bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seventy‐One Important Questions for the Conservation of Marine Biodiversity
Authors: PARSONS E. C. M. , FAVARO BRETT , AGUIRRE A. ALONSO , BAUER AMY L. , BLIGHT LOUISE K. , CIGLIANO JOHN A. , COLEMAN MELINDA A. , CÔTÉ ISABELLE M. , DRAHEIM MEGAN , FLETCHER STEPHEN , FOLEY MELISSA M. , JEFFERSON REBECCA , JONES MIRANDA C. , KELAHER BRENDAN P. , LUNDQUIST CAROLYN J. , MCCARTHY JULIE‐BETH , NELSON ANNE , PATTERSON KATHERYN , WALSH LESLIE , WRIGHT ANDREW J. , SUTHERLAND WILLIAM J.
Published: April 2014

The ocean provides food, economic activity, and cultural value for a large proportion of humanity. Our knowledge of marine ecosystems lags behind that of terrestrial ecosystems, limiting effective protection of marine resources. We describe the outcome of 2 workshops in 2011 and 2012 to establish a list of important questions, which, if answered, would substantially improve our ability to conserve and manage the world's marine resources. Participants included individuals from academia, government, and nongovernment organizations with broad experience across disciplines, marine ecosystems, and countries that vary in levels of development. Contributors from the fields of science, conservation, industry, and government submitted questions to our workshops, which we distilled into a list of priority research questions. Through this process, we identified 71 key questions. We grouped these into 8 subject categories, each pertaining to a broad component of marine conservation: fisheries, climate change, other anthropogenic threats, ecosystems, marine citizenship, policy, societal and cultural considerations, and scientific enterprise. Our questions address many issues that are specific to marine conservation, and will serve as a road map to funders and researchers to develop programs that can greatly benefit marine conservation.

Setenta y Un Preguntas Importantes para la Conservación de la Biodiversidad Marina
Conservation Success as a Function of Good Alignment of Social and Ecological Structures and Processes
Authors: BODIN ÖRJAN , CRONA BEATRICE , THYRESSON MATILDA , GOLZ ANNA‐LEA , TENGÖ MARIA
Published: April 2014

How to create and adjust governing institutions so that they align (fit) with complex ecosystem processes and structures across scales is an issue of increasing concern in conservation. It is argued that lack of such social‐ecological fit makes governance and conservation difficult, yet progress in explicitly defining and rigorously testing what constitutes a good fit has been limited. We used a novel modeling approach and data from case studies of fishery and forest conservation to empirically test presumed relationships between conservation outcomes and certain patterns of alignment of social‐ecological interdependences. Our approach made it possible to analyze conservation outcome on a systems level while also providing information on how individual actors are positioned in the complex web of social‐ecological interdependencies. We found that when actors who shared resources were also socially linked, conservation at the level of the whole social‐ecological system was positively affected. When the scales at which individual actors used resources and the scale at which ecological resources were interconnected to other ecological resources were aligned through tightened feedback loops, conservation outcome was better than when they were not aligned. The analysis of individual actors’ positions in the web of social‐ecological interdependencies was helpful in understanding why a system has a certain level of social‐ecological fit. Results of analysis of positions showed that different actors contributed in very different ways to achieve a certain fit and revealed some underlying difference between the actors, for example in terms of actors’ varying rights to access and use different ecological resources.

El Éxito de la Conservación como Función de una Buena Alineación de Estructuras y Procesos Sociales y Ecológicos
Current Practice and Future Prospects for Social Data in Coastal and Ocean Planning
Authors: CORNU ELODIE LE , KITTINGER JOHN N. , KOEHN J. ZACHARY , FINKBEINER ELENA M. , CROWDER LARRY B.
Published: April 2014

Coastal and ocean planning comprises a broad field of practice. The goals, political processes, and approaches applied to planning initiatives may vary widely. However, all planning processes ultimately require adequate information on both the biophysical and social attributes of a planning region. In coastal and ocean planning practice, there are well‐established methods to assess biophysical attributes; however, less is understood about the role and assessment of social data. We conducted the first global assessment of the incorporation of social data in coastal and ocean planning. We drew on a comprehensive review of planning initiatives and a survey of coastal and ocean practitioners. There was significantly more incorporation of social data in multiuse versus conservation‐oriented planning. Practitioners engaged a wide range of social data, including governance, economic, and cultural attributes of planning regions and human impacts data. Less attention was given to ecosystem services and social–ecological linkages, both of which could improve coastal and ocean planning practice. Although practitioners recognize the value of social data, little funding is devoted to its collection and incorporation in plans. Increased capacity and sophistication in acquiring critical social and ecological data for planning is necessary to develop plans for more resilient coastal and ocean ecosystems and communities. We suggest that improving social data monitoring, and in particular spatial social data, to complement biophysical data, is necessary for providing holistic information for decision‐support tools and other methods. Moving beyond people as impacts to people as beneficiaries, through ecosystem services assessments, holds much potential to better incorporate the tenets of ecosystem‐based management into coastal and ocean planning by providing targets for linked biodiversity conservation and human welfare outcomes.

La Práctica Actual y los Prospectos Futuros para los Datos Sociales en la Planeación Costera y Oceánica
To Be or Not To Be: The Existential Issue for National Governance Bundles
Authors: Millar Carla C.J.M.
Published: April 2014

Manuscript Type

Conceptual

Research Question/Issue

The article addresses the issue of whether governance bundles which include both formal and informal governance mechanisms should be classified and compared on the basis of national identity.

Research Findings/Insights

The governance bundle affecting each firm has formal components which are frequently based on national legislation, but also includes social and moral dimensions, and behavior in words and action that may differ widely within nations and may derive from relationships with firms and communities in other countries or even globally; only the formal component of the governance bundle may be national. The development of governance bundles is a long‐term process that reflects the culture and ethical demands of the societies in which companies operate; formal institutions and laws develop and are respected – or not – in light of how informal governance mechanisms create the behavior in society. The continued existence of a mixture of familiar and different governance mechanisms in emerging markets is throwing doubt on the convergence hypothesis that development will lead all governance to a consistent model.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

The role of informal institutions – also as substitutes for corporate governance mechanisms – is central to understanding the functioning of corporate governance. Theory needs to consider the individual company and different company types (e.g., size, industry, ownership) in order to illuminate the interaction of formal corporate governance and informal institutions and other forces which constrain the company and those who control it. There needs to be more attention to the issue of sub‐national and supra‐national bundles together with “hybrid situations” where multinational corporations operate alongside local companies.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

The acceptability of corporate governance regimes depends on implementation at firm level; as there are substantial differences in the informal mechanisms amongst them, which may vary according to factors such as size, industry, ownership, organization or region, policy measures should have the flexibility and sophistication to take account of these.
‘He does not see himself as being different’: the perspectives of children and caregivers on relevant areas of functioning in cerebral palsy
Authors: Schiariti Veronica , Sauve Karen , Klassen Anne F , O'Donnell Maureen , Cieza Alarcos , Mâsse Louise C
Published: April 2014

Aims

In the context of the development of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Sets for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP), we investigated the strengths and limitations in functioning important to children with CP, through either child self‐reports or caregiver proxy reports, using components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF‐CY).

Method

We conducted semi‐structured interviews with 10 children with CP (children self‐reporting), 10 caregivers of children self‐reporting (10 child–caregiver dyads), and 12 caregivers of children not self‐reporting. Mean age 10y 6mo, range 4–16y. A convenience sample was recruited representing Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I to V. Interviews were audio‐taped and the content covered all of the relevant ICF‐CY components. The interviews were then transcribed verbatim and coded in N‐Vivo 10 using the ICF‐CY coding system.

Results

We identified 1956 themes that linked to 175 ICF‐CY categories. Most of the themes were represented by the ICF‐CY components activities and participation and environmental factors. The children interviewed discussed issues related to mobility, self‐care, and recreation and leisure, whereas the caregivers focused more on physical limitations and on the environmental factors associated with everyday activities.

Interpretation

The children and their caregivers described many of the same areas of functioning but provided unique perspectives. Children talked more frequently about their abilities with CP, whereas the caregivers interviewed talked more about their concern over the limitations and broader issues facing their child. The findings highlight the need to explore the perspectives of both the child and the caregiver when characterizing the functional profile of children with CP.
Mitochondrial target of thiazolidinediones
Authors: Colca J. R. , McDonald W. G. , Kletzien R. F.
Published: April 2014

Insulin‐sensitizing thiazolidinediones exert a pleiotropic pharmacology with therapeutic potential in a number of disease states ranging from metabolic syndrome and diabetes to neurodegeneration and cancer. A growing understanding of their mechanism of action, working from the site of their binding in the mitochondrion, provides insight into the mechanism of action of the insulin sensitizers and the reasons for their pleiotropic pharmacology. This review helps to frame the direction of future work that should be helpful in setting a new direction for the discovery and development of new, more useful therapeutic agents for metabolic disease.
Trophic ecology of brown trout (Salmo truttaL.) in subarctic lakes
Authors: Sánchez‐Hernández Javier , Amundsen Per‐Arne
Published: April 2014

In subarctic lake systems, fish species like brown trout are often important predators, and their niche performance is a key characteristic for understanding trophic interactions and food web functioning at upper trophic levels. Here, we studied summer habitat use and stomach contents of brown trout under both allopatric and sympatric conditions in six subarctic lakes to reveal its trophic role, and population‐ and individual‐level niche plasticity. In allopatry, brown trout mainly used the littoral habitat, but also less commonly used the pelagic zone. In sympatry with stickleback, there was always a considerable habitat overlap between the two species. In contrast, sympatric populations of brown trout and Arctic charr generally revealed a distinct habitat segregation. In the sympatric systems, in general, there was a distinct resource partitioning between the trout and charr, whereas the observed diet overlap between trout and stickleback was much larger. Trout modified their individual dietary specialisation between the littoral and pelagic zone, always being lower in the pelagic. Piscivorous behaviour of trout was only found in sympatric systems, possibly contributing to a competitive advantage of trout over charr and stickleback. Hence, the trophic level of trout was strongly related to the fish community composition, with a higher trophic level in sympatric systems where piscivorous behaviour was frequent. These changes in the trophic level of trout linked with the observed food resource partitioning might be an important mechanism in the ecosystem functioning of subarctic lakes to allow coexistence among sympatric‐living fish species.
Dysregulated sleep–wake cycles in young people are associated with emerging stages of major mental disorders
Authors: Scott Elizabeth M. , Robillard Rébecca , Hermens Daniel F. , Naismith Sharon L. , Rogers Naomi L. , Ip Tony K. C. , White Django , Guastella Adam , Whitwell Bradley , Leigh Smith Kristie , Hickie Ian B.
Published: April 2014

Aim

To determine if disturbed sleep–wake cycle patterns in young people with evolving mental disorder are associated with stages of illness.

Methods

The sleep–wake cycle was monitored using actigraphy across 4 to 22 days. Participants (21 healthy controls and 154 persons seeking help for mental health problems) were aged between 12 and 30 years. Those persons seeking mental health care were categorized as having mild symptoms (stage 1a), an ‘attenuated syndrome’ (stage 1b) or an ‘established mental disorder’ (stage 2+).

Results

The proportions of individuals with a delayed weekdays sleep schedule increased progressively across illness stages: 9.5% of controls, 11.1% of stage 1a, 25.6% of stage 1b, and 50.0% of stage 2+ (χ2 (3 d.f.) = 18.4, P < 0.001). A similar pattern was found for weekends (χ2 (3 d.f.) = 7.6, P = 0.048). Compared with controls, stage 1b participants had later sleep onset on weekends (P = 0.015), and participants at stages 1b and 2+ had later sleep offset on both weekdays and weekends (P < 0.020). Compared with controls, all participants with mental disorders had more wake after sleep onset (P < 0.029) and those at stages 1a and 2+ had lower sleep efficiency (P < 0.040). Older age, medicated status and later weekdays sleep offset were found to be the three strongest correlates of later versus earlier clinical stages.

Conclusions

In relation to clinical staging of common mental disorders in young people, the extent of delayed sleep phase is associated with more severe or persistent phases of illness.
The general anaesthetic etomidate inhibits the excitability of mouse thalamocortical relay neurons by modulating multiple modes of GABAA receptor‐mediated inhibition
Authors: Herd Murray B. , Lambert Jeremy J. , Belelli Delia
Published: April 2014

Modulation of thalamocortical (TC) relay neuron function has been implicated in the sedative and hypnotic effects of general anaesthetics. Inhibition of TC neurons is mediated predominantly by a combination of phasic and tonic inhibition, together with a recently described ‘spillover’ mode of inhibition, generated by the dynamic recruitment of extrasynaptic γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors (GABAARs). Previous studies demonstrated that the intravenous anaesthetic etomidate enhances tonic and phasic inhibition in TC relay neurons, but it is not known how etomidate may influence spillover inhibition. Moreover, it is unclear how etomidate influences the excitability of TC neurons. Thus, to investigate the relative contribution of synaptic (α1β2γ2) and extrasynaptic (α4β2δ) GABAARs to the thalamic effects of etomidate, we performed whole‐cell recordings from mouse TC neurons lacking synaptic (α10/0) or extrasynaptic (δ0/0) GABAARs. Etomidate (3 μm) significantly inhibited action‐potential discharge in a manner that was dependent on facilitation of both synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAARs, although enhanced tonic inhibition was dominant in this respect. Additionally, phasic inhibition evoked by stimulation of the nucleus reticularis exhibited a spillover component mediated by δ‐GABAARs, which was significantly prolonged in the presence of etomidate. Thus, etomidate greatly enhanced the transient suppression of TC spike trains by evoked inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. Collectively, these results suggest that the deactivation of thalamus observed during etomidate‐induced anaesthesia involves potentiation of tonic and phasic inhibition, and implicate amplification of spillover inhibition as a novel mechanism to regulate the gating of sensory information through the thalamus during anaesthetic states.
Couple‐Based Interventions for Psychopathology: A Renewed Direction for the Field
Authors: Baucom Donald H. , Belus Jennifer M. , Adelman Caroline B. , Fischer Melanie S. , Paprocki Christine
Published: April 2014

This article provides a rationale and empirical support for providing couple‐based interventions when one partner in a relationship is experiencing individual psychopathology. Several investigations indicate that relationship distress and psychopathology are associated and reciprocally influence each other, such that the existence of relationship distress predicts the development of subsequent psychopathology and vice versa. Furthermore, findings indicate that for several disorders, individual psychotherapy is less effective if the client is in a distressed relationship. Finally, even within happy relationships, partners often inadvertently behave in ways that maintain or exacerbate symptoms for the other individual. Thus, within both satisfied and distressed relationships, including the partner in a couple‐based intervention provides an opportunity to use the partner and the relationship as a resource rather than a stressor for an individual experiencing some form of psychological distress. The authors propose that a promising approach to including the partner in treatment involves (a) integrating intervention principles from empirically supported interventions for individual therapy for specific disorders with (b) knowledge of how to employ relationships to promote individual and dyadic change. Based on this logic, the article includes several examples to demonstrate how couple‐based interventions can be focused on a specific type of psychopathology, including encouraging empirical findings for these interventions. The article concludes with recommendations for how clinicians and researchers can adapt their knowledge of couple therapy to assist couples in which one partner is experiencing notable psychological distress or diagnosable psychopathology.
Helicobacter pylori Gastritis in HIV‐Infected Patients: A Review
Authors: Nevin Daniel T. , Morgan Christopher J. , Graham David Y. , Genta Robert M.
Published: April 2014

Background

The risk factors for acquiring Helicobacter pylori and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections are different: H. pylori is transmitted by gastro‐ or fecal‐oral routes and is associated with low socioeconomic conditions, while HIV is transmitted through sexual intercourse, infected body fluids, and transplacentally. If the host responses to these infections were independent, the prevalence of H. pylori should be similar in HIV‐infected and non‐infected patients. Yet, several studies have detected a lower prevalence of H. pylori in patients with HIV infection, whereas other studies found either no differences or greater rates of H. pylori infection in HIV‐positive subjects.

Objective

To review studies that addressed the issue of these two simultaneous infections and attempt to determine whether reliable conclusions can be drawn from this corpus of often contrasting evidence.

Methods

Electronic literature search for relevant publications, followed by manual search of additional citations from extracted articles.

Results

The initial search yielded 44 publications; after excluding case reports, reviews, narrowly focused articles, and duplicate reports, there remained 29 articles, which are the corpus of this review. With one exception, all studies reported higher rates of H. pylori infection in HIV‐negative subjects. Five studies also examined the CD4 lymphocyte counts and found an inverse correlation between the degree of immunosuppression and the prevalence of active H. pylori infection.

Conclusions

Current evidence suggests that it is likely that H. pylori needs a functional immune system to successfully and persistently colonize the human gastric mucosa.
HLA‐DQA1 and HLA‐DQB1 genes in Tsachilas Indians from Ecuador: new insights in population analysis by Human Leukocyte Antigens
Authors: Iorio A. , De Angelis F. , Garzoli A. , Battistini A. , De Stefano G. F.
Published: April 2014

Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) loci are widely known for their role in the generation of immune responses and are often considered to be effective in reconstructing human relationships. This is due to the high degree of polymorphism and the rarity of recombination observed at HLA loci. In this study, we have made an attempt to support the potential of HLA class II loci by analysing DQA1 and DQB1 in 52 Ecuadorians with ties to the Tsachilas community. Little is known about this populations either ethnologically or historically: they are considered retaining much of the ancient Chibchan culture in spite of the lack of significant genetic characterization. A total of 21 alleles were observed, with very low heterozygosity. The obtained data were then assessed for relationship reconstruction. The compiled database of 63 populations was segregated and resolved in clusters corresponding to the ethnogeographic distribution of the populations. This analysis of Central and Southern Amerindians allowed us to support a historical hypothesis related to the origin and migration of Ecuadorian people. Indeed, the relationships with neighbour human groups, especially Cayapas and Colombians, could shed light on the genetic similarity within ancient Chibchan culture that was dispersed by tribes coming up the Barbacoas. This indicates that if an appropriate analysis was to be carried out on a set of populations representative of different geographic locations, and that analysis was properly interpreted, then there would be a high possibility that HLA class II loci could infer accurate assessments, as revealed by uniparental markers.
Physicians' knowledge and attitudes in the management of wound infection
Authors: Woo Kevin Y
Published: April 2014

Despite consensus on the assessment and management of wound infection, there exist deficiencies in its recognition and management. A survey study involving 85 physicians and 3 other clinicians from across Canada was completed to determine current knowledge and attitude towards learning about topics relating to wound infection and its management. The results of the survey describe knowledge gaps and interests to develop expertise in the management of wound infection, suggesting a need for education on this subject. Low levels of current knowledge were reported for all biofilm‐related topics.
Impaired Fasting Glucose and Body Mass Index as Determinants of Mortality in ALLHAT: Is the Obesity Paradox Real?
Authors: Shah Ravi V. , Abbasi Siddique A. , Yamal José‐Miguel , Davis Barry R. , Barzilay Joshua , Einhorn Paula T. , Goldfine Allison ,   the ALLHAT Collaborative Research Group
Published: April 2014

Emerging literature suggests that obesity may be “protective” against mortality and cardiovascular outcomes, while dysglycemia may worsen outcomes regardless of obesity. The authors measured the association of weight, smoking, and glycemia with mortality in the Antihypertensive and Lipid‐Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT). Among 5423 ALLHAT participants without established diabetes or cardiovascular disease, 3980 (73%) had normal fasting glucose and 1443 (27%) had impaired fasting glucose (IFG) levels at study entry. After a median of 4.9 years follow‐up, 554 (10%) had died (37% cardiovascular). IFG was associated with higher all‐cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.50), while obesity was associated with lower all‐cause mortality (adjusted HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.60–0.96). However, after excluding underweight individuals (body mass index [BMI] <22 kg/m2) and smokers, neither obesity nor IFG was associated with all‐cause mortality, but IFG identifies individuals at greater risk in the nonobese population. Although obesity appeared protective against mortality, this association was not significant in never‐smokers or after exclusion of BMI <22 kg/m2. The obesity paradox may result from confounding by a sicker, underweight referent population and smoking.
Isotopic variation across the Audubon's–myrtle warbler hybrid zone
Authors: Toews D. P. L. , Brelsford A. , Irwin D. E.
Published: April 2014

Differences in seasonal migratory behaviours are thought to be an important component of reproductive isolation in many organisms. Stable isotopes have been used with success in estimating the location and qualities of disjunct breeding and wintering areas. However, few studies have used isotopic data to estimate the movements of hybrid offspring in species that form hybrid zones. Here, we use stable hydrogen to estimate the wintering locations and migratory patterns of two common and widespread migratory birds, Audubon's (Setophaga auduboni) and myrtle (S. coronata) warblers, as well as their hybrids. These two species form a narrow hybrid zone with extensive interbreeding in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, which has been studied for over four decades. Isotopes in feathers grown on the wintering grounds or early on migration reveal three important patterns: (1) Audubon's and myrtle warblers from allopatric breeding populations winter in isotopically different environments, consistent with band recovery data and suggesting that there is a narrow migratory transition between the two species, (2) most hybrids appear to overwinter in the south‐eastern USA, similar to where myrtle warblers are known to winter, and (3) some hybrid individuals, particularly those along the western edge of the hybrid zone, show Audubon's‐like isotopic patterns. These data suggest there is a migratory divide between these two species, but that it is not directly coincident with the centre of the hybrid zone in the breeding range. We interpret these findings and discuss them within the context of previous research on hybrid zones, speciation and migratory divides.
Molecular Phylogeny and Ontogeny of a New Ciliate Genus, Paracladotricha salina n. g., n. sp. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia)
Authors: Shao Chen , Li Liqiong , Zhang Qianqian , Song Weibo , Berger Helmut
Published: April 2014

A hypotrichous ciliate, Paracladotricha salina n. g., n. sp., was discovered in hypersaline waters (salinity about 80‰) from Qingdao, China. Its morphology and some major ontogenetic stages were studied and the phylogenetic position was estimated using standard methods. Paracladotricha salina is characterized by a flexible, more or less slender body (size 50–120 × 20–35 μm), a gonostomatid oral apparatus, one short and two long frontoventral rows, four macronuclear nodules, almost completely reduced dorsal kineties 1–3, and a loss of several parts of the ciliature, namely, the slightly shortened ciliary row of the adoral membranelles, the paroral, and the buccal, the postoral and pretransverse ventral, the transverse, and the caudal cirri. The ontogenesis is rather simple: anlage II of both filial products and anlage III of the opisthe originate de novo, while anlagen IV and V are formed within the parental rows. This combination of features requires the establishment of a new genus, Paracladotricha, which is, according to the morphological data, closely related to Schmidingerothrix and Cladotricha. The small‐subunit rRNA gene was sequenced, indicating that P. salina is, as also demonstrated by the oral apparatus, a member of the gonostomatids. We provide a first, vague hypothesis about the phylogenetic relationships of the Gonostomatidae, Cladotrichidae, and Schmidingerotrichidae. However, since molecular data of the type species of these higher taxa are lacking, their validity and relationships remain obscure.
Predictors of Long‐Term Nursing Home Placement Under Competing Risk: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Castora‐Binkley Melissa , Meng Hongdao , Hyer Kathryn
Published: April 2014

Objectives

To examine predictors of long‐term nursing home placement (LTNHP) while controlling for mortality as a competing risk event.

Design

Longitudinal.

Setting

Health and Retirement Study, 1998–2010.

Participants

Nationally representative sample of community‐living older adults (N = 10,385).

Measurements

Longitudinal data were used with a maximum follow‐up of 12 years. First, a traditional Cox proportional hazards model was estimated treating death as an uninformative censoring event. A joint cause‐specific hazards model that accounts for the competing risk of mortality in estimating the risk of LTNHP was then estimated.

Results

The effect of adjusting for competing risk of mortality is evident for nearly all predictors of LTNHP. Predictors were over‐ or underestimated in the traditional Cox model, and several predictors changed in the direction of the association, whereas others changed in magnitude. For example, after controlling for mortality, women aged 85 and older had more than twice the risk (hazard ratio = 7.23, 95% confidence interval = 5.18–10.10) of LTNHP than evidenced in the traditional Cox model.

Conclusion

Whenever possible, the competing risk of mortality should be recognized and adjusted in developing screening tools and predictive risk models for LTNHP.
Late‐Life Factors Associated with Healthy Aging in Older Men
Authors: Bell Christina L. , Chen Randi , Masaki Kamal , Yee Priscilla , He Qimei , Grove John , Donlon Timothy , Curb J. David , Willcox D. Craig , Poon Leonard W. , Willcox Bradley J.
Published: April 2014

Objectives

To identify potentially modifiable late‐life biological, lifestyle, and sociodemographic factors associated with overall and healthy survival to age 85.

Design

Prospective longitudinal cohort study with 21 years of follow‐up (1991–2012).

Setting

Hawaii Lifespan Study.

Participants

American men of Japanese ancestry (mean age 75.7, range 71–82) without baseline major clinical morbidity and functional impairments (N = 1,292).

Measurements

Overall survival and healthy survival (free from six major chronic diseases and without physical or cognitive impairment) to age 85. Factors were measured at late‐life baseline examinations (1991–1993).

Results

Of 1,292 participants, 1,000 (77%) survived to 85 (34% healthy) and 309 (24%) to 95 (<1% healthy). Late‐life factors associated with survival and healthy survival included biological (body mass index, ankle–brachial index, cognitive score, blood pressure, inflammatory markers), lifestyle (smoking, alcohol use, physical activity), and sociodemographic factors (education, marital status). Cumulative late‐life baseline risk factor models demonstrated that age‐standardized (at 70) probability of survival to 95 ranged from 27% (no factors) to 7% (≥5 factors); probability of survival to 100 ranged from 4% (no factors) to 0.1% (≥5 factors). Age‐standardized (at 70) probability of healthy survival to 90 ranged from 4% (no factors) to 0.01% (≥5 factors). There were nine healthy survivors at 95 and one healthy survivor at 100.

Conclusion

Several potentially modifiable risk factors in men in late life (mean age 75.7) were associated with markedly greater probability of subsequent healthy survival and longevity.
An Electronic Health Record–Based Intervention to Increase Follow‐Up Office Visits and Decrease Rehospitalization in Older Adults
Authors: Gurwitz Jerry H. , Field Terry S. , Ogarek Jessica , Tjia Jennifer , Cutrona Sarah L. , Harrold Leslie R. , Gagne Shawn J. , Preusse Peggy , Donovan Jennifer L. , Kanaan Abir O. , Reed George , Garber Lawrence
Published: April 2014

Objectives

To assess the effect of an electronic health record–based transitional care intervention involving automated alerts to primary care providers and staff when older adults were discharged from the hospital.

Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Large multispecialty group practice.

Participants

Individuals aged 65 and older discharged from hospital to home.

Intervention

In addition to notifying primary care providers about the individual's recent discharge, the system provided information about new drugs added during the inpatient stay, warnings about drug–drug interactions, recommendations for dose changes and laboratory monitoring of high‐risk medications, and alerts to the primary care provider's support staff to schedule a posthospitalization office visit.

Measurements

An outpatient office visit with a primary care provider after discharge and rehospitalization within 30 days after discharge.

Results

Of the 1,870 discharges in the intervention group, 27.7% had an office visit with a primary care provider within 7 days of discharge. Of the 1,791 discharges in the control group, 28.3% had an office visit with a primary care provider within 7 days of discharge. In the intervention group, 18.8% experienced a rehospitalization within the 30‐day period after discharge, compared with 19.9% in the control group. The hazard ratio for an office visit with a primary care physician did not significantly differ between the intervention and control groups. The hazard ratio for rehospitalization in the 30‐day period after hospital discharge in the intervention versus the control group was 0.94 (95% confidence interval = 0.81–1.1).

Conclusion

This electronic health record–based intervention did not have a significant effect on the timeliness of office visits to primary care providers after hospitalization or risk of rehospitalization.
Scaling Relationships in Life Cycle Assessment
Authors: Caduff Marloes , Huijbregts Mark A.J. , Koehler Annette , Althaus Hans‐Jörg , Hellweg Stefanie
Published: April 2014

Life cycle assessment (LCA) studies include a vast amount of different products. Often, extrapolations are necessary to obtain the life cycle inventory of a specific product. This article provides quantitative scaling factors with power (heat output) for product properties and life cycle impact assessment results of heat pump and biomass furnace technologies. Included in the study are 508 heat pumps and furnaces with differences in power over three orders of magnitude per product group. The key properties of the heat pump system were defined as mass, refrigerant use, and coefficient of performance. For the biomass furnaces, the key properties analyzed were mass, electrical input, and efficiency. The results indicated that both the mass and the refrigerant use increased subproportionally to power. For coefficient of performance and furnace efficiency, no scaling effect was found. Subproportional growth was found between two environmental impacts (global warming and ozone depletion) and power for the production phase. This scaling behavior was similar to conventional cost scaling. The results of our study imply that in LCA, scaling factors can be applied to estimate key properties and corresponding life cycle impact assessment results. This is particularly useful for prospective technology assessments with limited data available.
Impact of Updated Material Production Data in the GREET Life Cycle Model
Authors: De Kleine Robert D. , Keoleian Gregory A. , Miller Shelie A. , Burnham Andrew , Sullivan John L.
Published: April 2014

The Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model developed by Argonne National Laboratory quantifies the life cycle energy consumption and air emissions resulting from the production and use of light‐duty vehicles in the United States. GREET is comprised of two components: GREET 1 represents the fuel cycle of various energy carriers, including automotive fuels, and GREET 2 represents the vehicle cycle, which accounts for the production of vehicles and their constituent materials. The GREET model was updated in 2012 and now includes higher‐resolution material processing and transformation data. This study evaluated how model updates influence material and vehicle life cycle results. First, new primary energy demand and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions results from GREET 2 for steel, aluminum, and plastics resins are compared herein with those from the previous version of the model as well as industrial results. A part of the comparison is a discussion about causes of differences between results. Included in this discussion is an assessment of the impact of the new material production data on vehicle life cycle results for conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by comparing the energy and GHG emission values in the updated and previous versions of GREET 2. Finally, results from a sensitivity analysis are presented for identifying life cycle parameters that most affect vehicle life cycle estimates.
A Systematic Review on the Efficacy and Safety of Transcatheter Device Closure of Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD)
Authors: YANG LINQI , TAI BEE‐CHOO , KHIN LAY WAI , QUEK SWEE CHYE
Published: April 2014

Background

Advances in interventional techniques now allow for transcatheter treatment of some ventricular septal defects (VSD), although there remain concerns about adverse events. We performed a systematic review to look at outcomes and complications associated with transcatheter closure of VSD.

Method

A PubMed search for series in English on device closure of VSD from 2003 to June 2012 was performed. We excluded small series that were included in multicenter studies and patients who had acquired VSD following myocardial infarction. The random effects model was used to obtain pooled estimates of success and complications.

Results

A total of 37 publications comprising 4,406 patients with VSD (perimembranous = 3,758, muscular = 419, intracristal = 47, doubly committed subarterial = 36, multiple = 16, postsurgical = 123, unclassified = 7) were included in this analysis. The age of patients ranged from 3 days to 84 years. The pooled estimate of successful device implantation was 96.6% (95% CI: 95.7–97.5). The most common complication is residual shunt (pooled estimated 25.5%; 95% CI: 18.9–32.1). Others included valvular defects (pooled estimate 4.9%; 95% CI: 3.4–6.4) and arrhythmias (pooled estimate 10.6%; 95% CI: 8.4–12.7).

Discussion and Conclusion

Our analysis suggests that transcatheter device closure of VSD is safe and yields good results. The limitations of this study are difficulties in analyzing different devices individually, and segregating the different VSD types. Further stratification by type of VSD, age of patients, and prevention of complications is needed before this can be recommended for routine treatment. (J Interven Cardiol 2014;27:260–272)
Novel Curved Balloon Catheter for Dilating Postoperative Angled Lesions Associated with Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: KISE HIROAKI , MIYATA AKIRA , TOMITA HIDESHI , FUJII TAKANARI , FUJIMOTO KAZUTO , KIGUCHI HISAKO , OYAMA NOBUO , SOGA TAKASHI , HATA YOSHIHITO , HIRATA MASATAKA , ITOH ATSUSHI , ISHINO KOZO , HASEBE YOHEI , HOSHIAI MINAKO
Published: April 2014

Objectives

This study aimed to analyze the surface stress generated by a novel curved balloon and assess its efficacy for treating angular lesions associated with congenital heart disease.

Background

Obstructions at the anastomosis of aortopulmonary shunts and cavopulmonary connections may occur postoperatively. Catheter interventions are often performed for such lesions; however, acute angulation may cause balloon slippage or inappropriate stress on the vessel wall.

Methods

We dilated the curved balloon in a curved vessel model and measured the resultant wall stress and its distribution. Clinical evaluations were performed using this balloon in angled lesions.

Results

In the curved vessel model, curved balloons generated uniform stress on the lesser and greater curvatures (curved type, lesser/greater = 0.343 MPa/0.327 MPa; P = 0.61), whereas straight balloons caused disproportionate stress (straight type, lesser/greater = 0.358 MPa/0.254 MPa; P = 0.19). However, the difference in average stress was not statistically significant. Furthermore, the stress was uniform along the entire length of the curved balloon, but differed between the mid and end portions of the straight balloon. Curved balloon dilations were performed for 10 lesions in 7 patients. The curved balloon conformed well to the angulated lesion without slipping. The median percent change in the minimal lumen diameter (MLD) was 64% (range, 0–206%). In 5 lesions, MLD increased by ≥50%. Oxygen saturation increased by 5% (0–9%).

Conclusions

Although further clinical evaluation is necessary, this novel curved balloon may be a reasonable alternative in angled lesions, providing better conformability and preventing excessive stress to the vessel wall adjacent to the stenosis. (J Interven Cardiol 2014;27:408–413)
The Association of Angiographic Collaterals with Long‐Term Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Stable Angina
Authors: SCHUTT ROBERT C. , YOUNG SHIU M. , LIU LING , LIPSON LEWIS C. , KEELEY ELLEN C.
Published: April 2014

Objectives

To determine the impact of coronary collaterals in stable angina.

Background

Whether spontaneously visible coronary collaterals are associated with long‐term clinical outcomes in stable angina remains unclear.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled patients with stable angina referred for coronary angiography and followed them clinically for 1 year.

Results

A total of 1,134 consecutive patients were enrolled, and of these, 550 had at least single‐vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) and were included. Patients with collaterals had more congestive heart failure (16% vs. 9%, P = 0.023), peripheral vascular disease (22% vs. 15%, P = 0.044), and 2‐vessel (36% vs. 26%) and 3‐vessel (28% vs. 10%) CAD compared to those without collaterals (P < 0.001). Patients with collaterals were less likely to undergo percutaneous intervention at the time of the index angiogram (32% vs. 61%, P < 0.001). At 1 year, there were no differences in angina (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.50–1.10; P = 0.141), myocardial infarction (MI) (HR 1.22, 95% CI 0.46–3.21; P = 0.691), revascularization (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.55–1.30; P = 0.431), death (HR 1.83, 95% CI 0.63–5.31; P = 0.269), or the combined end‐point of death, MI, and revascularization (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.61–1.24; P = 0.426) between patients with and without collaterals. When analyzed according to collateral grade, patients with Rentrop grade 1 had less angina (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.26–0.89; P = 0.019).

Conclusions

At 1 year, there was no difference in adverse events between patients with or without collaterals. The presence of Rentrop grade 1 collaterals, however, was associated with significantly less angina. (J Interven Cardiol 2014;27:225–232)
Acceptability of Information Management Strategies: Adolescents' and Parents' Judgments and Links With Adjustment and Relationships
Authors: Rote Wendy M. , Smetana Judith G.
Published: April 2014

Parents' and adolescents' (Mage = 15.7) acceptability ratings of four information management strategies and associations between these ratings and adjustment, relationship quality, and strategy use were examined in 174 middle‐class families over 1 year. Acceptance of information management was greater for adolescents than for parents and for personal than for prudential issues; acceptance decreased across telling only if asked, avoidance, omitting details, and lying. Strategy acceptance and use were associated for lying and avoiding the topic. Controlling for strategy use, teens' acceptance of lying, omitting details, and avoidance was associated with poorer parent–adolescent relationships and more problem behavior 1 year later; acceptance of lying was associated with increases in depressed mood. Associations in the opposite direction were rare.
The Microscopic Examination of Phytophthora cinnamomi in Plant Tissues Using Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization
Authors: Li Andrew Y. , Crone Michael , Adams Peter J. , Fenwick Stanley G. , Hardy Giles E. S. J. , Williams Nari
Published: April 2014

The microscopic examination of Phytophthora cinnamomi in plant tissues is often difficult as structures such as hyphae, chlamydospores and oospores are frequently indistinguishable from those of other fungi and oomycetes, with histological stains not enabling species differentiation. This lack of staining specificity makes the localization of P. cinnamomi hyphae and reproductive structures within plant tissues difficult, especially in woody tissues. This study demonstrates that with the use of a species‐specific fluorescently labelled DNA probe, P. cinnamomi can be specifically detected and visualized directly using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) without damage to plant or pathogen cell integrity or the need for subculturing. This approach provides a new application for FISH with potential use in the detailed study of plant–pathogen interactions in plants.
First Report of the Occurrence of a White Smut Infecting Rice in Arkansas
Authors: Jecmen Andrew C. , TeBeest David O.
Published: April 2014

False smut has recently emerged as an important disease of rice in Arkansas. In 2011, 2012 and 2013, spore balls of a white smut similar to the spore balls of false smut were observed in rice fields in eastern Arkansas. As a white false smut was previously reported in China and Japan, we examined the morphology of chlamydospores and spore balls from some of the infected heads and used selected regions of the rDNA to determine the identity of the causal agent of the disease. We also tested the virulence of an isolate of the white smut to two rice cultivars commonly grown in Arkansas. Our results indicate that the morphology of the spore balls, chlamydospores and conidia is similar to those reported for Ustilaginoidea albicans. However, sequences of ribosomal DNA amplicons indicate a high degree of similarity with both U. virens and U. albicans. The isolate of the white smut was virulent to two rice cultivars, producing spore balls similar to those observed in the field and to those previously described for U. albicans.