bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Role of Stigma in Access to Health Care for the Poor
Authors: ALLEN HEIDI , WRIGHT BILL J. , HARDING KRISTIN , BROFFMAN LAUREN 
Published: June 2014

ContextThe Affordable Care Act provides new Medicaid coverage to an estimated 12 million low‐income adults. Barriers to access or quality could hamper the program's success. One of these barriers might be the stigma associated with Medicaid or poverty.MethodsOur mixed‐methods study involved 574 low‐income adults and included data from an in‐person survey and follow‐up interviews. Our analysis of the interviews showed that many participants who were on Medicaid or uninsured described a perception or fear of being treated poorly in the health care setting. We defined this experience as stigma and merged our qualitative interviews coded for stigma with our quantitative survey data to see whether stigma was related to other sociodemographic characteristics. We also examined whether stigma was associated with access to care, quality of care, and self‐reported health.FindingsWe were unable to identify other sociodemographic characteristics associated with stigma in this low‐income sample. The qualitative interviews suggested that stigma was most often the result of a provider‐patient interaction that felt demeaning, rather than an internalized sense of shame related to receiving public insurance or charity care. An experience of stigma was associated with unmet health needs, poorer perceptions of quality of care, and worse health across several self‐reported measures.ConclusionsBecause a stigmatizing experience in the health system might interfere with the delivery of high‐quality care to new Medicaid enrollees, further research and policy interventions that target stigma are warranted.
Identification Method for Digital Image Forgery and Filtering Region through Interpolation
Authors: Hwang Min Gu , Har Dong Hwan 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBecause of the rapidly increasing use of digital composite images, recent studies have identified digital forgery and filtering regions. This research has shown that interpolation, which is used to edit digital images, is an effective way to analyze digital images for composite regions. Interpolation is widely used to adjust the size of the image of a composite target, making the composite image seem natural by rotating or deforming. As a result, many algorithms have been developed to identify composite regions by detecting a trace of interpolation. However, many limitations have been found in detection maps developed to identify composite regions. In this study, we analyze the pixel patterns of noninterpolation and interpolation regions. We propose a detection map algorithm to separate the two regions. To identify composite regions, we have developed an improved algorithm using minimum filer, Laplacian operation and maximum filters. Finally, filtering regions that used the interpolation operation are analyzed using the proposed algorithm.
Endothelial cell loss and refractive predictability in femtosecond laser‐assisted cataract surgery compared with conventional cataract surgery
Authors: Krarup Therese , Morten Holm Lars , la Cour Morten , Kjaerbo Hadi 
Published: June 2014

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the amount of endothelial cell loss (ECL) and refractive predictability by femtosecond laser‐assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) compared to conventional phacoemulsification cataract surgery (CPS).MethodsForty‐seven patients had one eye operated by FLACS and the contralateral eye operated by CPS (stop and chop technique). Both eyes had intraocular aspheric lenses implanted. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), central corneal endothelial cell count and hexagonality with a non‐contact specular microscope were assessed preoperatively, 1–3 days postoperatively and 3 months postoperatively.ResultsThree days postoperatively, mean ECL was 249 cells/mm2 (SD ± 744) (9.1%) by FLACS and 235 cells/mm2 (SD ± 681) (8.2%) by CPS (p = 0.87). Three months postoperatively, mean ECL was 274 cells/mm2 (SD ± 358) (11.4%) by FLACS compared with 333 cells/mm2 (SD ± 422) (13.9%) by CPS, (p = 0.30) 3 months postoperatively, hexagonality was decreased by 1.8% (SD ± 30) by FLACS and by 1.4% (SD ± 13) by CPS, (p = 0.84). The mean absolute difference from the attempted refraction was 0.37 dioptres (D) (SD ± 0.33) by FLACS and 0.41 D (SD ± 0.42) by CPS (p = 0.56). Mean CDVA was 0.89 (0.3; 1.25) by FLACS and 0.93 (0.4; 1.25) by CPS at 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.36). Within both groups, 70% gained a CDVA of 6/6. Mean surgery time was 9.3 min (SD ± 1.9) by FLACS and 8.0 min (SD ± 1.9) by CPS, (p = 0.0018). Mean phaco energy was 3.78 U/S (SD ± 5.1) and 5.45 U/S (SD ± 4.6) (p < 0.0001) by FLACS and CPS, respectively.ConclusionWe found no significant difference in ECL and refractive predictability between FLACS and CPS 3 months postoperatively.
Gastrointestinal mucosal abnormalities using videocapsule endoscopy in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Marie I. , Antonietti M. , Houivet E. , Hachulla E. , Maunoury V. , Bienvenu B. , Viennot S. , Smail A. , Duhaut P. , Dupas J ‐L. , Dominique S. , Hatron P.‐Y. , Levesque H. , Benichou J. , Ducrotté P. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryBackgroundTo date, there are no large studies on videocapsule endoscopy in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Consequently, the prevalence and features of gastrointestinal mucosal abnormalities in SSc have not been determined.AimsTo determine both prevalence and characteristics of gastrointestinal mucosal abnormalities in unselected patients with SSc, using videocapsule endoscopy. To predict which SSc patients are at risk of developing potentially bleeding gastrointestinal vascular mucosal abnormalities.MethodsVideocapsule endoscopy was performed on 50 patients with SSc.ResultsPrevalence of gastrointestinal mucosal abnormalities was 52%. Potentially bleeding vascular mucosal lesions were predominant, including: watermelon stomach (34.6%), gastric and/or small intestinal telangiectasia (26.9%) and gastric and/or small intestinal angiodysplasia (38.5%). SSc patients with gastrointestinal vascular mucosal lesions more often exhibited: limited cutaneous SSc (P = 0.06), digital ulcers (P = 0.05), higher score of nailfold videocapillaroscopy (P = 0.0009), anaemia (P = 0.02), lower levels of ferritin (P < 0.0001) and anti‐centromere antibody.ConclusionsOur study identifies a high frequency of gastrointestinal mucosal abnormalities in SSc, with a marked predominance of vascular mucosal damage. Furthermore, our study shows a strong correlation between gastrointestinal vascular mucosal lesions and presence of severe extra‐digestive vasculopathy (digital ulcers and higher nailfold videocapillaroscopy scores). This latter supports the theory that SSc‐related diffuse vasculopathy is responsible for both cutaneous and digestive vascular lesions. Therefore, we suggest that nailfold videocapillaroscopy may be a helpful test for managing SSc patients. In fact, nailfold videocapillaroscopy score should be calculated routinely, as it may result in identification of SSc patients at higher risk of developing potentially bleeding gastrointestinal vascular mucosal lesions.
Locating Human Resources to Reduce the Cost of Managing Networks of Protected Areas
Authors: Dumoulin Christine E. , Macmillan Tyler , Stoneman Rob , Armsworth Paul R. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractConservation organizations that manage networks of protected areas commonly require staff to travel to those areas for management and monitoring purposes. We examine how conservation organizations can reduce the resulting travel costs by locating human resources effectively. Specifically, we focus on the problem of siting the home offices of management staff, in a way that minimizes the travel costs involved. We illustrate the importance of travel cost using two case study applications, the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT), U.K., and the Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWF), USA. For YWT, siting an additional office effectively could save $43,000 in annual travel costs. Optimally, siting NWF's four existing offices could save $95,000 annually. These savings are sufficient for each organization to acquire 171–360 additional hectares of protected area or to hire an additional protected area manager. We also calculated the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions made possible by optimizing office locations.
Relationships between stream macroinvertebrate communities and new flood‐based indices of glacial influence
Authors: Cauvy‐Fraunié Sophie , Espinosa Rodrigo , Andino Patricio , Dangles Olivier , Jacobsen Dean 
Published: June 2014

Summary

As glacier shrinkage is accelerating due to climate change, it is important to understand the effect of changes in glacier runoff on downstream aquatic communities. The overall goal of this study was to test the relevance of recently developed wavelet‐based metrics of flow variations caused by glacial melting cycles to deepen our knowledge about the relationship between glacial influence and aquatic biodiversity.

In an equatorial glacierised catchment, we selected 15 stream sites covering a gradient of direct contribution from glacial runoff. At each site, we recorded water level time series for 10 months and sampled benthic macroinvertebrates. Wavelet analyses on the water level time series were used to calculate three indices: glacial flood intensity, frequency and temporal clustering. We then examined how these three indices were related to macroinvertebrate community composition using generalised additive models.

While macroinvertebrate density decreased significantly with glacial flood intensity, we found a significant hump‐shaped relationship between local taxon richness and glacial flood intensity, a pattern that was not produced simply by overlapping broad taxon distributions from either end of the environmental gradient. These results suggest that glacial meltwater contribution creates local peaks in macroinvertebrate richness and enhances regional diversity in the catchment.

The significant relationships between faunal metrics and the new glacial influence indices suggest the latter are valuable for assessing the effects of altered meltwater contributions on aquatic communities of glacier‐fed rivers. Relationships differed depending on the feature of the glacial disturbance considered (glacial flood intensity, frequency, temporal clustering). We anticipate that these distinctions may help disentangle the mechanisms driving aquatic biodiversity in glacierised catchments, especially in terms of identifying resistance and/or resilience as key processes in glacial macroinvertebrate communities.
Potential of Rainwater Harvesting in a Thirsty World: A Survey of Ancient and Traditional Rainwater Harvesting Applications
Authors: Akpinar Ferrand Ezgi , Cecunjanin Fatima 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThis paper provides a survey of ancient and traditional rainwater harvesting applications as effective climate adaptation strategies. Rainwater harvesting has a more significant past than a present. The fifteen identified ancient and traditional rainwater harvesting practices and the societies that practiced them may provide a key water conservation strategy for the future in vulnerable regions found in the dry‐wet, semi‐arid, and arid climatic regions. In the past several decades, there has been a call from scientific and non‐governmental organization communities to combine modern water systems and old rainwater harvesting methods or to modernize the existing rainwater harvesting knowledge to benefit human settlements facing water scarcity.
Hydroclimate Extremes in Africa: Variability, Observations and Modeled Projections
Authors: Siebert Asher 
Published: June 2014

AbstractStudies of climate change from both natural science and social science disciplines are increasingly turning their focus to the issue of extreme events. Extreme heat waves, storms, droughts, and coastal inundations pose a disproportionate risk to human life, livelihood, and capital across the world. In the Global South, including Africa, much of the adverse impacts come from hydroclimate extremes as people with limited means are often highly vulnerable to climate shocks. The focus of this review paper will be on hydroclimate extremes in Africa. This paper will consider observations and modeling studies of heat extremes, drought, and flooding from heavy rainfall, along with observations and modeling studies of extreme streamflow events in major rivers and extremes of lake level. This being said, observations of trends in extreme events need to be situated in a context of understanding regional hydroclimate variability. There is tremendous diversity and variability in the hydroclimate of Africa and many extreme events, especially of precipitation and streamflow are associated with patterns of natural variability on a range of time scales.
Outcome of behavioural treatment for idiopathic chronic constipation
Authors: Yang L. S. , Khera A. , Kamm M. A. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackground/AimBehavioural therapy is effective in patients with chronic intractable constipation despite standard treatment, but long‐term results in unselected patients are unclear. This study investigates the effects of behavioural therapy on symptoms, subjective well‐being, and the physical and mental quality of life.MethodsPatients who had failed standard care for idiopathic chronic constipation underwent behavioural therapy in a specialist clinic. Symptom severity and quality of life were assessed before and after therapy using the ‘Constipation Scoring System’ and the Short‐Form 36 questionnaire. The primary outcome was subjective perception of improvement. Secondary outcomes were symptoms of constipation and quality of life scores.ResultsOf 233 consecutive patients with self‐reported constipation (median symptom duration 5–10 years, median age 44 years, females 86%), 180 (77%) completed treatment in a median of three (range 1–7) sessions. One hundred and sixty‐five patients (71% of all referrals or 92% of those completing treatment) reported subjective improvement. Median bowel frequency improved from once every 2–7 days to 1–3 per day (P = 0.05). Pain and bloating improved in more than 80% of patients. The Short‐Form 36 physical (P < 0.05) and mental (P < 0.05) composite scores improved significantly. Patients with a longer duration of symptoms were less likely to complete treatment. Digital evacuation prior to treatment was a predictor of poor outcome.ConclusionBehavioural therapy is associated with significant improvement in symptoms of chronic constipation and quality of life. Non‐drug therapies that successfully treat patients with functional gut disorders resistant to standard treatment are needed in the mainstream provision of care.
Burden of decompensated cirrhosis and ascites on hospital services in a tertiary care facility: time for change?
Authors: Fagan K. J. , Zhao E. Y. , Horsfall L. U. , Ruffin B. J. , Kruger M. S. , McPhail S. M. , O'Rourke P. , Ballard E. , Irvine K. M. , Powell E. E. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackgroundAscites, the most frequent complication of cirrhosis, is associated with poor prognosis and reduced quality of life. Recurrent hospital admissions are common and often unplanned, resulting in increased use of hospital services.AimsTo examine use of hospital services by patients with cirrhosis and ascites requiring paracentesis, and to investigate factors associated with early unplanned readmission.MethodsA retrospective review of the medical chart and clinical databases was performed for patients who underwent paracentesis between October 2011 and October 2012. Clinical parameters at index admission were compared between patients with and without early unplanned hospital readmissions.ResultsThe 41 patients requiring paracentesis had 127 hospital admissions, 1164 occupied bed days and 733 medical imaging services. Most admissions (80.3%) were for management of ascites, of which 41.2% were unplanned. Of those eligible, 69.7% were readmitted and 42.4% had an early unplanned readmission. Twelve patients died and nine developed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Of those eligible for readmission, more patients died (P = 0.008) and/or developed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (P = 0.027) if they had an early unplanned readmission during the study period. Markers of liver disease, as well as haemoglobin (P = 0.029), haematocrit (P = 0.024) and previous heavy alcohol use (P = 0.021) at index admission, were associated with early unplanned readmission.ConclusionPatients with cirrhosis and ascites comprise a small population who account for substantial use of hospital services. Markers of disease severity may identify patients at increased risk of early readmission. Alternative models of care should be considered to reduce unplanned hospital admissions, healthcare costs and pressure on emergency services.
Voltage‐Dependent Bulk Resistivity of SrTiO3:Mg Ceramics
Authors: Gil Escrig Lidon , Prades Marta , Beltrán Héctor , Cordoncillo Eloisa , Masó Nahum , West Anthony R. 
Published: June 2014

Single phase ceramics of composition Sr(Ti1–xMgx)O3–x: 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.01 were prepared by sol–gel synthesis and characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, impedance spectroscopy, and current–voltage measurements. The bulk and grain‐boundary conductivities increase on application of a small dc bias voltage in the range 3–200 V/cm and at temperatures in the range 150°C–800°C. A qualitatively similar increase in conductivity occurs on increasing in the surrounding atmosphere, which shows that conduction is p type. The conductivity increase is reversible on removal of the dc bias or on reducing and is not observed in undoped SrTiO3. It is an intrinsic property of the bulk material, differs from the voltage‐dependent effects observed with varistors and is attributed to changes in redox equilibria between oxygen species at the surface which cause changes in carrier concentration in the interior. A capacitive model of this low‐field dc bias effect is presented and compared with a memristive model of high field resistance degradation.
Influence of Restoration Age and Riparian Vegetation on Reach‐Scale Nutrient Retention in Restored Urban Streams
Authors: McMillan Sara K. , Tuttle Alea K. , Jennings Gregory D. , Gardner Angela 
Published: June 2014

AbstractIn urban watersheds, stormwater inputs largely bypass the buffering capacity of riparian zones through direct inputs of drainage pipes and lowered groundwater tables. However, vegetation near the stream can still influence instream nutrient transformations via maintenance of streambank stability, input of woody debris, modulation of organic matter sources, and temperature regulation. Stream restoration seeks to mimic many of these functions by engineering channel complexity, grading stream banks to reconnect incised channels, and replanting lost riparian vegetation. The goal of this study was to quantify these effects by measuring nitrate and phosphate uptake in five restored streams in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, with a range of restoration ages. Using nutrient spiraling methods, uptake velocity of nitrate (0.02‐3.56 mm/min) and phosphate (0.14‐19.1 mm/min) was similar to other urban restored streams and higher than unimpacted forested streams with variability influenced by restoration age and geomorphology. Using a multiple linear regression approach, reach‐scale phosphate uptake was greater in newly restored sites, which was attributed to assimilation by algal biofilms, whereas nitrate uptake was highest in older sites potentially due to greater channel stability and establishment of microbial communities. The patterns we observed highlight the influence of riparian vegetation on energy inputs (e.g., heat, organic matter) and thereby on nutrient retention.
Incubator birds: biogeographical origins and evolution of underground nesting in megapodes (Galliformes: Megapodiidae)
Authors: Harris Rebecca B. , Birks Sharon M. , Leaché Adam D. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAimUnique amongst birds, megapodes (family Megapodiidae) have exchanged the strategy of incubating eggs with the warmth of their bodies for incubation behaviours that rely entirely on environmental heat sources. Typically, mound‐builders capture heat released from the decomposition of organic materials, while burrow‐nesters lay their eggs in geothermal or solar‐heated soils. The evolutionary path towards novel incubation behaviours has led to ecological and physiological adaptations unique to megapodes. Here, we present a species tree for all extant megapodes that settles long‐standing debates about megapode evolution: namely, their biogeographical origins and ancestral nesting behaviour.LocationAustralasia.MethodsA time‐calibrated multilocus species tree for all extant megapodes was constructed using *beast. We estimated and compared divergence dates for megapodes obtained from molecular rates, fossils, and a combination of fossils and rates. Using this tree, Bayesian estimation of ancestral nesting behaviour was conducted inBayesTraitsand ancestral ranges were estimated inBioGeoBEARS.ResultsRecent dispersal has led to the recolonization of mainland Australia and New Guinea byMegapodius. Bayesian estimation of ancestral states indicates that mound building is the most probable ancestral nesting behaviour in megapodes (posterior probability = 0.75). Burrow nesting was acquired early in the diversification of the family (at least 14 Ma), followed by a single switch back to mound building.Main conclusionsDivergence dates and biogeographical reconstructions strongly suggest that dispersal, and not vicariance, led to the isolation of megapodes in Australasia. We propose that flight‐mediated dispersal to environmentally variable islands is responsible for the behavioural lability in nesting behaviours observed in someMegapodiusspecies today.
Correction of defective CFTR/ENaC function and tightness of cystic fibrosis airway epithelium by amniotic mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells
Authors: Carbone Annalucia , Castellani Stefano , Favia Maria , Diana Anna , Paracchini Valentina , Di Gioia Sante , Seia Manuela , Casavola Valeria , Colombo Carla , Conese Massimo 
Published: June 2014

AbstractCystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, with most of the mortality given by the lung disease. Human amniotic mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells (hAMSCs) hold great promise for regenerative medicine in the field of lung disease; however, their potential as therapeutics for CF lung disease has not been fully explored. In the present study, hAMSCs were analysed in co‐cultures on Transwell filters with CF immortalized airway epithelial cells (CFBE41o‐ line) at different ratios to exploit their potency to resume basic defects associated with CF. The results show that F‐actin content was increased in co‐cultures as compared with CF cells and actin was reorganized to form stress fibres. Confocal microscopy studies revealed that co‐cultures had a tendency of increased expression of occludin and ZO‐1 at the intercellular borders, paralleled by a decrease in dextran permeability, suggestive of more organized tight junctions (TJs). Spectrofluorometric analysis of CFTR function demonstrated that hAMSC‐CFBE co‐cultures resumed chloride transport, in line with the appearance of the mature Band C of CFTR protein by Western blotting. Moreover, hAMSC‐CFBE co‐cultures, at a 1:5 ratio, showed a decrease in fluid absorption, as opposed to CFBE cell monolayers that displayed a great rate of fluid resorption from the apical side. Our data show that human amniotic MSCs can be used in co‐culture with CF respiratory epithelial cells to model their engraftment into the airways and have the potential to resume a tight epithelium with partial correction of the CF phenotype.