bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testing the effects of four urbanization filters on forest plant taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity
Authors: Lopez Bianca E. , Urban Dean , White Peter S.
Published: October 2018

Ongoing urban development has significant effects on ecosystems, including changes to land cover, environmental conditions, and species’ distributions. These various impacts may have opposing or interacting effects on plant communities, making it difficult to predict how plant biodiversity will respond to urban development. A frequently cited conceptual framework predicts how urban development influences plant taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity by simplifying multiple coincident effects of urbanization into four primary filters of biodiversity: habitat transformation, fragmentation, the urban environment, and human preferences. Each filter prevents some plant species from persisting in urban areas while promoting others, but species introductions according to human preferences are expected to cause a net increase in biodiversity while the other filters limit diversity. In this study, we used structural equation modeling to test these predictions and examine the relative importance of each filter on the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of riparian forest plant species sampled along an urban‐to‐rural gradient in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. Most diversity measures declined with urbanization, but some (e.g., functional Rao's Q) increased with urbanization. We found support for some of the predicted relationships between urbanization filters and biodiversity, as well as some unexpected relationships, including positive effects of urban environments. Overall, urban environments and human preferences were stronger predictors than habitat transformation and fragmentation. Our approach could be used to test a general framework predicting the effects of urbanization on plant diversity across multiple cities and contribute to a more synthetic understanding of urban biodiversity.
The mechanisms of phenology: the patterns and processes of phenological shifts
Authors: Chmura Helen E. , Kharouba Heather M. , Ashander Jaime , Ehlman Sean M. , Rivest Emily B. , Yang Louie H.
Published: October 2018

Species across a wide range of taxa and habitats are shifting phenological events in response to climate change. While advances are common, shifts vary in magnitude and direction within and among species, and the basis for this variation is relatively unknown. We examine previously suggested patterns of variation in phenological shifts in order to understand the cue–response mechanisms that underlie phenological change. Here, we review what is known about the mechanistic basis for nine factors proposed to predict phenological change (latitude, elevation, habitat type, trophic level, migratory strategy, ecological specialization, species’ seasonality, thermoregulatory mode, and generation time). We find that many studies either do not identify a specific underlying mechanism or do not evaluate alternative mechanistic hypotheses, limiting the ability of scientists to predict future responses to global change with accuracy. We present a conceptual framework that emphasizes a critical distinction between environmental (cue‐driven) and organismal (response‐driven) mechanisms causing variation in phenological shifts and discuss how this distinction can reduce confusion in the field and improve predictions of future phenological change.
A reconceptualization of open oak and pine ecosystems of eastern North America using a forest structure spectrum
Authors: Hanberry Brice B. , Bragg Don C. , Hutchinson Todd F.
Published: October 2018

We present a reconceptualization of forests in eastern North America by differentiating the ecological characteristics of open oak (Quercus) and pine (Pinus) forests from closed successional and old‐growth forests. Despite historical abundance of savannas and woodlands, the fundamental ecology of open forest ecosystems remains ill‐defined when compared to either closed forests or grasslands. Open forests were characterized by simple internal stand structure consisting of a single stratum of variably spaced, often very old overstory trees and limited midstory, maintained by understory disturbance that controlled tree regeneration and allowed instead a taxonomically rich herbaceous groundlayer. In contrast, closed forests have dense woody growth throughout the vertical profile, limiting herbaceous plants. To provide further clarity about these ecosystems, we developed a canopy closure spectrum model dependent on the interactions between prevailing disturbance regimes of the historical and current eras, which affect either the tree understory (regeneration) or overstory, and tree traits of fire and shade tolerance. Recognition of different stand structures, disturbance regimes, and their interrelationships should expand understanding of open forests and limit ecological misunderstandings and restoration misapplications, thereby improving management of these once historically extensive ecosystems.
Policy coherence and organizational cultures: Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction targets
Authors: Skovgaard Jakob
Published: October 2018

This paper addresses coherence at the levels of policy objectives and instruments. The existing literature usually links policy coherence to strong hierarchical coordination mechanisms. This paper builds on two cases of, respectively, hierarchical imposition and deliberation within the European Commission (the step‐up to a 30% greenhouse gas reduction target on the one hand, and the energy efficiency target on the other), to show that coherence of policy objectives is negatively affected by conflicting organizational cultures. The analysis shows, first, that deliberation was possible when the disagreement between organizations was rooted in differing causal beliefs regarding policy instruments, while hierarchical imposition was used when the disagreement was rooted in differences in normative beliefs regarding policy objectives. Secondly, it appears that accommodation between differing causal and normative ideas concerning policy objectives and instruments can be solved both by power and by deliberation, the latter requiring more time and effort.
Policy coherence by subterfuge? Arenas and compromise‐building in the European Union's energy efficiency policy
Authors: Deters Henning
Published: October 2018

This paper looks at how policy‐makers use various alternative decision arenas to avoid internal policy incoherence. Inconsistency between goals and measures in a policy indirectly results from conflicting interests pulling in different directions within a heterarchical institutional setting. To avoid deadlock, negotiators rely on consensus‐building techniques such as watering down, issue redefinition, and the setting of targets without actions. These techniques facilitate moving away from the status quo, but they come at the expense of coherence. This paper shows that alternative decision arenas may bypass conflict, and thereby make the use of consensus‐building techniques unnecessary, resulting in more coherence. Examples from the emerging field of energy efficiency policy substantiate this claim.
Assessing health‐related quality of life in heart failure patients attending an outpatient clinic: a pragmatic approach
Authors: Gallagher Angela M. , Lucas Rebecca , Cowie Martin R.
Published: October 2018

Aims

Improving quality of life (QoL) in heart failure patients is a key management objective. Validated health‐related QoL (HR‐QoL) measurement tools have been incorporated into clinical trials but not routinely into daily practice. The aims of this study were to investigate the acceptability and feasibility of implementing validated HR‐QoL instruments into heart failure clinics and to examine the impact of patient characteristics on HR‐QoL.

Methods and results

One hundred and sixty‐three patients attending heart failure clinics at a UK tertiary centre were invited to complete three HR‐QoL assessments: the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ); the EuroQoL 5D‐3L (EQ‐5D‐3L); and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) in that order. Data on patient demographics, co‐morbidities, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, plasma B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP), renal function, and left ventricular ejection fraction were recorded. 94% of patients attending clinic were willing to participate. The EQ‐5D‐3L had all questions answered by 92% of patients, compared with 86% and 51% for the MLHFQ and KCCQ, respectively. HR‐QoL significantly correlated with NYHA class using each tool (MLHFQ, r = 0.59; KCCQ, r = −0.61; EQ‐5D‐3L, r = −0.44, all P < 0.01). However, within each NYHA class, there was a widespread of HR‐QoL scores. There was no association between patient demographics, left ventricular ejection fraction, plasma B‐type natriuretic peptide, or renal function with HR‐QoL using any tool.

Conclusions

Health‐related QoL assessment by validated questionnaire was acceptable to patients and feasible to perform in routine practice. Although NYHA class correlated significantly with HR‐QoL scores, there was high variability in HR‐QoL within each NYHA class, highlighting its limitation as the sole assessment of HR‐QoL. Clinicians should encourage the assessment of HR‐QoL to facilitate patient‐centred care and make more specific use of HR‐QoL measurement tools.
Screening, diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency in chronic heart failure: putting the 2016 European Society of Cardiology heart failure guidelines into clinical practice
Authors: McDonagh Theresa , Damy Thibaud , Doehner Wolfram , Lam Carolyn S.P. , Sindone Andrew , van der Meer Peter , Cohen‐Solal Alain , Kindermann Ingrid , Manito Nicolas , Pfister Otmar , Pohjantähti‐Maaroos Hanna , Taylor Jackie , Comin‐Colet Josep
Published: October 2018

Iron deficiency is common in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and is associated with reduced exercise performance, impaired health‐related quality of life and an increased risk of mortality, irrespective of whether or not anaemia is present. Iron deficiency is a serious but treatable condition. Several randomized controlled clinical trials have demonstrated the ability of intravenous (IV) iron, primarily IV ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), to correct iron deficiency in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), resulting in improvements in exercise performance, CHF symptoms and health‐related quality of life. The importance of addressing the issue of iron deficiency in patients with CHF is reflected in the 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) heart failure guidelines, which recognize iron deficiency as an important co‐morbidity, independent of anaemia. These guidelines recommend that all newly diagnosed heart failure patients are routinely tested for iron deficiency and that IV FCM should be considered as a treatment option in symptomatic patients with HFrEF and iron deficiency (serum ferritin < 100 µg/L, or ferritin 100–299 µg/L and transferrin saturation < 20%). Despite these specific recommendations, there is still a lack of practical, easy‐to‐follow advice on how to diagnose and treat iron deficiency in clinical practice. This article is intended to complement the current 2016 ESC heart failure guidelines by providing practical guidance to all health care professionals relating to the procedures for screening, diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency in patients with CHF.
Disentangling Conscience Protections
Authors: Sawicki Nadia N.
Published: October 2018

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced its intent to strengthen enforcement of legal protections for health care providers' conscience rights. It proposed regulations that would give the DHHS Office of Civil Rights greater authority to ensure that recipients of federal funding comply with federal conscience laws. This recent development creates an opportunity for scholars and policy‐makers to revisit the perennial debate about whether and how law should protect health care providers' rights of conscience. Arguments about who should be protected, what actions should be protected, and whether there should be any limitations on the exercise of conscience rights have brought us no closer to a resolution. However, there is one remaining avenue for analysis that has, surprisingly, received very little attention—the question of how providers are protected, and from what consequences. Existing U.S. conscience laws immunize health care providers from a wide range of adverse consequences—including civil liability, criminal prosecution, administrative penalties, adverse action by employers, and discrimination by private actors, among others. However, academic and public policy debates rarely acknowledge the breadth of these protections. It is essential to disentangle this network of possible protections.
Patient‐Engaged Research: Choosing the “Right” Patients to Avoid Pitfalls
Authors: Largent Emily A. , Lynch Holly Fernandez , McCoy Matthew S.
Published: October 2018

To ensure that the information resulting from research is relevant to patients, the Patient‐Centered Outcomes Research Institute eschews the “traditional health research” paradigm, in which investigators drive all aspects of research, in favor of one in which patients assume the role of research partner. If we accept the premise that patient engagement can offer fresh perspectives that shape research in valuable ways, then at least two important sets of questions present themselves. First, how are patients being engaged—and how should they be engaged? Second, which patients are being engaged—and which patients should be? This set has received relatively less attention, and the neglect is surprising, given that the “who” question is conceptually prior to the question of “how.”

This article focuses attention on the “who” of patient engagement in research. First, we provide background on the rationale for patient engagement, underscoring the importance of ensuring the representativeness of engaged patients. Second, we present what little is known about patients engaged in PCORI‐funded research. Third, we identify and discuss the ethical implications of ways in which current practices of patient identification and recruitment may lead to a lack of representativeness. These practices include reliance on the well‐connected and well‐informed, reliance on patients who are not well trained or well‐informed, and reliance on patient advocacy organizations. Finally, we consider several strategies for addressing these pitfalls in order to maximize the positive goals of patient engagement. Patient engagement is intended to address the inability of researchers, funders, and others to fully represent patient views and priorities, but without sufficient attention, the patients selected for this role may still leave important gaps.
Improving Long‐Term Care by Finally Respecting Home‐Care Aides
Authors: Osterman Paul
Published: October 2018

The American system of long‐term care is disorganized and expensive. Obtaining care for a loved one is a confusing and difficult journey. When it comes to paying for that care, a bit over half who receive care are supported at least partially by insurance, and those with no insurance pay entirely out of pocket. The costs are exorbitant. What makes the system function is reliance on unpaid family members, who care for their loved ones often at considerable cost to themselves.

As the baby boom generation ages, this creaky system will become increasingly dysfunctional, and a likely shortage of caregivers will be at the heart of the difficulties. The supply of unpaid family caregivers will become limited, as the ratio of people in the category of ages forty‐five to sixty‐four compared to those who are eighty and older shrinks from just above seven to one in 2010 to just above four to one in 2030. Paid caregivers will be needed to take up the slack, yet they are poorly paid, work under very difficult conditions, and receive little respect from the health care system. In this essay, I discuss the circumstances facing these paid home‐care workers and a possible path forward, illustrating the current problems by drawing on interviews I conducted for a book‐length study published in 2017.
The corticotopic organization of the human basal forebrain as revealed by regionally selective functional connectivity profiles
Authors: Fritz Hans‐Christian J. , Ray Nicola , Dyrba Martin , Sorg Christian , Teipel Stefan , Grothe Michel J.
Published: October 2018

The cholinergic basal forebrain (CBF), comprising different groups of cortically projecting cholinergic neurons, plays a crucial role in higher cognitive processes and has been implicated in diverse neuropsychiatric disorders. A distinct corticotopic organization of CBF projections has been revealed in animal studies, but little is known about their organization in the human brain. We explored regional differences in functional connectivity (FC) profiles within the human CBF by applying a clustering approach to resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI) data of healthy adult individuals (N = 85; 19–85 years). We further examined effects of age on FC of the identified CBF clusters and assessed the reproducibility of cluster‐specific FC profiles in independent data from healthy older individuals (N = 25; 65–89 years). Results showed that the human CBF is functionally organized into distinct anterior‐medial and posterior‐lateral subdivisions that largely follow anatomically defined boundaries of the medial septum/diagonal band and nucleus basalis Meynert. The anterior‐medial CBF subdivision was characterized by connectivity with the hippocampus and interconnected nodes of an extended medial cortical memory network, whereas the posterior‐lateral subdivision was specifically connected to anterior insula and dorsal anterior cingulate components of a salience/attention network. FC of both CBF subdivisions declined with increasing age, but the overall topography of subregion‐specific FC profiles was reproduced in independent rs‐fMRI data of healthy older individuals acquired in a typical clinical setting. Rs‐fMRI‐based assessments of subregion‐specific CBF function may complement established volumetric approaches for the in vivo study of CBF involvement in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Quantifying the axonal pathways directly stimulated in therapeutic subcallosal cingulate deep brain stimulation
Authors: Howell Bryan , Choi Ki Sueng , Gunalan Kabilar , Rajendra Justin , Mayberg Helen S. , McIntyre Cameron C.
Published: October 2018

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) is an emerging experimental therapy for treatment‐resistant depression. New developments in SCC DBS surgical targeting are focused on identifying specific axonal pathways for stimulation that are estimated from patient‐specific computational models. This connectomic‐based biophysical modeling strategy has proven successful in improving the clinical response to SCC DBS therapy, but the DBS models used to date have been relatively simplistic, limiting the precision of the pathway activation estimates. Therefore, we used the most detailed patient‐specific foundation for DBS modeling currently available (i.e., field‐cable modeling) to evaluate SCC DBS in our most recent cohort of six subjects, all of which were responders to the therapy. We quantified activation of four major pathways in the SCC region: forceps minor (FM), cingulum bundle (CB), uncinate fasciculus (UF), and subcortical connections between the frontal pole and the thalamus or ventral striatum (FP). We then used the percentage of activated axons in each pathway as regressors in a linear model to predict the time it took patients to reach a stable response, or TSR. Our analysis suggests that stimulation of the left and right CBs, as well as FM are the most likely therapeutic targets for SCC DBS. In addition, the right CB alone predicted 84% of the variation in the TSR, and the correlation was positive, suggesting that activation of the right CB beyond a critical percentage may actually protract the recovery process.
The accessibility of health services to young deaf adolescents in Ghana
Authors: Senayah Ebenezer Alfa , Mprah Wisdom Kwadwo , Opoku Maxwell Peprah , Edusei Anthony Kweku , Torgbenu Eric Lawer
Published: October 2018

Quality health care is a fundamental human right, which is enshrined in several international and domestic legislative instruments. In the Ghanaian context, there are reports that adults with disabilities encounter barriers in their attempts to access health care. However, scholarly attention is yet to explore the perspectives of young people and adolescents with disabilities. Therefore, this quantitative study was conducted from the perspective of critical disability studies, where young deaf adolescents (YDAs) were regarded as right bearers, and where they shared their perspectives on health accessibility decisions, barriers, and needs. Sixty‐seven participants, made up of 44 male and 23 female students, took part in this quantitative study. Although many YDAs who took part in this study indicated that it was not difficult to access health facilities, they claim to have encountered communication barriers. Sign language interpreters in health facilities and introduction of sign language courses in health training institutions to improve communication between health professionals and deaf patients have been suggested as ways of addressing the barriers faced by YDAs in Ghana.
“‘Academic’ is a dirty word”: Intended impact pathways of an emerging academic health centre in tropical regional Australia
Authors: Edelman Alexandra , Taylor Judy , Ovseiko Pavel V. , Topp Stephanie M.
Published: October 2018

Background

The Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre (TAAHC) is being established in northern Queensland across a vast rural geography. The study aim is to identify intended impact pathways and beneficiaries of TAAHC as well as experienced and anticipated challenges.

Methodology

The study is an empirical case study nested within a comparative multi‐case study on academic health centres (AHCs). Data were collected from documents, observation, and interviews with 24 health system and university stakeholders. Intended impact pathways were identified abductively from analysis of aspirations and challenges.

Results

Aspirations of TAAHC reflect an ultimate aim to improve the health of the northern Queensland population. Challenges were trust and communication, understanding value and return on investment, health system receptiveness to building a research culture, prioritising and influencing the research agenda, and structure of the health system.

Discussion

The study identifies three interdependent transitions that comprise the main intended impact pathway in TAAHC. Stakeholders expected TAAHC to effect health systems change and improvement rather than drive discovery‐oriented academic research associated with AHCs elsewhere.

Conclusion

The findings contribute to the empirical evidence base on the role of AHCs internationally and to ongoing initiatives to establish and resource AHCs in Australia.
Prevalence of infant bronchiolitis‐coded healthcare encounters attributable to RSV
Authors: Turi Kedir N. , Wu Pingsheng , Escobar Gabriel J. , Gebretsadik Tebeb , Ding Tan , Walsh Eileen M. , Li Sherian X. , Carroll Kecia N. , Hartert Tina V.
Published: October 2018

Aim

We sought to determine the proportion of bronchiolitis episodes attributable to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among ICD‐9 coded infant bronchiolitis episodes which were tested for RSV.

Methods

Bronchiolitis healthcare encounters were extracted from Kaiser Permanente Northern California databases for years 2006 to 2009. We used ICD‐9 codes for bronchiolitis to capture bronchiolitis‐related healthcare encounters including hospital admissions (Hospitalization), emergency department visits (EDV), and outpatient visits (OPV). We reported the monthly proportion of RSV‐positive bronchiolitis episodes among tested bronchiolitis episodes. We used logistic regression to assess association between bronchiolitis episodes and patient demographic and health care characteristics. We also used logistic regression to assess association between decision to test and patient demographics and health care characteristics.

Results

Among 10,411 ICD‐9 coded infant bronchiolitis episodes, 29% were RSV tested. Fifty one percent of those tested were RSV positive. Between December and February, and in infants ≤6 months, the proportion of bronchiolitis episodes that were attributable to RSV was 77.2% among hospitalized episodes, 78.3% among EDV episodes, and 60.9% among OPV episodes, respectively. The proportion of RSV‐positive bronchiolitis episodes varied based upon infant age at diagnosis, level of health care service used, and time of the year of the episode.

Conclusion

Estimation of the proportion of ICD‐9 coded bronchiolitis episodes attributable to RSV is more specific when restricting to bronchiolitis episodes during peak months, younger infant age, and those requiring higher level of healthcare.
A hierarchical Bayesian approach for multi‐site optimization of a satellite‐based evapotranspiration model
Authors: Su Yonghong , Feng Qi , Zhu Gaofeng , Gu Chunjie , Wang Yunquan , Shang Shasha , Zhang Kun , Han Tuo , Chen Huiling , Ma Jinzhu
Published: October 2018

Modelling is an important tool in simulating and partitioning evapotranspiration (ET). To obtain realistic partitioning of ET, a hierarchical Bayesian (HB) method was used to fit the Priestly–Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory (PT‐JPL) model against the multi‐tower Flux Network (FLUXNET) datasets. Unique to the HB method is its ability to exchange of information between sites and simultaneously estimate the species‐and PFT‐level parameters. The results suggested that the sensitive parameters varied at the both species and PFT levels. The parameter β (water control of soil evaporation) exhibited relatively wide species‐and PFT‐level posterior distributions, indicating that the original parameterization of soil moisture constraint may be problematic. Generally, the model with parameters determined by the HB approach showed better performance in predicting and partitioning ET than the original model, especially in evergreen needleleaf forests, open shrublands, closed shrublands, and woody savannas. To overcome the problem of parameter uncertainty (equifinality), direct observations of different components of ET are urgently needed in future studies, and assessments the extent to which the parameter uncertainties are reduced by the use of additional data.
Technology in the Service of Pedagogy: Teaching with Chemistry Databases
Authors: Tuvi‐Arad Inbal , Blonder Ron
Published: October 2018

The chemical sciences integrate numerous pieces of structural data into families of compounds, and countless experimental results of reactive processes into ground rules. Collecting these pieces of information, analyzing them, and making the relevant contextual connections between them is in the heart of chemistry education. Here we emphasize the contribution of technology, and more specifically, chemical databases for enhancing these learning processes. Several important, open access, databases are described in detail and examples of using them in chemistry class are provided. In an era of continuous information revolution we hope that chemistry instructors will take the next step up, and acquire the professional skills needed to integrate the use of technology and chemistry databases in their classes.
The Irresistible Use of Contexts in Chemistry Education
Authors: Apotheker Jan
Published: October 2018

In an introduction the position of chemistry education over the past twenty five years is discussed. The relative low interest of students is discussed as well as some ways that were formulated to counteract this low interest and raise the number of students electing to study science and more in particular chemistry. Context oriented chemistry is one of these solutions, in which a specific context related to everyday life is chosen as a starting point to learn about chemistry. An example from an FP7 project, called Irresistible is presented, to demonstrate the use of contexts. In this project several other aspects were introduced as well. One of them was the introduction of current science research in the classroom. The idea is that students get a better understanding of science at the university when confronted with (results) of recent research. A second aspect is the introduction of the concept of ‘Responsible Research and Innovation’. This concept formulated by the EU, discusses the link between scientific research and society, and specifically the way science can play a role in solving problems society is confronted with as formulated for example by the sustainable development goals of the UN.
Does aggregate insider trading predict stock returns in China?
Authors: He Qing , Cheng Bingqian , Wen Jing
Published: October 2018

This paper studies the information content of aggregate insiders' transactions in their own firms in China by analysing approximately 28,000 open market transactions from July 2007 to December 2014. The evidence suggests that publicly available information about aggregate insiders' transactions cannot predict future stock returns. However, the ability of aggregate insiders' transactions to predict future stock returns is positively associated with the strength of corporate governance. Results from vector autoregressive models and examination of profitable strategies corroborate these findings.
The human rights impact of gender stereotyping in the context of reproductive health care
Authors: O'Connell Ciara , Zampas Christina
Published: October 2018

Gender stereotypes surrounding women's reproductive health impede women's access to essential reproductive healthcare and contribute to inequality more generally. Stereotyping in healthcare settings impedes women's access to contraceptive information, services, and induced abortion, and lead to involuntary interventions in the context of sterilization. Decisions by human rights monitoring bodies, such as the Inter‐American Court of Human Rights’ case, IV v. Bolivia, which was a case concerned with the involuntary sterilization of a woman during childbirth, highlight how stereotypes in the context of providing health care can operate to strip women of their agency and decision‐making authority, deny them their right to informed consent, reinforce gender hierarchies and violate their reproductive rights. In the present article, IV v. Bolivia is examined as a case study with the objective being to highlight how, in the context of coercive sterilization, human rights law has been used to advance legal and ethical guidelines, including the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics’ (FIGO) own guidelines, on gender stereotyping and reproductive healthcare. The Inter‐American Court's judgment in IV v. Bolivia illustrates the important role FIGO's guidance can play in shaping human rights standards and provides guidance on the service provider's role and responsibility in eliminating gender stereotypes and upholding and fulfilling human rights.
Radio, library, and storytelling: Building an information system for indigenous community development in Chiapas, Mexico
Authors: Gomez Ricardo , Iribe Ramirez Yvette , Berwick Jeannie
Published: October 2018

The Tseltal Maya are an indigenous people living in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, with about 500,000 speakers of the Tseltal language. The encroachment of the dominant Mestizo culture and Spanish language is accelerating as access to the Internet increases, threatening the loss of Tseltal language and cultural heritage. We collaborate with local partners to create the first Tseltal indigenous information system, which includes a community library, a community radio station, and storytelling to document lived experiences and development impacts. The information system is anchored to Tseltal indigenous notions of well‐being or Lekil Cuxlejalil, which conceptualizes living well as living in harmony with self, family, community, environment, and spirit. Building a holistic Tseltal information system requires engaging local stakeholders and indigenous leaders to identify ways to organize, disseminate, generate, and conserve information to achieve broader goals of strengthening and preserving Tseltal language, culture, and identity, while promoting endogenous development based on culturally appropriate notions of well‐being, in harmony with self, family, community, environment, and spirit.
Expanding intestinal segment using osmotic hydrogel: An in vivo study
Authors: Coletta Riccardo , Olivieri Claudio , Persano Giorgio , Solari Valeria , Inserra Alessandro , Morabito Antonino
Published: October 2018

Intestinal circumferential expansion is essential for bowel lengthening in patients with Short Bowel Syndrome. We hypothesized use of an endoluminal osmotic hydrogel expander (EOHE) as a novel approach for intestinal expansion.

An EOHE was introduced into an isolated intestinal segment of New Zealand rabbits, with a similar segment created as a control. After 4weeks, the segments were retrieved for analysis. Weight, inflammatory markers and fluoroscopy data was recorded weekly. EOHE allowed successful expansion of intestinal segments from 4.68 ± 0.35 to 9.79 ± 0.35 cm (p = 0.01). Increase in intestinal length was 167.8 ± 35.21% in segments with EOHE vs. 23.03 ± 4.2% in the control group (p < 0.01). A significant intestinal dilatation (214.4 ± 1.58 vs. 34.59 ± 1.23%, p < 0.01) was demonstrated. Hematoxylin and eosin stain revealed conservation of intestinal architecture with muscle hypertrophy and flattening of the epithelium possibly due to compression. No reduction of rabbit weight, inflammatory markers or liver damage was described. EOHE appears to produce safe intestinal expansion, achieving increased length and dilatation suitable for lengthening procedure. This approach may allow development of similar techniques to expand bowel in short bowel patients. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1304–1309, 2019.
Isatin–Coumarin Hybrids Tethered via Diethylene Glycol: Design, Synthesis, and Their In Vitro Antitumor Activities
Authors: Fan Yi‐Lei , Huang Zhong‐Ping , Liu Min
Published: October 2018

A series of novel isatin–coumarin hybrids was designed, synthesized, and assessed for their in vitro antitumor activities against drug‐sensitive HepG2, Hela, A549, DU145 (prostatic cancer), SKOV3, and MCF‐7 as well as drug‐resistant MCF‐7/DOX (doxorubicin‐resistant MCF‐7) human cancer cell lines. Results revealed that the synthesized hybrids displayed considerable activities against the tested seven cancer cell lines.
Insights on UNC‐104‐dynein/dynactin interactions and their implications on axonal transport in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Chen Chih‐Wei , Peng Yu‐Fei , Yen Ying‐Cheng , Bhan Prerana , Muthaiyan Shanmugam Muniesh , Klopfenstein Dieter R. , Wagner Oliver I.
Published: October 2018

Bidirectional cargo transport in neurons can be explained by two models: the “tug‐of‐war model” for short‐range transport, in which several kinesin and dynein motors are bound to the same cargo but travel in opposing directions, and by the “motor coordination model” for long‐range transport, in which small adaptors or the cargo itself activates or deactivates opposing motors. Direct interactions between the major axonal transporter kinesin‐3 UNC‐104(KIF1A) and the dynein/dynactin complex remains unknown. In this study, we dissected and evaluated the interaction sites between UNC‐104 and dynein as well as between UNC‐104 and dynactin using yeast two‐hybrid assays. We found that the DYLT‐1(Tctex) subunit of dynein binds near the coiled coil 3 (CC3) of UNC‐104, and that the DYRB‐1(Roadblock) subunit binds near the CC2 region of UNC‐104. Regarding dynactin, we specifically revealed strong interactions between DNC‐6(p27) and the FHA‐CC3 stretch of UNC‐104, as well as between the DNC‐5(p25) and the CC2‐CC3 region of UNC‐104. Motility analysis of motors and cargo in the nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans revealed impaired transport of UNC‐104 and synaptic vesicles in dynein and dynactin mutants (or in RNAi knockdown animals). Further, in these mutants UNC‐104 clustering along axons was diminished. Interestingly, when dynamic UNC‐104 motors enter a stationary UNC‐104 cluster their dwelling times are increased in dynein mutants (suggesting that dynein may act as an UNC‐104 activator). In summary, we provide novel insights on how UNC‐104 interacts with the dynein/dynactin complex and how UNC‐104 driven axonal transport depends on dynein/dynactin in C. elegans neurons.
Association of atrial fibrillation and gastroesophageal reflux disease: Natural and therapeutic linkage of the two common diseases
Authors: Maruyama Toru , Fukata Mitsuhiro , Akashi Koichi
Published: October 2018

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is popular in Japan. The two common diseases share several predisposing factors such as lifestyle and senescence, and inflammation and oxidative stress play an important role in their development and progression. Incidental cases of AF treated successfully by proton pump inhibitor (PPI) applied for coexisting GERD have been sporadically reported. An increasing evidence indicates that GERD induces the initiation and the perpetuation of AF. This is caused by the autonomic nerve influence, mechanical compression, and propagation of local inflammation due to proximity of left atrium (LA) and lower esophagus. Meanwhile, AF also develops GERD by mechanical and inflammatory actions of LA characterized by remodeling and inflammation. The robust association of AF with GERD is not limited to their natural interaction, i.e., pharmacological or nonpharmacological treatment of AF is reported to aggravate GERD. Many cardiac drugs (anticoagulants, calcium antagonists, and nitrates) induce esophageal mucosal damage and lower esophageal sphincter relaxation promoting acid reflux. These drugs are frequently prescribed in patients with AF for stroke prevention, rate control, and for coexisting coronary heart disease. Catheter ablation also yields both GERD and esophageal thermal injury, which is a precursor lesion of atrioesophageal fistula. The notion that AF and GERD are mutually interdependent is widely and empirically recognized. However, mechanistic link of the two common diseases and objective evaluation of PPI as an adjunctive AF treatment warrant future large‐scale prospective trials.
The role of caspase‐8, caspase‐9, and apoptosis inducing factor in periodontal disease
Authors: Aral Kübra , Aral Cüneyt Asım , Kapila Yvonne
Published: October 2018

Background

Caspases are key mediators of apoptosis. Caspase‐8 mediates extrinsic, and caspase‐9 initiates the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF), a mitochondrial proapoptotic protein, mediates cell death by a caspase‐independent process. Because apoptosis is involved in periodontal disease, this study evaluated caspase‐8, ‐9, and AIF in periodontal disease.

Methods

Twenty periodontally healthy volunteers (Group Healthy), 20 patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (Group AgP), and 20 patients with generalized chronic periodontitis (Group CP) were included in this study. Levels of caspase‐8, ‐9, and AIF were evaluated in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of all participants via enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays.

Results

AIF was significantly higher in the AgP (P = 0.07) and CP groups (P = 0.01) than the Healthy group, and similar to the CP and AgP groups (P > 0.05). Caspase‐8 was significantly higher in the CP and Healthy groups than the AgP group (P = 0.00), and similar between Healthy and CP groups (P > 0.05). Caspase‐9 was significantly higher in the AgP group than the Healthy group (P = 0.01), and similar between Healthy and CP groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

The mitochondrial‐centered intrinsic pathway involving caspase‐9 and AIF, and the extrinsic pathway involving caspase‐8 are significant for aggressive periodontitis. The intrinsic pathway involving caspase‐independent AIF is also significant for chronic periodontitis.
Peri‐implant soft tissue status and crestal bone levels around adjacent implants placed in cigarette smokers and never smokers: Five‐year follow‐up results
Authors: ArRejaie Aws S. , Al‐Aali Khulud Abdulrahman , Alrabiah Mohammed , Mokeem Sameer A. , Vohra Fahim , Abduljabbar Tariq
Published: October 2018

Background

It is hypothesized that peri‐implant soft tissue inflammation and crestal bone loss (CBL) are higher around adjacent implants placed in cigarette smokers compared with never smokers. The aim of the present 5‐years follow‐up retrospective clinical study was to compare the peri‐implant soft tissue status and CBL around adjacent implants placed in cigarette smokers and never smokers.

Methods

Cigarette smokers (group 1) and never smokers (group 2) with adjacent dental implants were included. Demographic information regarding age, sex, duration of smoking (pack‐years), daily frequency of toothbrushing and most recent visit to a dentist or dental hygienist were recorded using a questionnaire. Information regarding implant dimensions (length × diameter), duration of implants in function, loading protocol (and type of restoration was recorded. Peri‐implant plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), and mesial and distal CBL were measured. P <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Seventy‐two male participants (37 in group 1 and 35 in group 2) were included. The mean age of individuals in groups 1 and 2 were 50.3 ± 5.4 and 48.5 ± 3.8 years, respectively. In group 1, the mean duration of cigarette smoking was 22.3 ± 1.6 pack years. A family history of smoking was more often reported by individuals in group 1 compared with group 2. In groups 1 and 2, 54 and 70 adjacent implants, respectively were placed in the regions of missing premolars and molars. All implants were delayed loaded and were fixed with non‐splinted screw‐retained restorations. In groups 1 and 2, toothbrushing twice daily was reported by 78.3% and 74.2% individuals, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in peri‐implant PI, BOP, PD, and mesial and distal CBL among individuals in groups 1 and 2.

Conclusion

Peri‐implant soft tissue status and crestal bone levels were comparable around adjacent dental implants placed in cigarette smokers and never smokers.
Titanium particles generated during ultrasonic scaling of implants
Authors: Harrel Stephen K. , Wilson Thomas G. , Pandya Mirali , Diekwisch Thomas G. H.
Published: October 2018

Background

There is growing concern that titanium particles may play a role in peri‐implant breakdown. Ultrasonic scalers are routinely used in the debridement of peri‐implant lesions. This in vitro study is designed to evaluate if titanium particles are produced when an ultrasonic scaler is used on an implant.

Methods

New sandblasted, large grit, acid etched (SLA) coated implants were subjected to ultrasonic scaling with stainless steel, titanium, and PEEK plastic tips. The implants were placed in a holding device and the ultrasonic scaler was positioned on the SLA surface under 25 grams of pressure. The implants were subjected to 30 scaling motions. The ultrasonic coolant water was collected and the number of metallic particles were counted under a light microscope. The particles were confirmed to be titanium via elemental analysis. The implants were visually evaluated for damage to the SLA coating.

Results

No metallic particles were detected in the water supplied to the ultrasonic scalers (passive control). Metallic particles were detected when implants were subjected to the ultrasonic coolant water only without the scaler tip touching the implant (active control). All implants that were scaled produced metallic particles and showed easily detectable damage to the SLA layer.

Conclusions

All ultrasonic scaling caused the production of titanium particles and caused damage to the SLA coating of the implant. Ultrasonic scalers should be used with great caution in the treatment of peri‐implant conditions and care should be taken to not touch the SLA surface of the implant.
Surface‐enhanced resonance Raman scattering for the sensitive detection of a tuberculosis biomarker in human serum
Authors: Owens Nicholas A. , Pinter Abraham , Porter Marc D.
Published: October 2018

Improvements in the detection of biomarkers indicative of disease continue to be vital to human health. Toward this end, this paper presents (a) the development and characterization of a biomarker detection strategy based on the inherently stronger signals generated by surface‐enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS), as opposed to surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS); (b) the application of this approach to the detection of mannose‐capped lipoarabinomannan (ManLAM), an antigenic marker indicative of active tuberculosis infection; and (c) a comparison of readout for this SERRS platform to that of the more frequently used approach based on SERS. More specifically, the work detailed herein describes the design and testing of a SERRS immunoassay that incorporates a resonance Raman‐enhanced adlayer of cyanine 5 on a smooth gold capture surface and its application to biomarker detection when “turned on” by the tagging of captured ManLAM with gold nanoparticle labels. The results of these experiments demonstrated an improvement in the detection of ManLAM spiked into human serum in terms of limit of detection by 10× and analytical sensitivity of almost 40× when compared with SERS. Findings also indicate that these improvements arise primarily from the intrinsic increase in signal strength due to the resonance Raman effect and a small but measurable increase in nanoparticle label density. Potential routes to further improve the performance of this approach to immunoassay signal generation are briefly discussed.
Integrated spatial assessment of inland excess water hazard on the Great Hungarian Plain
Authors: Bozán Csaba , Takács Katalin , Körösparti János , Laborczi Annamária , Túri Norbert , Pásztor László
Published: October 2018

Inland excess water (IEW) is a form of surplus surface water, often regarded as a specific flood type. However, it occurs most frequently in local depressions of large flat areas, irrespective of river floods and the surface water networks. IEW is considered to be a typical Carpathian Basin problem, as it can cause major land degradation problems in the agricultural areas of Hungary, mainly located on the Great Hungarian Plain (GHP). An innovative method for mapping the probability of IEW inundation is proposed in this study. This method is based on the geostatistical modelling of the relationship between the natural and human driving factors and the occurrence of IEW inundations. The results show that significant part of the GHP (about 500,000 hectares) is moderately or highly affected by IEW inundations, where the combination of multiple influencing factors simultaneously occur. The resulted IEW inundation probability map can be used to meet future challenges in agricultural management and the adaptations to climate change effects.
Universal quadratic forms and indecomposables over biquadratic fields
Authors: Čech Martin , Lachman Dominik , Svoboda Josef , Tinková Magdaléna , Zemková Kristýna
Published: October 2018

The aim of this article is to study (additively) indecomposable algebraic integers of biquadratic number fields K and universal totally positive quadratic forms with coefficients in . There are given sufficient conditions for an indecomposable element of a quadratic subfield to remain indecomposable in the biquadratic number field K. Furthermore, estimates are proven which enable algorithmization of the method of escalation over K. These are used to prove, over two particular biquadratic number fields and , a lower bound on the number of variables of a universal quadratic forms.