bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management and treatment of chronic urticaria (CU)
Authors: Maurer M. , Church M.K. , Gonçalo M. , Sussman G. , Sánchez‐Borges M.
Published: June 2015

Developments increasing our understanding of chronic urticaria have resulted in the simplification and improvement of available treatments. Currently, many treatments target mast cell mediators, but we can now disrupt mast cell activation with the anti‐IgE antibody omalizumab, which has markedly advanced the treatment landscape for patients with difficult‐to‐treat urticaria. Current guidelines provide a framework for the management and treatment of patients with CU but, as each patient is different, knowledge and experience of specialist dermatologists and allergists are key to effective pharmacotherapy. This article reviews the different therapeutic options for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (also called chronic idiopathic urticaria) or chronic inducible urticaria and discusses management of special populations or special circumstances related to CU.
Expression and activity of V‐H+‐ATPase in gill and kidney of marbled eel Anguilla marmorata in response to salinity challenge
Authors: Li L. , Jia Y. , Li P. , Yin S. , Zhang G. , Wang X. , Wang Y. , Wang X. , Zang X. , Ding Y.
Published: June 2015

The full‐length complementary (c)DNA of vacuolar‐type‐H+‐ATPase B1 gene (vhab1) in marbled eel Anguilla marmorata with 1741 base pairs (bp) was identified. It contained a 1512 bp open reading frame encoding a polypeptide with 503 amino acids (55·9 kDa), an 83 bp 5′‐untranslated region (UTR) and a 146 bp 3′‐UTR. The expression levels of A. marmorata vhab1 in gill and kidney of A. marmorata were evaluated at different intervals during the exposure to various salinities (0, 10 and 25). The results indicated that the expression levels of A. marmorata vhab1 messenger (m)RNA in gill and kidney had a significant increase and reached the highest level at 1 h in brackish water (BW, salinity 10) group and 6 h in seawater (SW, salinity 25) group. Therefore, salinity did affect the relative expression level of A. marmorata vhab1 mRNA in gills, which exhibited the enhancement by c. 44 times in SW group when compared with that in fresh water. No remarkable difference in the expression of A. marmorata vhab1 mRNA was observed after 15 days of SW exposure (P > 0·05). V‐H+‐ATPase activity exhibited an increase by two‐ to three‐fold when compared with that in gill and kidney from the control group. The consequence primarily suggested that A. marmorata vhab1 gene product in elvers from A. marmorata plays an important role in adaptation response to SW.
Nutritional status and eating habits of the institutionalised elderly in Turkey: a follow‐up study
Authors: Rakıcıoğlu N. , Aksoy B. , Tamer F. , Yıldız E. Akal , Samur G. , Pekcan G. , Besler H. T.
Published: June 2015

Background

As the elderly population increases in Turkey, so do the associated health and nutritional problems. The main purpose of the present study was to determine the nutritional status of elderly individuals who live in institutions.

Methods

A total of 102 elderly volunteers was recruited from seven residential homes of the Ministry of Family and Social Policies in Ankara. In the consecutive years of 2007, 2008 and 2009, dietary intake was assessed using a 24‐h food recall. Nutritional status was screened using a questionnaire from the Mini‐Nutritional Assessment, basic characteristics were determined and anthropometric measurements were assessed.

Results

The percentage of elderly participants who were malnourished or at risk for malnutrition increased by the completion of the follow‐up (P < 0.05). It was found that energy, total protein, animal proteins, carbohydrates, niacin, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc intake of men decreased significantly over the years studied (P < 0.05). A significant decrease occurred among women in animal protein, vitamin B1, niacin and the percentage of energy from proteins (P < 0.05); however, an increase in energy from fat (P < 0.05) was determined. Within the years studied, the percentage of nutrients meeting the Turkish recommended daily allowances decreased from 2007 to 2009 both in men and women. During the years 2007 to 2009, the percentage of waist circumferences >102 cm for men was 46.4%, 45.6% and 48.1%, respectively, and the percentage of waist circumferences for women >88 cm was 75.6%, 75.6% and 81.8%, respectively.

Conclusions

During the follow‐up, significant nutritional changes were determined. To prevent malnutrition, periodical screening of nutritional status should be a priority and a standard policy for elderly people, especially for those institutionalised.
Tradeoff Evaluation Improves Comparative Life Cycle Assessment: A Photovoltaic Case Study
Authors: Prado‐Lopez Valentina , Wender Ben A. , Seager Thomas P , Laurin Lise , Chester Mikhail , Arslan Erdem
Published: June 2015

Current life cycle assessment (LCA) interpretation practices typically emphasize hotspot identification and improvement assessment. However, these interpretation practices fail in the context of a decision‐driven comparative LCA where the goal is to select the best option from a set of dissimilar alternatives. Interpretation of comparative LCA results requires understanding of the trade‐offs between alternatives—instances in which one alternative performs better or worse than another—to identify the environmental implications of a specific decision. In this case, analysis must elucidate relative trade‐offs between decision alternatives, rather than absolute description of the alternatives individually. Here, typical practices fail. This article introduces a probability distribution‐based approach to assess the significance of performance differences among alternatives that allows LCA practitioners to focus analyses on those aspects most influential to the decision, identify the areas that would benefit the most from data refinement given the level of uncertainty, and complement existing hotspot analyses. In a case study of a comparative LCA of five photovoltaic technologies, findings show that thin‐film cadmium telluride and amorphous silicon cell panels are most likely to perform better than other alternatives. Additionally, the impact categories highlighted by the new approach are different than those highlighted by typical external normalization practices, suggesting that a decision‐driven approach to interpretation would redirect environmental research efforts.
Public stigma in intellectual disability: do direct versus indirect questions make a difference?
Authors: Werner S.
Published: June 2015

Background

Stigma may negatively impact individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). However, most studies in the field have been based on the use of direct measurement methods for assessing stigma. This study examined public stigma towards individuals with ID within a representative sample of the Israeli public by comparing direct versus indirect questioning.

Methods

Vignette methodology was utilised with two questionnaire versions. In the direct questionnaire (n = 306), the participants were asked how they would think, feel and behave if a man with ID asked them a question in a public place. In the indirect questionnaire (n = 301), the participants were asked to report how a hypothetical ‘other man’ would think, feel and behave in the same situation.

Results

Higher levels of stigma were reported among participants that answered the indirect questionnaire version. Furthermore, among those participants that answered the indirect questionnaire version, subjective knowledge of ID was a less important correlate of stigma than for those participants that answered the direct questionnaire.

Conclusion

Several explanations are suggested for the finding that indirect questioning elicits more negative stigmatic attitudes. Among others, indirect questioning may be a more appropriate methodology for eliciting immediate beliefs. Furthermore, the results call for implementing a comprehensive, multi‐level programme to change stigma.
Exploring nurses’ reactions to a novel technology to support acute health care delivery
Authors: Kent Bridie , Redley Bernice , Wickramasinghe Nilmini , Nguyen Lemai , Taylor Nyree J. , Moghimi Hoda , Botti Mari
Published: June 2015

Aims and objectives

To explore nurses’ reactions to new novel technology for acute health care.

Background

Past failures of technology developers to deliver products that meet nurses’ needs have led to resistance and reluctance in the technology adoption process. Thus, involving nurses in a collaborative process from early conceptualisation serves to inform design reflective upon current clinical practice, facilitating the cementing of ‘vision’ and expectations of the technology.

Design

An exploratory descriptive design to capture nurses’ immediate impressions.

Methods

Four focus groups (52 nurses from medical and surgical wards at two hospitals in Australia; one private and one public).

Results

Nursing reactions towards the new technology illustrated a variance in barrier and enabler comments across multiple domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework. Most challenging for nurses were the perceived threat to their clinical skill, and the potential capability of the novel technology to capture their clinical workflow. Enabling reactions included visions that this could help integrate care between departments; help management and support of nursing processes; and coordinating their patients care between clinicians. Nurses’ reactions differed across hospital sites, influenced by their experiences of using technology. For example, Site 1 nurses reported wide variability in their distribution of barrier and enabling comments and nurses at Site 2, where technology was prevalent, reported mostly positive responses.

Conclusion

This early involvement offered nursing input and facilitated understanding of the potential capabilities of novel technology to support nursing work, particularly the characteristics seen as potentially beneficial (enabling technology) and those conflicting (barrier technology) with the delivery of both safe and effective patient care.

Relevance to clinical practice

Collaborative involvement of nurses from the early conceptualisation of technology development brings benefits that increase the likelihood of successful use of a tool intended to support the delivery of safe and efficient patient care.
PRL‐3 promotes migration and invasion and is associated with poor prognosis in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma
Authors: Dong Qian , Ding Xueqiang , Chang Boyang , Wang Haihe , Wang Anxun
Published: June 2015

Background

PRL‐3 had been found to be involved in tumorigenesis in various malignancies. In this study, we investigated the role of PRL‐3 in the development, migration, and invasion of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC).

Methods

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to analyze the role of PRL‐3 in the development and prognosis of SACC. Then, we overexpressed or inhibited the expression of PRL‐3 in paired SACC cells to analyze the role of PRL‐3 in the migration and invasion of SACC. In vitro migration and invasion assays were used. Western blotting was used to detect metastasis‐related protein levels.

Results

IHC results confirmed that the deregulation of PRL‐3 was a frequent event in SACC; the upregulation of PRL‐3 was related to clinical stages, vital status, and distant metastasis, which was associated with reduced overall survival and disease‐free survival. SACC‐LM cells with higher migratory and invasive abilities had more robust PRL‐3 protein expression than SACC‐83 cells with lower migratory and invasive abilities. PRL‐3 overexpression promoted cell migration, invasion, and proliferation, led to simultaneous upregulation of phosphorylated PRL‐3, pERK1/2, Slug, vimentin, and downregulation of E‐cadherin in SACC‐83 cells. However, the inhibition of PRL‐3 by PRL‐3 inhibitor or PRL‐3 siRNA in SACC‐LM cells inhibited cell migration, invasion, and proliferation, resulted in simultaneous downregulation of phosphorylated PRL‐3, pERK1/2, Slug, vimentin, and upregulation of E‐cadherin.

Conclusions

Our results confirm that PRL‐3 plays an important role in the development of SACC and contributes to the migratory and invasive abilities of SACC.
Renal scarring and chronic kidney disease in children with spina bifida in a multidisciplinary Malaysian centre
Authors: Kanaheswari Yoganathan , Mohd Rizal Abdul Manaf
Published: June 2015

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of renal cortical scarring and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children with neurogenic bladder secondary to spina bifida (SB) managed at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre. The secondary objective was to identify the clinical factors associated with these adverse outcomes.

Methods

The medical records of 56 children managed from 1997 were available. Socio‐demographic and clinical data for SB children managed for a minimum of 2 years (n = 45) were reviewed. This included age at referral, gender, ethnicity, duration of care, type of SB lesion, presence of vesico‐ureteric reflux (VUR), symptomatic urinary tract infections, bladder trabeculation, catheterisations and renal function.

Results

Forty‐nine per cent of SB lesions were open myelomeningocoele, 40% were closed lesions and 11% were occult. Majority (96%) were at lumbar L3 or below. Twenty‐nine children (64.5%) were referred before 6 months of age (mean15.8 months; range newborn to 125 months). Thirty‐five (77.8%) had neurogenic bladder and 31(69%) had neurogenic bowel. Sixteen developed renal scarring and six, CKD. Late referral (≥6 months of age), small kidneys at referral, dilating VUR and bladder trabeculation were significant independent factors associated with scarring. On multivariate analysis, late referral (odds ratio (OR) 17.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–238.7) and dilating VUR (OR 137.0; CI 6.4–2921.1) remained significant.

Conclusion

Prevention of renal scarring and CKD remains a challenge in Malaysia even with multidisciplinary proactive care of SB children. Early referrals and more stringent management strategies for dilating VUR are still required.
Cerebral pyogranuloma associated with systemic coronavirus infection in a ferret
Authors: Gnirs K. , Quinton J. F. , Dally C. , Nicolier A. , Ruel Y.
Published: June 2015

A 2‐year‐old male ferret was presented with central nervous system signs. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain revealed a well‐defined contrast‐enhancing lesion on the rostral forebrain that appeared extraparenchymal. Surgical excision of the mass was performed and the ferret was euthanised during the procedure. Histopathology of the excised mass showed multiple meningeal nodular lesions with infiltrates of epithelioid macrophages, occasionally centred on degenerated neutrophils and surrounded by a broad rim of plasma cells, features consistent with pyogranulomatous meningitis. The histopathological features in this ferret were similar to those in cats with feline infectious peritonitis. Definitive diagnosis was assessed by immunohistochemistry, confirming a ferret systemic coronavirus (FSCV) associated disease. This is the first case of coronavirus granuloma described on CT‐scan in the central nervous system of a ferret.
Gender‐specific factors associated with shorter sleep duration at age 3 years
Authors: Plancoulaine Sabine , Lioret Sandrine , Regnault Nolwenn , Heude Barbara , Charles Marie‐Aline ,   the Eden Mother–Child Cohort Study Group
Published: June 2015

Total sleep duration has been decreasing among children in the last decades. Short sleep duration (SSD) has been associated with deleterious health consequences, such as excess weight/obesity. Risk factors for SSD have already been studied among school‐aged children and adolescents, but inconsistent results have been reported regarding possible gender differences. Studies reporting such relationships are scarce in preschoolers, despite the importance of this period for adopting healthy behaviour. We aimed to investigate factors associated with SSD in 3‐year‐old boys (n = 546) and girls (n = 482) in a French Mother–Child Cohort (EDEN Study). Children were born between 2003 and 2006 in two French university hospitals. Clinical examinations and parent self‐reported questionnaires allowed us to collect sociodemographic (e.g. income, education, family situation, child‐minding system), maternal [e.g. body mass index (BMI), parity, depression, breastfeeding duration] and child's characteristics (e.g. gender, birth weight, term, physical activity and TV viewing duration, food consumption, usual sleep time). Sleep duration/24‐h period was calculated and SSD was defined as <12 h. Analyses were performed using logistic regression. The mean sleep duration was 12 h 35 ± 56 min, with 91% of the children napping. Patterns of risk factors associated with SSD differed according to gender. In addition to parental presence when falling asleep, short sleep duration was associated strongly positively with high BMI Z‐score and TV viewing duration among boys and with familial home child‐minding and lower scores on the ‘fruits and vegetables’ dietary pattern among girls. These results suggest either a patterning of parental behaviours that differs according to gender, or a gender‐specific sleep physiology, or both.
REM sleep behaviour disorder is associated with lower fast and higher slow sleep spindle densities
Authors: O'Reilly Christian , Godin Isabelle , Montplaisir Jacques , Nielsen Tore
Published: June 2015

To investigate differences in sleep spindle properties and scalp topography between patients with rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) and healthy controls, whole‐night polysomnograms of 35 patients diagnosed with RBD and 35 healthy control subjects matched for age and sex were compared. Recordings included a 19‐lead 10–20 electroencephalogram montage and standard electromyogram, electrooculogram, electrocardiogram and respiratory leads. Sleep spindles were automatically detected using a standard algorithm, and their characteristics (amplitude, duration, density, frequency and frequency slope) compared between groups. Topological analyses of group‐discriminative features were conducted. Sleep spindles occurred at a significantly (e.g. t34 = −4.49; P = 0.00008 for C3) lower density (spindles∙min−1) for RBD (mean ± SD: 1.61 ± 0.56 for C3) than for control (2.19 ± 0.61 for C3) participants. However, when distinguishing slow and fast spindles using thresholds individually adapted to the electroencephalogram spectrum of each participant, densities smaller (31–96%) for fast but larger (20–120%) for slow spindles were observed in RBD in all derivations. Maximal differences were in more posterior regions for slow spindles, but over the entire scalp for fast spindles. Results suggest that the density of sleep spindles is altered in patients with RBD and should therefore be investigated as a potential marker of future neurodegeneration in these patients.
Various Ways to Understand Other Minds: Towards a Pluralistic Approach to the Explanation of Social Understanding
Authors: Fiebich Anika , Coltheart Max
Published: June 2015

In this article, we propose a pluralistic approach to the explanation of social understanding that integrates literature from social psychology with the theory of mind debate. Social understanding in everyday life is achieved in various ways. As a rule of thumb we propose that individuals make use of whatever procedure is cognitively least demanding to them in a given context. Aside from theory and simulation, associations of behaviors with familiar agents play a crucial role in social understanding. This role has been neglected so far. We illustrate the roles of fluency and associations in social understanding in false belief tasks.
Descriptions Which Have Grown Capital Letters
Authors: Rabern Brian
Published: June 2015

Almost entirely ignored in the linguistic theorising on names and descriptions is a hybrid form of expression which, like definite descriptions, begin with ‘the’ but which, like proper names, are capitalised and seem to lack descriptive content. These are expressions such as the following, ‘the Holy Roman Empire’, ‘the Mississippi River’, or ‘the Space Needle’. Such capitalised descriptions are ubiquitous in natural language, but to which linguistic categories do they belong? Are they simply proper names? Or are they definite descriptions with unique orthography? Or are they something else entirely? This article assesses two obvious assimilation strategies: (i) assimilation to proper names and (ii) assimilation to definite descriptions. It is argued that both of these strategies face major difficulties. The primary goal is to lay the groundwork for a linguistic analysis of capitalised descriptions. Yet, the hope is that clearing the ground on capitalised descriptions may reveal useful insights for the on‐going research into the semantics and syntax of their lower‐case or ‘the’‐less relatives.
Conscious Control over Action
Authors: Shepherd Joshua
Published: June 2015

The extensive involvement of nonconscious processes in human behaviour has led some to suggest that consciousness is much less important for the control of action than we might think. In this article I push against this trend, developing an understanding of conscious control that is sensitive to our best models of overt (that is, bodily) action control. Further, I assess the cogency of various zombie challenges—challenges that seek to demote the importance of conscious control for human agency. I argue that though nonconscious contributions to action control are evidently robust, these challenges are overblown.
Biologic agents in the treatment of glomerulonephritides
Authors: Yeo See Cheng , Liew Adrian
Published: June 2015

Current immunosuppression strategies in the treatment of glomerulonephritides remain unsatisfactory, especially in glomerular diseases that are frequently relapsing or are resistant to treatment. Toxicities associated with the use of drugs with non‐specific targets for the immune response result in treatment non‐compliance, and increase morbidity and mortality in these patients. Advances in our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of glomerulonephritis and the availability of biologics have led to their successful use in the treatment of immune‐mediated glomerular diseases. Biologics are usually very large complex molecules, often produced using recombinantDNAtechnology and manufactured in a living system such as a microorganism, or plant or animal cells. They are novel agents that can target specific immune cell types, cytokines or immune pathways involved in the pathogenesis of these disorders. It is attractive to consider that, given their specific mode of action, these agents can potentially offer a more directed and effective immunosuppression, with side‐effect profiles that are much more desirable. However, there have been few randomized controlled trials comparing biologic agents to conventional immunosuppression, and in many of these studies the side‐effect profiles have been disappointingly similar. In this review, we will examine the rationale, efficacy and safety of some commonly used biologics in the treatment of primary and secondary glomerulonephritides. We will also discuss some of the key challenges that may be encountered with the use of biologics in treating glomerulonephritis in the future.
Association of herbal and dietary supplements with progression and complications of chronic kidney disease: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Tangkiatkumjai Mayuree , Boardman Helen , Praditpornsilpa Kearkiat , Walker Dawn‐Marie
Published: June 2015

Aim

To determine associations between herbal and dietary supplement (HDS) use and the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and associations of HDS with uncontrolled hyperphosphataemia in patients with CKD.

Method

The cohort study recruited 406 Thai outpatients with stage 3–5 CKD from two kidney clinics of which 357 were followed up over 12 months. Patients receiving renal replacement therapy prior to recruitment were excluded. Participants were interviewed regarding their HDS use, dietary intake and conventional medication adherence using a questionnaire. The primary outcome was a composite of a decline of at least 5 mL/min per 1.73 m2 per year of estimated glomerular filtration rate and end stage renal disease. Serum creatinine, serum levels of potassium and phosphate were extracted from their medical notes over the 12 months. χ2 tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to ascertain any associations.

Results

Despite no association between HDS and the progression of CKD over a one‐year period (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66–2.03), two patients had acute kidney injury, which may be related to an unknown Chinese herbal medicine, or river spiderwort combined with diclofenac reported in the medical notes. The use of HDS was associated with uncontrolled hyperphosphataemia (adjusted OR 3.53, 95%CI 1.20–10.43).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that HDS are likely to be related to acute kidney injury rather than the progression of CKD in Thai patients with CKD. The products were associated with uncontrolled hyperphosphataemia. Patients who have CKD and use HDS should be closely monitored regarding their kidney function and electrolytes.
Nested radiations and the pulse of angiosperm diversification: increased diversification rates often follow whole genome duplications
Authors: Tank David C. , Eastman Jonathan M. , Pennell Matthew W. , Soltis Pamela S. , Soltis Douglas E. , Hinchliff Cody E. , Brown Joseph W. , Sessa Emily B. , Harmon Luke J.
Published: June 2015

Our growing understanding of the plant tree of life provides a novel opportunity to uncover the major drivers of angiosperm diversity.

Using a time‐calibrated phylogeny, we characterized hot and cold spots of lineage diversification across the angiosperm tree of life by modeling evolutionary diversification using stepwise AIC (MEDUSA). We also tested the whole‐genome duplication (WGD) radiation lag‐time model, which postulates that increases in diversification tend to lag behind established WGD events.

Diversification rates have been incredibly heterogeneous throughout the evolutionary history of angiosperms and reveal a pattern of ‘nested radiations’ – increases in net diversification nested within other radiations. This pattern in turn generates a negative relationship between clade age and diversity across both families and orders. We suggest that stochastically changing diversification rates across the phylogeny explain these patterns. Finally, we demonstrate significant statistical support for the WGD radiation lag‐time model.

Across angiosperms, nested shifts in diversification led to an overall increasing rate of net diversification and declining relative extinction rates through time. These diversification shifts are only rarely perfectly associated with WGD events, but commonly follow them after a lag period.
Leibniz on Causation – Part 1
Authors: Jorati Julia
Published: June 2015

Leibniz holds that created substances do not causally interact with each other but that there is causal activity within each such creature. Every created substance constantly changes internally, and each of these changes is caused by the substance itself or by its prior states. Leibniz describes this kind of intra‐substance causation both in terms of final causation and in terms of efficient causation. How exactly this works, however, is highly controversial. I will identify what I take to be the major interpretive issues surrounding Leibniz's views on causation and examine several influential interpretations of these views. In ‘Leibniz on Causation – Part 2’ I will then take a closer look at final causation.
High‐grade epithelial‐myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland with mucous cell differentiation
Authors: Sentani Kazuhiro , Ogawa Ikuko , Uraoka Naohiro , Ikeda Masayuki , Hayashi Naoki , Hattori Takuya , Hattori Yui , Oue Naohide , Takata Takashi , Yasui Wataru
Published: June 2015

Epithelial‐myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a rare salivary gland tumor with a low‐grade malignancy, and EMC with high‐grade histopathological features is exceedingly rare. Furthermore, EMC with intracellular mucin is also extremely rare. We report an uncommon case of a high‐grade EMC of the parotid gland with mucous cell differentiation in a 66‐year old Japanese woman who noticed a right palpable parotid mass increasing in size within a one‐year period. The cytological specimen showed a focally biphasic structure and included isolated or discohesive piled‐up clusters with hyaline globules surrounded by neoplastic cells with nuclear atypia. The gross examination revealed a relatively well‐demarcated, multinodular gray‐whitish and solid mass. Histologically, the tumor consisted of variably sized solid nests or trabeculae with central necrosis and increased mitotic activity, and invaded into adjacent skeletal muscles. Immunohistochemically, the biphasic ductal and myoepithelial differentiation of this tumor confirmed the diagnosis of high‐grade EMC. Furthermore, numerous small nests with d‐PAS and alcian blue‐positive mucous cells predominated in about 5% of the whole tumor, and these mucous cells were encompassed by neoplastic myoepithelial cells. We should recognize this variant of EMC because we can't rule out the possibility of EMC even in the presence of mucous cells.
Application development in process firms: adding value to customer products and production systems
Authors: Lager Thomas , Storm Per
Published: June 2015

The process industries span several industrial sectors such as minerals and metals, pulp and paper, food and beverages, chemicals and petrochemicals, utilities and generic pharmaceuticals, and thus constitute a considerable part of all manufacturing industry. Application development, as an institutionalised function in process industry firms, focuses on bridging the gap between a product supplier's knowledge of the product's performance scope and the customer's knowledge of its own production process requirements. In an exploratory survey of major process firms in the Swedish process industries, the importance of application development to firms was judged to be very high, but there also seemed to be a window of opportunity for improvements. The most important driver was ‘an opportunity to establish long‐term sustainable customer relationships and to secure future product sales’. Expected customer outcomes differed substantially between firms. As extremes, one firm expected 80% of application development to give the customers improved products, while the other extreme expected only improved customer process technology. Because most of the firms in the study population had customers on a global market, it is argued that the research findings may be relevant and of value also to the larger worldwide population of interest.
Stretch: how innovation continues once investment is made
Authors: Aylen Jonathan
Published: June 2015

Process industries are characterised by large fixed items of capital equipment. This paper asks how innovation takes place once these plants are built. Stretch is the mechanism by which established plants incorporate improvements in process and product technology, and make higher output and new products as a result. A taxonomy of ‘stretch’ is proposed looking at five interrelated features: improved intensity of hardware use through experience and better maintenance; system‐wide effects of improvements in feedstock and downstream processing; ‘bolt‐on goodies’ and physical reconstruction of existing plants; and quality enhancement and new products. Intensity of use encompasses familiar learning effects, but also enhanced maintenance. Evidence for stretch is given for wide strip mills built under Marshall Aid, but the concept has wider application across process industries, manufacturing, transport and services. From a theoretical point of view, stretch is the expression of evolutionary problem solving. The practical implication is that research and development management should encourage cross‐functional collaboration. Creative and unorthodox personnel need to work in routine areas such as maintenance. Results‐orientated production managers need to accept risky interventions in production schedules to allow continuing innovation.
Strategies for knowledge use in R&D and their implications for innovative performance
Authors: Peeters Thijs , Martin Xavier
Published: June 2015

We argue that research on R&D strategy and on the use of external knowledge in R&D in particular should differentiate between distinct uses of external knowledge. We distinguish between uses of external knowledge for replication (using knowledge as is) vs. for compounding (building on acquired knowledge by combining it together with internally developed knowledge). We theorize about the respective innovative performance implications of these two strategies and compare them with a self‐reliant strategy of internal R&D. We also elaborate contingencies for each strategy, pertaining to firm capabilities and cooperation. We test our predictions using a large sample survey of Dutch innovators in multiple industries. Our findings indicate that compounding firms perform better than replicating firms when the share of sales that consists of innovations that are new to the market is assessed, but they do not outperform firms with an internal R&D strategy. Furthermore, these differences disappear when the share of sales consisting of less novel innovations is studied. This research demonstrates the importance of distinguishing between R&D strategies that replicate vs. compound external knowledge.
The Hard Problem & Its Explanatory Targets
Authors: Majeed Raamy
Published: June 2015

Two decades in, whether we are making any progress towards solving, or even explaining away, what David Chalmers calls (1995) the ‘hard’ problem of consciousness is as controversial as ever. This paper aims to argue that there are, in actual fact, two explanatory targets associated with the hard problem. Moreover, this in turn has repercussions for how we assess the explanatory merits of any proposed solution to the problem. The paper ends with a brief exposition of how the present distinction goes beyond similar ones already made by respondents toJosephLevine's (1983) explanatory gap.
Divining the Buddha's Arrival
Authors: Sasson Vanessa
Published: June 2015

The Buddha's hagiography is replete with references to divination. This is particularly the case in the earlier part of his hagiography, before he achieves awakening. This paper will consider some of the episodes in his story that assume divination practices and will argue that his hagiography cannot be fully appreciated without them. Moreover, this paper will argue that divination, in his hagiography, was fully expected to work.
Meta‐Analysis Methods to Estimate the Shape and Uncertainty in the Association Between Long‐Term Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Cause‐Specific Mortality Over the Global Concentration Range
Authors: Shin Hwashin Hyun , Cohen Aaron J. , Pope C. Arden , Ezzati Majid , Lim Stephen S. , Hubbell Bryan J. , Burnett Richard T.
Published: June 2015

Estimates of excess mortality associated with exposure to ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter have been obtained from either a single cohort study or pooling information from a small number of studies. However, standard frequentist methods of pooling are known to underestimate statistical uncertainty in the true risk distribution when the number of studies pooled is small. Alternatively, Bayesian pooling methods using noninformative priors yield unrealistically large amounts of uncertainty in this case. We present a new hybrid frequentist‐bayesian framework for meta‐analysis that incorporates features of both frequentist and Bayesian approaches, yielding estimated uncertainty distributions that are more useful for burden estimation. We also present an example of mortality risk due to long‐term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter obtained from a small number of cohort studies conducted in the United States and Europe. We compare our new risk uncertainty distribution to that obtained by the integrated exposure‐response (IER) model used in the Global Burden of Disease 2010 project for which risk was modeled over the entire global concentration range. We suggest a method to incorporate our new risk uncertainty distribution based on the relatively low concentrations observed in the United States and western Europe into the IER model, thus extending risk estimation to the global concentration range.
Patient reported outcomes of the ­clinical use of a proprietary topical dry mouth product
Authors: Epstein Joel B. , Villines Dana C. , Sroussi Herve Y.
Published: June 2015

Purpose

To present patient reported changes in oral symptoms in response to an open‐label product trial conducted in patients self‐identifying as having Sjögren's syndrome.

Methods

A survey was conducted in conjunction with the Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation and 151 foundation members completed a survey rating their common oral symptoms, based upon the Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey before and after use of the trial products, including rinse, ­lozenges, gel, and spray.

Results

Subjects reported multiple oral symptoms with the highest rated symptoms involving dry mouth with 80% of symptoms showing statistically significant reduction from pre‐ to posttest. The largest symptom reductions were in dry mouth symptoms and dietary problems.

Conclusions

Symptoms of dry mouth were improved with use of MedActive® products. Increased ease of taking oral medications also was reported. Improvement in mouth/throat pain was noted. Subjects reported considerable effect of the test product upon dry mouth and oral symptoms.
Correction for faking in self‐report personality tests
Authors: Sjöberg Lennart
Published: June 2015

Faking is a common problem in testing with self‐report personality tests, especially in high‐stakes situations. A possible way to correct for it is statistical control on the basis of social desirability scales. Two such scales were developed and applied in the present paper. It was stressed that the statistical models of faking need to be adapted to different properties of the personality scales, since such scales correlate with faking to different extents. In four empirical studies of self‐report personality tests, correction for faking was investigated. One of the studies was experimental, and asked participants to fake or to be honest. In the other studies, job or school applicants were investigated. It was found that the approach to correct for effects of faking in self‐report personality tests advocated in the paper removed a large share of the effects, about 90%. It was found in one study that faking varied as a function of degree of how important the consequences of test results could be expected to be, more high‐stakes situations being associated with more faking. The latter finding is incompatible with the claim that social desirability scales measure a general personality trait. It is concluded that faking can be measured and that correction for faking, based on such measures, can be expected to remove about 90% of its effects.
Inability to perform because of pain/injury in elite adult Irish dance: A prospective investigation of contributing factors
Authors: Cahalan R. , O'Sullivan P. , Purtill H. , Bargary N. , Ni Bhriain O. , O'Sullivan K.
Published: June 2015

Previous research in Irish dancing (ID) has recorded high levels of pain/injury. Screening protocols in other genres have been developed to identify at‐risk dancers. The aims of the study were to examine the factors that relate to absence from dancing because of musculo‐skeletal pain/injury in ID, and to inform guidelines for the development of an evidence‐based screening protocol. Baseline subjective data (n = 85) and physical data (n = 84) were gathered. Subjects completed a monthly online questionnaire for 1 year providing data on general physical and psychological health and rates of pain/injury. Subjects were allocated to a “More Time Absent (MTA)” or “Less Time Absent (LTA)” category depending on their duration of absence from performance over the year. Eighty‐four subjects completed the year‐long follow‐up (MTA: n = 32; LTA: n = 52). Two hundred seventy‐eight complaints of pain/injury were recorded. Factors significantly associated with membership of the MTA group included greater anger‐hostility (P = 0.003), more subjective health complaints (P = 0.026), more severe previous pain/injury (P = 0.017), more general everyday pain (P = 0.020), more body parts affected by pain/injury (P = 0.028), always/often dancing in pain (P = 0.028), and insufficient sleep (P = 0.043). Several biopsychosocial factors appear to be associated with absence from ID because of pain/injury. Biopsychosocial screening protocols and prevention strategies may best identify at‐risk dancers.
A multistate framework for the analysis of subsequent injury in sport (M‐FASIS)
Authors: Shrier I. , Steele R. J. , Zhao M. , Naimi A. , Verhagen E. , Stovitz S. D. , Rauh M. J. , Hewett T. E.
Published: June 2015

Physical activity is beneficial for many aspects of health but is associated with a risk of injury. Studies that assess causal risk factors of injury and reinjury provide valuable information to help develop and improve injury prevention programs. However, the underlying assumptions of analytical approaches often used to estimate causal factors in injury and subsequent injury research are often violated. This means that ineffective or even harmful interventions could be proposed because the underlying analyses produced unreliable or invalid causal effect estimates. We describe an adapted version of the multistate framework [multistate framework for the analysis of subsequent injury in sport (M‐FASIS)] that makes investigator choices more transparent with respect to outcome and healing time. In addition, M‐FASIS incorporates all previous sport injury analytical frameworks and accounts for injuries or conditions that heal or do not heal to 100%, acute and overuse injuries, illnesses, and competing event outcomes.
CARMO: a comprehensive annotation platform for functional exploration of rice multi‐omics data
Authors: Wang Jiawei , Qi Meifang , Liu Jian , Zhang Yijing
Published: June 2015

High‐throughput technology is gradually becoming a powerful tool for routine research in rice. Interpretation of biological significance from the huge amount of data is a critical but non‐trivial task, especially for rice, for which gene annotations rely heavily on sequence similarity rather than direct experimental evidence. Here we describe the annotation platform for comprehensive annotation of rice multi‐omics data (CARMO), which provides multiple web‐based analysis tools for in‐depth data mining and visualization. The central idea involves systematic integration of 1819 samples from omics studies and diverse sources of functional evidence (15 401 terms), which are further organized into gene sets and higher‐level gene modules. In this way, the high‐throughput data may easily be compared across studies and platforms, and integration of multiple types of evidence allows biological interpretation from the level of gene functional modules with high confidence. In addition, the functions and pathways for thousands of genes lacking description or validation may be deduced based on concerted expression of genes within the constructed co‐expression networks or gene modules. Overall, CARMO provides comprehensive annotations for transcriptomic datasets, epi‐genomic modification sites, single nucleotide polymorphisms identified from genome re‐sequencing, and the large gene lists derived from these omics studies. Well‐organized results, as well as multiple tools for interactive visualization, are available through a user‐friendly web interface. Finally, we illustrate how CARMO enables biological insights using four examples, demonstrating that CARMO is a highly useful resource for intensive data mining and hypothesis generation based on rice multi‐omics data. CARMO is freely available online (http://bioinfo.sibs.ac.cn/carmo).
An evolutionarily conserved gene, FUWA, plays a role in determining panicle architecture, grain shape and grain weight in rice
Authors: Chen Jun , Gao He , Zheng Xiao‐Ming , Jin Mingna , Weng Jian‐Feng , Ma Jin , Ren Yulong , Zhou Kunneng , Wang Qi , Wang Jie , Wang Jiu‐Lin , Zhang Xin , Cheng Zhijun , Wu Chuanyin , Wang Haiyang , Wan Jian‐Min
Published: June 2015

Plant breeding relies on creation of novel allelic combinations for desired traits. Identification and utilization of beneficial alleles, rare alleles and evolutionarily conserved genes in the germplasm (referred to as ‘hidden’ genes) provide an effective approach to achieve this goal. Here we show that a chemically induced null mutation in an evolutionarily conserved gene, FUWA, alters multiple important agronomic traits in rice, including panicle architecture, grain shape and grain weight. FUWA encodes an NHL domain‐containing protein, with preferential expression in the root meristem, shoot apical meristem and inflorescences, where it restricts excessive cell division. Sequence analysis revealed that FUWA has undergone a bottleneck effect, and become fixed in landraces and modern cultivars during domestication and breeding. We further confirm a highly conserved role of FUWA homologs in determining panicle architecture and grain development in rice, maize and sorghum through genetic transformation. Strikingly, knockdown of the FUWA transcription level by RNA interference results in an erect panicle and increased grain size in both indica and japonica genetic backgrounds. This study illustrates an approach to create new germplasm with improved agronomic traits for crop breeding by tapping into evolutionary conserved genes.
Biomarkers for differentiation of causes of respiratory distress in dogs and cats: Part 2 – Lower airway, thromboembolic, and inflammatory diseases
Authors: Smith Katherine F. , Quinn Rebecca L. , Rahilly Louisa J.
Published: June 2015

Objectives

To review the current veterinary and relevant human literature regarding biomarkers of respiratory diseases leading to dyspnea and to summarize the availability, feasibility, and practicality of using respiratory biomarkers in the veterinary setting.

Data Sources

Veterinary and human medical literature: original research articles, scientific reviews, consensus statements, and recent textbooks.

Human Data Synthesis

Numerous biomarkers have been evaluated in people for discriminating respiratory disease processes with varying degrees of success.

Veterinary Data Synthesis

Although biomarkers should not dictate clinical decisions in lieu of gold standard diagnostics, their use may be useful in directing care in the stabilization process. Serum immunoglobulins have shown promise as an indicator of asthma in cats. A group of biomarkers has also been evaluated in exhaled breath. Of these, hydrogen peroxide has shown the most potential as a marker of inflammation in asthma and potentially aspiration pneumonia, but methods for measurement are not standardized. D‐dimers may be useful in screening for thromboembolic disease in dogs. There are a variety of markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, which are being evaluated for their ability to assess the severity and type of underlying disease process. Of these, amino terminal pro‐C‐type natriuretic peptide may be the most useful in determining if antibiotic therapy is warranted. Although critically evaluated for their use in respiratory disorders, many of the biomarkers which have been evaluated have been found to be affected by more than one type of respiratory or systemic disease.

Conclusion

At this time, there are point‐of‐care biomarkers that have been shown to reliably differentiate between causes of dyspnea in dogs and cats. Future clinical research is warranted to understand of how various diseases affect the biomarkers and more bedside tests for their utilization.