bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Semantic enrichment of clinical models towards semantic interoperability. The heart failure summary use case
Authors: Martínez-Costa Catalina , Cornet Ronald , Karlsson Daniel , Schulz Stefan , Kalra Dipak 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Objective To improve semantic interoperability of electronic health records (EHRs) by ontology-based mediation across syntactically heterogeneous representations of the same or similar clinical information.
Materials and Methods Our approach is based on a semantic layer that consists of: (1) a set of ontologies supported by (2) a set of semantic patterns. The first aspect of the semantic layer helps standardize the clinical information modeling task and the second shields modelers from the complexity of ontology modeling. We applied this approach to heterogeneous representations of an excerpt of a heart failure summary.
Results Using a set of finite top-level patterns to derive semantic patterns, we demonstrate that those patterns, or compositions thereof, can be used to represent information from clinical models. Homogeneous querying of the same or similar information, when represented according to heterogeneous clinical models, is feasible.
Discussion Our approach focuses on the meaning embedded in EHRs, regardless of their structure. This complex task requires a clear ontological commitment (ie, agreement to consistently use the shared vocabulary within some context), together with formalization rules. These requirements are supported by semantic patterns. Other potential uses of this approach, such as clinical models validation, require further investigation.
Conclusion We show how an ontology-based representation of a clinical summary, guided by semantic patterns, allows homogeneous querying of heterogeneous information structures. Whether there are a finite number of top-level patterns is an open question.
Transformation of standardized clinical models based on OWL technologies: from CEM to OpenEHR archetypes
Authors: Legaz-García María del Carmen , Menárguez-Tortosa Marcos , Fernández-Breis Jesualdo Tomás , Chute Christopher G , Tao Cui 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Introduction The semantic interoperability of electronic healthcare records (EHRs) systems is a major challenge in the medical informatics area. International initiatives pursue the use of semantically interoperable clinical models, and ontologies have frequently been used in semantic interoperability efforts. The objective of this paper is to propose a generic, ontology-based, flexible approach for supporting the automatic transformation of clinical models, which is illustrated for the transformation of Clinical Element Models (CEMs) into openEHR archetypes.
Methods Our transformation method exploits the fact that the information models of the most relevant EHR specifications are available in the Web Ontology Language (OWL). The transformation approach is based on defining mappings between those ontological structures. We propose a way in which CEM entities can be transformed into openEHR by using transformation templates and OWL as common representation formalism. The transformation architecture exploits the reasoning and inferencing capabilities of OWL technologies.
Results We have devised a generic, flexible approach for the transformation of clinical models, implemented for the unidirectional transformation from CEM to openEHR, a series of reusable transformation templates, a proof-of-concept implementation, and a set of openEHR archetypes that validate the methodological approach.
Conclusions We have been able to transform CEM into archetypes in an automatic, flexible, reusable transformation approach that could be extended to other clinical model specifications. We exploit the potential of OWL technologies for supporting the transformation process. We believe that our approach could be useful for international efforts in the area of semantic interoperability of EHR systems.
Identification of the Primary Lesion of Toxic Aluminum in Plant Roots
Authors: Kopittke Peter M. , Moore Katie L. , Lombi Enzo , Gianoncelli Alessandra , Ferguson Brett J. , Blamey F. Pax C. , Menzies Neal W. , Nicholson Timothy M. , McKenna Brigid A. , Wang Peng , Gresshoff Peter M. , Kourousias George , Webb Richard I. , Green Kathryn , Tollenaere Alina 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Despite the rhizotoxicity of aluminum (Al) being identified over 100 years ago, there is still no consensus regarding the mechanisms whereby root elongation rate is initially reduced in the approximately 40% of arable soils worldwide that are acidic. We used high-resolution kinematic analyses, molecular biology, rheology, and advanced imaging techniques to examine soybean (Glycine max) roots exposed to Al. Using this multidisciplinary approach, we have conclusively shown that the primary lesion of Al is apoplastic. In particular, it was found that 75 µm Al reduced root growth after only 5 min (or 30 min at 30 µm Al), with Al being toxic by binding to the walls of outer cells, which directly inhibited their loosening in the elongation zone. An alteration in the biosynthesis and distribution of ethylene and auxin was a second, slower effect, causing both a transient decrease in the rate of cell elongation after 1.5 h but also a longer term gradual reduction in the length of the elongation zone. These findings show the importance of focusing on traits related to cell wall composition as well as mechanisms involved in wall loosening to overcome the deleterious effects of soluble Al.
Overexpression of Plastid Transketolase in Tobacco Results in a Thiamine Auxotrophic Phenotype
Authors: Khozaei Mahdi , Fisk Stuart , Lawson Tracy , Gibon Yves , Sulpice Ronan , Stitt Mark , Lefebvre Stephane C. , Raines Christine A. 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
To investigate the effect of increased plastid transketolase on photosynthetic capacity and growth, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants with increased levels of transketolase protein were produced. This was achieved using a cassette composed of a full-length Arabidopsis thaliana transketolase cDNA under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. The results revealed a major and unexpected effect of plastid transketolase overexpression as the transgenic tobacco plants exhibited a slow-growth phenotype and chlorotic phenotype. These phenotypes were complemented by germinating the seeds of transketolase-overexpressing lines in media containing either thiamine pyrophosphate or thiamine. Thiamine levels in the seeds and cotyledons were lower in transketolase-overexpressing lines than in wild-type plants. When transketolase-overexpressing plants were supplemented with thiamine or thiamine pyrophosphate throughout the life cycle, they grew normally and the seed produced from these plants generated plants that did not have a growth or chlorotic phenotype. Our results reveal the crucial importance of the level of transketolase activity to provide the precursor for synthesis of intermediates and to enable plants to produce thiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate for growth and development. The mechanism determining transketolase protein levels remains to be elucidated, but the data presented provide evidence that this may contribute to the complex regulatory mechanisms maintaining thiamine homeostasis in plants.
Followers’ personality, transformational leadership and performance
Authors: Soane Emma , Butler Christina , Stanton Emma 
Published: February 2015

Purpose– Effective leadership is important to performance in both organisational and sporting arenas. The authors theorised that follower personality would influence perceptions of leadership, and that perceived effective leadership would be associated with performance. The authors drew on Social Identity Theory (Tajfel and Turner, 1986), Transformational Leadership and personality theory to develop a research model designed to assess leadership effectiveness and performance. The purpose of this paper is to test the research model in a sporting context.Design/methodology/approach– The context of the research was a round the world sailing race, a ten-month competitive circumnavigation with ten identical boats. Quantitative data were gathered concerning participants’ personality, their perceptions of transformational leadership and boat performance. Qualitative data on transformational leadership and leadership effectiveness were gathered from a subsample of crew members.Findings– Results showed that transformational leadership was associated with leadership effectiveness and performance. Personality influenced perceptions of leadership and, for moderate performing boats, there were associations between perceptions of leadership and performance.Research limitations/implications– The data have implications for the extension of transformational leadership theory. Further consideration of follower personality could enhance leadership effectiveness. A limitation is the relatively small scale of the study.Practical implications– The main implication is that leaders should take follower personality into account, and adapt their leadership style accordingly. Doing so has consequences for performance.Originality/value– This novel study examined personality, leadership, and performance and has implications for enhancing leadership and performance in sports and business.
A Control-Oriented Modeling Approach to Spatial Neutronics Simulation of a Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor
Authors: Lorenzi S. , Cammi A. , Luzzi L. , Ponciroli R. 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
The most diffused neutronics modeling approach in control-oriented simulators is pointwise kinetics. In the framework of developing control strategies for innovative reactor concepts, such a simplified description is less effective as it prevents the possibility of exploiting the capabilities of advanced control schemes. In the present work, in order to overcome these limitations, a spatial neutronics description based on the modal method has been considered. This method allows separating the spatial and time dependence of the neutron flux, which can be represented as the sum of the eigenfunctions of the neutron diffusion equation weighted by time-dependent coefficients. In this way, the system dynamic behavior is reduced to the study of these coefficients and can be represented by a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs), reducing the simulation computational burden. In this paper, a test case involving three fuel pins of an innovative lead-cooled fast reactor has been set up and investigated. Once the eigenfunctions are obtained, the set of ODEs for studying the time-dependent coefficients has been derived and then implemented in the DYMOLA environment, developing an object-oriented component based on the reliable, tested, and well-documented Modelica language. In addition, a heat transfer model for the fuel pin has been developed, still drawing on the principles of the object-oriented modeling. Finally, in order to assess the performance of the developed spatial neutronics component, the outcomes have been compared with the reference results obtained from the multigroup diffusion partial differential equations, achieving a satisfactory agreement.
Predictors of Individual Player Match Performance in Junior Australian Football
Authors: Tangalos Christie , Robertson Samuel J. , Spittle Michael , Gastin Paul B. 
Published: February 2015

Context:
Player match statistics in junior Australian football (AF) are not well documented, and contributors to success are poorly understood. A clearer understanding of the relationships between fitness and skill in younger players participating at the foundation level of the performance pathway in AF has implications for the development of coaching priorities (eg, physical or technical).

Purpose:
To investigate the relationships between indices of fitness (speed, power, and endurance) and skill (coach rating) on player performance (disposals and effective disposals) in junior AF.

Methods:
Junior male AF players (N = 156, 10–15 y old) were recruited from 12 teams of a single amateur recreational AF club located in metropolitan Victoria. All players were tested for fitness (20-m sprint, vertical jump, 20-m shuttle run) and rated by their coach on a 6-point Likert scale for skill (within a team in comparison with their teammates). Player performance was assessed during a single match in which disposals and their effectiveness were coded from a video recording.

Results:
Coach rating of skill displayed the strongest correlations and, combined with 20-m shuttle test, showed a good ability to predict the number of both disposals and effective disposals. None of the skill or fitness attributes adequately explained the percentage of effective disposals. The influence of team did not meaningfully contribute to the performance of any of the models.

Conclusions:
Skill development should be considered a high priority by coaches in junior AF.
Physical Activity Promotion in Primary Health Care in Brazil: A Counseling Model Applied to Community Health Workers
Authors: Florindo Alex Antonio , Costa Evelyn Fabiana , Sa Thiago Herick , dos Santos Taynã Ishii , Velardi Marília , Andrade Douglas Roque 
Published: February 2015

Background:The aim of this study was to describe a methodology for training to provide counseling on physical activity among community health workers working within primary healthcare in Brazil.Methods:This was an intervention study conducted with 65 community health workers in the Ermelino Matarazzo district in the São Paulo, Brazil (30 in intervention group). The intervention group received a course of 12 hours (with 4 meetings of 3 hours each in 1 month) that aimed to improve their knowledge and be autonomous with regard to promoting physical activity. For data analysis, focus groups and questionnaires on knowledge and perceptions regarding physical activity were used.Results:The average attendance for the 4 meetings was 29 workers (93% of total). There was an improvement in knowledge on physical activity recommendations in comparison with the control (P = .03), and qualitative results revealed that the professionals appreciated the learned content, valued its application based on knowledge construction and felt secure about promoting physical activity. This was seen through high adherence levels and construction collective of proposal for home visits for physical activity promotion.Conclusion:The training was effective in improving knowledge and attitudes toward counseling on physical activity among community health workers.
Commuting to School and to Work Among High School Students in Santa Catarina State, Brazil: A Comparative Analysis Between 2001 and 2011
Authors: Silva Kelly Samara , da Silva Lopes Adair , Hardman Carla Meneses , Azevedo Cabral Luciana Gatto , da Silva Shana Ginar , Nahas Markus Vinicius 
Published: February 2015

Background:Commuting reflects an important opportunity for youth to engage in physical activity. This study aimed to compare modes of commuting to school and to work and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with various modes of transportation.Methods:Epidemiologic study with a repeated cross-sectional design. Participants included high school students (15–19 years of age) from Santa Catarina state, Brazil, in 2001 (n = 5028) and 2011 (n = 6529). A questionnaire containing information on the type of transport used to commute to school and to work was administered.Results:Walking/bicycling and the use of the bus to commute to school and to work remained stable after a decade; however, the use of car/motorcycle to school (6.4% versus 12.6%) and to work (10.2% versus 19.7%) increased significantly. In both cases, females more frequently used buses, whereas males commuted to work by car/bus. Students from rural areas more commonly commuted to school by car/motorcycle, whereas those from urban areas traveled to work more by bus. There was a greater use of cars/motorcycles by young people from higher-income families.Conclusions:The use of cars/motorcycles to commute to school/work has almost doubled in the last decade. Sex, residential area and income were associated with passive commuting.
Vancouver and the 2010 Olympic Games: Physical Activity for All?
Authors: Derom Inge , Lee Donna 
Published: February 2015

Background:The City of Vancouver, British Columbia strategically designed and implemented a municipal health promotion policy—the Vancouver Active Communities policy—to leverage the 2010 Olympic Games. The goal of the policy was to increase physical activity participation among Vancouver residents by 2010.Methods:In this paper, we conduct a critical policy analysis of health promotion policy documents that were available on the City of Vancouver’s website.Results:We elaborate on the background to the policy and more specifically we examine its content: the problem definition, policy goals, and policy instruments.Discussion:Our analysis showed inconsistency within the policy, particularly because the implemented policy instruments were not designed to address needs of the identified target populations in need of health promotion efforts, which were used to legitimize the approval of funding for the policy. Inconsistency across municipal policies, especially in terms of promoting physical activity among low-income residents, was also problematic.Conclusions:If other municipalities seek to leverage health promotion funding related to hosting sport mega-events, the programs and services should be designed to benefit the target populations used to justify the funding. Furthermore, municipalities should clearly indicate how funding will be maintained beyond the life expectancy of the mega-event.
The Role of Landscape Spatial Patterns on Obesity in Hispanic Children Residing in Inner-City Neighborhoods
Authors: Kim Jun-Hyun , Lee Chanam , Olvera Norma E. , Ellis Christopher D. 
Published: February 2015

Background:Childhood obesity and its comorbidities have become major public health challenges in the US. While previous studies have investigated the roles of land uses and transportation infrastructure on obesity, limited research has examined the influence of landscape spatial patterns. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between landscape spatial patterns and obesity in Hispanic children.Methods:Participants included 61 fourth- and fifth-grade Hispanic children from inner-city neighborhoods in Houston, TX. BMI z-scores were computed based on objectively-measured height and weight from each child. Parental and child surveys provided sociodemographic and physical activity data. Landscape indices were used to measure the quality of landscape spatial patterns surrounding each child’s home by utilizing Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing analyses using aerial photo images.Results:After controlling for sociodemographic factors, in the half-mile airline buffer, more tree patches and well-connected landscape patterns were negatively correlated with their BMI z-scores. Furthermore, larger sizes of urban forests and tree patches were negatively associated with children’s BMI z-scores in the half-mile network buffer assessment.Conclusions:This study suggests that urban greenery requires further attention in studies aimed at identifying environmental features that reduce childhood obesity.
Molecular Characterization of the Cytochrome
b
Gene and
In Vitro
Atovaquone Susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum Isolates from Kenya
Authors: Ingasia Luicer A. , Akala Hoseah M. , Imbuga Mabel O. , Opot Benjamin H. , Eyase Fredrick L. , Johnson Jacob D. , Bulimo Wallace D. , Kamau Edwin 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of a genetic polymorphism(s) at codon 268 in the cytochrome
b
gene, which is associated with failure of atovaquone-proguanil treatment, was analyzed in 227
Plasmodium falciparum
parasites from western Kenya. The prevalence of the wild-type allele was 63%, and that of the Y268S (denoting a Y-to-S change at position 268) mutant allele was 2%. There were no pure Y268C or Y268N mutant alleles, only mixtures of a mutant allele(s) with the wild type. There was a correlation between parasite 50% inhibitory concentration (IC
50
) and parasite genetic polymorphism; mutant alleles had higher IC
50
s than the wild type.
Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Pyrazinamide Resistance among Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates in Zhejiang, China
Authors: Xia Qiang , Zhao Li-li , Li Feng , Fan Yu-mei , Chen Yuan-yuan , Wu Bei-bei , Liu Zheng-wei , Pan Ai-zhen , Zhu Min 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

To explore the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of pyrazinamide (PZA) resistance among multidrug-resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(MDR-TB) isolates in Zhejiang province, a total of 274 MDR-TB isolates were collected. Drug susceptibility testing and spoligotyping were performed on all clinical isolates. In addition, the mutated features of PZA-resistant loci, including
pncA
and
rpsA
, were also analyzed by DNA sequencing. Our results showed that the prevalence of PZA resistance among MDR-TB strains in Zhejiang province was 43.07% and that PZA resistance was associated with concomitant resistance to streptomycin. The majority of PZA-resistant MDR-TB isolates belonged to the Beijing family. Mutations within
pncA
, not
rpsA
, constituted the primary mechanism of PZA resistance. Among 118 PZA-resistant isolates, 53 different mutations were observed in
pncA
, and most of them were point mutations. Compared with the phenotypic data, DNA sequencing of
pncA
has sensitivity and specificity of 77.97% and 96.79%, respectively. Analysis of
pncA
provided a robust tool for rapid detection of PZA drug resistance.
In Vitro
Spectrum of Pexiganan Activity When Tested against Pathogens from Diabetic Foot Infections and with Selected Resistance Mechanisms
Authors: Flamm Robert K. , Rhomberg Paul R. , Simpson Katie M. , Farrell David J. , Sader Helio S. , Jones Ronald N. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

Pexiganan, a 22-amino-acid synthetic cationic peptide, is currently in phase 3 clinical trials as a topical antimicrobial agent for the treatment of mild infections associated with diabetic foot ulcers. Bacterial isolates from the 2013 SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program designated as pathogens from diabetic foot infections (DFI) and Gram-negative and -positive pathogens from various infection types that harbored selected resistance mechanisms/phenotypes were tested against pexiganan in reference cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth. The MIC
50
and MIC
90
against all organisms tested from DFI were 16 and 32 μg/ml, respectively.
Escherichia coli
,
Klebsiella pneumoniae
,
Citrobacter koseri
,
Enterobacter cloacae
,
Acinetobacter
species, and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
MIC values ranged from 8 to 16 μg/ml. Pexiganan MIC values among
Staphylococcus aureus
(methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
[MRSA] and methicillin-susceptible
S. aureus
[MSSA]), beta-hemolytic streptococci, and
Enterococcus faecium
ranged from 8 to 32 μg/ml. Pexiganan activity was not adversely affected for members of the family
Enterobacteriaceae
or
P. aeruginosa
that produced β-lactamases or resistance mechanisms to other commonly used antimicrobial agents. Decreased susceptibility to vancomycin did not affect pexiganan activity against
S. aureus
or
E. faecium
.
Enterococcus faecalis
appears to be intrinsically less susceptible to pexiganan (MIC, 32 to 256 μg/ml). The “all organism” MIC
90
of 32 μg/ml for pexiganan in this study was >250-fold below the pexiganan concentration in the cream/delivery vehicle being developed for topical use.