bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating community participation: A comparison of participatory approaches in the planning and implementation of new primary health‐care services in northern Australia
Authors: Carlisle Karen , Farmer Jane , Taylor Judy , Larkins Sarah , Evans Rebecca 
Published: April 2018

SummaryCommunity participation is increasingly seen as a prerequisite for more acceptable and sustainable health services. It is difficult to evaluate the extent of participation in health planning and implementation of services, and there are limited tools available to assist in evaluating such processes. Our paper reports on community participation as part of the implementation of 2 primary health programs in regional north Queensland, Australia. We define community participation as collective involvement of people, including consultation, from a community of place or interest in aspects of health service development. We pragmatically evaluate and compare the extent of participation by using a framework developed by Rifkin and colleagues in 1988 and subsequently refined. Data collected from the implementation of each program were analyzed and ranked on a spidergram against 5 process indicators: needs assessment, leadership, resource mobilization, management, and organization. Community participation was found to vary across the programs but was most extensive in both programs in identifying need and potential solutions. Both programs demonstrated high levels of integration of the implementation of health programs with preexisting community structures. Involving local communities in genuine opportunities in managing the programs and mobilizing resources was more challenging. Key differences emerged in the people involved in the programs, the settings and frameworks used to facilitate implementation. We conclude that Rifkin's process indicators are a useful starting point for assessing community participation, particularly for health planners who are required to include participatory approaches when planning and implementing services. We suggest areas that require further consideration.
Bog surface oscillation (mire breathing): A useful measure in raised bog restoration
Authors: Howie Sarah A. , Hebda Richard J. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractOscillation of the peat surface is an important mechanism for hydrological self‐regulation in bogs. As the water table rises in the wet season, the peat body expands, raising the bog surface and increasing water storage. With seasonal drying, the water table declines, the peat loses volume, and the bog surface drops, thereby keeping Sphagnum mosses in close contact with the water table. The oscillation of surface elevation in a Pacific coastal temperate raised bog was monitored at multiple sites for 4–12 years in 8 different plant communities of both peat‐harvested and unharvested sites to determine how bog surface oscillation relates to site conditions. The multiyear averages of bog surface oscillation for the different sites ranged from 2 to 34 cm (mean: 10.8 cm). In harvested sites, surface oscillation was linked to a larger water level amplitude and a shallower water table. In unharvested sites, a shallow water table was also a strong predictor of surface oscillation, but water level amplitude was negatively correlated to surface oscillation. This discrepancy was attributed to rewetting and regeneration of harvested sites, as well as historic drainage in many of the unharvested sites that reduced the elasticity of the peat. Surface oscillation differed significantly between some of the plant communities, generally between drier and wetter sites. In disturbed bogs, regeneration of a more elastic surface peat can increase the magnitude of peat volume change and bring about the return of self‐regulating mechanisms. Bog surface oscillation may be an important metric for assessing the restoration success or storage capacity of raised bogs in similar climatic settings.
Maternal residential pesticide use and risk of childhood leukemia in Costa Rica
Authors: Hyland Carly , Gunier Robert B. , Metayer Catherine , Bates Michael N. , Wesseling Catharina , Mora Ana M. 
Published: April 2018

Evidence suggests that early‐life exposure to pesticides inside the home may be associated with childhood leukemia, however data from Latin American countries are limited. We examined whether self‐reported maternal residential pesticide use and nearby pesticide applications–before and after child's birth–were associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the Costa Rican Childhood Leukemia Study (CRCLS), a population‐based case‐control study (2001‐2003). Cases (n = 251 ALL) were diagnosed between 1995 and 2000 (age <15 years at diagnosis) and were identified through the Costa Rican Cancer Registry and National Children's Hospital. Population controls (n = 577) were drawn from the National Birth Registry. We fitted unconditional logistic regression models adjusted for child sex, birth year, and socioeconomic status to estimate the exposure‐outcome associations and also stratified by child sex. We observed that self‐reported maternal insecticide use inside the home in the year before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding was associated with increased odds of ALL among boys [adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 1.63 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.05–2.53), 1.75 (1.13–2.73), and 1.75 (1.12–2.73), respectively. We also found evidence of exposure‐response relationships between more frequent maternal insecticide use inside the home and increased odds of ALL among boys and girls combined. Maternal report of pesticide applications on farms or companies near the home during pregnancy and at any time period were also associated with ALL. Our study in Costa Rica highlights the need for education to minimize pesticide exposures inside and around the home, particularly during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
MicroRNA‐21 drives the switch to a synthetic phenotype in human saphenous vein smooth muscle cells
Authors: Alshanwani Aliah R. , Riches‐Suman Kirsten , O'Regan David J. , Wood Ian C. , Turner Neil A. , Porter Karen E. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractCardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Smooth muscle cells (SMC) comprising the vascular wall can switch phenotypes from contractile to synthetic, which can promote the development of aberrant remodelling and intimal hyperplasia (IH). MicroRNA‐21 (miR‐21) is a short, non‐coding RNA that has been implicated in cardiovascular diseases including proliferative vascular disease and ischaemic heart disease. However, its involvement in the complex development of atherosclerosis has yet to be ascertained. Smooth muscle cells (SMC) were isolated from human saphenous veins (SV). miR‐21 was over‐expressed and the impact of this on morphology, proliferation, gene and protein expression related to synthetic SMC phenotypes monitored. Over‐expression of miR‐21 increased the spread cell area and proliferative capacity of SV‐SMC and expression of MMP‐1, whilst reducing RECK protein, indicating a switch to the synthetic phenotype. Furthermore, platelet‐derived growth factor BB (PDGF‐BB; a growth factor implicated in vasculoproliferative conditions) was able to induce miR‐21 expression via the PI3K and ERK signalling pathways. This study has revealed a mechanism whereby PDGF‐BB induces expression of miR‐21 in SV‐SMC, subsequently driving conversion to a synthetic SMC phenotype, propagating the development of IH. Thus, these signaling pathways may be attractive therapeutic targets to minimise progression of the disease. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(7):649–657, 2018
Diffusion tensor imaging parameters in testes with nonobstructive azoospermia
Authors: Tsili Athina C. , Ntorkou Alexandra , Goussia Anna , Astrakas Loukas , Panopoulou Eleni , Sofikitis Nikolaos , Argyropoulou Maria I. 
Published: April 2018

BackgroundThe development of noninvasive imaging parameters having the capacity to identify the population of men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) where a successful sperm retrieval outcome is of great clinical significance.Purpose/HypothesisTo assess differences of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in NOA testes with impaired spermatogenesis and the possible association with the presence of spermatozoa after testicular sperm extraction (TESE).Study TypeRetrospective.PopulationTwenty NOA men (35 testes) and 21 age‐matched controls (36 testes).Field Strength/Sequence1.5T, T1WI‐SE T2WI‐FSE FS SS‐EP‐DTI.AssessmentsThe MRI data were analyzed by two radiologists in consensus. The average ADC and FA of testicular parenchyma was measured. NOA testes were classified as NOA with higher Johnsen score (JS) ≥8 (group 1) and JS <8 (group 2).Statistical TestsParametric and nonparametric statistical tests were used to compare ADC and FA between NOA groups and normal testes (group 3) and to evaluate a possible association with the presence of spermatozoa after TESE.ResultsDifferences in ADC were found between groups 1 and 2 (P = 0.043) and groups 2 and 3 (P = 0.004), but not between groups 1 and 3 (P = 0.418). Higher values of FA were found both in NOA testes with JS ≥8 (P < 0.001) and JS <8 (P < 0.001) compared to controls. ADC (P = 0.096) and FA (P = 0.516) did not demonstrate differences in NOA testes with or without spermatozoa at TESE.Data ConclusionBoth ADC and FA are increased in NOA testes compared to a normal population. ADC was proven to be a more useful diagnostic adjunct tool in the identification of the population of NOA men with foci of advanced spermatogenesis. However, DTI parameters were not predictive of sperm retrieval after TESE.Level of Evidence: 4Technical Efficacy: Stage 3J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1318–1325.
The accuracy of climate variability and trends across Arctic Fennoscandia in four reanalyses
Authors: Marshall Gareth J. , Kivinen Sonja , Jylhä Kirsti , Vignols Rebecca M. , Rees W. G. 
Published: April 2018

Arctic Fennoscandia has undergone significant climate change over recent decades. Reanalysis data sets allow us to understand the atmospheric processes driving such changes. Here we evaluate four reanalyses against observations of near‐surface air temperature (SAT) and precipitation (PPN) from 35 meteorological stations across the region for the 35‐year period from 1979 to 2013. The reanalyses compared are the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR), the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) Interim reanalysis (ERA‐Interim), the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) 55‐year reanalysis (JRA‐55) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA).All four reanalyses have an overall small cool bias across Arctic Fennoscandia, with MERRA typically ~1 °C cooler than the others. They generally reproduce the broad spatial patterns of mean SAT across the region, although less well in areas of complex orography. Observations reveal a statistically significant warming across Arctic Fennoscandia, with the majority of trends significant at p < .01. Three reanalyses show similar regional warming but of smaller magnitude while CFSR is anomalous, even having a slight cooling in some areas. In general, the other reanalyses are sufficiently accurate to reproduce the varying significance of observed seasonal trends.There are much greater differences between the reanalyses when comparing PPN to observations. MERRA‐Land, which merges a gauge‐based data set, is clearly the best: CFSR is the least successful, with a significant wet bias. The smoothed reanalysis orography means that the high PPN associated with the western side of the Scandinavian Mountains extends too far inland. Spatial patterns of PPN trends across the region differ markedly between the reanalyses, which have varying success at matching observations and generally fail to replicate sites with significant observed trends. Therefore, using reanalyses to analyse PPN changes in Arctic Fennoscandia should be undertaken with caution.
Highly efficient high‐performance liquid chromatographic separation of xylene isomers and phthalate acid esters on a homemade DUT‐67(Zr) packed column
Authors: Chen Sha , Li Xiao‐Xin , Feng Fan , Li Sumei , Han Jia‐Hui , Jia Zi‐Yi , Shu Lun , Somsundaran P. , Li Jian‐Rong 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this study, the baseline separations of xylene isomers and phthalate acid esters on a homemade DUT‐67(Zr) packed column were achieved, respectively. The high selectivity for xylene isomers and phthalate acid esters was obtained with the increase in temperature and decrease in the retention time. The hydrophobicity of xylene isomers and phthalate acid esters resulted in the different separation time on the DUT‐67(Zr) packed column. The relative standard deviation values of retention time, peak area, peak height, and half peak width for five repeat separation of the xylene isomers were 0.26–0.35, 2.11–2.26, 1.51–2.03, and 0.29–0.77%, and the values of the phthalate acid esters on DUT‐67(Zr) column were 0.1–0.4, 4.4–5.2, 3.9–6.3, and 0.6–2.1%, respectively. The thermodynamic properties indicated that the separation of xylene isomers was controlled by ΔH and ΔS, but the separation of phthalate acid esters was mainly controlled by ΔS.
A Potentiometric Study of the Briggs–Rauscher Oscillatory Reaction in a Solution of Nonionic Surfactants and tert‐Butanol
Authors: Pribus Marek , Trnková Libuše , Grančičová Ol'ga , Olexová Anna 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTThe concentration effect of nonionic surfactants (Triton X‐100, Brij 30, Brij 58, Tween 20, and Tween 80) and tert‐butanol was investigated on the Briggs–Rauscher oscillatory reaction in a stirred batch reactor at 25 ± 0.1°C in both the absence and presence of nonionic surfactant and tert‐butanol as well. The addition of Triton X‐100, Brij 58, and Tween 20 influenced the oscillatory parameters in a similar fashion: a decrease of the induction period until its disappearance, an increase of the oscillation period, an increase of the oscillation amplitude, an increase of the duration of the oscillation, and a gradual increase of the oscillation numbers. The addition of Brij 30 has no significant effect on the oscillation parameters of the Briggs‐Rauscher oscillatory reaction. The effect of tert‐butanol on the Briggs–Rauscher oscillatory reaction is very similar to the effect of Brij 58; however, we were unable to observe the disappearance of the induction period on the studied concentration range. The addition of Tween 80 to the reaction mixture has a similar effect as the addition of Triton X‐100, Brij 58, or Tween 20, except for the induction period, which in the case of Tween 80, it becomes larger. The observed effects are explained in terms of micellar catalysis or inhibition, that is, in a different extent of individual reactants of solubilization.
The Knowledge Object Reference Ontology (KORO): A formalism to support management and sharing of computable biomedical knowledge for learning health systems
Authors: Flynn Allen J. , Friedman Charles P. , Boisvert Peter , Landis‐Lewis Zachary , Lagoze Carl 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIntroductionHealth systems are challenged by care underutilization, overutilization, disparities, and related harms. One problem is a multiyear latency between discovery of new best practice knowledge and its widespread adoption. Decreasing this latency requires new capabilities to better manage and more rapidly share biomedical knowledge in computable forms. Knowledge objects package machine‐executable knowledge resources in a way that easily enables knowledge as a service. To help improve knowledge management and accelerate knowledge sharing, the Knowledge Object Reference Ontology (KORO) defines what knowledge objects are in a formal way.MethodsDevelopment of KORO began with identification of terms for classes of entities and for properties. Next, we established a taxonomical hierarchy of classes for knowledge objects and their parts. Development continued by relating these parts via formally defined properties. We evaluated the logical consistency of KORO and used it to answer several competency questions about parthood. We also applied it to guide knowledge object implementation.ResultsAs a realist ontology, KORO defines what knowledge objects are and provides details about the parts they have and the roles they play. KORO provides sufficient logic to answer several basic but important questions about knowledge objects competently. KORO directly supports creators of knowledge objects by providing a formal model for these objects.ConclusionKORO provides a formal, logically consistent ontology about knowledge objects and their parts. It exists to help make computable biomedical knowledge findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. KORO is currently being used to further develop and improve computable knowledge infrastructure for learning health systems.
Synthesis of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene Using MgO/MgCl2/TiCl4 Core–Shell Catalysts
Authors: Bando Yusuke , Chammingkwan Patchanee , Terano Minoru , Taniike Toshiaki 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this study, MgO/MgCl2/TiCl4 core–shell catalysts are employed for the production of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) particles, motivated by their advantages including simple preparation, ease of morphology control, and a dramatically reduced Cl content. It is found that the MgO/MgCl2/TiCl4 core–shell catalysts can provide UHMWPE at a reasonable activity, but the agglomeration of the catalyst particles leads to poor morphology of the UHMWPE. The dispersion problem is largely alleviated by modifying MgO nanoparticles with methyl oleate (MO). Thus, the MO‐modified MgO/MgCl2/TiCl4 core–shell catalyst successfully affords UHMWPE particles of 100–200 µm at a high yield of 8670 g‐PE g‐Cat−1.
Knitted Silk Fibroin‐Reinforced Bead‐on‐String Electrospun Fibers for Sustained Drug Delivery Against Colon Cancer
Authors: Ma Panpan , Gou Shuangquan , Wang Min , Chen Jiucun , Hu Wei , Xiao Bo 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBead‐on‐string electrospun fibers containing camptothecin (CPT) are fabricated on the surface of knitted silk fibroin (SF) meshes. Microscopic characterization reveals that the bead‐on‐string structure is prepared successfully and CPT is mainly located within the beaded structure. Interestingly, the CPT‐loaded beaded SF mesh (CPT‐SF mesh) has excellent mechanical properties. More importantly, it is able to perform a sustained CPT release without burst release. In vitro cytotoxicity tests further indicate that the CPT‐SF mesh shows much stronger anticolon cancer activity in comparison with SF meshes and beaded SF meshes. Hence, the CPT‐SF mesh has great potential as a promising local drug delivery system for colon cancer treatment.
Processing–Nanostructure–Property Relationships of All‐Polyethylene Composites Reinforced by Flow‐Induced Oriented Crystallization of UHMWPE
Authors: Zhong Fan , Thomann Ralf , Mülhaupt Rolf 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAll‐polyethylene composites exhibiting substantially improved toughness/stiffness balance are readily produced during conventional injection molding of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in the presence of bimodal polyethylene reactor blends (RB40) containing 40 wt% ultrahigh molar mass polyethylene (UHMWPE) dispersed in HDPE wax. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses shows that flow‐induced crystallization affords extended‐chain UHMWPE nanofibers forming shish which nucleates HDPE crystallization producing shish‐kebab structures as reinforcing phases. This is unparalleled by melt compounding micron‐sized UHMWPE. Injection molding of HDPE with 30 wt% RB40 at 165 °C affords thermoplastic all‐PE composites (12 wt% UHMWPE), improved Young's modulus of 3400 MPa, tensile strength of 140 MPa, and impact resistance of 22.0 kJ/m2. According to fracture surface analysis, the formation of skin‐intermediate‐core structures accounts for significantly improved impact resistance. At constant RB40 content both morphology and mechanical properties strongly depend upon processing temperature. Upon increasing processing temperature from 165 °C to 250 °C the average shish‐kebab diameter increases from the nanometer to micron range, paralleled by massive loss of self‐reinforcement above 200 °C. The absence of shish‐kebab structure at 250 °C is attributed to relaxation of polymer chains and stretch‐coil transition impairing shish formation.
A dynamic model‐based approach to motion and deformation tracking of prosthetic valves from biplane x‐ray images
Authors: Wagner Martin G. , Hatt Charles R. , Dunkerley David A. P. , Bodart Lindsay E. , Raval Amish N. , Speidel Michael A. 
Published: April 2018

PurposeTranscatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure in which a prosthetic heart valve is placed and expanded within a defective aortic valve. The device placement is commonly performed using two‐dimensional (2D) fluoroscopic imaging. Within this work, we propose a novel technique to track the motion and deformation of the prosthetic valve in three dimensions based on biplane fluoroscopic image sequences.MethodsThe tracking approach uses a parameterized point cloud model of the valve stent which can undergo rigid three‐dimensional (3D) transformation and different modes of expansion. Rigid elements of the model are individually rotated and translated in three dimensions to approximate the motions of the stent. Tracking is performed using an iterative 2D–3D registration procedure which estimates the model parameters by minimizing the mean‐squared image values at the positions of the forward‐projected model points. Additionally, an initialization technique is proposed, which locates clusters of salient features to determine the initial position and orientation of the model.ResultsThe proposed algorithms were evaluated based on simulations using a digital 4D CT phantom as well as experimentally acquired images of a prosthetic valve inside a chest phantom with anatomical background features. The target registration error was 0.12 ± 0.04 mm in the simulations and 0.64 ± 0.09 mm in the experimental data.ConclusionsThe proposed algorithm could be used to generate 3D visualization of the prosthetic valve from two projections. In combination with soft‐tissue sensitive‐imaging techniques like transesophageal echocardiography, this technique could enable 3D image guidance during TAVR procedures.