bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Responses of aquatic macrophyte cover and productivity to flooding variability on the Amazon floodplain
Authors: Silva Thiago S. F. , Melack John M. , Novo Evlyn M. L. M. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractMacrophyte net primary productivity (NPP) is a significant but understudied component of the carbon budget in large Amazonian floodplains. AnnualNPPis determined by the interaction between stem elongation (vertical growth) and plant cover changes (horizontal expansion), each affected differently by flood duration and amplitude. Therefore, hydrological changes as predicted for the Amazon basin could result in significant changes in annual macrophyteNPP. This study investigates the responses of macrophyte horizontal expansion and vertical growth to flooding variability, and its possible effects on the contribution of macrophytes to the carbon budget of Amazonian floodplains. Monthly macrophyte cover was estimated using satellite imagery for the 2003–2004 and 2004–2005 hydrological years, and biomass was measuredin situbetween 2003 and 2004. Regression models between macrophyte variables and river‐stage data were used to build a semiempirical model of macrophyteNPPas a function of water level. Historical river‐stage records (1970–2011) were used to simulate variations inNPP, as a function of annual flooding. Vertical growth varied by a factor of ca. 2 over the simulated years, whereas minimum and maximum annual cover varied by ca. 3.5 and 1.5, respectively. Results suggest that these processes act in opposite directions to determine macrophyteNPP, with larger sensitivity to changes in vertical growth, and thus maximum flooding levels. Years with uncommonly large flooding amplitude resulted in the highestNPPvalues, as both horizontal expansion and vertical growth were enhanced under these conditions. Over the simulated period, annualNPPvaried by ca. 1.5 (1.06–1.63 TgC yr−1). A small increasing trend in flooding amplitude, and by extensionNPP, was observed for the studied period. Variability in growth rates caused by local biotic and abiotic factors, and the lack of knowledge on macrophyte physiological responses to extreme hydrological conditions remain the major sources of uncertainty.
Profile of elderly with multiple physician visits: Advocacy for tailored comprehensive geriatric assessment use in clinics
Authors: Kuo Mei‐Chen , Jeng Chii , Chen Ching‐Min , Jian Wen‐Shan 
Published: July 2013

AimThe rapid growth of the elderly population has given rise to the need for better geriatric care. The present study explored the common conditions of elderly outpatients with multiple physician visits in order to develop feasible clinical indicators that can be rapidly administered for the evaluation of geriatric syndromes in outpatient settings.MethodsThe National Health Insurance Research Database (2008) was analyzed. Claims for elderly outpatients with more than two physician visits in the same day were retrieved. The primary diagnoses, types of prescriptions and comorbidities were cross‐examined.ResultsThe overall prevalence rate for elderly patients with multiple physician visits ranged from 28.41% to 39.40%, and which increased steadily with age. A maximum of seven physician visits in a single day was observed. The most common multiple physician visit was two visits per day, with a prevalence rate of 30.97%. The two most common accompanying conditions were hypertension (3.79%) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (3.68%). There was a greater relative increase in the prevalence of senile dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in older age groups. The three overall leading specialties were cardiology, internal medicine, and ophthalmology; however, rehabilitation medicine was the most common female‐specific specialty. The most commonly prescribed medications were antihypertension drugs. The most prevalent comorbidity was type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension.ConclusionWe conclude that our data represent crucial information for the design of concise assessment metrics for application to the most chronic conditions in an effort to implement better geriatric healthcare. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 372–380.
Frailty among community‐dwelling elderly Mexican people: Prevalence and association with sociodemographic characteristics, health state and the use of health services
Authors: Sánchez‐García Sergio , Sánchez‐Arenas Rosalinda , García‐Peña Carmen , Rosas‐Carrasco Oscar , Ávila‐Funes José Alberto , Ruiz‐Arregui Liliana , Juárez‐Cedillo Teresa 
Published: July 2013

AimTo estimate the prevalence of frailty phenotypes and their association with the sociodemographic characteristics, health state and the use of health services in the last 6 months among community‐dwelling elderly in Mexico City.MethodsThe present study included 1933 elderly individuals from Mexico City. We estimated the prevalence of the frailty phenotype based on Fried and Walston. Household interviews were carried out to collect information on sociodemographics (sex, age, education, marital status, live alone, paid job), health state (activities of daily living, cognitive function, depression, comorbidity, nutritional status) and the use of health services in the last 6 months.ResultsThe estimated prevalence of frailty was 15.7%, pre‐frailty at 33.3% and non‐frailty at 51.0%. The statistically relevant associations in the pre‐frail elderly were female (OR 0.83), older age (OR 2.48), single (OR 1.03), living alone (OR 1.23), no paid work (OR 0.82), limitations in the basic activities of daily living (OR 2.11) and instrumental activities of daily living (OR 2.10), cognitive impairment (OR 1.49), depression symptoms (OR 3.82), underweight/malnourished (OR 1.89), overweight/obesity (OR 0.80), moderate comorbidity (OR 2.05), and use of health services (OR 1.04) using the non‐frail phenotype as the comparison category. Frailly is associated with female (OR 1.05), older age (OR 10.32), less educated (OR 2.51), single OR 1.39), living alone (OR 0.86), no paid work (OR 1.16), limitations in the basic activities of daily living (OR 7.66) and instrumental activities of daily living (OR 8.42), cognitive impairment (OR 3.02), depression symptoms (OR 11.23), underweight/malnourished (OR 1.49), overweight/obesity (OR 0.49), moderate comorbidity (OR 3.55), and use of health services (OR 1.99) using the non‐frail phenotype as the comparison category.ConclusionsThe results suggest that older age, disability, comorbidity, cognitive impairment and depression could have an influence role in frailty. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 395–402.
Incorporating Longevity Risk and Medical Information Into Life Settlement Pricing
Authors: Brockett Patrick L. , Chuang Shuo‐li , Deng Yinglu , MacMinn Richard D. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTA life settlement is a financial transaction in which the owner of a life insurance policy sells his or her policy to a third party. We present an overview of the life settlement market, exhibit its susceptibility to longevity risk, and discuss it as part of a new asset class of longevity‐related securities. We discuss pricing where the investor has updated information concerning the expected life expectancy of the insured as well as perhaps other medical information obtained from a medical underwriter. We show how to incorporate this information into the investor's valuation in a rigorous and statistically justified manner. To incorporate medical information, we apply statistical information theory to adjust an appropriate prespecified standard mortality table so as to obtain a new mortality table that exactly reflects the known medical information. We illustrate using several mortality tables including a new extension of the Lee–Carter model that allows for jumps in mortality and longevity over time. The information theoretically adjusted mortality table has a distribution consistent with the underwriter's projected life expectancy or other medical underwriter information and is as indistinguishable as possible from the prespecified mortality model. An analysis using several different potential standard tables and medical information sets illustrates the robustness and versatility of the method.
Informed Intermediation of Longevity Exposures
Authors: Biffis Enrico , Blake David 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTWe examine pension buyout transactions and longevity risk securitization in a common framework, emphasizing the role played by asymmetries in capital requirements and mortality forecasting technology. The results are used to develop a coherent model of intermediation of longevity exposures, between defined benefit pension plans and capital market investors, through insurers operating in the pension buyout market. We derive several predictions consistent with the recent empirical evidence on pension buyouts and offer insights on the role of buyout firms and regulation in the emerging market for longevity‐linked securities. A multiperiod version of the model is used to explore the effects of longevity risk securitization on the capacity of the pension buyout market.
Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction for Parents of Young Children with Developmental Delays: Implications for Parental Mental Health and Child Behavior Problems
Authors: Neece Cameron L. 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundParents of children with developmental delays (DD) typically report elevated levels of parental stress compared with parents of typically developing children. Children withDDare also at high risk for exhibiting significant behaviour problems. Parental stress has been shown to impact the development of these behaviour problems; however, it is rarely addressed in interventions aimed at reducing child behaviour problems. The current study examined the efficacy of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) for parents of children withDDby investigating whether this intervention is effective in reducing parenting stress and whether decreases in parenting stress lead to reductions in behaviour problems among children withDD.Materials and methodsForty six parents of children withDDwere randomly assigned to an immediate treatment or wait list‐control group. Participants completed questionnaires assessing parental stress and child behaviour problems at intake and at a second assessment, which took place after only the immediate treatment group had received theMBSR.ResultsParents who participated inMBSRreported significantly less stress and depression as well as greater life satisfaction compared with wait list‐control parents. Regarding child outcomes, children whose parents participated inMBSRwere reported to have fewer behaviour problems following the intervention, specifically in the areas of attention problems andADHDsymptomatology.DiscussionResults indicated thatMBSRmay be an effective intervention for ameliorating parental stress and mental health problems among parents of children withDD. Additionally, these benefits may ‘spill over’ and improve behaviour challenges among these children.
Easy‐to‐read Texts for Students with Intellectual Disability: Linguistic Factors Affecting Comprehension
Authors: Fajardo Inmaculada , Ávila Vicenta , Ferrer Antonio , Tavares Gema , Gómez Marcos , Hernández Ana 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundThe use of ‘easy‐to‐read’ materials for people with intellectual disabilities has become very widespread but their effectiveness has scarcely been evaluated. In this study, the framework provided by Kintsch's Construction–Integration Model (1988) is used to examine (i) the reading comprehension levels of different passages of the Spanish text that have been designed following easy‐to‐read guidelines and (ii) the relationships between reading comprehension (literal and inferential) and various linguistic features of these texts.MethodSixteen students with mild intellectual disability and low levels of reading skills were asked to read easy‐to‐read texts and then complete a reading comprehension test. The corpus of texts was composed of a set of forty‐eight pieces of news selected from www.noticiasfacil.es, a Spanish digital newspaper that publishes daily journalistic texts following international guidelines for the design of easy‐to‐read documents (IFLA, Tronbacke B. (1997) Guidelines for Easy‐to‐read Materials. IFLA, The Hague).ResultsParticipants correctly answered 80% of the comprehension questions, showing significantly higher scores for literal questions than for inferential questions. The analyses of the texts' linguistic features revealed that the number of coreferences was the variable that best predicted literal comprehension, but contrary to what the previous literature seemed to indicate, the relationship between the two variables was inverse. In the case of inferential comprehension, the number of sentences was a significant negative predictor; that is, the higher the sentence density, the lower the ability of these students to find relationships between them. The effects of the rest of linguistic variables, such as word frequency and word length, on comprehension were null.ConclusionsThese results provide preliminary empirical support for the use of easy‐to‐read texts but bring into question the validity of some popular design guidelines (e.g. augmenting word frequency) to optimally match texts and reading levels of students with intellectual disability. Two factors are suggested as contributing to the effect of sentence density on inferential comprehension: (i) long texts present higher conceptual density, so there are more ideas to store, retrieve and integrate, which increases the demand on inferential reasoning and (ii) long texts are perceived as difficult, which affects reading motivation and, consequently, induces passive reading strategies. The need for further research to elucidate the origin of our main findings with a larger and more heterogeneous sample of students with intellectual disability is highlighted.
‘Make it explicit!’: Improving collaboration through increase of script coercion
Authors: Papadopoulos P.M. , Demetriadis S.N. , Weinberger A. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThis paper investigates the impact of the proposed ‘Make It Explicit!’ technique on students' learning when participating in scripted collaborative activities. The method posits that when asking students to proactively articulate their own positions explicitly, then improved peer interaction is triggered in a subsequent collaborative session. Forty‐two (42) students worked collaboratively in dyads on a peer‐review‐scripted task with the aid of a Web‐based technological system. Students were asked to individually study the same material and produce answers to study questions, review their peer's work and, finally, produce collaboratively revised common answers to the study questions. Dyads were randomly assigned in two conditions: low coercion (LC) and high coercion (HC). In theHCcondition, students were required to write and submit to the system their reviews, prior to the task of producing the common answers to the study questions. In theLCcondition, instead, submitting the individual review to the system was optional. By collecting and analysing both quantitative (pre‐ and post‐test scores, measures of individual and collaborative learning) and qualitative (interviews, log files) data, it is shown that students in theHCcondition applied better collaboration patterns and outperformed students in theLCcondition in acquiring domain conceptual knowledge. Overall, this work analyses key aspects of implementing the ‘Make It Explicit!’ technique and concludes that it can efficiently improve collaborative learning outcomes by increasing script coercion.
Role of thiazolidinediones, insulin sensitizers, in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Chang Eugene , Park Cheol‐Young , Park Sung Woo 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome, obesity and insulin resistance has become an epidemic in the world. A strong association exists between metabolic syndrome and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), though the etiology of NAFLD is still unclear. This close association leads to numerous clinical studies to investigate the effects of insulin sensitizers, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), on hepatic fat accumulation. Thiazolidinediones affect glucose and lipid metabolism in insulin‐sensitive tissues, which in turn reduces the lipid content in the liver by modulating several mediators. In the present review, we discuss key modulators – adiponectin and sirtulin‐adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase signaling – as the mechanisms responsible for NAFLD related to metabolic syndrome.
Nonthyroidal illness: a risk factor for coronary calcification and arterial stiffness in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis?
Authors: Meuwese Christiaan L. , Carrero Juan J. , Cabezas‐Rodríguez Iván , Heimburger Olof , Barany Peter , Lindholm Bengt , Qureshi Abdul R. , Ripsweden Jonaz , Dekker Friedo W. , Stenvinkel Peter 
Published: July 2013

AbstractObjectivesLow triiodothyronine levels, as part of the nonthyroidal illness syndrome, are common in dialysis patients and have repeatedly been shown to be associated with increased (cardiovascular) mortality rates. We hypothesized that increased vascular calcification may mediate this relationship.MethodsA total of 84 patients from the Stockholm region receiving maintenance peritoneal dialysis were included in the study. Serum concentrations of free triiodothyronine (fT3), thyroxine and thyroid‐stimulating hormone were measured. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores were assessed by cardiac computed tomography scans. Surrogates of arterial stiffness included aortic diastolic and systolic blood pressures, pulse pressure, augmentation pressure and Buckberg's subendocardial viability ratio measured by pulse waveform analyses. Patients were subsequently followed, and events of death and censoring were recorded. Thyroid hormone concentrations were associated with CAC scores, measures of arterial stiffness and all‐cause mortality. The associations between CAC scores and arterial stiffness surrogates and mortality were also determined to evaluate a possible causal pathway.ResultsBoth CAC scores and arterial stiffness surrogates were substantially higher in individuals with low fT3 levels. These associations persisted in multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses. During a median (interquartile range) follow‐up of 32 (22–42) months, 24 patients died. Both fT3 levels below the median value [HR crude 4.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4–12.6] and CAC scores above the median value (HR crude 5.8, 95% CI 1.7–20.1) were strongly associated with mortality.ConclusionsIn patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, fT3 levels were strongly associated with arterial stiffness, coronary artery calcification and mortality. We speculate that the association between nonthyroidal illness and mortality may be partly mediated by acceleration of vascular calcification.
Psychological and Physiological Predictors of Health in Romantic Relationships: An Attachment Perspective
Authors: Stanton Sarah C. E. , Campbell Lorne 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThis article reviews the burgeoning literature linking greater individual differences in attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance to poorer health. Extant research indicates that more anxiously and avoidantly attached individuals experience heightened psychological (e.g., distress) and physiological (e.g.,HPAaxis activation) responses to stressful situations, as well as have poorer mental (e.g., depression) and physical (e.g., immune system functioning) health. Research also suggests that perceived social support processes are sometimes beneficial for more anxiously and avoidantly attached persons' mental health, but are not helpful in alleviating physiological responses to stress. Future studies could fruitfully delve into the possible dyadic influences on health and interventions to improve the health experiences of more anxiously and avoidantly attached individuals. Lastly, future research could benefit from longitudinal explorations of health.
THE IMPACT OF MARGINAL BUSINESS TAXES ON STATE MANUFACTURING
Authors: Funderburg Richard , Bartik Timothy J. , Peters Alan H. , Fisher Peter S. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTWe estimate the impact of manufacturer business taxes on value added during the 1990s for 15 manufacturing sectors in 20 U.S. states. When the tax climate is properly measured as the potential liability arising from new investment in a state, we estimate that a 10 percent reduction in the effective tax liability is associated with a 3.5 to 5.3 percent increase in value added for the state's targeted manufacturing industry. When we isolate the value of industrial incentives from the basic tax system in our theoretically preferred marginal tax measure, we find that a 10 percent reduction in liability achieved by way of lowering taxes is associated with a 4.5 percent increase in value added while an equivalent reduction achieved by way of increasing incentives is associated with only 1.2 percent industrial growth, the latter elasticity not statistically different from zero.
The genus Eremophila (Scrophulariaceae): an ethnobotanical, biological and phytochemical review
Authors: Singab Abdel Nasser , Youssef Fadia S , Ashour Mohamed L , Wink Michael 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Objectives
Eremophila (Scrophulariaceae) is an endemic Australian genus with 214 species, which is commonly known as Fuchsia bush, Emu bush or Poverty bush. Plants of this genus played an important role for the Australian Aborigines who used them widely for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. Many studies have been carried out on many species of this genus and have generated immense data about the chemical composition and corresponding biological activity of extracts and isolated secondary metabolites.

Key findings
Thorough phytochemical investigations of different Eremophila species have resulted in the isolation of more than 200 secondary metabolites of different classes with diterpenes as major constituents. Biological studies and traditional clinical practice demonstrated that Eremophila and its bioactive compounds possess various pharmacological properties. Plants were employed especially as a cardiotonic drug and also as potent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral agents.

Summary
Further investigations are required to explore other Eremophila species, to evaluate the different biological activities of either their extracts or the isolated compounds and the possible underlying modes of action.
Herb‐induced autoimmune‐like hepatitis in C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Wang Jir‐You , Lee Chang‐Yin , Pan Po‐Jung , Chang Wen‐Chi , Chiu Jen‐Hwey , Chen Wei‐Shone , Shyr Yi‐Ming 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackground & AimsAnimal model suitable for studying herb‐induced experimental autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) remains a challenging problem. A medicinal herb containing Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Sb) and Bupleurum chinense DC (Bc) has been sporadically reported to be related to liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Sb and Bc on experimental AIH in mice.MethodsC57BL/6J mice received intraperitoneal injection of Sb and/or Bc herbal extracts (1 mg/kg) for 4 or 8 weeks. Serum samples were collected to analyse serum transferase (AST, ALT), creatinine, markers for AIH and hepatic cytokine levels such as IFN‐γ, IL10 and TGF‐β1. Peripheral mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene expression profiles were analysed to show their effects on immune system.ResultsOur results showed that Sb or Bc treatment increased serum AST, ALT, IgG and ANA levels. Prominent necroinflammatory changes were demonstrated in the livers of Sb‐ or Bc‐treated mice while the decrease in IFN‐γ and elevation of IL10 and TGF‐β1 levels in liver tissues. Furthermore, the PMBC gene expression profile suggested that Sb or Bc treatment could modulate immune responses.ConclusionWe conclude that the presence of AIH in Sb‐ or Bc‐treated mice and C57BL/6J strain mice is a reliable animal model for studying herb‐induced AIH‐like hepatitis.