bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Copper-Catalyzed Silylcupration of Activated Alkynes
Authors: Vercruysse Sébastien , Jouvin Kévin , Riant Olivier , Evano Gwilherm
Published: August 2016

A highly efficient catalytic silylcupration of activated alkynes is reported. Upon reaction with silylboronates and methanol in THF at room temperature in the presence of copper(I) fluoride tris(triphenylphosphine), a range of ynamides and propiolates were found to undergo a smooth silylcupration. This reaction, which tolerates various functional groups, affords a straightforward and efficient entry to the corresponding β-silylenamides and -acrylates, which were formed with high levels of regio- and stereoselectivities.
Rezidivprophylaxe des Ulcus cruris venosum
Authors: Kroeger K. , Storck M. , Kujath P. , Rabe E. , Dissemond J.
Published: August 2016

Das Ulcus cruris venosum (UCV) ist in Europa eine der häufigsten chronischen Wunden. Die Therapie ist langwierig, mühsam und kostenintensiv, und es besteht eine hohe Rezidivquote. In diesem Beitrag werden die Maßnahmen dargestellt, die jedem Patienten mit abgeheiltem UCV angeboten werden sollten, um das Auftreten eines erneuten UCV dauerhaft zu verhindern. Um einem UCV bei Varikose vorzubeugen, muss die Progression der chronischen venösen Insuffizienz (CVI) gestoppt werden. Es existiert eine überzeugende Evidenz dazu, dass die effiziente Therapie der Varikose bei Patienten mit UCV die Rezidivrate senkt. Bei Patienten mit einem postthrombotischen Syndrom (PTS) sollten weitere Thrombosen durch eine gezielte Thromboseprophylaxe verhindert werden. Für den Nutzen endovaskulärer rekanalisierender Verfahren bei Patienten mit postthrombotischen Veränderungen der Beckenvenen auf die Rezidivrate des UCV gibt es bisher keine Studien. Für UCV bei Varikose und PTS wurde in mehreren Studien eindrücklich gezeigt, dass die Kompressionstherapie die Basismaßnahme für die Prävention eines Ulkusrezidivs ist, unabhängig davon, ob andere Maßnahmen durchgeführt wurden oder nicht. Wichtiger als eine möglichst hohe Kompressionsklasse ist eine gute Adhärenz der betroffenen Patienten bei der Kompressionstherapie. Das Ziel zukünftiger Bemühungen für Patienten mit UCV muss es sein, den Therapeuten Instrumente und Behandlungsstrategien an die Hand zu geben, den Patienten zu führen und dessen Akzeptanz und Verständnis für die Bedeutung des Selbstmanagements insbesondere der Kompressionstherapie für die Rezidivprophylaxe zu erhöhen.
Influence of the housing environment during sow gestation on maternal health, and offspring immunity and survival
Authors: Merlot Elodie , Calvar Catherine , Prunier Armelle
Published: August 2016

In pig husbandry, pregnant females are often exposed to stressful conditions that may affect their physiology, behaviour or health and consequently the ability of their offspring to survive and develop. This study compared two different housing systems from insemination to 106 days of gestation, a conventional (C) and an enriched one (E), for maternal cortisol and immune parameters, as well as for the immune function and survival of their offspring. The C and E systems differed essentially for the housing design (slatted floor, 2.4 m2 per sow vs a deep straw litter and 3.4 m2 per sow). Results from Expt 1 (n = 108) demonstrated that C sows had higher salivary cortisol than E sows at gestational Day 102 (DG 102). Results from Expt 2 (n = 48) showed that, at DG 102, C sows had higher granulocyte counts and total plasma immunoglobulin G concentration than E sows, whereas lymphocyte number, haematocrit and haptoglobin plasma concentration were similar. Results from Expt 3 (n = 47) showed that plasma immunoglobulin G level at 5 and 27 days of age, hematocrit, white blood cell numbers and in vitro lymphocyte proliferation of piglets at 27 days of age were not influenced by maternal housing conditions. However, reproductive data collected in Expt 2 and 3 indicated that pre-weaning mortality was higher in C than E litters. In conclusion, the C system was associated with markers of increased stress and microbial aggression in gestating sows, and with greater piglet mortality during the suckling period without identified alterations in piglet immune function.
New biomarkers for intestinal permeability induced by lipopolysaccharide in chickens
Authors: Gilani Saad , Howarth Gordon S. , Kitessa Soressa M. , Forder Rebecca E. A. , Tran Cuong D. , Hughes Robert J.
Published: August 2016

Intestinal health is influenced by a complex set of variables involving the intestinal microbiota, mucosal immunity, digestion and absorption of nutrients, intestinal permeability (IP) and intestinal integrity. An increase in IP increases bacterial or toxin translocation, activates the immune system and affects health. IP in chickens is reviewed in three sections. First, intestinal structure and permeability are discussed briefly. Second, the use of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a tool to increase IP is discussed in detail. LPS, a glycolipid found in the outer coat of mostly Gram-negative bacteria, has been reported to increase IP in rats, mice and pigs. Although LPS has been used in chickens for inducing systemic inflammation, information regarding LPS effects on IP is limited. This review proposes that LPS could be used as a means to increase IP in chickens. The final section focuses on potential biomarkers to measure IP, proposing that the sugar-recovery method may be optimal for application in chickens.
Blade loosening creates a deeper and near-stable rooting zone that raises the productivity of a structurally unstable texture contrast soil
Authors: Hamilton G. J. , Sheppard J. , Bowey R. , Fisher P.
Published: August 2016

Improving the workability and raising the productivity of structurally weak and/or dispersive texture contrast soils has been the objective of many research projects. These have used applications of gypsum, with and without ripping the top 300–400mm depth of soil, and responses have been moderate and short lived. The approach taken in the present study was to ameliorate the soil by a combination of subtle soil disturbance to a depth of approximately 300mm using a specially designed blade loosener, with controlled traffic and no-tillage crop establishment practices. The aim was to use the roots of the stimulated plant growth to stabilise a loosened and deepened root zone. Comparative conditions in the 0–500mm depth of soil in blade-loosened and normal seedbeds were monitored over three very different growing seasons (2001, 2002 and 2003) using chemical analyses, bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PR) and soil moisture content measurements. Productivity was monitored by dry matter and grain yield, and profitability by gross margin analyses. Structural stability of the rooting zone soil, or the lack of it, was shown to be a consequence of how the seasonal dynamics of the profile moisture content affected the probability of waterlogged surface soil conditions. In the normal seedbed (control) the surface soil quickly reconsolidated (BD ≥1500kgm–3), and subsoil BD (BD ≈ 1800kgm–3), PR (≥1.8MPa) and percentage saturation (≥95%) remained at levels restrictive of root growth. Conversely, the same properties in the surface and subsoil of the blade-loosened seedbed remained at levels conducive to unrestricted root growth (BD ≤1400kgm–3, PR ≤1.1MPa, saturation ≤70%). The blade-loosened treatment was substantially more productive (average grain yield increase 35%; P<0.05) and profitable (average gross margin increase 56%).
Multiple allogeneic progenitors in combination function as a unit to support early transient hematopoiesis in transplantation
Authors: Ishida Takashi , Takahashi Satoshi , Lai Chen-Yi , Nojima Masanori , Yamamoto Ryo , Takeuchi Emiko , Takeuchi Yasuo , Higashihara Masaaki , Nakauchi Hiromitsu , Otsu Makoto
Published: August 2016

Cord blood (CB) is a valuable donor source in hematopoietic cell transplantation. However, the initial time to engraftment in CB transplantation (CBT) is often delayed because of low graft cell numbers. This limits the use of CB. To overcome this cell dose barrier, we modeled an insufficient dose CBT setting in lethally irradiated mice and then added hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs/HPCs; HSPCs) derived from four mouse allogeneic strains. The mixture of HSPCs rescued recipients and significantly accelerated hematopoietic recovery. Including T cells from one strain favored single-donor chimerism through graft versus graft reactions, with early hematopoietic recovery unaffected. Furthermore, using clinically relevant procedures, we successfully isolated a mixture of CD34+ cells from multiple frozen CB units at one time regardless of HLA-type disparities. These CD34+ cells in combination proved transplantable into immunodeficient mice. This work provides proof of concept that when circumstances require support of hematopoiesis, combined multiple units of allogeneic HSPCs are capable of early hematopoietic reconstitution while allowing single-donor hematopoiesis by a principal graft.
Toxoplasma gondii TgIST co-opts host chromatin repressors dampening STAT1-dependent gene regulation and IFN-γ–mediated host defenses
Authors: Gay Gabrielle , Braun Laurence , Brenier-Pinchart Marie-Pierre , Vollaire Julien , Josserand Véronique , Bertini Rose-Laurence , Varesano Aurélie , Touquet Bastien , De Bock Pieter-Jan , Coute Yohann , Tardieux Isabelle , Bougdour Alexandre , Hakimi Mohamed-Ali
Published: August 2016

An early hallmark of Toxoplasma gondii infection is the rapid control of the parasite population by a potent multifaceted innate immune response that engages resident and homing immune cells along with pro- and counter-inflammatory cytokines. In this context, IFN-γ activates a variety of T. gondii–targeting activities in immune and nonimmune cells but can also contribute to host immune pathology. T. gondii has evolved mechanisms to timely counteract the host IFN-γ defenses by interfering with the transcription of IFN-γ–stimulated genes. We now have identified TgIST (T. gondii inhibitor of STAT1 transcriptional activity) as a critical molecular switch that is secreted by intracellular parasites and traffics to the host cell nucleus where it inhibits STAT1-dependent proinflammatory gene expression. We show that TgIST not only sequesters STAT1 on dedicated loci but also promotes shaping of a nonpermissive chromatin through its capacity to recruit the nucleosome remodeling deacetylase (NuRD) transcriptional repressor. We found that during mice acute infection, TgIST-deficient parasites are rapidly eliminated by the homing Gr1+ inflammatory monocytes, thus highlighting the protective role of TgIST against IFN-γ–mediated killing. By uncovering TgIST functions, this study brings novel evidence on how T. gondii has devised a molecular weapon of choice to take control over a ubiquitous immune gene expression mechanism in metazoans, as a way to promote long-term parasitism.
A Density Map of the Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Lyme Borreliosis Vector Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) for Germany
Authors: Brugger Katharina , Boehnke Denise , Petney Trevor , Dobler Gerhard , Pfeffer Martin , Silaghi Cornelia , Schaub Günter A. , Pinior Beate , Dautel Hans , Kahl Olaf , Pfister Kurt , Süss Jochen , Rubel Franz
Published: August 2016

The castor bean tick Ixodes ricinus (L.) is the principal vector for a variety of viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens causing a growing public-health issue over the past decades. However, a national density map of I. ricinus is still missing. Here, I. ricinus nymphs in Germany were investigated by compiling a high-resolution map depicting the mean annually accumulated nymphal density, as observed by monthly flagging an area of 100 m2. Input data comprise ticks collected at 69 sampling sites. The model domain covers an area of about 357,000 km2 (regional scale). Two negative binomial regression models were fitted to the data to interpolate the tick densities to unsampled locations using bioclimatic variables and land cover, which were selected according to their significance by the Akaike information criterion (AIC). The default model was fitted to the complete dataset resulting in AIC = 842. An optimized model resulted in a significantly better value of AIC = 732. Tick densities are very low in urban (green) areas. Maximum annual densities up to 1,000 nymphs per 100 m2 are observed in broad-leaved forests. The tick maps were verified by leave-one-out cross-validation. Root mean square errors of RMSE = 137 and RMSE = 126 nymphs per 100 m2 were estimated for the two models, respectively. These errors are of the order of the interannual variation of the tick densities. The compilation of a high-resolution density map of unfed nymphal I. ricinus for Germany provides a novel, nationwide insight into the distribution of an important disease vector.
EBL ebook use compared to the use of equivalent print books and other eresources
Authors: Lewellen Rachel , Bischof Steven , Plum Terry
Published: August 2016

Purpose

– This paper, a case study with research implications, analyzes ebook use and users, focusing on ProQuest’s Electronic Book Library (EBL) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The purpose of this paper is to understand ebook user attributes and behaviors in the context of print books and other eresources; to examine usage of EBL ebooks and print materials; and to explore differences between users of ebooks and print books.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodologies of the study are MINES for Libraries® implemented through EZproxy and an analysis of users and usage of EBL ebooks compared to print books based in part on the set of books available to the UMass community in both formats.

Findings

– Undergraduates use print more often compared to graduate and faculty users. Among all uses of overlap materials in which materials are available in both formats, EBL and print, we find more print use. In all, 40 percent of EBL users did not check out any print library books, which would indicate that EBL created new users and new circulation that would not have otherwise occurred in print. Further, the findings show little difference by gender and ethnicity in the use of ebooks and print books and little evidence of lagging adoption of ebooks by faculty. When compared to campus-wide demographics, women and students of color use both print and ebooks in higher than expected rates.

Originality/value

– Subject analysis of ebooks and print book usage and users by school or college are explored, highlighting differences between the two formats in certain subjects.
What role for libraries in learning analytics?
Authors: Jantti Margie , Heath Jennifer
Published: August 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the development of an institution wide approach to learning analytics at the University of Wollongong (UOW) and the inclusion of library data drawn from the Library Cube.

Design/methodology/approach

– The Student Support and Education Analytics team at UOW is tasked with creating policy, frameworks and infrastructure for the systematic capture, mapping and analysis of data from the across the university. The initial data set includes: log file data from Moodle sites, Library Cube, student administration data, tutorials and student support service usage data. Using the learning analytics data warehouse UOW is developing new models for analysis and visualisation with a focus on the provision of near real-time data to academic staff and students to optimise learning opportunities.

Findings

– The distinct advantage of the learning analytics model is that the selected data sets are updated weekly, enabling near real-time monitoring and intervention where required. Inclusion of library data with the other often disparate data sets from across the university has enabled development of a comprehensive platform for learning analytics. Future work will include the development of predictive models using the rapidly growing learning analytics data warehouse.

Practical implications

– Data warehousing infrastructure, the systematic capture and exporting of relevant library data sets are requisite for the consideration of library data in learning analytics.

Originality/value

– What was not anticipated five years ago when the Value Cube was first realised, was the development of learning analytic services at UOW. The Cube afforded University of Wollongong Library considerable advantage: the framework for data harvesting and analysis was established, ready for inclusion within learning analytics data sets and subsequent reporting to faculty.
Feasibility of borehole ambient noise interferometry for permanent reservoir monitoring
Authors: Behm M.
Published: August 2016

The analysis of seismic ambient noise acquired during temporary or permanent microseismic monitoring campaigns (e.g., improved/enhanced oil recovery monitoring, surveillance of induced seismicity) is potentially well suited for time‐lapse studies based on seismic interferometry. No additional data acquisition required, ambient noise processing can be automatized to a high degree, and seismic interferometry is very sensitive to small medium changes. Thus there is an opportunity for detection and monitoring of velocity variations in a reservoir at negligible additional cost and effort.

Data and results are presented from an ambient noise interferometry study applied to two wells in a producing oil field in Romania. Borehole microseismic monitoring on three component geophones was performed for four weeks, concurrent with a water‐flooding phase for improved oil recovery from a reservoir in ca. 1 km depth. Both low‐frequency (2 Hz–50 Hz) P‐ and S‐waves propagating through the vertical borehole arrays were reconstructed from ambient noise by the virtual source method. The obtained interferograms clearly indicate an origin of the ambient seismic energy from above the arrays, thus suggesting surface activities as sources. It is shown that ambient noise from time periods as short as 30 seconds is sufficient to obtain robust interferograms. Sonic log data confirm that the vertical and horizontal components comprise first arrivals of P‐wave and S‐waves, respectively. The consistency and high quality of the interferograms throughout the entire observation period further indicate that the high‐frequency part (up to 100 Hz) represents the scattered wave field. The temporal variation of apparent velocities based on first‐arrival times partly correlates with the water injection rate and occurrence of microseismic events. It is concluded that borehole ambient noise interferometry in production settings is a potentially useful method for permanent reservoir monitoring due to its high sensitivity and robustness.
Effects of JTV‐519 on stretch‐induced manifestations of mechanoelectric feedback
Authors: del Canto Irene , Such‐Miquel Luis , Brines Laia , Soler Carlos , Zarzoso Manuel , Calvo Conrado , Parra Germán , Tormos Álvaro , Alberola Antonio , Millet José , Such Luis , Chorro Francisco J.
Published: August 2016

JTV‐519 is a 1,4‐benzothiazepine derivative with multichannel effects that inhibits Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and stabilizes the closed state of the ryanodine receptor, preventing myocardial damage and the induction of arrhythmias during Ca2+ overload. Mechanical stretch increases cellular Na+ inflow, activates the reverse mode of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, and modifies Ca2+ handling and myocardial electrophysiology, favoring arrhythmogenesis. This study aims to determine whether JTV‐519 modifies the stretch‐induced manifestations of mechanoelectric feedback. The ventricular fibrillation (VF) modifications induced by acute stretch were studied in Langendorff‐perfused rabbit hearts using epicardial multiple electrodes under control conditions (n=9) or during JTV‐519 perfusion: 0.1 μmol/L (n=9) and 1 μmol/L (n=9). Spectral and mapping techniques were used to establish the baseline, stretch and post‐stretch VF characteristics. JTV‐519 slowed baseline VF and decreased activation complexity. These effects were dose‐dependent (baseline VF dominant frequency: control=13.9±2.2 Hz; JTV 0.1 μmol/L=11.1±1.1 Hz, P<.01; JTV 1 μmol/L=6.6±1.1 Hz, P<.0001). The stretch‐induced acceleration of VF (control=38.8%) was significantly reduced by JTV‐519 0.1 μmol/L (19.8%) and abolished by JTV 1 μmol/L (−1.5%). During stretch, the VF activation complexity index was reduced in both JTV‐519 series (control=1.60±0.15; JTV 0.1 μmol/L=1.13±0.3, P<.0001; JTV 1 μmol/L=0.57±0.21, P<.0001), and was independently related to VF dominant frequency (R=.82; P<.0001). The fifth percentile of the VF activation intervals, conduction velocity and wavelength entered the multiple linear regression model using dominant frequency as the dependent variable (R=−.84; P<.0001). In conclusion, JTV‐519 slowed and simplified the baseline VF activation patterns and abolished the stretch‐induced manifestations of mechanoelectric feedback.
What distinguishes cyanobacteria able to revive after desiccation from those that cannot: the genome aspect
Authors: Murik Omer , Oren Nadav , Shotland Yoram , Raanan Hagai , Treves Haim , Kedem Isaac , Keren Nir , Hagemann Martin , Pade Nadin , Kaplan Aaron
Published: August 2016

Filamentous cyanobacteria are the main founders and primary producers in biological desert soil crusts (BSCs) and are likely equipped to cope with one of the harshest environmental conditions on earth including daily hydration/dehydration cycles, high irradiance and extreme temperatures. Here, we resolved and report on the genome sequence of Leptolyngbya ohadii, an important constituent of the BSC. Comparative genomics identified a set of genes present in desiccation‐tolerant but not in dehydration‐sensitive cyanobacteria. RT qPCR analyses showed that the transcript abundance of many of them is upregulated during desiccation in L. ohadii. In addition, we identified genes where the orthologs detected in desiccation‐tolerant cyanobacteria differs substantially from that found in desiccation‐sensitive cells. We present two examples, treS and fbpA (encoding trehalose synthase and fructose 1,6‐bisphosphate aldolase respectively) where, in addition to the orthologs present in the desiccation‐sensitive strains, the resistant cyanobacteria also possess genes with different predicted structures. We show that in both cases the two orthologs are transcribed during controlled dehydration of L. ohadii and discuss the genetic basis for the acclimation of cyanobacteria to the desiccation conditions in desert BSC.
‘Policies that Fail – Words that Succeed’: The Politics of Accessible Housing in Australia
Authors: Ward Margaret , Jacobs Keith
Published: August 2016

This paper seeks to contribute to the debate over the efficacy of voluntary agreements versus regulation, and uses a study of the Livable Housing Design initiative to deliver voluntarily new‐built accessible housing in Australia. We first probe why regulation has become such a significant component of government policy making, and then ask why political campaigns focus on this issue as a strategy for reform. We refer to research by disability activists, which claims that the voluntary approach has failed and regulation is necessary. Amongst our conclusions are: (1) that the disjuncture between policy rhetoric and outcome can be attributed to the power of lobbyists, reliance on the private market to address inequality, and antipathy to regulatory enforcement; and (2) that there is a need for greater interrogation of the language deployed in policy texts to identify whether they are crafted to maintain the government's legitimacy or to deliver purposeful change.
Impact of Massachusetts Health Reform on Inpatient Care Use: Was the Safety‐Net Experience Different Than in the Non‐Safety‐Net?
Authors: Hanchate Amresh D. , McCormick Danny , Lasser Karen E. , Feng Chen , Manze Meredith G. , Kressin Nancy R.
Published: August 2016

Objective

Most inpatient care for the uninsured and other vulnerable subpopulations occurs in safety‐net hospitals. As insurance expansion increases the choice of hospitals for the previously uninsured, we examined if Massachusetts health reform was associated with shifts in the volume of inpatient care from safety‐net to non‐safety‐net hospitals overall, or among other vulnerable sociodemographic (racial/ethnic minority, low socioeconomic status, high uninsured rate area) and clinical subpopulations (emergent status, diagnosis).

Data Sources/Study Setting

Discharge records for adults discharged from all nonfederal acute care hospitals in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania 2004–2010.

Study Design

Using a difference‐in‐differences design, we compared pre‐/post‐reform changes in safety‐net and non‐safety‐net hospital discharge outcomes in Massachusetts among adults 18–64 with corresponding changes in comparisons states with no reform, overall, and by subpopulations.

Principal Findings

Reform was not associated with changes in inpatient care use at safety‐net and non‐safety‐net hospitals across all discharges or in most subpopulations examined.

Conclusions

Demand for inpatient care at safety‐net hospitals may not decrease following insurance expansion. Whether this is due to other access barriers or patient preference needs to be explored.
Extensive Necrotic Purpura in Levamisole‐Adulterated Cocaine Abuse – A Case Report
Authors: Le Garff Erwan , Tournel Gilles , Becquart Coralie , Cottencin Olivier , Dupin Nicolas , Delaporte Emmanuel , Hedouin Valéry
Published: August 2016

Levamisole, which is used as an adulterated compound of cocaine, is currently being seen year after year in cocaine intoxication. For a few cases in the last decade, necrotic purpura and neutropenia after levamisole/cocaine intoxication have been described in the medical community. Herein, we present an original case of levamisole intoxication of a 40‐year‐old woman who smoked heroin and cocaine few during a month. She rapidly presented an extensive necrotic purpura of the nose, cheeks and extremities (lower and upper), and immunologic reactions (positive anti‐MPO and anti‐HNE). Levamisole was detected on hairs with ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The case reports also a probable cocaine supplier deceit, which bring pure drug for hospital investigation after the intoxication of his client. The intoxicated woman had survived with several skin and chronic pain complications. That case recalls the knowledge about levamisole with a short review of the forensic literature.
Neural Correlates and Connectivity Underlying Stress‐Related Impulse Control Difficulties in Alcoholism
Authors: Seo Dongju , Lacadie Cheryl M. , Sinha Rajita
Published: August 2016

Background

Stress triggers impulsive and addictive behaviors, and alcoholism has been frequently associated with increased stress sensitivity and impulse control problems. However, neural correlates underlying the link between alcoholism and impulsivity in the context of stress in patients with alcohol use disorders (AUD) have not been well studied.

Methods

This study investigated neural correlates and connectivity patterns associated with impulse control difficulties in abstinentAUDpatients. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, brain responses of 37AUDinpatients, and 37 demographically matched healthy controls were examined during brief individualized imagery trials of stress, alcohol cue, and neutral‐relaxing conditions. Stress‐related impulsivity was measured using a subscale score of impulse control problems from Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale.

Results

Impulse control difficulties inAUDpatients were significantly associated with hypo‐active response to stress in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VmPFC), right caudate, and left lateral PFC (LPFC) compared to the neutral condition (p < 0.01, whole‐brain corrected). These regions were used as seed regions to further examine the connectivity patterns with other brain regions. With the VmPFC seed,AUDpatients showed reduced connectivity with the anterior cingulate cortex compared to controls, which are core regions of emotion regulation, suggestingAUDpatients' decreased ability to modulate emotional response under distressed state. With the right caudate seed, patients showed increased connectivity with the right motor cortex, suggesting increased tendency toward habitually driven behaviors. With the leftLPFCseed, decreased connectivity with the dorsomedialPFC(DmPFC), but increased connectivity with sensory and motor cortices were found inAUDpatients compared to controls (p < 0.05, whole‐brain corrected). Reduced connectivity between the leftLPFCand DmPFCwas further associated with increased stress‐induced anxiety inAUDpatients (p < 0.05, with adjusted Bonferroni correction).

Conclusions

Hypo‐active response to stress and altered connectivity in key emotion regulatory regions may account for greater stress‐related impulse control problems in alcoholism.
Comparative performance of oral midazolam clearance and plasma 4β‐hydroxycholesterol to explain interindividual variability in tacrolimus clearance
Authors: Vanhove Thomas , de Jonge Hylke , de Loor Henriëtte , Annaert Pieter , Diczfalusy Ulf , Kuypers Dirk R. J.
Published: August 2016

Aims

We compared the CYP3A4 metrics weight‐corrected midazolam apparent oral clearance (MDZ Cl/F/W) and plasma 4β‐hydroxycholesterol/cholesterol (4β‐OHC/C) as they relate to tacrolimus (TAC) Cl/F/W in renal transplant recipients.

Methods

For a cohort of 147 patients, 8 h area under the curve (AUC) values for TAC and oral MDZ were calculated besides measurement of 4β‐OHC/C. A subgroup of 70 patients additionally underwent intravenous erythromycin breath test (EBT) and were administered the intravenous MDZ probe. All patients were genotyped for common polymorphisms in CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and P450 oxidoreductase, among others.

Results

MDZ Cl/F/W, 4β‐OHC/C/W, EBT and TAC Cl/F/W were all moderately correlated (r = 0.262–0.505). Neither MDZ Cl/F/W nor 4β‐OHC/C/W explained variability in TAC Cl/F/W in CYP3A5 expressors (n = 29). For CYP3A5 non‐expressors (n = 118), factors explaining variability in TAC Cl/F/W in a MDZ‐based model were MDZ Cl/F/W (R2 = 0.201), haematocrit (R2 = 0.139), TAC formulation (R2 = 0.107) and age (R2 = 0.032; total R2 = 0.479). In the 4β‐OHC/C/W‐based model, predictors were 4β‐OHC/C/W (R2 = 0.196), haematocrit (R2 = 0.059) and age (R2 = 0.057; total R2 = 0.312). When genotype information was ignored, predictors of TAC Cl/F/W in the whole cohort were 4β‐OHC/C/W (R2 = 0.167), MDZ Cl/F/W (R2 = 0.045); Tac QD formulation (R2 = 0.036), and haematocrit (R2 = 0.032; total R2 = 0.315). 4β‐OHC/C/W, but not MDZ Cl/F/W, was higher in CYP3A5 expressors because it was higher in CYP3A4*1b carriers, which were almost all CYP3A5 expressors.

Conclusions

A MDZ‐based model explained more variability in TAC clearance in CYP3A5 non‐expressors. However, 4β‐OHC/C/W was superior in a model in which no genotype information was available, likely because 4β‐OHC/C/W was influenced by the CYP3A4*1b polymorphism.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of single and multiple doses of the glucagon receptor antagonist LGD‐6972 in healthy subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Vajda Eric G. , Logan Douglas , Lasseter Kenneth , Armas Danielle , Plotkin Diane J. , Pipkin JD , Li Yong-Xi , Zhou Rong , Klein David , Wei Xiaoxiong , Dilzer Stacy , Zhi Lin , Marschke Keith B.
Published: August 2016

Aim

To evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of single and multiple doses of a novel, oral glucagon receptor antagonist, LGD‐6972, in healthy subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods

In the single ascending dose study, LGD‐6972 (2‐480 mg) was administered to healthy subjects (n = 48) and T2DM subjects (n = 8). In the multiple ascending dose study, healthy subjects (n = 12) received a dose of 15 mg LGD‐6972 and T2DM subjects (n = 36) received doses of 5, 10 or 15 mg of LGD‐6972 daily for 14 days.

Results

LGD‐6972 had linear plasma pharmacokinetics consistent with once‐daily dosing that was comparable in healthy and T2DM subjects. Dose‐dependent decreases in fasting plasma glucose were observed in all groups with a maximum of 3.15 mmol/L (56.8 mg/dL) on day 14 in T2DM subjects. LGD‐6972 also reduced plasma glucose in the postprandial state. Dose‐dependent increases in fasting plasma glucagon were observed, but glucagon levels decreased and insulin levels increased after an oral glucose load in T2DM subjects. LGD‐6972 was well tolerated at the doses tested without dose‐related or clinically meaningful changes in clinical laboratory parameters. No subject experienced hypoglycaemia.

Conclusion

Inhibition of glucagon action by LGD‐6972 was associated with decreases in glucose in both healthy and T2DM subjects, the magnitude of which was sufficient to predict improvement in glycaemic control with longer treatment duration in T2DM patients. The safety and pharmacological profile of LGD‐6972 after 14 days of dosing supports continued clinical development.
MULTIPLE EQUILIBRIA AND DETERRENCE IN AIRLINE MARKETS
Authors: Ciliberto Federico , Zhang Zhou
Published: August 2016

We use a longitudinal dataset from the U.S. airline industry to estimate three different models for entry games with very general forms of heterogeneity between U.S. carriers in airline markets: a simultaneous game with complete information and two sequential games with or without strategic entry deterrence. In a sequential game with entry deterrence, an incumbent decides whether to incur a cost to deter potential entrants. We show that the model with sequential games with strategic deterrence provides the best fit to the data. We conclude that the results reject the hypothesis of a static model and support the hypothesis of the existence of strategic entry deterrence. (JEL L1)
Appropriate fabrication method for vacuum‐formed mouthguards
Authors: Mizuhashi Fumi , Koide Kaoru
Published: August 2016

Aim

The aim was to examine the influence of the heating temperature on the fabrication of vacuum‐formed mouthguards.

Materials and methods

Mouthguard sheets of 3.8 mm ethylene vinyl acetate were vacuum‐formed on working models at three heating temperatures: 80, 100, and 120°C. The thickness of the mouthguard was measured at the labial surface of the central incisor, and the buccal and occlusal surfaces of the first molar. Differences in the thickness of the mouthguards were analyzed by two‐way analysis of variance. The fit of the mouthguard was examined at the central incisor and the first molar by measuring the distance between the mouthguard and the cervical margin of the working model. Differences in the distance between the mouthguard and the cervical margin according to the heating temperatures were analyzed by one‐way analysis of variance.

Results

Mouthguard thickness varied among the measured regions of the central incisors and first molars (P < 0.01). The greatest thickness was found at the labial surface of the central incisor and the buccal surface of the first molar in mouthguards fabricated with heating temperature of 120°C (P < 0.05). The best fit was obtained in mouthguards fabricated with heating temperature of 120°C (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Heating the mouthguard sheet until the temperature reached 120°C was the best fabrication method to maintain the thickness and to obtain proper fit. It is important to control the heating temperature when fabricating vacuum‐formed mouthguards.
Informal Entrepreneurship in Developing Economies: The Impacts of Starting up Unregistered on firm Performance
Authors: Williams Colin C. , Martinez–Perez Alvaro , Kedir Abbi M.
Published: August 2016

To advance understanding of the entrepreneurship process in developing economies, this article evaluates whether registered enterprises that initially avoid the cost of registration, and focus their resources on overcoming other liabilities of newness, lay a stronger foundation for subsequent growth. Analyzing World Bank Enterprise Survey data across 127 countries, and controlling for other firm performance determinants, registered enterprises that started up unregistered and spent longer operating unregistered are revealed to have significantly higher subsequent annual sales, employment, and productivity growth rates compared with those that registered from the outset. The theoretical and policy implications are then discussed.
What Really Happens in Die Wahlverwandtschaften
Authors: Boyle Nicholas
Published: August 2016

Die Wahlverwandtschaften (1809) is often thought to be a novel of private passions, insulated from the social and political realities of Goethe's time. It is here argued that, on the contrary, events in the novel precisely parallel the major public events of the years 1806–07, notably the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and the defeat of Prussia at the battle of Jena and Auerstädt, to which the principal male character, Eduard, contributes both directly and indirectly. The mysterious child born to his wife, Charlotte, is probably the consequence of her adultery with the Hauptmann. The distinction between these realities and the deceptive and self‐deceptive interpretations that conceal them is both created and subverted by Goethe's sophisticated text.
The Haunting Primacy of a Ghost Story: Secondary thoughts on the Hermeneutical Challenge of Kleist's “Das Bettelweib von Locarno”
Authors: Hempel Daniel
Published: August 2016

This article discusses the hermeneutical challenge which Heinrich von Kleist's “Bettelweib von Locarno” poses to textual analysis. It argues that this short novella effectively exemplifies a fundamental principle of literature because it highlights the difference between the textual features of a literary work and its realization in the mind of a reader. Strategically approaching Kleist's novella in the manner of a close reading, this article shows that such an anatomizing analysis of the text is irreconcilable with an intuitive reading of it: while a first, unbiased reading construes Kleist's text as a ghost story with moral significance, a scholarly close reading breaks down the text into erratic components and insufficient causalities. The ghost story and its moral implications thus withdraw from the close reader. Ultimately, this article demonstrates that Kleist's ghost story provides rich insights into the interplay of a literary work's experiential superstructure with its textual basis.
Die Judenbuche and the “Judens‐buch”: Hermeneutic Hindrance and Scriptural Reading in Droste‐Hülshoff's Crime Novella
Authors: Almog Yael
Published: August 2016

The article presents Annette von Droste‐Hülshoff's Die Judenbuche as a reaction to the disjunction between textual interpretation and confessional belonging in modernity. I argue that the epicenter of this critique is the insertion of a Hebrew sentence that embodies both in its language and in its content—talion law—the word of the Bible as a legal authority. Appearing in the midst of the novella, the biblical language creates a “hermeneutical hindrance,” and signals the reliance of interpretation on religious training of scriptural reading. Die Judenbuche thus alerts to the codependence of hermeneutical practices and moral codes. The article concludes that in the novella, the adherence of the village's Jews to the language of the Bible hints that confessional difference may subtend diverging cultures of interpretation and perpetuate the distinct moral codes that they convey.
Influence of canopy gaps on saproxylic beetles in primeval beech forests: a case study from the Uholka‐Shyrokyi Luh forest, Ukraine
Authors: Lachat Thibault , Chumak Maxim , Chumak Vasyl , Jakoby Oliver , Müller Jörg , Tanadini Matteo , Wermelinger Beat
Published: August 2016

The distribution of canopy gaps has been studied intensively in primeval forest, but their role as keystone structure for biodiversity under natural conditions is still poorly understood.

We investigated the effect of habitat properties on saproxylic beetles in the centre, at the edge of gaps and in closed stands in one of the last and largest primeval beech forest of Europe (Uholka‐Shyrokyi Luh forest, Ukraine).

The abundance of saproxylic beetles was significantly higher in canopy gaps compared to the closed forest. The number of species did not differ significantly between gap centres and closed forest, but was higher in gap centres than at gap edges. Species composition in gap centres was clearly distinct from that in closed forests.

The effects of biotic resources, such as the amount of dead wood or the density of big trees (DBH>70 cm), on diversity measures were weak, which might be caused by the abundance of these resources under natural conditions.

Since our study site is embedded in a landscape dominated by primeval forest, the effects of habitat properties on saproxylic beetle fauna might differ from that in managed forests of Central Europe. Nevertheless, species assemblages in primeval beech forests play an important role as a reference for conservation efforts in managed beech forests of Europe.
Challenges faced by international nurses when migrating: an integrative literature review
Authors: Pung L.‐X. , Goh Y.‐S.
Published: August 2016

Aim

Results from this literature review were used to identify the challenges faced by international nurses in their host countries following migration.

Background

The increasing strain of nursing shortages in the healthcare system has led to the recruitment of international nurses among many countries. However, following migration, international nurses are faced with challenges that may result in poor integration with their host countries.

Methods

Using Cooper's five stages for integrative research reviews, a literature search was conducted across seven databases using a PRISMA search strategy. Additional manual searches were also conducted on the end‐references of the retrieved articles. The authors then independently reviewed the selected articles using the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal form to extract and generate the themes for the review.

Findings

Twenty‐four articles were selected for the review. The themes generated included: (i) difficulty orientating; (ii) a longing for what is missing; (iii) professional development and devaluing; (iv) communication barriers; (v) discrimination and marginalization; (vi) personal and professional differences; and (vii) a meaningful support system.

Implications for policy and practice

By identifying the challenges faced by international nurses, interventions that ensure equal treatment (e.g. multifaceted transition programmes and culturally sensitive ‘buddy’ systems) can be implemented to help international nurses adapt to their new environments. Adequate communication can be achieved by encouraging international nurses to speak English and learn the colloquial language and non‐verbal behaviours used by native nurses.

Conclusion

With good integration international nurses may be able to reach their full career potential as professional nurses in their host countries. The adaptation process is a dynamic process that requires effort from both international and native nurses. Thus, any strategies that are developed and implemented must be multifaceted.
Analgesic efficacy of equimolar 50% nitrous oxide/oxygen gas premix (Kalinox®) as compared with a 5% eutectic mixture of lidocaine/prilocaine (EMLA®) in chronic leg ulcer debridement
Authors: Traber Juerg , Held Ulrike , Signer Maria , Huebner Tobias , Arndt Stefan , Neff Thomas A
Published: August 2016

Chronic foot and leg ulcers are a common health problem worldwide. A mainstay of chronic ulcer therapy is sharp mechanical wound debridement requiring potent analgesia. In this prospective, controlled, single‐centre, crossover design study, patients were assigned to either the administration of topical analgesia with 5% lidocaine/prilocaine cream or the inhalation of an analgesic 50% N2O/O2 gas premix. Primary outcome parameter was level of pain at maximum wound depth during debridement as measured by a visual analogue scale. Secondary outcomes included level of pain after debridement, overall duration of treatment session, duration and completeness of debridement, and the patient's subjective perception of analgesic quality during debridement. Pain level increased from 0·60/0·94 (first/second debridement; baseline) to 1·76/2·50 (debridement) with 5% lidocaine/prilocaine and from 1·00/1·35 (baseline) to 3·95/3·29 (debridement) with 50% N2O/O2 gas premix. Patient satisfaction was 90·48%/94·44% (first/second debridement) with topical 5% lidocaine/prilocaine analgesia and 90·48%/76·47% with the inhalation of 50% N2O/O2 gas premix. Debridement was completed in a significantly higher percentage of 85·71%/88·89% (first/second debridement) with 5% lidocaine/prilocaine than with 50% N2O/O2 gas premix (42·86%/58·82%) (odds ratio 6·7; P = 0·001). This study provides sound evidence that analgesia with topically administered 5% lidocaine/prilocaine cream is superior to the use of inhaled 50% N2O/O2 gas premix in chronic leg ulcer debridement.
Multi‐component β‐diversity approach reveals conservation dilemma between species and functions of coral reef fishes
Authors: Loiseau N. , Legras G. , Kulbicki M. , Mérigot B. , Harmelin‐Vivien M. , Mazouni N. , Galzin R. , Gaertner J.C.
Published: August 2016

Aim

We applied a multicomponent approach based on the decomposition of taxonomic (both presence–absence and abundance) and functional beta diversity to determine the influence of ecological factors in shaping spatial distribution diversity of coral reef fishes, and the implications for conservation decisions.

Location

Lagoons of ten atolls characterized by low human pressure but with contrasted geomorphology in the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia.

Methods

We computed beta diversities and their partitioning components, both at local (inter‐transect, from 200 m to 10 km) and large (among atolls, from 22 to 350 km) spatial scales. Null models were applied to test whether the observed beta diversity differed from random expectation. Multiple generalized dissimilarity models were run to test which environmental factors were the best predictors of observed beta diversities.

Results

Beta diversity was indistinguishable from randomness at both spatial scales. Species remained generally interchangeable among transects within an atoll and to some extent among atolls. However, strong deviance explained by models showed that the number of species, the number of individuals and functional traits present in transects and atolls were determined by deterministic factors (i.e. environmental factors). Modelling each beta diversity component separately also revealed partial mismatch among atolls and among species and functional dissimilarities. The influence of environmental variables strongly varied among atolls, species and functional dissimilarities.

Main conclusions

By revealing the spatial scaling of ecological factors and partial congruence among species and functional diversity, assessment of beta diversity provides insight into conservation planning. Our results support the idea that conservation planning applied to protect taxonomic diversity cannot be fully extended to functional diversity. We have addressed the dilemma of which diversity component should be favoured in conservation strategies.