bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accumulation of geriatric conditions is associated with poor nutritional status in dependent older people living in the community and in nursing homes
Authors: Hirose Takahisa , Hasegawa Jun , Izawa Sachiko , Enoki Hiromi , Suzuki Yuske , Kuzuya Masafumi 
Published: October 2013

AimTo clarify the association between nutritional status and the prevalence of geriatric conditions in dependent older adults.MethodsA cross‐sectional observational study of dependent older adults aged 65years or older who were living either in the community (n = 511, mean age 81.2years) or in nursing homes (n = 587, mean age 85.2years) was carried out. Data included the participants' demographic characteristics, basic activities of daily living, Charlson Comorbidity Index and the prevalence of eight geriatric conditions (visual impairment, hearing impairment, falls, bladder control problems, cognitive impairment, impaired mobility, swallowing disturbance and loss of appetite). Nutritional status was assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment short form (MNA‐SF).ResultsOf 1098 participants, 21.4% (n = 235) were categorized as “malnourished”, according to the MNA‐SF classification. Participants in the “malnourished” group had a greater number of geriatric conditions than those in the other two groups. A higher prevalence of all the geriatric conditions except for falls was detected in the group with poorer nutritional status. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that malnutrition was associated with the number of geriatric conditions, but not with that of comorbidities, even after controlling for confounders.ConclusionsMalnutrition was confirmed to have significant associations with geriatric conditions in dependent older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 198–205.
Carotid ultrasound examination as an aging and disability marker
Authors: Barrera Gladys , Bunout Daniel , de la Maza María Pía , Leiva Laura , Hirsch Sandra 
Published: October 2013

AimTo explore the usefulness of carotid ultrasound examination as a marker of aging and predictor of disability among older people.MethodsCarotid ultrasound, measuring carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and recording the presence of plaques, was carried out in 152 adults aged 29–59 years (47 women) and in 107 older adults aged 61–88 years (86 women). In all, clinical routine laboratory parameters and lymphocyte telomere length as T/S ratio were measured. Among older adults, 12‐min walk, timed up and go, hand grip and quadriceps strength were determined.ResultsCIMT was significantly higher among older people and T/S ratio was significantly higher in young women. Carotid plaques were found in one adult and 17 older people. A multiple regression analysis accepted age, systolic blood pressure and T/S ratios as independent predictors of CIMT (R2 = 0.51). Among older people, a logistic regression accepted age and the presence of carotid plaques as significant predictors of a 12‐min walk speed below 1 m/s.ConclusionsAn abnormal 12‐min walk as an indicator of functional decline among older people is associated with the presence of carotid artery plaques. CIMT is independently associated with age. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 710–715.
Effects of digestates from different biogas production systems on above and belowground grass growth and the nitrogen status of the plant‐soil‐system
Authors: Andruschkewitsch Meike , Wachendorf Christine , Wachendorf Michael 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBiogas production from residual biomass (e.g. from extensively managed grassland) can help securing ecosystem services of such vegetation and may contribute to energy production from renewable resources. Proper management of fermentation residues is a major challenge within the technical concepts recently suggested for the conversion of this biomass. A 5‐month pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of digestates from separated grass silage (liquid fraction) (SGD), produced within the innovative integrated generation of solid fuel and biogas from biomass (IFBB) system and from conventional whole crop digestion (WCD) on grass growth, N uptake and N immobilization. Digestates and a mineral N fertilizer (MIN) as comparative variant were applied at N‐rates from 0 up to 20 g N m−2 based on fertilizer mineral N to three different grass species (Lolium perenne, Trisetum flavescens and Festuca rubra subsp. rubra). Digestate application increased harvestable biomass constantly with increasing N‐rate for L. perenne, but not for T. flavescens and F. rubra rubra. Type of digestate caused species‐specific differences in plant growth, as F. rubra rubra and L. perenne showed higher dry matter (DM) yields of harvestable and root biomass for WCD and T. flavescens for SGD application. However, for both digestates, reduced root biomasses were observed compared to the control. The mineral nitrogen use efficiency (NUEmin) was over all species 22% higher for harvestable and 33% for stubble biomass after application of SGD compared to WCD, due to greater N uptake related to lower gaseous N losses and favorable mineralization properties. N immobilization measured by soil microbial biomass N (MBN) was influenced by grass species but not by type of digestate or application rate. The lack of effect of digestate application on MBN was attributed to the compensation of the digestate carbon input by the reduced root biomass production.
DnaT is a single‐stranded DNA binding protein
Authors: Huang Yen‐Hua , Lin Min‐Jon , Huang Cheng‐Yang 
Published: October 2013

DnaT is one of the replication restart primosomal proteins required for reinitiating chromosomal DNA replication in bacteria. In this study, we identified and characterized the single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA)‐binding properties of DnaT using electrophoretic mobility shift analysis (EMSA), bioinformatic tools and two deletion mutant proteins, namely, DnaT26‐179 and DnaT42‐179. ConSurf analysis indicated that the N‐terminal region of DnaT is highly variable. The analysis of purified DnaT and the deletion mutant protein DnaT42‐179 by gel filtration chromatography showed a stable trimer in solution, indicating that the N‐terminal region, amino acid 1–41, is not crucial for the oligomerization of DnaT. Contrary to PriB, which forms a single complex with a series of ssDNA homopolymers, DnaT, DnaT26‐179 and DnaT42‐179 form distinct complexes with ssDNA of different lengths and the size of binding site of 26 ± 2 nucleotides (nt). Using bioinformatic programs (ps)2 and the analysis of the positively charged/hydrophobic residue distribution, as well as the biophysical results in this study, we propose a binding model for the DnaT trimer–ssDNA complex, in which 25‐nt‐long ssDNA is tethered on the surface groove located in the highly conserved C‐terminal domain of DnaT. These results constitute the first study regarding ssDNA‐binding activity of DnaT. Consequently, a hand‐off mechanism for primosome assembly was modified.
Reducing Uncertainty in Calibrating Aquifer Flow Model with Multiple Scales of Heterogeneity
Authors: Zhang Ye 
Published: October 2013

AbstractModeling and calibration of natural aquifers with multiple scales of heterogeneity is a challenging task due to limited subsurface access. While computer modeling plays an essential role in aquifer studies, large uncertainty exists in developing a conceptual model of an aquifer and in calibrating the model for decision making. Due to uncertainties such as a lack of understanding of subsurface processes and a lack of techniques to parameterize the subsurface environment (including hydraulic conductivity, source/sink rate, and aquifer boundary conditions), existing aquifer models often suffer nonuniqueness in calibration, leading to poor predictive capability. A robust calibration methodology is needed that can address the simultaneous estimations of aquifer parameters, source/sink, and boundary conditions. In this paper, we propose a multistage and multiscale approach that addresses subsurface heterogeneity at multiple scales, while reducing uncertainty in estimating the model parameters and model boundary conditions. The key to this approach lies in the appropriate development, verification, and synthesis of existing and new techniques of static and dynamic data integration. In particular, based on a given set of observation data, new inversion techniques can be first used to estimate aquifer large‐scale effective parameters and smoothed boundary conditions, based on which parameter and boundary condition estimation can be refined at increasing detail using standard or highly parameterized estimation techniques.
Hydraulic Tomography Offers Improved Imaging of Heterogeneity in Fractured Rocks
Authors: Illman Walter A. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractFractured rocks have presented formidable challenges for accurately predicting groundwater flow and contaminant transport. This is mainly due to our difficulty in mapping the fracture‐rock matrix system, their hydraulic properties and connectivity at resolutions that are meaningful for groundwater modeling. Over the last several decades, considerable effort has gone into creating maps of subsurface heterogeneity in hydraulic conductivity (K) and specific storage (Ss) of fractured rocks. Developed methods include kriging, stochastic simulation, stochastic inverse modeling, and hydraulic tomography. In this article, I review the evolution of various heterogeneity mapping approaches and contend that hydraulic tomography, a recently developed aquifer characterization technique for unconsolidated deposits, is also a promising approach in yielding robust maps (or tomograms) of K and Ss heterogeneity for fractured rocks. While hydraulic tomography has recently been shown to be a robust technique, the resolution of the K and Ss tomograms mainly depends on the density of pumping and monitoring locations and the quality of data. The resolution will be improved through the development of new devices for higher density monitoring of pressure responses at discrete intervals in boreholes and potentially through the integration of other data from single‐hole tests, borehole flowmeter profiling, and tracer tests. Other data from temperature and geophysical surveys as well as geological investigations may improve the accuracy of the maps, but more research is needed. Technological advances will undoubtedly lead to more accurate maps. However, more effort should go into evaluating these maps so that one can gain more confidence in their reliability.
Hydraulically Controlled Discrete Sampling from Open Boreholes
Authors: Harte Philip T. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractGroundwater sampling from open boreholes in fractured‐rock aquifers is particularly challenging because of mixing and dilution of fluid within the borehole from multiple fractures. This note presents an alternative to traditional sampling in open boreholes with packer assemblies. The alternative system called ZONFLO (zonal flow) is based on hydraulic control of borehole flow conditions. Fluid from discrete fractures zones are hydraulically isolated allowing for the collection of representative samples. In rough‐faced open boreholes and formations with less competent rock, hydraulic containment may offer an attractive alternative to physical containment with packers. Preliminary test results indicate a discrete zone can be effectively hydraulically isolated from other zones within a borehole for the purpose of groundwater sampling using this new method.
Interpreting a Pumping Test Influenced by Another Well in an Anisotropic Aquifer
Authors: Weber Simon , Chapuis Robert P. , Duhaime François 
Published: October 2013

AbstractIn confined aquifers the influence of neighboring active wells is often neglected when interpreting a pumping test. This can, however, lead to an erroneous interpretation of the pumping test data. This article presents simple methods to evaluate the transmissivity tensor and storativity of an anisotropic confined aquifer when there is an interfering well in the neighborhood of the tested well. Two methods have been developed depending on whether the tested well or the interfering well is the first in operation. These new methods yield better estimates of the hydraulic parameters than when the influence of the interfering well is neglected. These methods have then been used on data obtained from numerical models with an interfering well and the results have been compared to an analytical method that neglects the influence of the interfering well. The methods require knowledge of the pumping rate of the interfering well and the time elapsed since the pumping started in each well. If the interfering well started pumping before the tested well, the method does not require knowledge of the aquifer piezometric level at the beginning of the test, which is often unknown in this case. As for the method without interference, at least three monitoring wells (MWs) are needed, the position of which influences the accuracy of the estimated parameters. Some recommendations concerning MWs position have been given to get more accurate results according to the sought parameter.
Influencing factors on the functional level of haemophilic patients assessed byFISH
Authors: Kachooei A. R. , Badiei Z. , Zandinezhad M. E. , Ebrahimzadeh M. H. , Mazloumi S. M. , Omidi‐Kashani F. , Moradi A. , Mahdavian‐Naghashzargar R. , Razi S. 
Published: October 2013

SummaryJoint destruction in early adulthood brings the patients to the orthopaedic clinics. If a haemophilic patient becomes disabled, it shows a number of factors such as timely diagnosis, availability of appropriate treatment depending on the country, access and affordability to treatments and equally importantly the responsibility of the patient in managing self care by remaining compliant by prescribed treatment regimen. We assessed the functional level by functional independence score in haemophilia (FISH). Overall, 104 patients with haemophilia A and 29 with haemophilia B were evaluated. We assessed the function of the patients byFISH. We divided the sum scores into weak (FISHscore 8–16), moderate (17–24), and good (25–32). For evaluating the level of functional deficit in a 2 × 2 table, we categorized the weak and moderate levels into Disordered Group and the good level into Not‐Disordered Group. The average age was 26.9 ± 14.24. Each 1 year increase in age can increase 1.07 fold the possibility of being placed in Disordered Function Group. Severe haemophilia can increase 7.34 fold, presence of inhibitor can increase 9.75 fold and home self‐care increases 3.89 fold the possibility of being placed in Disordered Function Group. To decrease the burden of the cost on patient, family and the government, education plays the most important role. We suggest that we send a trained team of physician and nurses to the deprived villages and cities instead of waiting for the patient to refer to our Care Center.
Clinical Aspects of Medication Overuse Headaches
Authors: Da Silva Arnaldo Neves , Lake Alvin E. 
Published: October 2013

Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a subset of chronic daily headache, occurring from overuse of 1 or more classes of migraine abortive medication. Acetaminophen, combination analgesics (caffeine combinations), opioids, barbiturates (butalbital), non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, and triptans are the main classes of drugs implicated in the genesis of MOH. Migraine seems to be the most common diagnosis leading to MOH. The development of MOH is associated with both frequency of use of medication and behavioral predispositions. MOH is not a unitary concept. The distinction between simple (type 1) vs complex (type 2) forms is based on both the class of overused medication and behavioral factors, including psychopathology and psychological drug dependence.MOH is a challenging disorder causing decline in the quality of life and causing physical symptoms, such as daily and incapacitating headaches, insomnia, and non‐restorative sleep, as well as psychological distress and reduced functioning. MOH is associated with biochemical, structural, and functional brain changes. Relapse after detoxification is a challenge, but can be addressed if the patient is followed over a prolonged period of time with a combination of prophylactic pharmacotherapy, use of abortive medication with minimal risk of MOH, withholding previously overused medication, and providing psychological (cognitive‐behavioral) therapy.
Supporting public involvement in research design and grant development: a case study of a public involvement award scheme managed by a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research Design Service (RDS)
Authors: Boote Jonathan D. , Twiddy Maureen , Baird Wendy , Birks Yvonne , Clarke Clare , Beever Daniel 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundIt is good practice for the public to be involved in developing health research. Resources should be available for researchers to fund the involvement of the public in the development of their grants.ObjectiveTo describe a funding award scheme to support public involvement in grant development, managed by an NIHR Research Design Service (RDS). Case examples of how the award contributed to successful grant applications and findings from a recent evaluation of the scheme are presented.DesignA case study of resource provision to support public involvement activities in one region of England.ParticipantsUniversity and NHS‐based researchers, and members of the public.FindingsBetween 2009 and 2012, the RDS approved 45 public involvement funding awards (totalling nearly £19 000). These awards contributed to 27 submitted applications at the time of writing, of which 11 were successful (totalling over £7.5 million). The evaluation revealed difficulties encountered by some researchers when involving the public in grant development, which led to suggestions about how the scheme could be improved.ConclusionThis award scheme represents an efficient method of providing researchers with resources to involve the public in grant development and would appear to represent good value for money.
Involving patients in clinical research: the Telescot Patient Panel
Authors: Fairbrother Peter , McCloughan Lucy , Adam Geraldine , Brand Richard , Brown Cecil , Watson Mary , Cotter Nicola , Mackellaig Juliet , McKinstry Brian 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundTo date, patient involvement in the development of clinical research work has been limited. In 2011, the Telescot research team commenced work on a feasibility trial to investigate home telemonitoring of blood pressure for people who have experienced stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA). The team decided to involve patients in the development of the research.ObjectivesTo improve research design through patient involvement.Method of patient involvementA modified form of the ‘Scrutiny Panel’ approach was used to involve people who had stroke in the research project.ResultsThe Patient Panel supported the research in three key ways: it informed patient communication; it presented patient perspectives on the applicability and usability of the intervention; and it guided the development of the qualitative study.DiscussionThe initiative was considered a positive experience for all. However, challenges were identified in terms of the time and cost implications of undertaking patient involvement.Implication for research practiceImportance is attached to adequate project planning and development, partnership working with community‐based organizations and the necessity for clear role delineation between patients and professionals to enable effective collaborative working.ConclusionsThe Telescot Patient Panel was beneficial in supporting the development of the feasibility trial. The Panel approach was considered transferable to other clinical research contexts.
‘Too much for one day’: a case study of disclosure in the paediatric HIV/AIDS clinic
Authors: Penn Claire 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundDespite acknowledgement of the complexity and challenges of the process of disclosure of HIV status to adolescents, little work has been carried out on the communication features which facilitate or hinder the process. This qualitative case study reflects the interactional dynamics of an interaction between caregiver, physician and counsellor around the topic of disclosure in a South African clinic.MethodsA 40‐minute encounter between a doctor, the grandmother of an adolescent with HIV/AIDS and a counsellor around the process of disclosure was transcribed and examined in detail in relation to its structure, topics, timing and sequence as well as its movement towards a collaborative ending. Analysis was based on elements of conversational and thematic analysis.ResultsThe session was characterized by distinct stages and the emergence of multiple voices and perspectives from the participants. The negotiated management of the session sheds light on multiple barriers to care as well as the influence of contextual factors on the process. The important mediating role of the counsellor in the triad emerges. The analysis highlights both unique features of the consultation and common challenges to clinicians when disclosing.Discussion and ConclusionsThe task of disclosure is complex and intricate. Results suggest team processes are critical, as are temporal and contextual factors and the need for an understanding of communication. Implications for the clinic team are discussed and suggestions made for the development of collaborative partnership based on an understanding of roles and responsibilities, time factors and enhancement of features such as trust and communication.
‘Are we allowed to disclose?’: a healthcare team's experiences of talking with children and adolescents about their HIV status
Authors: Watermeyer Jennifer 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundTalking with a child about their HIV status is a complex, emotionally laden and difficult task for caregivers and healthcare providers. Disclosure is an important process which may have psychosocial and health benefits. Despite existing guidelines and materials, disclosure does not always happen for various reasons.ObjectiveThis qualitative study explored a healthcare team's perspectives and experiences about disclosure practices.MethodsThree focus groups were conducted with a total of 23 healthcare providers at a paediatric clinic in South Africa. The data were analysed using principles of thematic analysis.ResultsResults confirm the complexity of the disclosure process and highlight confusion, hesitancy and ethical dilemmas regarding disclosure practices. Tensions were noted within the team which seem linked to professional hierarchies. Counsellors and nurses preferred an indirect approach of encouraging caregivers to disclose to their children and providing psychosocial support, while doctors tended to become more directly involved in disclosing to children out of a sense of duty, legal responsibilities and knowledge of the child's rights.Discussion and ConclusionsThis study demonstrates how the complexities of disclosure with children and adolescents bring about additional challenges for healthcare teams. The legal and ethical implications as well as the roles and responsibilities of healthcare providers with disclosure remain unclear. Several recommendations for practice and policy emerge from this study, related particularly to the need for clarification of disclosure guidelines and legal implications. Implications for the healthcare team are also discussed.