2, 19%; stage 3, 5%; vs stage 0, 56%; stage 1, 39%; stage 2, 5%; stage 3, 0%), tendon healing (71% vs 78%), improvement in visual analog scale pain score (3.7 vs 3.2), or improvement in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores (34.6 vs 36.9), with P > .05 in all cases. SRTL repairs had significantly greater improvement in Simple Shoulder Test scores versus DRSB repairs (6.6 vs 4.5; P = .03).

Conclusion:

DRSB and SRTL repairs have similar improvements in pain and function with equivalent healing rates for arthroscopic repair of mobile full-thickness rotator cuff tears of medium size (1-3 cm).
Survey on accessibility and real-life application of noninvasive ventilation
Authors: Skoczyński Szymon , Scala Raffaele , Navalesi Paolo
Published: November 2018

Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) is an accepted method of respiratory failure treatment; however, at present, little is known about the global factors limiting NIV application.

A survey designed to determine NIV accessibility and limiting factors in world economies and regions was developed. The questionnaire was sent to members of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Respiratory Intensive Care Assembly and all ERS National Delegates.

Replies to the survey were collected from 161 respondents from 46 countries. NIV was found to be provided most frequently by pulmonologists and intensivists. In high-income economies (HIEs), NIV reimbursement in chronic respiratory failure treatment was found to be independent of the underlying disease and supplementary insurance (p<0.0001), whereas in upper-middle-income economies (UMIEs) it was found to be dependent on the underlying disease (p<0.0001). In chronic respiratory failure, NIV was not reimbursed in lower-middle-income economies (LMIEs) (p<0.0001). In LMIEs and UMIEs, the lack of financial resources was the main limiting factor in acute (p=0.007) and chronic respiratory failure (p<0.0001). In the income-level-based assessment, financing was recognised as relevant in LMIEs and UMIEs (p<0.0001), equipment in LMIEs and UMIEs (p=0.03), medical staff in all economies (p=0.02), and legal regulations in LMIEs (p=0.0005). It was confirmed that NIV in acute and chronic respiratory failure is reimbursed based on government regulations in UMIEs and HIEs (p<0.0001), and is not reimbursed and probably will not be reimbursed in the near future in LMIEs (p<0.0001).

We conclude that financial constraints are still considered a major limiting factor for NIV use.
Repeatability of high-resolution 3D seismic data
Authors: Waage Malin , Bünz Stefan , Landrø Martin , Plaza-Faverola Andreia , Waghorn Kate A.
Published: November 2018

High-resolution 4D (HR4D) seismic data have the potential for improving the current state-of-the-art in detecting shallow ([Formula: see text] below seafloor) subsurface changes on a very fine scale (approximately 3–6 m). Time-lapse seismic investigations commonly use conventional broadband seismic data, considered low to moderate resolution in our context. We have developed the first comprehensive time -lapse analysis of high-resolution seismic data by assessing the repeatability of P-cable 3D seismic data (approximately 30–350 Hz) with short offsets and a high density of receivers. P-cable 3D seismic data sets have for decades been used to investigate shallow fluid flow and gas-hydrate systems. We analyze P-cable high-resolution 4D (HR4D) seismic data from three different geologic settings in the Arctic Circle. The first two are test sites with no evidence of shallow subsurface fluid flow, and the third is an active seepage site. Using these sites, we evaluate the reliability of the P-cable 3D seismic technology as a time-lapse tool and establish a 4D acquisition and processing workflow. Weather, waves, tide, and acquisition-parameters such as residual shot noise are factors affecting seismic repeatability. We achieve reasonable quantitative repeatability measures in stratified marine sediments at two test locations. However, repeatability is limited in areas that have poor penetration of seismic energy through the seafloor, such as glacial moraines or rough surface topography. The 4D anomalies in the active seepage site are spatially restricted to areas of focused fluid flow and might likely indicate changes in fluid flow. This approach can thus be applied to detect migration of fluids in active leakage structures, such as gas chimneys.