bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating methods for surveying the Endangered Cuvier's gazelleGazella cuvieriin arid landscapes
Authors: Gil-Sánchez Jose María , Herrera-Sánchez F. Javier , Álvarez Begoña , Arredondo Ángel , Bautista Jesús , Cancio Inmaculada , Castillo Salvador , Díaz-Portero Miguel Ángel , de Lucas Jesús , McCain Emil , Pérez Joaquín , Rodríguez-Siles Javier , Sáez Juan Manuel , Martínez-Valderrama Jaime , Valenzuela Gerardo , Qninba Abdeljebbar , Virgós Emilio 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe Endangered Cuvier's gazelleGazella cuvieriis an endemic ungulate of north-western Africa. Information on the species has been based primarily on non-systematic surveys, and the corresponding status estimates are of unknown quality. We evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of two field methods for systematic surveys of populations of Cuvier's gazelle in arid environments: distance sampling (based on sightings) and sampling indirect sign (tracks and scats). The work was carried out in the north-western Sahara Desert, in Morocco, where what is possibly the largest population of Cuvier's gazelle persists. A logistically viable survey was conducted over a total area of c. 20.000 km2in 10 expeditions during 2011–2014. A total of 67 sites were surveyed, with 194 walking surveys (2,169 km in total). Gazelle signs were detected at 50 sites, and gazelles were sighted at 21 sites (61 individuals). We found a relationship between sightings and abundance indices based on indirect sign, which could be useful for population monitoring or ecological studies. Additionally, the data could be used in occupancy modelling. Density estimates based on distance sampling required considerable effort; however, it is possible to survey large areas during relatively short campaigns, and this proved to be the most useful approach to obtain data on the demographic structure of the population.
A study of wrist-worn activity measurement as a potential real-world biomarker for late-life depression
Authors: O'Brien J. T. , Gallagher P. , Stow D. , Hammerla N. , Ploetz T. , Firbank M. , Ladha C. , Ladha K. , Jackson D. , McNaney R. , Ferrier I. N. , Olivier P. 
Published: September 2016

BackgroundLate-life depression (LLD) is associated with a decline in physical activity. Typically this is assessed by self-report questionnaires and, more recently, with actigraphy. We sought to explore the utility of a bespoke activity monitor to characterize activity profiles in LLD more precisely.MethodThe activity monitor was worn for 7 days by 29 adults with LLD and 30 healthy controls. Subjects underwent neuropsychological assessment and quality of life (QoL) (36-item Short-Form Health Survey) and activities of daily living (ADL) scales (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale) were administered.ResultsPhysical activity was significantly reduced in LLD compared with controls (t = 3.63, p < 0.001), primarily in the morning. LLD subjects showed slower fine motor movements (t = 3.49, p < 0.001). In LLD patients, activity reductions were related to reduced ADL (r = 0.61, p < 0.001), lower QoL (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), associative learning (r = 0.40, p = 0.036), and higher Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score (r = −0.37, p < 0.05).ConclusionsPatients with LLD had a significant reduction in general physical activity compared with healthy controls. Assessment of specific activity parameters further revealed the correlates of impairments associated with LLD. Our study suggests that novel wearable technology has the potential to provide an objective way of monitoring real-world function.
Cumulative Inequalities over the Life-Course: Life-long Learning and Social Mobility in Britain
Authors: BUKODI ERZSÉBET 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper examines the possibility that life-long learning promotes intergenerational class mobility. The following two research questions are asked. Is it the case that further education provides individuals coming from less advantaged origins with a second chance to improve on their educational attainment? Is it the case that the returns to further qualifications, in terms of chances of upward class career mobility, are greater for children from less advantaged backgrounds than for children from more advantaged backgrounds? The analyses – that are based on the complete educational and class histories of men and women in a British birth cohort – mainly produce negative findings. Children coming from managerial and professional backgrounds seem to benefit most from further education. More specifically, further education appears to be an effective means of career advancement for individuals of managerial and professional origins who start out in their working lives in relatively low-level class positions. Via further education they can increase or update their qualifications, and in turn enhance their chances of being counter-mobile back to their class of origin. Overall, based on the findings of this paper, we can conclude that qualifications attained through life-long learning primarily serve to maintain, rather than to narrow, inequalities attached to social origins in Britain.
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT OF MEDICAL DEVICES IN EUROPE: PROCESSES, PRACTICES, AND METHODS
Authors: Fuchs Sabine , Olberg Britta , Panteli Dimitra , Busse Reinhard 
Published: September 2016

Objectives:To review and compare current Health Technology Assessment (HTA) activities for medical devices (MDs) across European HTA institutions.Methods:A comprehensive approach was adopted to identify institutions involved in HTA in European countries. We systematically searched institutional Web sites and other online sources by using a structured tool to extract information on the role and link to decision making, structure, scope, process, methodological approach, and available HTA reports for each included institution.Results:Information was obtained from eighty-four institutions, forty-seven of which were analyzed. Fifty-four methodological documents from twenty-three agencies in eighteen countries were identified. Only five agencies had separate documents for the assessment of MDs. A few agencies made separate provisions for the assessment of MDs in their general methods. The amount of publicly available HTA reports on MDs varied by device category and agency remit.Conclusions:Despite growing consensus on their importance and international initiatives, such as the EUnetHTA Core Model®, specific tools for the assessment of MDs are rarely developed and implemented at the national level. Separate additional signposts incorporated in existing general methods guides may be sufficient for the evaluation of MDs.
PUBLIC AND PATIENT INVOLVEMENT IN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT: A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION
Authors: Abelson Julia , Wagner Frank , DeJean Deirdre , Boesveld Sarah , Gauvin Franςois-Pierre , Bean Sally , Axler Renata , Petersen Stephen , Baidoobonso Shamara , Pron Gaylene , Giacomini Mita , Lavis John 
Published: September 2016

Objective: As health technology assessment (HTA) organizations in Canada and around the world seek to involve the public and patients in their activities, frameworks to guide decisions about whom to involve, through which mechanisms, and at what stages of the HTA process have been lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the development and outputs of a comprehensive framework for involving the public and patients in a government agency's HTA process.Methods: The framework was informed by a synthesis of international practice and published literature, a dialogue with local, national and international stakeholders, and the deliberations of a government agency's public engagement subcommittee in Ontario, Canada.Results: The practice and literature synthesis failed to identify a single, optimal approach to involving the public and patients in HTA. Choice of methods should be considered in the context of each HTA stage, goals for incorporating societal and/or patient perspectives into the process, and relevant societal and/or patient values at stake. The resulting framework is structured around four actionable elements: (i) guiding principles and goals for public and patient involvement (PPI) in HTA, (ii) the establishment of a common language to support PPI efforts, (iii) a flexible array of PPI approaches, and (iv) on-going evaluation of PPI to inform adjustments over time.Conclusions: A public and patient involvement framework has been developed for implementation in a government agency’s HTA process. Core elements of this framework may apply to other organizations responsible for HTA and health system quality improvement.
Slow increasing functions and the largest partial quotients in continued fraction expansions
Authors: CHANG JINHUA , CHEN HAIBO 
Published: September 2016

AbstractLet 0 ⩽ α ⩽ ∞ and ψ be a positive function defined on (0, ∞). In this paper, we will study the level sets L(α, {ψ(n)}), B(α, {ψ(n)}) and T(α, {ψ(n)}) which are related respectively to the sequence of the largest digits among the first n partial quotients {Ln(x)}n≥1, the increasing sequence of the largest partial quotients {Bn(x)}n⩾1 and the sequence of successive occurrences of the largest partial quotients {Tn(x)}n⩾1 in the continued fraction expansion of x ∈ [0,1) ∩ ℚc. Under suitable assumptions of the function ψ, we will prove that the sets L(α, {ψ(n)}), B(α, {ψ(n)}) and T(α, {ψ(n)}) are all of full Hausdorff dimensions for any 0 ⩽ α ⩽ ∞. These results complement some limit theorems given by J. Galambos [4] and D. Barbolosi and C. Faivre [1].
Surgery on tori in the 4–sphere
Authors: LARSON KYLE 
Published: September 2016

AbstractWe investigate the operation of torus surgery on tori embedded inS4. Key questions include which 4–manifolds can be obtained in this way, and the uniqueness of such descriptions. As an application we construct embeddings of 3–manifolds into 4–manifolds by viewing Dehn surgery as a cross section of a surgery on a surface. In particular, we give new embeddings of homology spheres intoS4.
Université du troisième âge : les besoins en formation continue des personnes âgées francophones au Nouveau-Brunswick
Authors: Dupuis-Blanchard Suzanne , Thériault Danielle , Mazerolle Lise 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTContinuing education is the ideal mechanism to allow retired people to maintain their autonomy and health for as long as possible. Despite the importance of education in the development of human beings, very few studies have been identified on the need for continued education in older adults. This quantitative descriptive study allowed us to better understand the interests and the needs of seniors related to continuing education in French-speaking older adults in New Brunswick (n = 408), and to identify the perceptions of participants with regard to the benefits, the challenges and the preferences of seniors for continuing education. Study results indicate that the main interests of participants were for training in technology (computers), gardening and health matters. Given the lack of research in this domain, these results will be useful for future planning of continuing education initiatives for seniors.
Retrospective forecasting of the 2010–2014 Melbourne influenza seasons using multiple surveillance systems
Authors: MOSS R. , ZAREBSKI A. , DAWSON P. , McCAW J. M. 
Published: September 2016

SUMMARYAccurate forecasting of seasonal influenza epidemics is of great concern to healthcare providers in temperate climates, since these epidemics vary substantially in their size, timing and duration from year to year, making it a challenge to deliver timely and proportionate responses. Previous studies have shown that Bayesian estimation techniques can accurately predict when an influenza epidemic will peak many weeks in advance, and we have previously tailored these methods for metropolitan Melbourne (Australia) and Google Flu Trends data. Here we extend these methods to clinical observation and laboratory-confirmation data for Melbourne, on the grounds that these data sources provide more accurate characterizations of influenza activity. We show that from each of these data sources we can accurately predict the timing of the epidemic peak 4–6 weeks in advance. We also show that makingsimultaneoususe of multiple surveillance systems to improve forecast skill remains a fundamental challenge. Disparate systems provide complementary characterizations of disease activity, which may or may not be comparable, and it is unclear how a ‘ground truth’ for evaluating forecasts against these multiple characterizations might be defined. These findings are a significant step towards making optimal use of routine surveillance data for outbreak forecasting.
Evaluating the impact of two training interventions to improve diagnosis and case-management of malaria and pneumonia in Uganda
Authors: SSEBULIBA D. M. , OUIFKI R. , PRETORIUS C. , BURNETT S. M. , MBONYE M. K. , NAIKOBA S. , WILLIS K. , WEAVER M. R. 
Published: September 2016

SUMMARYWe present an age-structured mathematical model of malaria and pneumonia to study the effect of two capacity-building interventions: Integrated Management of Infectious Diseases (IMID) and On-site Support Services (OSS). IMID leads to a reduction in malaria prevalence by more than 2·4% across the [0,5), [5,14) and [14,50) age groups. IMID + OSS reduces it by more than 16·0% across all age groups. IMID decreases pneumonia prevalence by more than 3·0% across all age groups while IMID + OSS decreases it by more than 1·0% across all age groups. The number of malaria and pneumonia deaths is reduced by 7·8% by IMID across all age groups and IMID + OSS decreases this number by 30·5% across all age groups, which translates to saving a life of a child per month. Prevalence of malaria-pneumonia for the [0,5) age group is 0·52% at baseline, and IMID and IMID + OSS reduce it by 6·6% and 23·6%, respectively. There is no change in incidence of malaria or pneumonia disease episodes. The results also indicate that triaging of children contributes more than 50% to the effect of the interventions in reduction of deaths and a range of 14–91% in reduction of disease cases.
Re-conceptualizing centrality in social networks
Authors: SCHOCH D. , BRANDES U. 
Published: September 2016

In the social sciences, networks are used to represent relationships between social actors, be they individuals or aggregates. The structural importance of these actors is assessed in terms of centrality indices which are commonly defined as graph invariants. Many such indices have been proposed, but there is no unifying theory of centrality. Previous attempts at axiomatic characterization have been focused on particular indices, and the conceptual frameworks that have been proposed alternatively do not lend themselves to mathematical treatment.We show that standard centrality indices, although seemingly distinct, can in fact be expressed in a common framework based on path algebras. Since, as a consequence, all of these indices preserve the neighbourhood-inclusion pre-order, the latter provides a conceptually clear criterion for the definition of centrality indices.
Distance to hazard: an environmental policy with income heterogeneity
Authors: Nakada Minoru 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis study examines whether voting by individuals of different income levels affects the stringency of environmental policy if their residential proximity to a pollution source is considered. A location model with heterogeneous agents is extended to include a single environmentally hazardous site at the edge of a linear city and the degree of damage from pollution is assumed to depend on the distance from this emissions site. The analysis demonstrates through majority voting that the equilibrium emissions tax rate is higher when the income level of the median voter is lower, because residents with low incomes reside near the hazardous site and thus benefit more from pollution abatement than residents with higher incomes.
A Law Firm Librarian's Guide to KM
Authors: Russell Hélène 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis article is written by Hélène Russell, author and teacher in the field of legal sector Knowledge Management. It presents an easy to read foundation level guide to legal sector Knowledge Management for law firm Information Professionals. It explains what Knowledge is, what Knowledge Management (KM) is, how it differs from Information Management (IM) and how law firm Information Professionals can expand their roles to help their organisations meet business goals through strategic KM as well as IM, or manage an imposed transition from IM to IM+KM.
Nicht-suizidales selbstverletzendes Verhalten (NSSV) im Jugendalter: Klinische Leitlinie zur Diagnostik und Therapie
Authors: Plener Paul L. , Fegert Jörg M. , Kaess Michael , Kapusta Nestor D. , Brunner Romuald , Groschwitz Rebecca C. , In-Albon Tina , Resch Franz , Becker Katja 
Published: September 2016

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Nicht-suizidales selbstverletzendes Verhalten (NSSV) ist ein häufiges, klinisch relevantes Phänomen im Jugendalter, das sich in Zusammenhang mit verschiedenen psychischen Störungen beobachten lässt. Deutschland gehört mit einer Lebenszeitprävalenz von 25–35 % bei Jugendlichen innerhalb Europas zu den Ländern mit den höchsten Prävalenzraten an NSSV. Bislang existierte eine zuletzt im Jahr 2006 überarbeitete AWMF-Leitlinie zu selbstverletzendem Verhalten und stereotypen Bewegungsstörungen, deren Gültigkeit 2011 abgelaufen war. Methoden: Die Leitliniengruppe setzte sich aus elf medizinisch, psychologisch bzw. psychotherapeutischen Fachgesellschaften und zwei Interessensvertretungen aus Angehörigen- bzw. Präventionsprojekten zusammen. Die Leitlinie wurde in zwei Konferenzen, darauf aufbauenden Literaturrecherchen und einer abschließenden Konsensuskonferenz erarbeitet. Der Algorithmus wurde in drei Delphi-Runden verabschiedet. Ergebnisse: Während die Datenlage zur Epidemiologie und zur Diagnostik von NSSV gut ist, sind noch immer wenige Studien zum Langzeitverlauf und zur psychotherapeutischen sowie zum Stellenwert einer psychopharmakologischen, adjuvanten Behandlung von NSSV im Jugendalter verfügbar. Berufsgruppenübergreifend wurde auch das Vorgehen im Falle der Notwendigkeit einer somatischen Versorgung bei NSSV thematisiert. Schlussfolgerungen: In Anbetracht der heterogenen Evidenzlage wurden, um die klinische Anwendbarkeit der Leitlinie zu gewährleisten, die wesentlichen Punkte zur Behandlung von NSSV im Jugendalter in einer Konsensuskonferenz abgestimmt. Forschungsdefizite zeigen sich sowohl im Bereich präventiver als auch klinischer Interventionen.
Direct-write nanoscale printing of nanogranular tunnelling strain sensors for sub-micrometre cantilevers
Authors: Dukic Maja , Winhold Marcel , Schwalb Christian H. , Adams Jonathan D. , Stavrov Vladimir , Huth Michael , Fantner Georg E. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe sensitivity and detection speed of cantilever-based mechanical sensors increases drastically through size reduction. The need for such increased performance for high-speed nanocharacterization and bio-sensing, drives their sub-micrometre miniaturization in a variety of research fields. However, existing detection methods of the cantilever motion do not scale down easily, prohibiting further increase in the sensitivity and detection speed. Here we report a nanomechanical sensor readout based on electron co-tunnelling through a nanogranular metal. The sensors can be deposited with lateral dimensions down to tens of nm, allowing the readout of nanoscale cantilevers without constraints on their size, geometry or material. By modifying the inter-granular tunnel-coupling strength, the sensors’ conductivity can be tuned by up to four orders of magnitude, to optimize their performance. We show that the nanoscale printed sensors are functional on 500 nm wide cantilevers and that their sensitivity is suited even for demanding applications such as atomic force microscopy.
The lncRNA landscape of breast cancer reveals a role for DSCAM-AS1 in breast cancer progression
Authors: Niknafs Yashar S. , Han Sumin , Ma Teng , Speers Corey , Zhang Chao , Wilder-Romans Kari , Iyer Matthew K. , Pitchiaya Sethuramasundaram , Malik Rohit , Hosono Yasuyuki , Prensner John R. , Poliakov Anton , Singhal Udit , Xiao Lanbo , Kregel Steven , Siebenaler Ronald F. , Zhao Shuang G. , Uhl Michael , Gawronski Alexander , Hayes Daniel F. , Pierce Lori J. , Cao Xuhong , Collins Colin , Backofen Rolf , Sahinalp Cenk S. , Rae James M. , Chinnaiyan Arul M. , Feng Felix Y. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractMolecular classification of cancers into subtypes has resulted in an advance in our understanding of tumour biology and treatment response across multiple tumour types. However, to date, cancer profiling has largely focused on protein-coding genes, which comprise <1% of the genome. Here we leverage a compendium of 58,648 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) to subtype 947 breast cancer samples. We show that lncRNA-based profiling categorizes breast tumours by their known molecular subtypes in breast cancer. We identify a cohort of breast cancer-associated and oestrogen-regulated lncRNAs, and investigate the role of the top prioritized oestrogen receptor (ER)-regulated lncRNA, DSCAM-AS1. We demonstrate that DSCAM-AS1 mediates tumour progression and tamoxifen resistance and identify hnRNPL as an interacting protein involved in the mechanism of DSCAM-AS1 action. By highlighting the role of DSCAM-AS1 in breast cancer biology and treatment resistance, this study provides insight into the potential clinical implications of lncRNAs in breast cancer.
Loss of RNA expression and allele-specific expression associated with congenital heart disease
Authors: McKean David M. , Homsy Jason , Wakimoto Hiroko , Patel Neil , Gorham Joshua , DePalma Steven R. , Ware James S. , Zaidi Samir , Ma Wenji , Patel Nihir , Lifton Richard P. , Chung Wendy K. , Kim Richard , Shen Yufeng , Brueckner Martina , Goldmuntz Elizabeth , Sharp Andrew J. , Seidman Christine E. , Gelb Bruce D. , Seidman J. G. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractCongenital heart disease (CHD), a prevalent birth defect occurring in 1% of newborns, likely results from aberrant expression of cardiac developmental genes. Mutations in a variety of cardiac transcription factors, developmental signalling molecules and molecules that modify chromatin cause at least 20% of disease, but most CHD remains unexplained. We employ RNAseq analyses to assess allele-specific expression (ASE) and biallelic loss-of-expression (LOE) in 172 tissue samples from 144 surgically repaired CHD subjects. Here we show that only 5% of known imprinted genes with paternal allele silencing are monoallelic versus 56% with paternal allele expression—this cardiac-specific phenomenon seems unrelated to CHD. Further, compared with control subjects, CHD subjects have a significant burden of both LOE genes and ASE events associated with altered gene expression. These studies identify FGFBP2, LBH, RBFOX2, SGSM1 and ZBTB16 as candidate CHD genes because of significantly altered transcriptional expression.