bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Past, Present, and Future of Mexico's National Bioethics Commission
Authors: de Chavez Manuel Ruiz , Orozco Aidee , Olaiz Gustavo 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe establishment of Mexico's National Bioethics Commission (Comisión Nacional de Bioética), in 1992, was conceived within the context of a global movement aimed at raising awareness of the ethical implications of technological and scientific development, especially in biomedicine. In 2005, a new decree put the commission under the scope of the Secretariat of Health and granted it technical and operational autonomy, allowing it to become a regulatory agency aimed at promoting a culture of bioethics, encouraging reflection on human health, and developing guidelines for health care, research, and education, through a global, secular, and democratic perspective. The commission became the leading actor in the strategy for institutionalizing bioethics in Mexico after reforms to the country's General Health Act in 2011, which required that public, social assistance, or private health care facilities establish a hospital bioethics committee to address bioethical dilemmas or issues and, when relevant, a research ethics committee to address research with human subjects. This assignment has shifted the focus of the activities and goals of the National Bioethics Commission toward establishing these committees in line with current regulations and developing mechanisms to ensure that they operate with the highest standards of ethical conduct, performance, and accountability.
Reflections on Democratic Deliberation in Bioethics
Authors: Gutmann Amy , Wagner James W. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractOver the course of six years and more than two dozen meetings, members of the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues learned so many things: about emerging science; technological challenges; citizen engagement; the public's, experts’, and our own understandings and misperceptions; and even the nature of our own most cherished values. Our commission's commitment to democratic deliberation began deliberatively, when we decided (in the summer of 2010) upon basic principles to guide our first report. At the time, Craig Venter had just announced that he had used techniques of synthetic biology to “create life,” albeit the most elementary form of life, from nonliving building blocks. Headlines alternated between applauding Venter for creating life and accusing him of playing God. It was one of those all‐too‐frequent instances where sound‐bite democracy was headed toward shedding more heat and fear than light and understanding. The commission was asked to take synthetic biology under review and make recommendations to President Obama on how to proceed. We saw the need to question the most salient facts of the matter: what were the fundamental values at stake in this kind of discovery?
Challenges Working with Presidential Bioethics Commissions
Authors: Macklin Ruth 
Published: May 2017

AbstractPresidential commissions come and go by design, and it is reasonable to wonder about the impact of their recommendations. I have been involved in the work of two presidential commissions: as a member of the Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments (from 1994 to 1995) and as senior consultant to the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (from 1999 to 2000) for its report on multinational research. I continue to reflect on and look for the impact of both these commissions.ACHRE's charter included the review of experiments with ionizing radiation sponsored or conducted by the United States government since the 1940s. The committee was also charged with investigating specific intentional releases of radiation into the environment. ACHRE had a somewhat unique difficulty built into its work: the need to make retrospective ethical judgments. With the National Bioethics Advisory Commission, my main role as senior consultant consisted of writing chapters of the report on multinational research for the commissioners’ approval. A more important concern for me as a hired consultant was how to maintain intellectual and moral integrity. Unlike when writing scholarly papers, where I can express my own views, when I was drafting text for a presidential commission, the commissioners’ views took precedence over my own when we disagreed. I wondered, how much could I comply with the commissioners’ positions without compromising my own integrity?
MTHFR gene C677T and A1298C variants are associated with FMF risk in a Turkish cohort
Authors: Nursal Ayse Feyda , Kaya Süheyla , Sezer Ozlem , Karakus Nevin , Yigit Serbulent 
Published: May 2017

BackgroundMethylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a crucial enzyme in homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism. We aimed to evaluate a possible relationship between MTHFR gene C677T (rs 1801133), A1298C (rs 1801131) variants and susceptibility to FMF in a Turkish cohort.Material‐MethodsThis case‐control study included 198 Turkish FMF patients and 100 healthy subjects as controls. MTHFR C677T and A1298C were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods.ResultsThe genotype distribution and allele frequency of the MTHFR C677T were statistically different between the patients and the control group (P=.006, P=.001, respectively). The frequency of the TT genotype and T allele of MTHFR C677T was significantly higher in the patients than in the controls. The genotype distribution of MTHFR A1298C variant did not show any statistically significant difference between the patients and the controls (P›.05). The patients had statistically different frequencies in allele C of MTHFR A1298C variant compared with the control (P=.032). We also examined the risk associated with inheriting the combined genotypes for the two MTHFR variants. According to these results, individuals who were CC homozygous at C677T locus and AA homozygous at A1298C locus have a lower risk of developing FMF (P=.002). Individuals who were TT homozygous at C677T locus and AC heterozygous at A1298C locus have higher risk of developing FMF (P=.033).ConclusionOur findings clearly showed there was an association the MTHFR C677T/A1298C variants and susceptibility to FMF in the Turkish sample.
Viable bacteria persist on antibiotic spacers following two‐stage revision for periprosthetic joint infection
Authors: Ma Dongzhu , Shanks Robert M.Q. , Davis Charles M. , Craft David W. , Wood Thomas K. , Hamlin Brian R , Urish Kenneth L. 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTTreatment in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains challenging. The failure rate of two‐stage revision and irrigation and debridement with component retention in PJI suggests that biofilm cells have a high tolerance to antibiotic chemotherapy. Previous work has demonstrated that biofilm cells have high antibiotic tolerance in vitro, but there is little clinical evidence to support these observations. The aim of this study was to determine if retrieved antibiotic spacers from two‐stage revision total knee arthroplasty for PJI have evidence of remaining viable bacteria. Antibiotic poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) spacers from two‐stage revision total knee arthroplasty for PJI were prospectively collected and analyzed for bacterial 16s rRNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription (RT)‐PCR, quantitative RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR), and single genome analysis (SGA). PCR and RT‐PCR identified bacterial species on 53.8% (7/13) of these samples. When initial culture negative cases are excluded, 68% (6/9) samples were identified with bacterial species. A more rigorous qRT‐PCR analysis showed a strong positive signal for bacterial contamination in 30.7% (4/13) of cases. These patients did not show any clinical evidence of PJI recurrence after 15 months of follow‐up. Because the half‐life of bacterial rRNA is approximately a few days, the identification of bacteria rRNA on antibiotic PMMA spacers suggests that viable bacteria were present after conclusion of antibiotic therapy. This study provides evidence for the high tolerance of biofilm cells to antibiotics in vivo and the important role of bacterial persisters in PJI. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:452–458, 2018.
New insights into the Quaternary evolution of the Bristol Channel, UK
Authors: Gibbard Philip L. , Hughes Philip D. , Rolfe Christopher J. 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTA synthesis of new publically available borehole and bathymetric data, combined with a wealth of other existing disparate data sources, reveals new insights into the Quaternary history of the Bristol Channel area. Sediment boreholes throughout the Bristol Channel confirm the area was glaciated in the Pleistocene. Till is present below marine deposits and, in some areas, is visible morphologically as submerged moraines. In the central and eastern Bristol Channel the submerged valley course of the palaeo‐Severn is very clear in new high‐resolution bathymetric surveys. This former river course and associated tributaries cross‐cut through glacial sediments in the Bristol Channel. At least three phases of glaciation are recorded in the Bristol Channel, one related to the southern limits of a Late Devensian Substage (∼Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2) Welsh Ice Cap which reached into Swansea Bay, an earlier Devensian (MIS 4–3) glaciation associated with Irish Sea ice, and another older glaciation that is associated with ice that filled the entire outer and central Bristol Channel. The age of the older Bristol Channel glaciation is still open, although it pre‐dates the Devensian (Late Pleistocene) and must date to the Middle Pleistocene. It is therefore evident that Pleistocene glacial and fluvial activity, combined with subsequent post‐glacial sea transgression, directly account for current morphometries of the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary, and the current geography of the SW British Isles.
Vena Cava Responsiveness to Controlled Isovolumetric Respiratory Efforts
Authors: Folino Anna , Benzo Marco , Pasquero Paolo , Laguzzi Andrea , Mesin Luca , Messere Alessandro , Porta Massimo , Roatta Silvestro 
Published: May 2017

ObjectivesRespirophasic variation of inferior vena cava (IVC) size is affected by large variability with spontaneous breathing. This study aims at characterizing the dependence of IVC size on controlled changes in intrathoracic pressure.MethodsTen healthy subjects, in supine position, performed controlled isovolumetric respiratory efforts at functional residual capacity, attaining positive (5, 10, and 15 mmHg) and negative (−5, −10, and −15 mmHg) alveolar pressure levels. The isovolumetric constraint implies that equivalent changes are exhibited by alveolar and intrathoracic pressures during respiratory tasks.ResultsThe IVC cross‐sectional area equal to 2.88 ± 0.43 cm2 at baseline (alveolar pressure = 0 mmHg) was progressively decreased by both expiratory and inspiratory efforts of increasing strength, with diaphragmatic efforts producing larger effects than thoracic ones: −55 ± 15% decrease, at +15 mmHg of alveolar pressure (P < .01), −80 ± 33 ± 12% at −15 mmHg diaphragmatic (P < .01), −33 ± 12% at −15 mmHg thoracic. Significant IVC changes in size (P < .01) and pulsatility (P < .05), along with non significant reduction in the response to respiratory efforts, were also observed during the first 30 minutes of supine rest, detecting an increase in vascular filling, and taking place after switching from the standing to the supine position.ConclusionsThis study quantified the dependence of the IVC cross‐sectional area on controlled intrathoracic pressure changes and evidenced the stronger influence of diaphragmatic over thoracic activity. Individual variability in thoracic/diaphragmatic respiratory pattern should be considered in the interpretation of the respirophasic modulations of IVC size.
The adenoid: Its history and a cautionary tale
Authors: Ruben Robert J. 
Published: May 2017

The existence of the adenoid first appears to have been noted by Conrad Victor Schneider in 1661. James Yearsley reported in 1842 one case in which he improved hearing by removal of a mucus membrane from behind the uvula, which indicates some appreciation of a relationship of the nasopharynx to ear disease. Hans Wilhelm Meyer, in 1868, was the first to demonstrate the relationship of the adenoid to ear disease and to develop an effective, although somewhat difficult, surgical operation to remove the adenoid. Removal of the adenoid became rapidly accepted worldwide as a treatment for many morbidities, including otitis, speech problems, cognitive problems, and sleep apnea. Until the 1920s, adenoidectomy often was performed as a staged procedure and without general anesthesia. Early tools and techniques included use of the bare fingernail, a finger ring knife, a curette, and electrical desiccation. From the mid‐1930s to the early 1960s, radiation therapy of the adenoid was in extensive use, both for children and in caring for army aviators and navy submarine crews during WWII. The effectiveness of surgical adenoidectomy for hearing loss led to a belief that radiation, which had been found to ablate lymphoid tissue, would be equally effective, and led to the wide‐spread use of radiation. Ultimately, 500 thousand to 2.5 million children and adults were estimated to have been treated with radiation, and follow‐up studies found increased risk for cancer. Furthermore, a follow‐up study by Stacey R. Guild (1890–1966), published in 1950, on a very large sample of children who previously were reported to have had their hearing loss diminished through radiation, found that irradiation had produced no effect on high‐tone loss. Thus, irradiation was both useless and harmful. Acceptance of authority, which can lurk within medical culture, led to the development of a tragically misguided management of adenoid disease.Laryngoscope, 127:S13–S28, 2017
Intensity of catchment land use influences biological traits of benthic invertebrates along a freshwater‐marine continuum
Authors: Bierschenk Antje M. , Savage Candida , Matthaei Christoph D. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractCatchment land‐use intensification and conversion of native vegetation to farmland threatens aquatic ecosystems worldwide by increasing exports of nutrients and fine sediment into streams, rivers and estuaries, resulting in a decline of aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem health. Using a survey approach, we studied the effects of catchment land‐use intensity on benthic invertebrate communities along a freshwater‐marine gradient in 21 New Zealand rivers and their estuaries, encompassing a broad range of catchment land‐use intensities. Traditional community metrics such as total invertebrate abundance and taxonomic richness decreased from freshwater sites to near‐marine sites, but did not perform as well as biological traits when detecting catchment land‐use effects along the freshwater‐marine continuum. Three trait categories were directly related to the gradient of catchment development while 11 trait categories responded to increasing deposited fine sediment levels which, in turn, were positively related to catchment development. The direction of the response varied for the different biological traits along the gradient. Only one trait category (medium body size) was negatively related to nutrients (dissolved inorganic nitrogen). Importantly, the effects of catchment development did not decrease toward the ocean for any of the response variables studied, indicating no dilution effect due to an increasing marine influence. Consequently, aquatic resource managers need to consider the entire source‐to‐sea continuum when making decisions to avoid or minimize adverse effects of human land‐use activities such as intensive agriculture on freshwater, estuarine, and coastal marine habitats.
Tribological properties of 3 types of MoS2 additives in different base greases
Authors: Hu E.Z. , Xu Y. , Hu K.H. , Hu X.G. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractA tribological comparison was conducted among micro‐MoS2 (m‐MoS2), platelet‐like nano‐MoS2, and spherical nano‐MoS2 in lithium grease, lithium‐calcium grease, and polyurea grease, respectively. Micro‐MoS2 slightly improved the lubrication of the 3 greases. The 2 nano‐MoS2 samples had obvious superiority over m‐MoS2. The tribofilms produced by nano‐MoS2 contained MoS2 and MoO3. However, the tribofilms with m‐MoS2 did not contain Mo, or Mo only existed in the form of MoO3. The absence of MoS2 in tribofilms was the main reason for the poor lubrication of m‐MoS2 greases. Moreover, the improved lubrication of the spherical nano‐MoS2 greases than the platelet‐like nano‐MoS2 ones was ascribed to the lubricating superiority of the spherical structure to the platelet‐like one.
pH‐Responsive Polymer Coatings for Reporting Early Stages of Metal Corrosion
Authors: Wang Jun‐Peng , Song Yan , Wang Jun‐Kuo , Zhou Qiong , Li Zhan , Han Yongsheng , Yang Shuo , Li Guo Liang , Qi Tao 
Published: May 2017

Many systems benefit from the ability to autonomously signal the occurrence of damage. The development of smart polymer coatings on metals can address scientific challenges such as nondestructive detection of early corrosion to avoid further destruction of materials. Here, pH‐responsive polymer coatings on metals such as steel, aluminum, magnesium, and copper alloys are reported. The defect areas of coatings can gradually exhibit strong fluorescence as the corrosion starts. Based on the fundamental understanding of electrochemical mechanisms in metal corrosion, the designed pH‐responsive polymer coating is dormant before crack occurrence. However, the on‐demand release of fluorescent molecules from nanocontainers in coatings occurs as corrosion proceeds with increasing pH value by transformation into highly active fluorescence indication from the dormant state at the stage of corrosion commencement. The developed smart polymer coatings can report the corrosion caused by a coating failure which provides a new strategy for nondestructive corrosion detection.
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Technical Note: Evaluation of pre‐reconstruction interpolation methods for iterative reconstruction of radial k‐space data
Authors: Tian Ye , Erb Kay Condie , Adluru Ganesh , Likhite Devavrat , Pedgaonkar Apoorva , Blatt Michael , Kamesh Iyer Srikant , Roberts John , DiBella Edward 
Published: May 2017

PurposeTo evaluate the use of three different pre‐reconstruction interpolation methods to convert non‐Cartesian k‐space data to Cartesian samples such that iterative reconstructions can be performed more simply and more rapidly.MethodsPhantom as well as cardiac perfusion radial datasets were reconstructed by four different methods. Three of the methods used pre‐reconstruction interpolation once followed by a fast Fourier transform (FFT) at each iteration. The methods were: bilinear interpolation of nearest‐neighbor points (BINN), 3‐point interpolation, and a multi‐coil interpolator called GRAPPA Operator Gridding (GROG). The fourth method performed a full non‐Uniform FFT (NUFFT) at each iteration. An iterative reconstruction with spatiotemporal total variation constraints was used with each method. Differences in the images were quantified and compared.ResultsThe GROG multicoil interpolation, the 3‐point interpolation, and the NUFFT‐at‐each‐iteration approaches produced high quality images compared to BINN, with the GROG‐derived images having the fewest streaks among the three preinterpolation approaches. However, all reconstruction methods produced approximately equal results when applied to perfusion quantitation tasks. Pre‐reconstruction interpolation gave approximately an 83% reduction in reconstruction time.ConclusionImage quality suffers little from using a pre‐reconstruction interpolation approach compared to the more accurate NUFFT‐based approach. GROG‐based pre‐reconstruction interpolation appears to offer the best compromise by using multicoil information to perform the interpolation to Cartesian sample points prior to image reconstruction. Speed gains depend on the implementation and relatively standard optimizations on a MATLAB platform result in preinterpolation speedups of ~ 6 compared to using NUFFT at every iteration, reducing the reconstruction time from around 42 min to 7 min.
Implementing the psychosocial standards in pediatric cancer: Current staffing and services available
Authors: Scialla Michele A. , Canter Kimberly S. , Chen Fang Fang , Kolb E. Anders , Sandler Eric , Wiener Lori , Kazak Anne E. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackgroundFifteen evidence‐based Standards for Psychosocial Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families (Standards) were published in 2015. The Standards cover a broad range of topics and circumstances and require qualified multidisciplinary staff to be implemented. This paper presents data on the availability of psychosocial staff and existing practices at pediatric oncology programs in the United States, providing data that can be used to advocate for expanded services and prepare for implementation of the Standards.ProcedureUp to three healthcare professionals from 144 programs (72% response rate) participated in an online survey conducted June–December 2016. There were 99 pediatric oncologists with clinical leadership responsibility (Medical Director/Clinical Director), 132 psychosocial leaders in pediatric oncology (Director of Psychosocial Services/Manager/most senior staff member), and 58 administrators in pediatric oncology (Administrative Director/Business Administrator/Director of Operations). The primary outcomes were number and type of psychosocial staff, psychosocial practices, and identified challenges in the delivery of psychosocial care.ResultsOver 90% of programs have social workers and child life specialists who provide care to children with cancer and their families. Fewer programs have psychologists (60%), neuropsychologists (31%), or psychiatrists (19%). Challenges in psychosocial care are primarily based on pragmatic issues related to funding and reimbursement.ConclusionMost participating pediatric oncology programs appear to have at least the basic level of staffing necessary to implement of some of the Standards. However, the lack of a more comprehensive multidisciplinary team is a likely barrier in the implementation of the full set of Standards.