bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SOCIAL DISTORTION EFFECTS IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
Authors: Grahovac Dijana , Trivanović-Stojanović Mirjana 
Published: November 2017

The paper presents the dynamics of inequalities in the distribution of wealth between countries at the global level as well as through an analysis of the Gini coefficient in a selected number of countries. Legality, created as a result of globalization and liberalization, has led to divisions in most societies into two narrow groups, ie. „at the top'' and ''others''. There is no more division into three layers of society – i.e. "top, middle and bottom''. On the other hand, this trend creates distortions in the economic and in the social field. This is expressed through the principle: 'the more money remains concentrated at the top, the bigger decrease in aggregate demand'. Consequently, total demand in the economy is lower than the supply, and it causes the growth of unemployment, which leads to a decline in consumption and demand. This process creates deflationary pressures and causes fluctuations in foreign exchange markets, creating the crisis. To prevent such a scenario and to recover the global economy, it is necessary to make the intervention and do the redistribution of wealth through fiscal and other economic measures.
Fitness implications of sex-specific catch-up growth inNephila senegalensis, a spider with extreme reversed SSD
Authors: Neumann Rainer , Ruppel Nicole , Schneider Jutta M. 
Published: November 2017

BackgroundAnimal growth is often constrained by unfavourable conditions and divergences from optimal body size can be detrimental to an individual’s fitness, particularly in species with determinate growth and a narrow time-frame for life-time reproduction. Growth restriction in early juvenile stages can later be compensated by means of plastic developmental responses, such as adaptive catch-up growth (the compensation of growth deficits through delayed development). Although sex differences regarding the mode and degree of growth compensation have been coherently predicted from sex-specific fitness payoffs, inconsistent results imply a need for further research. We used the AfricanNephila senegalensis, representing an extreme case of female-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD), to study fitness implications of sex-specific growth compensation. We predicted effective catch-up growth in early food-restricted females to result in full compensation of growth deficits and a life-time fecundity (LTF) equivalent to unrestricted females. Based on a stronger trade-off between size-related benefits and costs of a delayed maturation, we expected less effective catch-up growth in males.MethodsWe tracked the development of over one thousand spiders in different feeding treatments, e.g., comprising a fixed period of early low feeding conditions followed by unrestricted feeding conditions, permanent unrestricted feeding conditions, or permanent low feeding conditions as a control. In a second experimental section, we assessed female fitness by measuring LTF in a subset of females. In addition, we tested whether compensatory development affected the reproductive lifespan in both sexes and analysed genotype-by-treatment interactions as a potential cause of variation in life-history traits.ResultsBoth sexes delayed maturation to counteract early growth restriction, but only females achieved full compensation of adult body size. Female catch-up growth resulted in equivalent LTF compared to unrestricted females. We found significant interactions between experimental treatments and sex as well as between treatments and family lineage, suggesting that family-specific responses contribute to the unusually large variation of life-history traits inNephilaspiders. Our feeding treatments had no effect on the reproductive lifespan in either sex.DiscussionOur findings are in line with predictions of life-history theory and corroborate strong fecundity selection to result in full female growth compensation. Males showed incomplete growth compensation despite a delayed development, indicating relaxed selection on large size and a stronger trade-off between late maturation and size-related benefits. We suggest that moderate catch-up growth in males is still adaptive as a ‘bet-hedging’ strategy to disperse unavoidable costs between life-history traits affected by early growth restriction (the duration of development and adult size).
Acondicionamiento de reproductores y caracterización gonadal de Tawera gayi (Hupé, 1854) (Bivalva: Veneridae) bajo condiciones controladas de cultivo.
Authors: Trigo Paulina 
Published: November 2017

El presente estudio describe el acondicionamiento de reproductores bajo sistema controlado del bivalvo Tawera gayi (Hupé, 1854), en el cual se caracterizó el estado de madurez gonadal en base a la presencia de células germinales masculinas y femeninas, estableciéndose su identificación mediante histología a través de microscopia óptica. Como metodología para el acondicionamiento se empleó una bandeja de 15,31 L de volumen útil donde fueron mantenidos 100 ejemplares de T.gayi. El sistema se mantuvo con agua de mar a 29-30 ppm con recambio de agua cada 3 días a temperatura promedio de 16 -18 °C. Con alimentación continua de una mezcla de microalgas de Isochrysis galbana y Chaetoceros muelleri. Los resultados obtenidos, ponen en manifiesto que Tawera es una especie dioica, sin dimorfismo sexual. Presenta fecundación externa, con un ciclo reproductivo continuo, asincrónico y sin reposo gonadal. Durante las primeras semanas de aclimatación los machos presentaron 100% de madurez máxima, mientras que las hembras demostraron un 71% de madurez avanzada y 29% de madurez máxima. Una vez acondicionadas y con alimento continuo, se logró 100% de evacuación parcial en hembras y 50% de evacuación parcial y total en machos, obteniendo desove en cautiverio. Palabras claves: Tawera gayi; acondicionamiento; caracterización gonadal; desove.
Nutrient removal capacity of wood residues for the Agro-environmental safety of ground and surface waters
Authors: Dumont Paulo A. , Chadwick David. R. , Robinson Steve 
Published: November 2017

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of wood residues in the removal of nutrients (ammonium-N; NH4-N) from nutrient-rich (NH4-N) waters. The water holding capacity of the wood materials was also determined. Carried out at Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, UK, this controlled laboratory experiment tested two wood residues; in length, one being 1-2cm and the other from 150 µm (microns) to 9.5mm. Although a wide range of studies have shown the effectiveness and performance of various absorbent materials as animal beddings, such as straw (cereal straw), woodchip (sawdust, bark or wood shavings), bracken and rushes, only few have focused on the NH4-N sorption/desorption capacity. The depuration capacity of wood residues from nutrient-rich effluents such as those from cattle bedded on woodchip or straw will be controlled by processes such as sorption (adsorption-absorption) and desorption of nutrients. Studies have reported the nitrogen removal capacity of woodchip materials and biochar from woodchip as well as removal of NH4+-N from domestic and municipal wastewater, farm dirty water, landfill and industry effluents. These studies have observed that the mechanism of removal of nitrogen is by either increasing NO3--N removal form leachate by enhancing N2O losses via denitrification (biochar as carbon source for denitrifiers) or by decreasing NH4+-N in leachate through adsorption to negatively charged sites. Results showed that although the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and surface area (SA) are both fundamental properties of adsorbent materials, no correlation was found with CEC and adsorption or desorption. Nor did changes in pH appear to be sufficiently important to cause changes in CEC. For this reason, osmotic pressure appeared to be a more predominant parameter controlling processes of adsorption and desorption of NH4+-N in both wood residues. Thus, wood residues high in NH4+-N should be avoided, as they could have an opposite effect in the adsorption of nutrients from nutrient-rich effluents. The results also showed that some wood residues (G30) had great capacity to adsorb NH4+-N to levels up to nearly 90% whilst demonstrating low desorption capacity of NH4+-N (less than 1%). These are ideal relevant features for an adsorbent material for the removal of nutrients (or heavy metals) from contaminated waters such us farm o industrial effluents, or for the depuration of eutrophic watercourses. This could help reduce the concentration of farm effluents making them more manageable, subsequently contributing towards the compliance of new environmental regulations. Keywords: nutrients, nitrogen, ground and surface water
Describing the Radular morphology by using SEM in Muricanthus kuesterianus (Tapparone-canefri1875) Family: Muricidae, from Palk Bay-South East Coast of India
Authors: Stella Chelladurai , Paul Packiam , Ragunathan Chelladurai 
Published: November 2017

Scanning electron microscopic studies (SEM) revealed that the radula of Muricanthus kuesterianus resembled that of Muricanthus virgineus in most details. But there were some apparent differences. In Muricanthus kuesterianus rachidian tooth have a broad base than that of Muricanthus virgineus. The base of the median cusp was broad, short, stout and pointed straight towards the anterior end. The left lateral cusp elongated, sharp, slightly bent and pointed outwards and the right lateral cusp dorso ventrally flattened and the anterior end small, slightly pointed. In between the median and left lateral cusps, a sharp and pointed denticle is present where as the right laterals and median cups there is no denticle. The lateral teeth which are two in numbers flanked median rachidian.Keywords: Scanning Electron Microscope, Radula, Gastropoda, Muricidae, Muricanthus kuesteianus,
Zooplankton in Arabian Sea, India
Authors: Kalaiarasi Mariadoss , Ambikadevi Periyasamy , Bharath Jayaseelan , Stella Chelladurai 
Published: November 2017

The abundance of zooplankton in marine environment has direct influence on fishery resources and it is influenced by environmental parameters such as circulatory movements (eddies) and vertical turbulent mixing. The important role of plankton including both microzooplankton and macrozooplankton in supporting life in the sea was recognized in the past, but the study related to ecology of these organisms has still recently formed as intractable aspect in marine ecosystem. Life in the sea has been broadly classified into three groups, viz., the plankton, the nekton and the benthos. The majority of the faunal assemblages of the plankton consists of zooplankton. Among the various levels of production in the sea the secondary production, i.e., production of zooplankton, attains significance as it serves as a link between primary production and tertiary production. The zooplankton chiefly consumes the primary producers and forms the major food source for tertiary producers. Zooplankton plays an important role in coral reef ecosystem. They serve as food for corals, and a variety of other invertebrates and reef fishes. From the fishery point of view, zooplankton forms food of/ from important batfishes belonging to the families Clupeidae, Caesionidae and Apogonidae. Some fishes are exclusively zooplankton feeders and therefore their abundance is directly linked to the presence of zooplankton.
Antecedentes y Marco conceptual para una gestión sostenible de la calidad del agua en la Cuenca del Río Bueno, X Ragión de Los Lagos. Chile.
Authors: Zelada Sara 
Published: November 2017

El presente artículo hace una revisión de los trabajos publicados más recientes en relación a la gestión de los recursos hídricos en Chile bajo el concepto de calidad ecológica, resumiendo información para la gestión sostenible del agua en la cuenca hidrográfica del río Bueno de la Décima Región de Chile, donde se ha conformado la primera Mesa Provincial del Agua en la ciudad de Osorno (julio 2015). Los Derechos de Agua regulados por el Código de Aguas de1981 y un déficit en la planificación territorial integrada, son los principales obstáculos para una gestión eficiente del recurso hídrico. Se hace un aporte en relación a los protocolos rápidos que se aplican a la evaluación de la calidad biológica del agua con macroinvertebrados bentónicos como indicadores, que son ampliamente utilizados en el mundo.
Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Count Ratio Has a Close Association With Severe Acute Colonic Diverticulitis in Patients Undergoing Surgical Treatment
Authors: Kim TaeHoon , Moon Tong , Yoon Jin , Park SangSu , Jang YongSeog , Lee KyungBok , Jung JiWoong , Kwon YuJin , Lee Sol , Cho DongHui 
Published: November 2017

Objective:
To investigate the diagnostic potential of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte count ratio (NLCR) for acute diverticulitis.

Summary of Background Data:
We evaluated NLCR in patients with acute colonic diverticulitis who were treated with conservative and surgical treatments.

Methods:
A total of 205 patients who underwent surgical treatment or conservative management of acute diverticulitis between 2012 and 2016 were reviewed. Patients' age; sex; hospital days; co-morbidity; complication; period of use of antibiotics; treatment method; body temperature; and initial laboratory results such as neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, NLCR, and serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed.

Results:
The median ages of the conservative and surgical treatment groups were 46 and 68 years, respectively. Median CRP and glucose levels were high in acute colonic diverticulitis patients who underwent surgical treatment (P &lt; 0.001, P &lt; 0.001). Albumin level was low in the surgical treatment group (P &lt; 0.001). NLCR was significantly different in both groups (conservative management vs surgical treatment, 4.1 mg/L versus 8.5 mg/L; P &lt; 0.001). Median white blood cells was 11.36 × 109/L in the conservative management group and 14.0 × 109/L in the surgical treatment group, with no significance (P = 0.071). Multivariate analysis revealed that NLCR &gt;10.21 [odds ratio (OR) = 5.613, P = 0.022]; CRP &gt;17.23 mg/L (OR = 4.241, P = 0.006); and albumin ≤3.5 (OR = 4.192, P = 0.036) were significant for acute colonic diverticulitis patients.

Conclusion:
NLCR, CRP, and albumin levels were significantly associated with acute colonic diverticulitis in the surgical treatment group, and NLCR was the most powerful predictive marker of severe acute colonic diverticulitis.
High-Risk Medications in Persons Living With Dementia
Authors: Singh Sonal , Li Xiaojuan , Cocoros Noelle M. , Antonelli Mary T. , Avula Ramya , Crawford Sybil L. , Dashevsky Inna , Fouayzi Hassan , Harkins Thomas P. , Mazor Kathleen M. , Michnick Ashley I. , Parlett Lauren , Paullin Mark , Platt Richard , Rochon Paula A. , Saphirak Cassandra , Si Mia , Zhou Yunping , Gurwitz Jerry H. 
Published: October 2024

ImportanceIndividuals with Alzheimer disease (AD) and Alzheimer disease–related dementias (ADRD) may be at increased risk for adverse outcomes relating to inappropriate prescribing of certain high-risk medications, including antipsychotics, sedative-hypnotics, and strong anticholinergic agents.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of a patient/caregiver and prescriber-mailed educational intervention on potentially inappropriate prescribing to patients with AD or ADRD.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis prospective, open-label, pragmatic randomized clinical trial, embedded in 2 large national health plans, was conducted from April 2022 to June 2023. The trial included patients with AD or ADRD and use of any of 3 drug classes targeted for deprescribing (antipsychotics, sedative-hypnotics, or strong anticholinergics).InterventionsPatients were randomized to 1 of 3 arms: (1) a mailing of educational materials specific to the medication targeted for deprescribing to both the patient and their prescribing clinician; (2) a mailing to the prescribing clinician only; or (3) a usual care arm.Main Outcomes and MeasuresAnalysis was performed using a modified intention-to-treat approach. The primary study outcome was the dispensing of the medication targeted for deprescribing during a 6-month study observation period. Secondary outcomes included changes in medication-specific mean daily dose and health service utilization.ResultsAmong 12 787 patients included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis, 8742 (68.4%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 77.3 (9.4) years. The cumulative incidence of being dispensed a medication targeted for deprescribing was 76.7% (95% CI, 75.4-78.0) in the patient and prescriber mailing group, 77.9% (95% CI, 76.5-79.1) in the prescriber mailing only group, and 77.5% (95% CI, 76.2-78.8) in the usual care group. Hazard ratios were 0.99 (95% CI, 0.94-1.04) for the patient and prescriber group and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.96-1.06) for the prescriber only group compared with the usual care group. There were no differences between the groups for secondary outcomes.Conclusions and RelevanceThese findings suggest medication-specific educational mailings targeting patients with AD or ADRD and their clinicians are not effective in reducing the use of high-risk medications.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05147428
Community Health Workers Linking Clinics and Schools and Asthma Control
Authors: Bryant-Stephens Tyra , Kenyon Chen C. , Tingey Colleen , Apter Andrea , Pappas Julie , Minto Natalie , Stewart Yvonne S. , Shults Justine 
Published: October 2024

ImportanceChildhood asthma is characterized by pervasive disparities, including 3-fold higher hospitalization rates and 7-fold higher death rates for Black children compared with White children. To address asthma disparities, one must intervene in all lived environments.ObjectiveTo determine if a community health worker (CHW) intervention to connect the primary care, home, and school for low-income minoritized school-aged children with asthma and their caregivers improves asthma control.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis study was a hybrid effectiveness/implementation trial using a 2 × 2 factorial, cluster randomized clinical trial design of 36 schools crossed with participant-level randomization into a clinic-based CHW intervention. The study was conducted from May 2018 to June 2022. The intervention took place in primary care offices, homes, and 36 West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, public and charter schools. Children aged 5 to 13 years with uncontrolled asthma were recruited from local primary care practices.InterventionsAsthma management, trigger remediation, and care coordination occurred in school, home, and primary care settings. Children were followed up for 12 months. The Yes We Can Children’s Asthma Program, Open Airways For Schools Plus, and school-based asthma therapy were implemented.Main Outcomes and MeasuresImprovement in asthma control, as measured by the Asthma Control Questionnaire, comparing the mean difference between groups 1 year after randomization with their baseline (difference in differences). Both primary care and school interventions were dramatically disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic; therefore, stratified analyses were performed to assess per-protocol intervention efficacy before the pandemic disruptions.ResultsA total of 1875 participants were approached, 1248 were excluded, and 1 was withdrawn. The 626 analyzed study participants (mean [SD] age, 8.7 [2.4] years; 363 male [58%]) self-identified as Black race (96%) and non-Hispanic ethnicity (98%). Although all groups had statistically significant improvements in asthma control from baseline to 12 months (P− group: −0.46; 95% CI, −0.58 to −0.33; P+ group: −0.57; 95% CI, −0.74 to −0.44; S− group: −0.47; 95% CI, −0.58 to −0.35; S+ group: −0.59; 95% CI, −0.74 to −0.44), none of the difference-in-differences estimates from the primary prespecified models showed a clinically meaningful improvement in asthma control. Analysis from the prepandemic interval, however, demonstrated that children in the combined clinic-school intervention had a statistically significant improvement in asthma control scores compared with control (−0.79; 95% CI, −1.40 to −0.18).Conclusions and RelevanceThis randomized clinical trial provides preliminary evidence that connecting all lived environments for care of children can be accomplished through linkages with CHWs.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03514485
Levels of Satisfaction and Regret With Gender-Affirming Medical Care in Adolescence
Authors: Olson Kristina R. , Raber G. F. , Gallagher Natalie M. 
Published: October 2024

ImportanceThere is a need to improve the evidence base for gender-affirming medical care provided to adolescents, including the experiences of those who have received this care.ObjectiveTo examine rates of satisfaction, regret, and continuity of care in adolescents who received puberty blockers and/or gender-affirming hormones as part of gender-affirming medical care.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis survey study used the 2023 online survey wave of an ongoing longitudinal study, the Trans Youth Project, among a community-based sample of transgender youth and their parents initially recruited throughout the US and Canada between 2013 and 2017. The satisfaction and regret data include responses from a youth or their parent representing 87% of the youth aged 12 years or older in the cohort who have received gender-affirming medical care (235 of 269 youths). Of these, 220 completed the 2023 survey (main sample); information about continuity of care was available for all youth. Data analysis was performed from April to August 2024.ExposureSatisfaction, regret, and continuity of care following puberty blockers or suppression and/or gender-affirming hormones.Main Outcomes and MeasuresSelf- or parent-reported satisfaction or regret with gender-affirming care and continuation of care.ResultsAmong the 220 youths in the main sample (mean [SD] age, 16.07 [2.40] years; 30 [14%] multiracial, non-Hispanic; 18 [8%] White, Hispanic; 155 [70%] White, non-Hispanic; 17 [8%] other race and ethnicity, including Asian, Black [Hispanic and non-Hispanic], Hispanic with unknown race, multiracial Hispanic, or Native American; gender at last interaction: 68 [31%] boys, 132 [60%] girls, 20 [9%] gender diverse, eg, nonbinary) and their parents, very high levels of satisfaction and low levels of regret with puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones as well as high levels of continuation of care were reported. Of these 220 respondents in the main sample, 9 were regretful of having received blockers (n = 8) and/or hormones (n = 3; 2 of these individuals reported regret with both), of whom 4 have stopped all gender-affirming medical care and 1 has continued to receive blockers but plans to stop. The 4 others have continued care, suggesting that regret is not synonymous with stopping care.Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings suggest that youth accessing puberty blockers and hormones as part of gender-affirming care tend to be satisfied with and not regretful of that care several years later. While regret was rare, these experiences need to be better understood.