bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical frailty and functional trajectories in hospitalized older adults: A retrospective observational study
Authors: Hartley Peter , Adamson Jennifer , Cunningham Carol , Embleton Georgina , Romero‐Ortuno Roman
Published: July 2016

Aim

Frailty predicts inpatient mortality and length of stay, but its link to functional trajectories is under‐researched. Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK, collects the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) within 72 h of admission for those aged ≥75 years. We studied whether the CFS links to functional trajectories in hospitalized older adults.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study in an English university hospital. We analyzed all first episodes of county residents aged ≥75 years admitted to the Department of Medicine for the Elderly wards between December 2014 and May 2015. Data were extracted from the hospital's information systems. Patients were classified as non‐frail (CFS 1–4), moderately frail (CFS 5–6) and severely frail (CFS 7–8). Function was retrospectively measured with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at preadmission, admission and discharge.

Results

Of 539 eligible patients, 46 died during admission (mortality rates: 2% in CFS 1–4, 5% in CFS 5–6, 19% in CFS 7–8). Among the 493 survivors, 121 were non‐frail, 235 moderately and 137 severely frail. The mean mRS of the non‐frail was 1.8 (95% CI 1.7–2.0) at baseline, 3.3 (95% CI 3.1–3.5) on admission and 2.2 (95% CI 2.0–2.3) on discharge (mean length of stay 9 days). The moderately frail had a mean mRS of 2.9 (95% CI 2.8–3.0) at baseline, 4.0 (95% CI 3.8–4.1) on admission and 3.2 (95% CI 3.1–3.3) on discharge (mean length of stay 15 days). The severely frail had mean mRS of 3.5 (95% CI 3.3–3.6) at baseline, 4.3 (95% CI 4.1–4.4) on admission and 3.7 (95% CI 3.6–3.9) on discharge, respectively (mean length of stay 17 days).

Conclusions

In older inpatients, frailty might be linked to lower and slower functional recovery. Prospective work is required to confirm these trajectories and understand how to influence them. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1063–1068.
Detection of new pathogenic mutations in patients with congenital haemolytic anaemia using next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Del Orbe Barreto R. , Arrizabalaga B. , De la Hoz A. B. , García‐Orad Á. , Tejada M. I. , Garcia‐Ruiz J. C. , Fidalgo T. , Bento C. , Manco L. , Ribeiro M. L.
Published: July 2016

Introduction

Congenital haemolytic anaemia (CHA) refers to a group of genetically heterogeneous disorders, mainly caused by changes in genes encoding globin chains, cytoskeletal proteins and red cell enzymes, in which accurate diagnosis can be challenging with conventional techniques.

Methods

To set‐up a comprehensive assay for detecting mutations that could improve aetiological diagnosis, we designed a custom panel for sequencing coding regions from 40 genes known to be involved in the pathogenesis of CHA, using the Ion Torrent™ (Thermo Fisher Scientific, S.L. Waltham, MA, USA) Personal Genome Machine (PGM) Sequencer. A control group of 16 samples with previously known mutations and a test group of 10 patients with unknown mutations were included for assay validation and application, respectively.

Results

In the test group, we identified pathogenic mutations in all cases: four patients had novel mutations in genes related to membrane defects (SPTB, ANK1, SLC4A1 and EPB41), four were homozygous or compound heterozygous for mutations in genes related to enzyme deficiencies (GPI, TPI1 and GSS), one had a mutation in the HBB gene and another presented a homozygous mutation in the ADAMTS13 gene.

Conclusions

Ion PGM sequencing with our custom panel is a highly efficient way to detect mutations causing haemolytic anaemia, including new variations. It is a high‐throughput detection method that is ready for application in clinical laboratories.
Corporate Social Responsibility in Developing Countries as an Emerging Field of Study
Authors: Jamali Dima , Karam Charlotte
Published: July 2016

Given the rising interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) globally, its local expressions are as varied as they are increasingly visible in both developed and developing countries. This paper presents a multilevel review of the literature on CSR in developing countries and highlights the key differentiators and nuanced CSR‐related considerations that qualify it as a distinctive field of study. This review entails a content analysis of 452 articles spanning two‐and‐a‐half decades (1990–2015). Based on this comprehensive review, the authors identify the key differentiating attributes of the literature on CSR in developing countries in relation to depictions of how CSR is conceived or ‘CSR Thinking’ and depictions of how CSR is practiced and implemented or ‘CSR Doing’. The authors synthesize from there five key themes that capture the main aspects of variation in this literature, namely: (1) complex institutional antecedents within the national business system (NBS); (2) complex macro‐level antecedents outside the NBS; (3) the salience of multiple actors involved in formal and informal governance; (4) hybridized and other nuanced forms of CSR expressions; and (5) varied scope of developmental and detrimental CSR consequences. The paper concludes by accentuating how the nuanced forms of CSR in the developing world are invariably contextualized and locally shaped by multi‐level factors and actors embedded within wider formal and informal governance systems.
Cultural agility and international assignees’ effectiveness in cross‐cultural interactions
Authors: Caligiuri Paula , Tarique Ibraiz
Published: July 2016

While many mutable competencies and immutable personality traits have been shown to have a direct positive relationship with international assignee success, this study examines whether a set of situation‐specific cross‐cultural competencies comprising cultural agility are also related to international assignee success. This study examines whether the combination of three situation‐specific responses to cultural differences (cultural adaptation, cultural minimization and cultural integration) explain any additional variance in supervisor's ratings of international assignee success above and beyond personality and cross‐cultural competencies. To test this hypothesis, supervisor‐rated of assignees’ effectiveness in working with host nationals was regressed on the number of international assignees’ cultural orientations. Controlling for personality and dynamic competencies, the overall model was significant explaining 17 per cent of the total variance. This study provides some preliminary evidence on the importance of expatriates’ possessing the ability to possess concurrent cultural orientations. The HR practices to foster cultural agility are discussed.
Presidentas Rise: Consequences for Women in Cabinets?
Authors: Reyes-Housholder Catherine
Published: July 2016

Since 1999, women have democratically won the presidency eight times in Latin America and have named hundreds of ministers. This study argues that under certain conditions,presidentasare more likely than male presidents to improve women's cabinet representation. Two mechanisms,presidentamandates and gendered networks, appear to drive the relationship. Furthermore, because the pool of ministerial candidates is shallower for women than for men,presidentasare most likely to advance women's representation in cabinets at the beginning of their term and for “feminine” ministries. A case study of Michelle Bachelet's 2006 ministerial appointments reveals initial evidence for the argument. Empirical implications are then tested with an original dataset of 1,908 ministers of all democratically elected Latin American presidents since 1999. Model results are consistent with the theory thatpresidentasare most likely to “make a difference” when they are least constrained by the supply of female ministerial candidates.
Characterization of virulence, cell surface characteristics and biofilm‐forming ability of Aeromonas spp. isolates from fish and sea water
Authors: Chenia H Y , Duma S
Published: July 2016

Members of the genus Aeromonas are emerging human pathogens, causing a variety of extra‐intestinal, systemic and gastrointestinal infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons. Aeromonas virulence is multifaceted and involves surface‐associated molecules, motility, biologically active extracellular products and biofilm formation. Aeromonads, isolated from diverse freshwater fish species as well as sea water, were screened for biofilm formation, with varying physicochemical parameters including temperature, agitation and nutrient availability. Motility, cell surface characteristics (auto‐aggregation, hydrophobicity and S layer), and extracellular virulence factor production (haemolysis, proteolysis, DNase production) were also assessed to identify potential associations with the biofilm phenotype. Biofilm formation was influenced by environmental conditions, with isolates preferentially forming biofilms in nutrient‐rich media at 30 °C, although strong biofilm formation also occurred at 37 °C. Strong biofilm formation was observed for Aeromonas culicicola isolates following exposure to nutrient‐rich conditions, while Aeromonas allosaccharophila isolates preferred nutrient‐poor conditions for biofilm formation. Source‐/species‐specific correlations, ranging from weak to strong, were observed between biofilm formation and motility, cell surface characteristics and/or extracellular virulence factor production. Understanding the specific mechanisms by which Aeromonas species adhere to abiotic surfaces may aid in preventing and/or treating disease outbreaks in aquaculture systems and could lead to effective eradication of these fish pathogens.
Stock Market Response to the Financial Regulations in the Mortgage‐Lending Market in Korea
Authors: Jung Woon‐Oh , Park Sung Ook
Published: July 2016

This study investigates the economic impact of the financial regulations that aimed to control the housing market in Korea during the reign of late President Ro's Administration, which had diligently fought against the then speculative bubble in the Korean real‐estate market. We test for the validity of the general prediction that the financial regulations in the form of the loan‐to‐value (LTV) and debt‐to‐income (DTI) restrictions would have adverse impacts on the value of the firms operating in the mortgage‐lending industry. In this event study, we select two critical days as event dates and check whether the stock prices of the financial firms react negatively to the announcements of the regulations. Overall, the initial imposition of the DTI restrictions (i.e., the first event) adversely affects those banks that possess a relatively large number of mortgage loans in their asset portfolio. By contrast, banks that hold a small number of mortgage loans appear to benefit from the risk‐reducing effect of the DTI regulation. Subsequently, the reinforcement of the LTV and DTI rules (i.e., the second event) has negative impacts on the banks with large mortgage loans. The degree of this adverse effect is greater in the second event than in the first event (i.e., the DTI restrictions). The reinforced regulations also unfavorably affect the savings banks with large mortgage loans but to a lesser degree compared with their counterparts in the banks. Meanwhile, the reinforcement of the financial regulations has negligible impacts on the banks and the savings banks with smaller mortgage loans.
Is oral cancer incidence among patients with oral lichen planus/oral lichenoid lesions underestimated?
Authors: Gonzalez‐Moles M. A. , Gil‐Montoya J. A. , Ruiz‐Avila I. , Bravo M.
Published: July 2016

Background

Oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid lesions (OLL) are considered potentially malignant disorders with a cancer incidence of around 1% of cases, although this estimation is controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze the cancer incidence in a case series of patients with OLP and OLL and to explore clinicopathological aspects that may cause underestimation of the cancer incidence in these diseases.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted of 102 patients diagnosed with OLP (n = 21, 20.58%) or OLL (n = 81) between January 2006 and January 2016. Patients were informed of the risk of malignization and followed up annually. The number of sessions programmed for each patient was compared with the number actually attended. Follow‐up was classified as complete (100% attendance), good (75–99%), moderate (25–74%), or poor (<25% attendance) compliance.

Results

Cancer was developed by four patients (3.9%), three males and one male. One of these developed three carcinomas, which were diagnosed at the follow‐up visit (two in lower gingiva, one in floor of mouth); one had OLL and the other three had OLP. The carcinoma developed in mucosal areas with no OLP or OLL involvement in three of these patients, while OLP and cancer were diagnosed simultaneously in the fourth. Of the six carcinomas diagnosed, five (83.3%) were T1 and one (16.7%) T2. None were N+, and all patients remain alive and disease‐free.

Conclusions

The cancer incidence in OLP and OLL appears to be underestimated due to the strict exclusion criteria usually imposed.
A randomised, open‐label, crossover study of the dopamine agonist, pramipexole, in patients with sleep bruxism
Authors: Cahlin Birgitta Johansson , Hedner Jan , Dahlström Lars
Published: July 2016

Sleep bruxism bears several similarities to restless legs syndrome, and a link to changes in central dopamine activity has been considered in both conditions. The dopamine agonist pramipexole is currently indicated for the symptomatic treatment of restless legs. The effect of pramipexole on sleep bruxism was investigated in subjects with ‘probable bruxism’ recruited at the Orofacial Pain Clinic. Thirteen patients underwent polysomnographic recordings, including bilateral masseter electromyographic activity. Following habituation to the recording equipment, a baseline registration was used to confirm bruxism [total episodes per hour, mean 11.3 (6.3)]. Following randomisation, subjects received no treatment or pramipexole titrated from 0.09 to 0.54 mg, o.d., for 3 weeks according to a crossover procedure. A polysomnographic‐electromyographic registration was performed at the end of each period. Pramipexole was associated with more frequent awakenings and a reduction in rapid eye movement sleep (both P ≤ 0.02). Sleep apnea decreased marginally after pramipexole (apnea–hypopnea index 17.1 compared with control 21.5, P ≤ 0.05). The number of bruxism episodes, phasic, tonic and mixed per hour, remained unchanged after pramipexole [total episodes per hour 12.7 (8.5) and 9.8 (5.2) during pramipexole and control conditions, respectively]. It is concluded, from this pilot study, that sleep bruxism is not affected by the dopaminergic agent, pramipexole.
Serum N‐Terminal Type III Procollagen Propeptide: An Indicator of Growth Hormone Excess and Response to Treatment in Feline Hypersomatotropism
Authors: Keyte S.V. , Kenny P.J. , Forcada Y. , Church D.B. , Niessen S.J.M.
Published: July 2016

Background

N‐terminal type III procollagen propeptide (PIIINP) is a biomarker of soft tissue proliferation. Hypersomatotropism (HS) is associated with soft tissue proliferation.

Hypothesis

Serum PIIINP is increased in cats with HS and decreases with effective treatment, and may be an additional tool in the diagnosis and treatment of feline HS.

Animals

Cats with uncomplicated diabetes mellitus (DM; n = 30) and with HS‐induced DM (HSDM; n = 30). Pre‐ and posttreatment samples were available from 5 cats undergoing radiotherapy (RT) and 16 cats undergoing hypophysectomy (HPX).

Methods

Retrospective and prospective cross‐sectional study. Analytical performance of a serum PIIINP ELISA was assessed and validated for use in cats. PIIINP and insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) radioimmunoassays (RIA) were performed pre‐ and post‐treatment in cats with DM and HSDM. PIIINP and IGF‐1 were compared between cats treated by RT and HPX.

Results

Serum PIIINP concentrations were significantly higher (P < .001) in HSDM cats (median, 19.6 ng/mL; range, 1.7–27.9) compared to DM cats (median, 5.0 ng/mL; range, 2.1–10.4). A cut‐off of 10.5 ng/mL allowed differentiation between DM and HSDM cats with 87% sensitivity and 100% specificity (area under the curve [AUC], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82‐1). After RT, PIIINP increased significantly (P = .043) with no significant change in IGF‐1 concentrations. After HPX, serum PIIINP (P = .034) and IGF‐1 concentrations (P < .001) decreased significantly.

Conclusion and clinical importance

PIIINP concentrations are increased in cats with untreated HSDM compared to those with DM, demonstrating the effect of excess GH on soft tissue. PIIINP concentrations decreased after HPX in most HSDM cats.
The National Minimum Wage and the Substitutability Between Young and Old Workers in Low Paid Occupations
Authors: Lanot Gauthier , Sousounis Panos
Published: July 2016

We study the effect of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) on the workforce age composition within the low paying sectors of the British economy. Our interest is in the degree of substitutability between labour inputs (young and old employees). We find evidence that both the introduction and the regular upratings of the NMW have a significant effect on the observed changes to the relative wages and to the relative wage bills but not to relative employment. We estimate the elasticity of substitution, between ‘young’ age groups and older workers (55+) to be zero, while that of ‘prime’ (22+) age and older workers, to be around 0.79. Our estimates therefore imply significant complementarity between younger and old employees.
Cell cycle regulation and novel structural features of thymidine kinase, an essential enzyme in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Valente Maria , Timm Jennifer , Castillo‐Acosta Víctor M. , Ruiz‐Pérez Luis M. , Balzarini Tom , Nettleship Joanne E. , Bird Louise E. , Rada Heather , Wilson Keith S. , González‐Pacanowska Dolores
Published: July 2016

Thymidine kinase (TK) is a key enzyme in the pyrimidine salvage pathway which catalyzes the transfer of the γ‐phosphate of ATP to 2′‐deoxythymidine (dThd) forming thymidine monophosphate (dTMP). Unlike other type II TKs, the Trypanosoma brucei enzyme (TbTK) is a tandem protein with two TK homolog domains of which only the C‐terminal one is active. In this study, we establish that TbTK is essential for parasite viability and cell cycle progression, independently of extracellular pyrimidine concentrations. We show that expression of TbTK is cell cycle regulated and that depletion of TbTK leads to strongly diminished dTTP pools and DNA damage indicating intracellular dThd to be an essential intermediate metabolite for the synthesis of thymine‐derived nucleotides. In addition, we report the X‐ray structure of the catalytically active domain of TbTK in complex with dThd and dTMP at resolutions up to 2.2 Å. In spite of the high conservation of the active site residues, the structures reveal a widened active site cavity near the nucleobase moiety compared to the human enzyme. Our findings strongly support TbTK as a crucial enzyme in dTTP homeostasis and identify structural differences within the active site that could be exploited in the process of rational drug design.
A study with pharyngeal and esophageal 24‐hour pH–impedance monitoring in patients with laryngopharyngeal symptoms refractory to proton pump inhibitors
Authors: Dulery C. , Lechot A. , Roman S. , Bastier P.‐L. , Stoll D. , de Gabory L. , Zerbib F.
Published: July 2016

Background

The role of gastroesophageal reflux in chronic laryngeal symptoms is difficult to establish. The aim of this study was to characterize pharyngeal and esophageal pH–impedance reflux patterns in a group of patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux and to determine predictive factors of response to proton pump inhibitors.

Methods

Patients with chronic pharyngolaryngeal symptoms were evaluated with a symptom score questionnaire, laryngoscopy, and 24‐hour pharyngeal and esophageal pH–impedance monitoring at baseline and after 8‐week treatment with esomeprazole 40 mg b.i.d. Response to treatment was defined by a diminution of more than 50% of the score for the primary symptom. Reflux patterns and baseline impedance values were compared to those obtained in 46 healthy subjects.

Key Results

Twenty‐four patients were included (17 women, median age 54 years), all previously refractory to antisecretory therapy. Symptom scores were 46 (32–62) and 40 (27–76) off and on therapy, respectively (P=.1). There was no significant difference between patients and controls for pH–impedance reflux parameters and baseline values off and on therapy in distal and proximal esophagus and in the pharynx. Median numbers of pharyngeal reflux were 0 and 0 off and on therapy, respectively. Only two patients were responders to treatment, both with excessive distal reflux but no pharyngeal reflux. Only one patient had abnormal pharyngeal reflux but did not respond to proton pump inhibitors.

Conclusions

Patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux refractory to therapy do not exhibit abnormal pharyngeal or esophageal pH–impedance reflux. In these patients, laryngopharyngeal reflux is unlikely.
Molecular genetics and evolution of disease resistance in cereals
Authors: Krattinger Simon G. , Keller Beat
Published: July 2016

Cereal crops produce a large part of the globally consumed food and feed. Because of the constant presence of devastating pathogens, the molecular characterization of disease resistance is a major research area and highly relevant for breeding. There has been recent and accelerating progress in the understanding of three distinct resistance mechanisms in cereals: resistance conferred by plasma membrane‐localized receptor proteins; race‐specific resistance conferred by intracellular immune receptors; and quantitative disease resistance. Intracellular immune receptors provide a particularly rich source for evolutionary studies, and have, for example, resulted in the recent discovery of a novel detection mechanism based on integrated decoy domains. Evolutionary studies have also revealed the origins of active resistance genes in both wild progenitors of today's cereals as well as in cultivated forms. In addition, independent evolution of orthologous genes in related cereals has resulted in resistance to different pathogen species. Quantitative resistance genes have been best characterized in wheat. The quantitative resistance genes identified so far in wheat encode transporter proteins or unusual kinase proteins. The recent discoveries in these three different resistance mechanisms have contributed to the basic molecular understanding of cereal immunity against pathogens and have suggested novel applications for resistance breeding.

Contents

Summary
320

I.
Introduction
320

II.
Immunity in plants
321

III.
Receptors in the plant plasma membrane – the importance of monitoring the extracellular space
321

IV.
Inside the cell – the role of intracellular immune receptors in cereals
322

V.
NLR evolution in Triticeae
324

VI.
Quantitative disease resistance – why plasma membrane‐localized receptors and NLRs are not sufficient to explain disease resistance in cereals
328

VII.
Conclusions: evolutionary studies of cereal resistance genes contribute to both basic research and breeding
329

Acknowledgements
330

References
330
Seasonal forecasting and health impact models: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Ballester Joan , Lowe Rachel , Diggle Peter J. , Rodó Xavier
Published: July 2016

After several decades of intensive research, steady improvements in understanding and modeling the climate system have led to the development of the first generation of operational health early warning systems in the era of climate services. These schemes are based on collaborations across scientific disciplines, bringing together real‐time climate and health data collection, state‐of‐the‐art seasonal climate predictions, epidemiological impact models based on historical data, and an understanding of end user and stakeholder needs. In this review, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of this complex, multidisciplinary collaboration, with a focus on the factors limiting seasonal forecasting as a source of predictability for climate impact models.
Resting blood pressure differentially predicts time course in a tonic pain experiment
Authors: Horing Bjoern , McCubbin James A. , Moore Dewayne , Muth Eric R.
Published: July 2016

Resting blood pressure (BP) shows a negative relationship with pain sensitivity (BP‐related hypoalgesia). In chronic pain conditions, this relationship is inverted. The precise mechanisms responsible for the inversion are unknown. Using a tonic pain protocol, we report findings closely resembling this inversion in healthy participants. Resting BP and state measures of anxiety and mood were assessed from 33 participants (21 female). Participants then immersed their dominant hand in painfully hot water (47 °C) for five trials of 1‐min duration, with 30‐s intertrial intervals. Throughout the trials, participants continually registered their pain. After a 35‐min intermission, the trial sequence was repeated. A disassociation of the negative relationship of resting systolic BP (as per Trial 1) was found using hierarchical linear modeling (p < .001, R2 = .07). The disassociation unfolds over each consecutive trial, with an increasingly positive relationship. In Sequence 2, the initially negative relationship is almost completely absent. Furthermore, the association of BP and pain was found to be moderated by anxiety, such that only persons with low anxiety exhibited BP hypoalgesia. Our findings expand the existing literature by incorporating anxiety as a moderator of BP hypoalgesia. Furthermore, the protocol emulates the changing relationship between BP and pain observed in chronic pain patients. The protocol has potential as a model for chronic pain; however, future research should determine if similar physiological systems are involved. The finding holds potential diagnostic or prognostic relevance for certain clinical pain conditions, especially those involving dysfunction of the descending modulation of pain.
A Comparison of Intergenerational Mobility Curves in Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the US
Authors: Bratberg Espen , Davis Jonathan , Mazumder Bhashkar , Nybom Martin , Schnitzlein Daniel D. , Vaage Kjell
Published: July 2016

We examine intergenerational mobility differences between Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the US. Using ranks, we find that the US is substantially less intergenerationally mobile than the three European countries and that the most mobile region of the US is less mobile than the least mobile regions of Norway and Sweden. Using a linear estimator of income share mobility, we find that the four countries have very similar rates of intergenerational mobility. However, when we use non‐parametric versions of rank and income share mobility, we find that the US tends to experience lower upward mobility at the bottom of the income distribution than Norway and Sweden.
Actual and predicted prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy in the WHO African Region
Authors: Popova Svetlana , Lange Shannon , Probst Charlotte , Shield Kevin , Kraicer‐Melamed Hannah , Ferreira‐Borges Carina , Rehm Jürgen
Published: July 2016

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of alcohol consumption and binge drinking during pregnancy among the general population in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region, by country.

Methods

First, a comprehensive systematic literature search was performed to identify all published and unpublished studies. Then, several meta‐analyses, assuming a random‐effects model, were conducted to estimate the prevalence of alcohol consumption and binge drinking during pregnancy among the general population for countries in the WHO African Region with two or more studies available. Lastly, for countries with less than two studies or no known data predictions were obtained using regression modelling.

Results

The estimated prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy among the general population ranged from 2.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6–2.8%; Equatorial Guinea) to 12.6% (95% CI: 9.9–15.4%; Cameroon) in Central Africa, 3.4% (95% CI: 2.6–4.3%; Seychelles) to 20.5% (95% CI: 16.4–24.7%; Uganda) in Eastern Africa, 5.7% (95% CI: 4.4–7.1%; Botswana) to 14.2% (95% CI: 11.1–17.3%; Namibia) in Southern Africa, 6.6% (95% CI: 5.0–8.3%; Mauritania) to 14.8% (95% CI: 11.6–17.9%; Sierra Leone) in Western Africa, and 4.3% (95% CI: 3.2–5.3%; Algeria) in Northern Africa.

Conclusions

The high prevalence of alcohol consumption and binge drinking during pregnancy in some African countries calls for educational campaigns, screening and targeted interventions for women of childbearing age.
Retrograde signalling caused by heritable mitochondrial dysfunction is partially mediated by ANAC017 and improves plant performance
Authors: Van Aken Olivier , Ford Ethan , Lister Ryan , Huang Shaobai , Millar A.Harvey
Published: July 2016

Mitochondria are crucial for plant viability and are able to communicate information on their functional status to the cellular nucleus via retrograde signalling, thereby affecting gene expression. It is currently unclear if retrograde signalling in response to constitutive mitochondrial biogenesis defects is mediated by the same pathways as those triggered during acute mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, it is unknown if retrograde signalling can effectively improve plant performance when mitochondrial function is constitutively impaired. Here we show that retrograde signalling in mutants defective in mitochondrial proteins RNA polymerase rpotmp or prohibitin atphb3 can be suppressed by knocking out the transcription factor ANAC017. Genome‐wide RNA‐seq expression analysis revealed that ANAC017 is almost solely responsible for the most dramatic transcriptional changes common to rpotmp and atphb3 mutants, regulating classical marker genes such as alternative oxidase 1a (AOX1a) and also previously‐uncharacterised DUF295 genes that appear to be new retrograde markers. In contrast, ANAC017 does not regulate intra‐mitochondrial gene expression or transcriptional changes unique to either rpotmp or atphb3 genotype, suggesting the existence of currently unknown signalling cascades. The data show that ANAC017 function extends beyond common retrograde transcriptional responses and affects downstream protein abundance and enzyme activity of alternative oxidase, as well as steady‐state energy metabolism in atphb3 plants. Furthermore, detailed growth analysis revealed that ANAC017‐dependent retrograde signalling provides benefits for growth and productivity in plants with mitochondrial defects. In conclusion, ANAC017 plays a key role in both biogenic and operational mitochondrial retrograde signalling, and improves plant performance when mitochondrial function is constitutively impaired.
Going public? Re‐thinking visibility, ethics and recognition through participatory research praxis
Authors: Dickens Luke , Butcher Melissa
Published: July 2016

Recent work in human geography has articulated the principles of an emerging ‘participatory ethics’. Yet despite sustained critical examination of the participatory conditions under which geographical knowledge is produced, far less attention has addressed how a participatory ethics might unsettle the conventional ways such knowledge continues to be received, circulated, exchanged and mediated. As such, the uptake of visual methods in participatory research praxis has drawn a range of criticism for assuming visual outputs ‘tell their own stories’ and that publics might straightforwardly engage with them. In response, this paper develops an argument for adopting an ethical stance that takes a more situated, processual account of the ways participants themselves might convene their own forms of public engagement, and manage their own conditions of becoming visible through the research process. To do so the concept of an ethics of recognition is developed, drawing attention to the inter‐ and intra‐subjective relations that shape the public research encounter, and signalling ways that participants might navigate such conditions in pursuit of their intuitive desire to give an account of themselves to others. This ethical stance is then used to rethink questions of visibility and publicness through the conditions of reception, mediation and exchange that took place during the efforts of a London‐based participatory research project to ‘go public’. Drawing in particular on the experiences of one of the project participants, we suggest how a processual and contingent understanding of public engagement informed by such an ethics of recognition might be anticipated, approached and enacted.
Current Account ‘Core–Periphery Dualism’ in the EMU
Authors: De Santis Roberta , Cesaroni Tatiana
Published: July 2016

Current account (CA) dispersion within European Union (EU) Member States has been increasing progressively since the 1990s. Interestingly, the persistent deficits in many peripheral countries have not been accompanied by a significant growth process able to stimulate a log run rebalancing as neoclassical theory predicts. To shed light on the issue, this paper investigates the determinants of Eurozone CA imbalances, focusing on the role played by financial integration. The analysis considers two samples of 22 OECD and 15 EU countries, three time horizons corresponding to various steps in European integration, different control variables and several panel econometric methods. The results suggest that within the EU group of countries financial integration contributed to explain the CA deterioration in the peripheral countries especially in the post‐EMU period creating an asymmetric behaviour within the EMU. From a financial stability perspective, this ‘divergence’ could hinder the effectiveness of monetary policy. By reducing the apparent benefits of participating in the monetary union, it also raises the risk of a break‐up.
Aerodynamic Optimization of a Microturbine Inserted in a Magic-Angle Spinning System
Authors: Herzog Nicoleta , Wilhelm Dirk , Koch Stefan , Purea Armin , Osen David , Knott Benno , Engelke Frank
Published: July 2016

The fluid dynamics of a microturbine system that is applied in a device for chemical and biological analysis—a so-called magic-angle spinning (MAS) probe—is investigated. The drive fluid is pressurized air at ambient temperature provided by nozzles aligned on an intake spiral, driving a Pelton-type microturbine. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations have been performed and compared with fluid dynamics measurements of the MAS system with 1.3 mm rotor diameter for spinning rates between 23 kHz and 67 kHz. The main optimization criteria of the MAS system are rotor speed and turbine stability and not primarily efficiency, which is standard for turbomachinery applications. In the frame of fabrication tolerances, a sensitivity study has been carried out by varying the nozzles diameter and the nozzle position relative to the rotor. The presented fluid dynamics study of the microturbine system includes the analysis of local fluid flow values such as velocity, temperature, pressure, and Mach number, as well as global quantities like forces and driven torque acting on the turbine. Comparison with the experimental results shows good agreement of the microturbine efficiency. Furthermore, the parameter study of the nozzle diameter reveals optimization potential for this high-speed microturbine system employing a smaller nozzle diameter.
Unsteady Computational Fluid Dynamics Investigation of Effusion Cooling Process in a Lean Burn Aero-Engine Combustor
Authors: Mazzei L. , Picchi A. , Andreini A. , Facchini B. , Vitale I.
Published: July 2016

This work describes the main findings of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis intended to accurately investigate the flow field and wall heat transfer as a result of the mutual interaction between a swirling flow generated by a lean burn injection system and a slot–effusion liner cooling system. In order to overcome some limitations of Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) approach, the simulations were performed with shear stress transport (SST)–scale-adaptive simulation (SAS), a hybrid RANS–large eddy simulation (LES) model. Moreover, the significant computational effort due to the presence of more than 600 effusion holes was limited exploiting two different modeling strategies: a homogeneous model based on the application of uniform boundary conditions on both aspiration and injection sides, and another solution that provides a coolant injection through point mass sources within a single cell. CFD findings were compared to experimental results coming from an investigation carried out on a three-sector linear rig. The comparison pointed out that advanced modeling strategies, i.e., based on discrete mass sources, are able to reproduce the effects of mainstream–coolant interactions on convective heat loads. By validating the approach through a benchmark against time-averaged quantities, the transient data acquired were examined in order to better understand the unsteady behavior of the thermal load through a statistical analysis, providing useful information with a design perspective.
Assessment of Scale-Resolved Computational Fluid Dynamics Methods for the Investigation of Lean Burn Spray Flames
Authors: Puggelli Stefano , Bertini Davide , Mazzei Lorenzo , Andreini Antonio
Published: July 2016

Incoming standards on NOx emissions are motivating many aero-engines manufacturers to adopt the lean burn combustion concept. However, several technological issues have to be faced in this transition, among which limited availability of air for cooling purpose and thermoacoustics phenomena. In this scenario, standard numerical design tools are not often capable of characterizing such devices. Thus, considering also the difficulties of experimental investigations in a highly pressurized and reactive environment, unsteady scale-resolved CFD methods are required to correctly understand the combustor performances. In this work, a set of scale-resolved simulations have been carried out on the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) generic single-sector combustor spray flame for which measurements both in nonreactive and reactive test conditions are available. Exploiting a two-phase Eulerian–Lagrangian approach combined with a flamelet generated manifold (FGM) combustion model, LES simulations have been performed in order to assess the potential improvements with respect to steady-state solutions. Additional comparisons have also been accomplished with scale-adaptive simulation (SAS) calculations based on eddy dissipation combustion model (EDM). The comparison with experimental results shows that the chosen unsteady strategies lead to a more physical description of reactive processes with respect to Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations. FGM model showed some limitations in reproducing the partially premixed nature of the flame, whereas SAS–EDM proved to be a robust modeling strategy within an industrial perspective. A new set of spray boundary conditions for liquid injection is also proposed whose reliability is proved through a detailed comparison against experimental data.
Nonrealizability Problem With Quadrature Method of Moments in Wet-Steam Flows and Solution Techniques
Authors: Afzalifar Ali , Turunen-Saaresti Teemu , Grönman Aki
Published: July 2016

The quadrature method of moments (QMOM) has recently attracted much attention in representing the size distribution of liquid droplets in wet-steam flows using the n-point Gaussian quadrature. However, solving transport equations of moments using high-order advection schemes is bound to corrupt the moment set, which is then termed as a nonrealizable moment set. The problem is that the failure and success of the Gaussian quadrature are unconditionally dependent on the realizability of the moment set. First, this article explains the nonrealizability problem with the QMOM. Second, it compares two solutions to preserve realizability of the moment sets. The first solution applies a so-called “quasi-high-order” advection scheme specifically proposed for the QMOM to preserve realizability. However, owing to the fact that wet-steam models are usually built on existing numerical solvers, in many cases modifying the available advection schemes is either impossible or not desired. Therefore, the second solution considers correction techniques directly applied to the nonrealizable moment sets instead of the advection scheme. These solutions are compared in terms of accuracy in representing the droplet size distribution. It is observed that a quasi-high-order scheme can be reliably applied to guarantee realizability. However, as with all the numerical models in an Eulerian reference frame, in general, its results are also sensitive to the grid resolution. In contrast, the corrections applied to moments either fail in identifying and correcting the invalid moment sets or distort the shape of the droplet size distribution after the correction.
Morel-Lavallee seroma (post-traumatic pseudocyst) of back: a rarity with management conundrum
Authors: Singh Anshuman , Anand Akshay , Mittal Sanchit , Sonkar Abhinav Arun
Published: July 2016

Morel-Lavallee seroma (MLS) or post-traumatic pseudocyst is a soft tissue seroma developing due to closed degloving injury by a shearing force that causes separation of subcutaneous fatty layer from the deeper muscular fascia resulting in collection of fluid in the created space. Presentation is usually fluctuant swelling following history of injury. More frequently described in orthopaedic literature, it occurs more commonly over gluteal and trochanteric regions, knee and flanks with occurrence over back, thorax being a rare entity. Despite mimicking several other similar presenting conditions, diagnosis of MLS can be made by meticulous history and physical examination with classical findings on ultrasonography, CT scan and MRI. Treatment modality may vary from conservative management to open surgical debridement of the wound with percutaneous aspiration and sclerodhesis forming useful adjuncts to conservative management.
Heterogeneous effects of old age on human muscle oxidative capacity in vivo: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fitzgerald Liam F. , Christie Anita D. , Kent Jane A.
Published: July 2016

Despite intensive efforts to understand the extent to which skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity changes in older humans, the answer to this important question remains unclear. To determine what the preponderance of evidence from in vivo studies suggests, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of age on muscle oxidative capacity as measured noninvasively by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A secondary aim was to examine potential moderators contributing to differences in results across studies, including muscle group, physical activity status, and sex. Candidate papers were identified from PubMed searches (n = 3561 papers) and the reference lists of relevant papers. Standardized effects (Hedges’ g) were calculated for age and each moderator using data from the 22 studies that met the inclusion criteria (n = 28 effects). Effects were coded as positive when older (age, ≥55 years) adults had higher muscle oxidative capacity than younger (age, 20–45 years) adults. The overall effect of age on oxidative capacity was positive (g = 0.171, p < 0.001), indicating modestly greater oxidative capacity in old. Notably, there was significant heterogeneity in this result (Q = 245.8, p < 0.001; I2 = ∼70%–90%). Muscle group, physical activity, and sex were all significant moderators of oxidative capacity (p ≤ 0.029). This analysis indicates that the current body of literature does not support a de facto decrease of in vivo muscle oxidative capacity in old age. The heterogeneity of study results and identification of significant moderators provide clarity regarding apparent discrepancies in the literature, and indicate the importance of accounting for these variables when examining purported age-related differences in muscle oxidative capacity.
Molecular taxonomic analysis of the plant associations of adult pollen beetles (Nitidulidae: Meligethinae), and the population structure ofBrassicogethes aeneus
Authors: Ouvrard Pierre , Hicks Damien M. , Mouland Molly , Nicholls James A. , Baldock Katherine C.R. , Goddard Mark A. , Kunin William E. , Potts Simon G. , Thieme Thomas , Veromann Eve , Stone Graham N.
Published: July 2016

Pollen beetles (Nitidulidae: Meligethinae) are among the most abundant flower-visiting insects in Europe. While some species damage millions of hectares of crops annually, the biology of many species is little known. We assessed the utility of a 797 base pair fragment of the cytochrome oxidase 1 gene to resolve molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) in 750 adult pollen beetles sampled from flowers of 63 plant species sampled across the UK and continental Europe. We used the same locus to analyse region-scale patterns in population structure and demography in an economically important pest, Brassicogethes aeneus. We identified 44 Meligethinae at ∼2% divergence, 35 of which contained published sequences. A few specimens could not be identified because the MOTUs containing them included published sequences for multiple Linnaean species, suggesting either retention of ancestral haplotype polymorphism or identification errors in published sequences. Over 90% of UK specimens were identifiable as B. aeneus. Plant associations of adult B. aeneus were found to be far wider taxonomically than for their larvae. UK B. aeneus populations showed contrasting affiliations between the north (most similar to Scandinavia and the Baltic) and south (most similar to western continental Europe), with strong signatures of population growth in the south.
A Sequential Convex Program Approach to an Inverse Linear Semidefinite Programming Problem
Authors: Wu Jia , Zhang Yi , Zhang Liwei , Lu Yue
Published: July 2016

This paper is devoted to the study of solving method for a type of inverse linear semidefinite programming problem in which both the objective parameter and the right-hand side parameter of the linear semidefinite programs are required to adjust. Since such kind of inverse problem is equivalent to a mathematical program with semidefinite cone complementarity constraints which is a rather difficult problem, we reformulate it as a nonconvex semi-definte programming problem by introducing a nonsmooth partial penalty function to penalize the complementarity constraint. The penalized problem is actually a nonsmooth DC programming problem which can be solved by a sequential convex program approach. Convergence analysis of the penalty models and the sequential convex program approach are shown. Numerical results are reported to demonstrate the efficiency of our approach.
Online Machine Scheduling with Family Setups
Authors: Zhang Lele , Wirth Andrew
Published: July 2016

We consider the problem of online scheduling a single machine with family setups under job availability. A setup must be scheduled when the next job comes from a different family from the last completed one, if any. The aim is to minimize the total completion time of all jobs. For the special case of identical processing times, we provide a lower bound for the competitive ratio and an online algorithm with its competitive analysis.