bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE PRODUCTION FOR HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
Authors: Facey Karen , Henshall Chris , Sampietro-Colom Laura , Thomas Sarah 
Published: December 2015

Objectives: Health Technology Assessment (HTA) needs to address the challenges posed by high cost, effective technologies, expedited regulatory approaches, and the opportunities provided by collaborative real-world evaluation of technologies. The Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi) Policy Forum met to consider these issues and the implications for evidence production to inform HTA. This paper shares their discussion to stimulate further debate.Methods: A background paper, presentations, group discussions, and stakeholder role play at the 2015 HTAi Policy Forum meeting informed this paper.Results: HTA has an important role to play in helping improve evidence production and ensuring that the health service is ready to adopt effective technologies. It needs to move from simply informing health system decisions to also working actively to align stakeholder expectations about realistic evidence requirements. Processes to support dialogue over the health technology life cycle need to be developed that are mindful of limited resources, operate across jurisdictions and learn from past processes. Collaborations between health technology developers and health systems in different countries should be encouraged to develop evidence that will inform decision making. New analytical techniques emerging for real-world data should be harnessed to support modeling for HTA.Conclusions: A paradigm shift (to “Health Innovation System 2.0”) is suggested where HTA adopts a more central, proactive role to support alignment within and amongst stakeholders over the whole life cycle of the technology. This could help ensure that evidence production is better aligned with patient and health system needs and so is more effective and efficient.
Witnessing substance use increases same-day antisocial behavior among at-risk adolescents: Gene–environment interaction in a 30-day ecological momentary assessment study
Authors: Russell Michael A. , Wang Lin , Odgers Candice L. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractMany young adolescents are embedded in neighborhoods, schools, and homes where alcohol and drugs are frequently used. However, little is known about (a) how witnessing others' substance use affects adolescents in their daily lives and (b) which adolescents will be most affected. The current study used ecological momentary assessment with 151 young adolescents (ages 11–15) to examine the daily association between witnessing substance use and antisocial behavior across 38 consecutive days. Results from multilevel logistic regression models indicated that adolescents were more likely to engage in antisocial behavior on days when they witnessed others using substances, an association that held when substance use was witnessed inside the home as well as outside the home (e.g., at school or in their neighborhoods). A significant Gene × Environment interaction suggested that the same-day association between witnessing substance use and antisocial behavior was significantly stronger among adolescents with, versus without, the dopamine receptor D4 seven repeat (DRD4-7R) allele. The implications of the findings for theory and research related to adolescent antisocial behavior are discussed.
Role of temperament in early adolescent pure and co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems using a bifactor model: Moderation by parenting and gender
Authors: Wang Frances L. , Eisenberg Nancy , Valiente Carlos , Spinrad Tracy L. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractWe contribute to the literature on the relations of temperament to externalizing and internalizing problems by considering parental emotional expressivity and child gender as moderators of such relations and examining prediction of pure and co-occurring problem behaviors during early to middle adolescence using bifactor models (which provide unique and continuous factors for pure and co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems). Parents and teachers reported on children's (4.5- to 8-year-olds; N = 214) and early adolescents’ (6 years later; N = 168) effortful control, impulsivity, anger, sadness, and problem behaviors. Parental emotional expressivity was measured observationally and with parents’ self-reports. Early-adolescents’ pure externalizing and co-occurring problems shared childhood and/or early-adolescent risk factors of low effortful control, high impulsivity, and high anger. Lower childhood and early-adolescent impulsivity and higher early-adolescent sadness predicted early-adolescents’ pure internalizing. Childhood positive parental emotional expressivity more consistently related to early-adolescents’ lower pure externalizing compared to co-occurring problems and pure internalizing. Lower effortful control predicted changes in externalizing (pure and co-occurring) over 6 years, but only when parental positive expressivity was low. Higher impulsivity predicted co-occurring problems only for boys. Findings highlight the probable complex developmental pathways to adolescent pure and co-occurring externalizing and internalizing problems.
Threshold temperatures for seed germination in nine species ofVerbascum(Scrophulariaceae)
Authors: Catara Stefania , Cristaudo Antonia , Gualtieri Andrea , Galesi Rosario , Impelluso Carmen , Onofri Andrea 
Published: December 2015

AbstractLight and fluctuating temperatures are two important factors triggering seed germination. The aim of this work was to: (1) elucidate the effect of temperature, light regime and storage time on seed germination in nine taxa ofVerbascumspp., collected from different habitats in the Mediterranean area; and (2) estimate threshold temperatures for seed germination. For all taxa, germination assays were performed at constant and fluctuating temperatures, both in continuous darkness (D) and in alternating light/dark (L/D; 12 h photoperiod). Final germinated proportions (FGPs), base (Tb), optimal (To) and cut-off (Tc) temperatures were derived. At constant temperatures, seed germination was strongly suppressed under the D regime. In L/D, the effect of storage time was very small and the highest FGPs were observed from 15 to 30°C (40–100%), depending on the species.Tbranged from below 7 to above 10°C and it appeared to be constant within each seed lot.ToandTcshowed some within-lot variability and were higher for fast-germinating seeds in each lot. Considering fluctuating temperatures, germination appeared to be quicker and more complete than at constant temperatures. The germination ofVerbascumspp. is favoured in L/D and fluctuating temperatures, which explains their pioneer character when positioned near the soil surface and under a low vegetation canopy.V. arcturusandV. pinnatifidumwere shown to be less favoured by L and fluctuating temperatures, which might explain their ability to germinate in rocky areas or sandy dunes, even when they are not directly exposed to the light.
Maggot Debridement Therapy in Disaster Medicine
Authors: Stadler Frank , Shaban Ramon Z. , Tatham Peter 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundWhen disaster strikes, the number of patients requiring treatment can be overwhelming. In low-income countries, resources to assist the injured in a timely fashion may be limited. As a consequence, necrosis and wound infection in disaster patients is common and frequently leads to adverse health outcomes such as amputations, chronic wounds, and loss of life. In such compromised health care environments, low-tech and cheap wound care options are required that are in ready supply, easy to use, and have multiple therapeutic benefits. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is one such wound care option and may prove to be an invaluable tool in the treatment of wounds post-disaster.DiscussionThis report provides an overview of the wound burden experienced in various types of disaster, followed by a discussion of current treatment approaches, and the role MDT may play in the treatment of complex wounds in challenging health care conditions. Maggot debridement therapy removes necrotic and devitalized tissue, controls wound infection, and stimulates wound healing. These properties suggest that medicinal maggots could assist health care professionals in the debridement of disaster wounds, to control or prevent infection, and to prepare the wound bed for reconstructive surgery. Maggot debridement therapy-assisted wound care would be led by health care workers rather than physicians, which would allow the latter to focus on reconstructive and other surgical interventions. Moreover, MDT could provide a larger window for time-critical interventions, such as fasciotomies to treat compartment syndrome and amputations in case of life-threatening wound infection.RecommendationsThere are social, medical, and logistic hurdles to overcome before MDT can become widely available in disaster medical aid. Thus, research is needed to further demonstrate the utility of MDT in Disaster Medicine. There is also a need for reliable MDT logistics and supply chain networks. Integration with other disaster management activities will also be essential.ConclusionsIn the aftermath of disasters, MDT could play an important role facilitating timely and efficient medical treatment and improving patient outcomes. Existing social, medical, and logistic barriers will need to be overcome for MDT to be mainstreamed in Disaster Medicine.StadlerF,ShabanRZ,TathamP.Maggot debridement therapy in Disaster Medicine.Prehosp Disaster Med.2016;31(1):79–84.
An audit of service-user involvement and quality of HCR-20 version 2 risk assessments on rehabilitation and low secure wards
Authors: Gough Karen , Richardson Charlotte , Weeks Hannah 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe HCR-20 is the most widely used structured professional judgement instrument for assessing risk of violence. Recent developments in secure settings have addressed service user involvement in risk assessment to empower service users, and encourage them to take responsibility for their pathway through hospital. This audit aimed to examine the quality of, and service-user involvement in, the HCR-20 assessments completed on two wards (a low secure and a psychiatric rehabilitation ward) within Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Data from the current RiO (electronic patient record system) Risk Screen and Risk Information sections and the most up-to date HCR-20 report (if there was one) was reviewed across a number of domains. The in-house HCR-20 training programme appeared to be effective, with most assessors following the appropriate data collection process. The quality of the risk assessments was mixed with the historical section being more consistently completed than the clinical and risk sections. The results of the audit facilitated the development of standards for the completion of HCR-20 risk assessments on the two wards reviewed. Limitations of the audit in terms of generalisation are noted. Nonetheless, this audit serves to give an early impression on the extent of collaboration with service users on risk assessments.
Thailand's Kra Isthmus and Elusive Canal Plans since the 1850s
Authors: Dobbs Stephen 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThis article uses primarily British colonial documents and Singapore sources to examine the history of proposals for the construction of a shipping canal through Thailand's Kra Isthmus from the 1850s. It provides historical background for continuing interest in constructing a Kra canal with the most recent speculative discussions involving Chinese interests. Since the 1850s the idea of a canal was revived on numerous occasions with several detailed surveys conducted over this time to assess the feasibility of a shipping canal via the Kra Isthmus. This research examines how speculation and actual proposals were handled by the British colonial authorities and how this related to the British policy of using Siam/Thailand as a buffer state separating their colonies and those of their European rival France. In colonial Singapore canal proposals created great angst and to some extent this has continued to be the case to the present day. The article suggests that while British colonial policy was always against, or at least not in favour of, the construction of a canal, other factors are equally important for explaining why canal proposals never proceeded beyond planning and surveys.
Wind, Water, and Risk: Shaping a Transnational History of the Western North Pacific
Authors: Bankoff Greg 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe peoples who inhabit the states that lie in the direct paths of typhoons in the Western North Pacific share a common history of repeated dislocation, destruction, and death that delimits a zone of comparative enquiry and historiographical interest. The track left by typhoons across ocean and land perfectly outline the dimensions of a more transnational historical region encompassing the Philippines, Vietnam, China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the island states of Micronesia. The peoples of these lands are bound together by a common experience of risk. Wind and water together offer a radical alternative historiography to state-centred master narratives that are revealed by pursuing issues and questions that transcend the spatial and temporal boundaries of any one state or region.
The Open Quantum Materials Database (OQMD): assessing the accuracy of DFT formation energies
Authors: Kirklin Scott , Saal James E , Meredig Bryce , Thompson Alex , Doak Jeff W , Aykol Muratahan , Rühl Stephan , Wolverton Chris 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe Open Quantum Materials Database (OQMD) is a high-throughput database currently consisting of nearly 300,000 density functional theory (DFT) total energy calculations of compounds from the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database (ICSD) and decorations of commonly occurring crystal structures. To maximise the impact of these data, the entire database is being made available, without restrictions, at www.oqmd.org/download. In this paper, we outline the structure and contents of the database, and then use it to evaluate the accuracy of the calculations therein by comparing DFT predictions with experimental measurements for the stability of all elemental ground-state structures and 1,670 experimental formation energies of compounds. This represents the largest comparison between DFT and experimental formation energies to date. The apparent mean absolute error between experimental measurements and our calculations is 0.096 eV/atom. In order to estimate how much error to attribute to the DFT calculations, we also examine deviation between different experimental measurements themselves where multiple sources are available, and find a surprisingly large mean absolute error of 0.082 eV/atom. Hence, we suggest that a significant fraction of the error between DFT and experimental formation energies may be attributed to experimental uncertainties. Finally, we evaluate the stability of compounds in the OQMD (including compounds obtained from the ICSD as well as hypothetical structures), which allows us to predict the existence of ~3,200 new compounds that have not been experimentally characterised and uncover trends in material discovery, based on historical data available within the ICSD.
Transcriptome analysis of the key role of GAT2 gene in the hyper-accumulation of copper in the oyster Crassostrea angulata
Authors: Shi Bo , Huang Zekun , Xiang Xu , Huang Miaoqin , Wang Wen-Xiong , Ke Caihuan 
Published: December 2015

AbstractOne paradigm of oysters as the hyper-accumulators of many toxic metals is the inter-individual variation of metals, but the molecular mechanisms remain very elusive. A comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome ofCrassostrea angulatawas conducted to reveal the relationship between gene expression and differential Cu body burden in oysters. Gene ontology analysis for the differentially expressed genes showed that the neurotransmitter transporter might affect the oyster behavior, which in turn led to difference in Cu accumulation. The ATP-binding cassette transporters superfamily played an important role in the maintenance of cell Cu homeostasis, vitellogenin and apolipophorin transport and elimination of excess Cu. Gill and mantle Cu concentrations were significantly reduced after silencing theGABA transporter 2 (GAT2)gene, but increased after the injection of GABA receptor antagonists, suggesting that the function ofGABA transporter 2gene was strongly related to Cu accumulation. These findings demonstrated that GABA transporter can control the action of transmitter GABA in the nervous system, thereby affecting the Cu accumulation in the gills and mantles.
Single Cell Dynamics Causes Pareto-Like Effect in Stimulated T Cell Populations
Authors: Cosette Jérémie , Moussy Alice , Onodi Fanny , Auffret-Cariou Adrien , Neildez-Nguyen Thi My Anh , Paldi Andras , Stockholm Daniel 
Published: December 2015

AbstractCell fate choice during the process of differentiation may obey to deterministic or stochastic rules. In order to discriminate between these two strategies we used time-lapse microscopy of individual murine CD4 + T cells that allows investigating the dynamics of proliferation and fate commitment. We observed highly heterogeneous division and death rates between individual clones resulting in a Pareto-like dominance of a few clones at the end of the experiment. Commitment to the Treg fate was monitored using the expression of a GFP reporter gene under the control of the endogenous Foxp3 promoter. All possible combinations of proliferation and differentiation were observed and resulted in exclusively GFP–, GFP+ or mixed phenotype clones of very different population sizes. We simulated the process of proliferation and differentiation using a simple mathematical model of stochastic decision-making based on the experimentally observed parameters. The simulations show that a stochastic scenario is fully compatible with the observed Pareto-like imbalance in the final population.
P accumulation and physiological responses to different high P regimes in Polygonum hydropiper for understanding a P-phytoremediation strategy
Authors: Ye Daihua , Li Tingxuan , Liu Dan , Zhang Xizhou , Zheng Zicheng 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPhosphorus (P) accumulators used for phytoremediation vary in their potential to acquire P from different high P regimes. Growth and P accumulation in Polygonum hydropiper were both dependent on an increasing level of IHP (1–8 mM P) and on a prolonged growth period (3-9 weeks) and those of the mining ecotype (ME) were higher than the non-mining ecotype (NME). Biomass increments in root, stem and leaf of both ecotypes were significantly greater in IHP relative to other organic P (Po) sources (G1P, AMP, ATP), but lower than those in inorganic P (Pi) treatment (KH2PO4). P accumulation in the ME exceeded the NME from different P regimes. The ME demonstrated higher root activity compared to the NME grown in various P sources. Acid phosphatase (Apase) and phytase activities in root extracts of both ecotypes grown in IHP were comparable to that in Pi, or even higher in IHP. Higher secreted Apase and phytase activities were detected in the ME treated with different P sources relative to the NME. Therefore, the ME demonstrates higher P-uptake efficiency and it is a potential material for phytoextraction from P contaminated areas, irrespective of Pi or Po contamination.
Remote Manipulation of Droplets on a Flexible Magnetically Responsive Film
Authors: Kim Jeong Hun , Kang Seong Min , Lee Byung Jun , Ko Hangil , Bae Won-Gyu , Suh Kahp Yang , Kwak Moon Kyu , Jeong Hoon Eui 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe manipulation of droplets is used in a wide range of applications, from lab-on-a-chip devices to bioinspired functional surfaces. Although a variety of droplet manipulation techniques have been proposed, active, fast and reversible manipulation of pure discrete droplets remains elusive due to the technical limitations of previous techniques. Here, we describe a novel technique that enables active, fast, precise and reversible control over the position and motion of a pure discrete droplet with only a permanent magnet by utilizing a magnetically responsive flexible film possessing actuating hierarchical pillars on the surface. This magnetically responsive surface shows reliable actuating capabilities with immediate field responses and maximum tilting angles of ~90°. Furthermore, the magnetic responsive film exhibits superhydrophobicity regardless of tilting angles of the actuating pillars. Using this magnetically responsive film, we demonstrate active and reversible manipulation of droplets with a remote magnetic force.
Identification of Genes Associated with Smad3-dependent Renal Injury by RNA-seq-based Transcriptome Analysis
Authors: Zhou Qin , Xiong Yuanyan , Huang Xiao R. , Tang Patrick , Yu Xueqing , Lan Hui Y. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractTransforming growth factor-β/Smad3 signaling plays a critical role in the process of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but targeting Smad3 systematically may cause autoimmune disease by impairing immunity. In this study, we used whole-transcriptome RNA-sequencing to identify the differential gene expression profile, gene ontology, pathways and alternative splicing related to TGF-β/Smad3 in CKD. To explore common dysregulation of genes associated with Smad3-depednent renal injury, kidney tissues of Smad3 wild-type and knockout mice with immune (anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis) and non-immune (obstructive nephropathy)-mediated CKD were used for RNA-sequencing analysis. Totally 1922 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were commonly found in these CKD models. The up-regulated genes are inflammatory and immune response associated, while decreased genes are material or electron transportation and metabolism related. Only 9 common DEGs were found to be Smad3-dependent in two models, including 6 immunoglobulin genes (Ighg1, Ighg2c, Igkv12-41, Ighv14-3, Ighv5-6 and Ighg2b) and 3 metabolic genes (Ugt2b37, Slc22a19 and Mfsd2a). Our results identify transcriptomes associated with renal injury may represent a common mechanism for the pathogenesis of CKD and reveal novel Smad3 associated transcriptomes in the development of CKD.
Stochastic Micro-Pattern for Automated Correlative Fluorescence - Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Begemann Isabell , Viplav Abhiyan , Rasch Christiane , Galic Milos 
Published: December 2015

AbstractStudies of cellular surface features gain from correlative approaches, where live cell information acquired by fluorescence light microscopy is complemented by ultrastructural information from scanning electron micrographs. Current approaches to spatially align fluorescence images with scanning electron micrographs are technically challenging and often cost or time-intensive. Relying exclusively on open-source software and equipment available in a standard lab, we have developed a method for rapid, software-assisted alignment of fluorescence images with the corresponding scanning electron micrographs via a stochastic gold micro-pattern. Here, we provide detailed instructions for micro-pattern production and image processing, troubleshooting for critical intermediate steps and examples of membrane ultra-structures aligned with the fluorescence signal of proteins enriched at such sites. Together, the presented method for correlative fluorescence – scanning electron microscopy is versatile, robust and easily integrated into existing workflows, permitting image alignment with accuracy comparable to existing approaches with negligible investment of time or capital.