Psychometric evaluation of the Orofacial Pain Scale for Non‐Verbal Individuals as a screening tool for orofacial pain in people with dementia

Objective

The aim of this study was to describe the psychometric evaluation of the Orofacial Pain Scale for Non‐Verbal Individuals (OPS‐NVI) as a screening tool for orofacial pain in people with dementia.

Background

The OPS‐NVI has recently been developed and needs psychometric evaluation for clinical use in people with dementia. The pain self‐report is imperative as a reference standard and can be provided by people with mild‐to‐moderate cognitive impairment.

Methods

The presence of orofacial pain during rest, drinking, chewing and oral hygiene care was observed in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia using the OPS‐NVI. Participants who were considered to present a reliable self‐report were asked about pain presence, and in all participants, the oral health was examined by a dentist for the presence of potential painful conditions. After item‐reduction, inter‐rater reliability and criterion validity were determined.

Results

The presence of orofacial pain in this population was low (0%‐10%), resulting in an average Positive Agreement of 0%‐100%, an average Negative Agreement of 77%‐100%, a sensitivity of 0%‐100% and a specificity of 66%‐100% for the individual items of the OPS‐NVI. At the same time, the presence of oral problems, such as ulcers, tooth root remnants and caries was high (64.5%).

Conclusion

The orofacial pain presence in this MCI and dementia population was low, resulting in low scores for average Positive Agreement and sensitivity and high scores for average Negative Agreement and specificity. Therefore, the OPS‐NVI in its current form cannot be recommended as a screening tool for orofacial pain in people with MCI and dementia. However, the inter‐rater reliability and criterion validity of the individual items in this study provide more insight for the further adjustment of the OPS‐NVI for diagnostic use. Notably, oral health problems were frequently present, although no pain was reported or observed, indicating that oral health problems cannot be used as a new reference standard for orofacial pain, and a regular oral examination by care providers and oral hygiene care professionals remains indispensable.     

2004—2014年南方稻区双季稻生产碳足迹动态及其构成

南方稻作区是我国重要的粮食生产区,在国家粮食安全保障中起着至关重要的作用,探明南方不同省份双季稻生产的碳足迹差异,对促进低碳稻作农业发展具有重要意义.本研究采用2004—2014年农作物种植面积、农资投入等统计数据,运用碳足迹理论和生命周期法系统评价我国南方双季稻生产碳足迹时空分布状况及其构成.结果表明: 南方稻区各个省份早晚稻生产碳足迹大部分表现为增加趋势,早稻生产碳足迹较晚稻大.2004—2014年,安徽省双季稻平均碳足迹最高(1000 kg CO₂-eq·hm^-2),而福建、湖北和湖南省相对较小(750 kg CO₂-eq·hm^-2).碳足迹构成中以肥料的生产、运输及使用占比最大,占水稻生产总碳足迹的60%;柴油投入碳足迹贡献量次之,为26%左右.逐步回归分析表明,双季稻生产碳足迹大小与柴油、复混肥和钾肥的投入呈正相关.净利润收益纳入分析表明,湖北省为低排放-高收益省份,有利于农业低碳可持续性发展.随着农村劳动力非农化和作物生产机械化的快速递增,未来水稻生产中柴油等机械化碳投入将快速增长.因此,提升化肥利用效率、灌溉效率和机械化作业效率将是发展南方稻作区低碳农业的关键途径.     

Persistence of antipredator behavior in an island population of California quail

Island populations may provide unique insights into the evolution and persistence of antipredator behavior. If antipredator behavior is costly and islands have reduced predation risk, then we expect the reduction or loss of antipredator behavior on islands. However, if even a single predator remains, the multipredator hypothesis predicts that antipredator behaviors will be conserved. We compared the flight initiation distances (FID) of California quail (Callipepla californica) on Santa Catalina Island (a location with reduced predation pressure) with quail on the mainland. We found no differences in FID between mainland and island quail. However, despite employing consistent testing methods, the starting distance from which quail were approached was significantly reduced for quail studied on the island when compared with quail studied on the mainland. Our results are consistent with the multipredator hypothesis because, while the island population had substantially fewer predators, some predators remained and some antipredator behavior persisted.     

Situación funcional como factor independiente asociado con el mal pronóstico de pacientes ancianos ingresados en Cuidados Intensivos

Objective

To assess the association of previous functional status in elderly patients admitted to the ICU, estimated by the Barthel and Short Form-Late Life Function and Disability instrument scales, and the relationship with prognosis and functional capacity at hospital discharge.

Reconsideration of pollen dispersal data from field trials of transgenic potatoes

During the initial field evaluation of transgenic plants, it is usual to isolate them genetically from other plants of the same species. Several field experiments on potatoes, using transgenes as markers, have shown that transgene dispersal by pollen to other potato plants is limited and very unlikely at distances over 10 m. In a recent study in Sweden, a frequency of transgene-containing progeny of over 30% is reported from non-transgenic potato plants grown at distances of 10–1000 m from transgenic plants containing nptII and gus marker genes. Data from the Swedish study is discussed along with other relevant observations, and it is concluded that the high frequency of gene dispersal in that study results from a high frequency of false positives during PCR analysis of the nptII gene. From the data available in potato, it is concluded that a distance of 20 m is generally adequate for the initial field evaluation of transgenic potatoes containing novel gene constructs.     

Use of the reference dose in risk characterization of drinking water contaminants

Regulatory decisions should be made in the most expert and informed way since they are precipitated by real and perceived threats to public health, under the glare of public scrutiny. The development of environmental regulations require a three‐step paradigm, collectively called risk analysis. This paper will address the risk assessment practices required under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1986 to determine a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG, nonenforceable health goal) which should result in no known or anticipated health effects, and allows adequate margin of safety. The end product of this risk assessment, risk characterization, and risk management encompassing control options and nonrisk analysis are combined to derive the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL, enforceable standard). Furthermore, this paper discusses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's efforts in exploring new and improved noncancer risk assessment approaches providing the basis for MCLGs for the protection of human health.     

Quandaries and complexities of ecological risk assessment: Viable options to reduce humanistic arrogance

Ecological risk assessment has been used to support decisions regarding human‐generated actions which affect natural “resources”; and indigenous ecosystems. Often, the logical and scientific input serve as rationalization to legitimize the process. Though widely accepted as the realistic and sole paradigm, Ecological Risk Assessments do not address the complexities of the natural world, are humanistically arrogant, and disregard or do not consider alternatives which offer imagination and realistic attempts to reduce human impact to the land.

Ecological Alternatives Assessment practices would place the highest priority on: (a) continued temporal and spatial evolution of existing complex ecological relationships, (b) acknowledgment of the inherent rights of all species, and (c) examination of alternatives to reduce effects of anthropogenic actions. These steps, as discussed, are not impossible to accomplish and are necessary for favorable short‐term (50–500 years) anthropocentric alternatives and maintenance of long‐term (+1,000 years) biodiversity of species and ecosystems.