bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The perception of hospital safety culture and selected outcomes among nurses: An exploratory study
Authors: Saleh Ali M. , Darawad Muhammad W. , Al‐Hussami Mahmoud
Published: June 2015

The objectives of this study were to examine nurses' perceptions of the hospital safety culture in Jordan and to identify the relationships between aspects of hospital safety culture and selected safety outcomes. Data from 242 registered nurses in five Jordanian hospitals were analyzed. Aspects of hospital safety culture and outcomes were measured using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. Among various aspects of hospital safety culture, teamwork within units had the highest average percentage of positive responses (49.8%). Additionally, participants reported deficits in other aspects of safety culture, particularly in staffing and nonpunitive response to errors, with average percentages of positive responses of 30.4% and 30.7%, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that 9 of 10 subscales of hospital safety culture were significantly correlated to one or more of the hospital safety outcomes. The findings of this study can help policymakers and healthcare administrators identify the weaknesses and strengths of hospital safety issues in order to propose effective strategies to improve patient safety and quality of care.
Stimulation of synthesis and release of brain‐derived neurotropic factor from intestinal smooth muscle cells by substance P and pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating peptide
Authors: Al‐Qudah M. , Alkahtani R. , Akbarali H. I. , Murthy K. S. , Grider J. R.
Published: June 2015

Background

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin present in the intestine where it participates in survival and growth of enteric neurons, augmentation of enteric circuits, and stimulation of intestinal peristalsis and propulsion. Previous studies largely focused on the role of neural and mucosal BDNF. The expression and release of BDNF from intestinal smooth muscle and the interaction with enteric neuropeptides has not been studied in gut.

Methods

The expression and secretion of BDNF from smooth muscle cultured from the rabbit intestinal longitudinal muscle layer in response to substance P (SP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating peptide (PACAP) was measured by western blot and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. BDNF mRNA was measured by reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Key Results

The expression of BNDF protein and mRNA was greater in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from the longitudinal muscle than from circular muscle layer. PACAP and SP increased the expression of BDNF protein and mRNA in cultured longitudinal SMCs. PACAP and SP also stimulated the secretion of BDNF from cultured longitudinal SMCs. Chelation of intracellular calcium with BAPTA (1,2‐bis‐(o‐aminophenoxy)ethane‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetraacetic acid) prevented SP‐induced increase in BDNF mRNA and protein expression and SP‐induced secretion of BDNF.

Conclusions & Inferences

Neuropeptides known to be present in enteric neurons innervating the longitudinal layer increase the expression of BDNF mRNA and protein in SMCs and stimulate the release of BDNF. Considering the ability of BDNF to enhance smooth muscle contraction, this autocrine loop may partially explain the characteristic hypercontractility of longitudinal muscle in inflammatory bowel disease.
High‐resolution impedance manometry measurement of bolus flow time in achalasia and its correlation with dysphagia
Authors: Lin Z. , Carlson D. A. , Dykstra K. , Sternbach J. , Hungness E. , Kahrilas P. J. , Ciolino J. D. , Pandolfino J. E.
Published: June 2015

Background

We assessed whether a high‐resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) metric, bolus flow time (BFT) across the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), was abnormal in achalasia patients subtyped by the Chicago Classification and compared BFT to other HRM metrics.

Methods

HRIM studies were performed in 60 achalasia patients (14 type I, 36 type II and 10 type III) and 15 healthy controls. Studies were analyzed with a MATLAB program to calculate BFT using a virtual HRIM sleeve. Integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) and basal end‐expiratory EGJ pressure were also calculated. The relationship between BFT and dysphagia symptom scores was assessed using the impaction dysphagia questionnaire (IDQ).

Key Results

Median BFT was significantly lower in achalasia patients (0.5 s, range 0.0–3.5 s) compared to controls (3.5 s, range 2.0–5.0 s; p < 0.05). BFT was significantly lower in types I and II than in type III achalasia in both the supine and upright positions (p < 0.0001). BFT was the only HRIM metric significantly associated with IDQ score in both the supine (R2 = 0.20, p = 0.0046) and upright positions (R2 = 0.27, p = 0.0002).

Conclusions & Inferences

BFT was significantly reduced in all subtypes of achalasia and complementary to the IRP as a diagnostic discriminant in equivocal achalasia cases. Additionally, BFT had a more robust correlation with dysphagia severity compared to other metrics of EGJ function.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supernatant upregulates serotonin transporter expression in intestinal epithelial cells and mice intestinal tissues
Authors: Wang Y. M. , Ge X. Z. , Wang W. Q. , Wang T. , Cao H. L. , Wang B. L. , Wang B. M.
Published: June 2015

Background

The role that probiotics play in relieving irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been demonstrated; however, the mechanism by which IBS is affected remains unclear. In this study, serotonin transporter (SERT) mRNA and serotonin transporter protein (SERT‐P) levels in HT‐29, Caco‐2 cells, and mice intestinal tissues were examined after treatment with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supernatant (LGG‐s).

Methods

HT‐29 and Caco‐2 cells were treated with different concentrations of LGG‐s for 12 and 24 h and C57BL/6 mice received supplements of different concentrations for 4 weeks. SERT mRNA and SERT‐P levels were detected by real‐time PCR and Western blotting.

Key Results

SERT mRNA and SERT‐P levels in HT‐29 and Caco‐2 cells were higher than those in the control 24 h after treatment. Undiluted LGG‐s upregulated SERT mRNA levels by 9.4‐fold in the first week, which dropped in the second week. The double‐diluted LGG‐s upregulated SERT mRNA by 2.07‐fold in the first week; levels dropped to 1.75‐fold within the second week and under base expression levels by the third week, while they again climbed to 1.56‐fold in the fourth week. The triple‐diluted LGG‐s could not upregulate SERT mRNA expression until the end of the fourth week. The SERT‐P levels in the double‐diluted LGG‐s group were higher than that in the control but fluctuated with time. SERT‐P levels in the triple‐diluted LGG‐s were higher than that in the control in the last 2 weeks and increased with time.

Conclusions & Inferences

LGG‐s can upregulate SERT mRNA and SERT‐P levels in intestinal epithelial cells and mice intestinal tissues.
Patients with refractory reflux symptoms often do not have GERD
Authors: Herregods T. V. K. , Troelstra M. , Weijenborg P. W. , Bredenoord A. J. , Smout A. J. P. M.
Published: June 2015

Background

In patients with typical reflux symptoms that persist despite proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) it is sometimes overlooked that treatment fails due to the presence of other disorders than gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to determine the underlying cause of reflux symptoms not responding to PPI therapy in tertiary referral patients.

Methods

Patients with reflux symptoms refractory to PPI therapy who underwent 24‐h pH‐impedance monitoring were analyzed. Patients in whom a diagnosis was already established before referral, who had previous esophageal or gastric surgery, or who had abnormalities on gastroscopy other than hiatus hernia, were excluded.

Key Results

In total, 106 patients were included. Esophageal manometry showed achalasia in two patients and distal esophageal spasm in another two. Twenty‐four‐hour pH‐impedance monitoring revealed a total acid exposure time <6% in 60 patients (56.6%) of which 25 had a positive symptom association probability (SAP) while 35 showed a negative SAP. Sixty‐nine patients ended up with a final diagnosis of GERD while 32 patients (30.2%) were diagnosed with functional heartburn (FH), two with functional chest pain, two with achalasia, and one with rumination. A trend toward an association with a final diagnosis of FH was found with the atypical symptom epigastric pain (p = 0.059) and with a secondary diagnosis of functional dyspepsia (p = 0.083).

Conclusions & Inferences

Approximately one‐third of the patients referred with refractory reflux symptoms suffer from disorders other than GERD, predominantly FH. This explains, at least partly, why many patients will not benefit from acid inhibitory treatment.
Crosstalk between nitric oxide and glutathione is required for NONEXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS‐RELATED GENES 1 (NPR1)‐dependent defense signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Kovacs Izabella , Durner Jörg , Lindermayr Christian
Published: June 2015

Nitric oxide (NO) is a ubiquitous signaling molecule involved in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes in animals and plants. Although its significant influence on plant immunity is well known, information about the exact regulatory mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in the defense response to pathogens is still limited.

We used genetic, biochemical, pharmacological approaches in combination with infection experiments to investigate the NO‐triggered salicylic acid (SA)‐dependent defense response in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The NO donor S‐nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) promoted the nuclear accumulation of NONEXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS‐RELATED GENES 1 (NPR1) protein accompanied by an elevated SA concentration and the activation of pathogenesis‐related (PR) genes, leading to induced resistance of A. thaliana against Pseudomonas infection. Moreover, NO induced a rapid change in the glutathione status, resulting in increased concentrations of glutathione, which is required for SA accumulation and activation of the NPR1‐dependent defense response.

Our data imply crosstalk between NO and glutathione, which is integral to the NPR1‐dependent defense signaling pathway, and further demonstrate that glutathione is not only an important cellular redox buffer but also a signaling molecule in the plant defense response.
Type 1 narcolepsy: a CD8+ T cell–mediated disease?
Authors: Degn Matilda , Kornum Birgitte Rahbek
Published: June 2015

Type 1 narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness with unintentional sleep attacks and cataplexy. The disorder is caused by a loss of hypocretinergic neurons in the brain. The specific loss of these neurons in narcolepsy is thought to result from an autoimmune attack, and this is supported by evidence of both environmental and genetic factors pointing toward an involvement of the immune system. However, definitive proof of an autoimmune etiology is still missing. Several different immune‐mediated disorders targeting neurons are known, and many of these are believed to be caused by autoreactive CD8+ T cells. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on CD8+ T cell–mediated neuronal damage on the basis of our understanding of other autoimmune disorders and experimental studies. We identify major histocompatibility complex class I presentation of autoantigens on neurons as a possible mechanism in the development of the disease, and propose T cell–mediated pathogenesis, with cytotoxic CD8+ T cells targeting the hypocretinergic neurons, as a central element.
Does severe dietary energy restriction increase binge eating in overweight or obese individuals? A systematic review
Authors: da Luz F. Q. , Hay P. , Gibson A. A. , Touyz S. W. , Swinbourne J. M. , Roekenes J. A. , Sainsbury A.
Published: June 2015

Severe dietary energy restriction is often used for overweight or obese individuals to achieve rapid weight loss and related health improvements. However, the extent of putative adverse effects on eating behaviour is unknown. We thus systematically searched seven databases for studies that assessed binge eating before and after severe dietary energy restriction (low or very low energy diets) in overweight or obese individuals. Fifteen clinically supervised interventions from 10 publications (nine of which involved only women) were included. Among individuals with clinically relevant pre‐treatment binge eating disorder, severe dietary energy restriction significantly decreased binge eating in all four interventions involving this population, at least during the weight loss programme. In contrast, no consistent association between severe dietary energy restriction and the onset of bingeing was found in 11 interventions involving individuals without pre‐treatment binge eating disorder, with four such interventions showing significant increases, two showing no change, and five showing significant decreases in binge eating. We conclude that clinically supervised severe dietary energy restriction appears safe and beneficial for overweight or obese individuals with pre‐treatment binge eating disorder, and does not necessarily trigger binge eating in those without binge eating disorder.
Mouse genetic models for temporomandibular joint development and disorders
Authors: Suzuki A , Iwata J
Published: June 2015

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a synovial joint essential for hinge and sliding movements of the mammalian jaw. Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are dysregulations of the muscles or the TMJ in structure, function, and physiology, and result in pain, limited mandibular mobility, and TMJ noise and clicking. Although approximately 40–70% adults in the USA have at least one sign of TMD, the etiology of TMD remains largely unknown. Here, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of TMD in mouse models.
Three‐Dimensional Cardiac Mapping Characterizes Ventricular Contractile Patterns during Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Implant: A Feasibility Study
Authors: NIAZI IMRAN K. , SPERZEL JOHANNES , HEIST EDWIN KEVIN , ROSENBERG STUART P. , RYU KYUNGMOO , YANG MICHAEL , D'AVILA ANDRE , SINGH JAGMEET P.
Published: June 2015

Background

Electroanatomic mapping systems track the position of electrodes in the heart. We assessed the feasibility of characterizing left ventricular (LV) performance during cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implant utilizing an electroanatomic mapping system to track the motion of CRT lead electrodes, thus deriving ventricular contractility surrogates.

Methods

During CRT implant, atrial, right ventricular (RV), and LV leads were connected to the EnSite NavX™ mapping system (St. Jude Medical Inc., St. Paul, MN, USA). The relative displacement of electrodes was averaged over 10 cardiac cycles during RV, LV, and biventricular (BiV) pacing in DOO mode. Three contractility surrogates indicative of ventricular performance were extracted from the RV‐LV distance waveform: systolic slope (SS), time to peak systolic contraction (TPSC), and fractional shortening (FS).

Results

In the 20 patients included, there were detectable differences in each of the three contractility surrogates responding to the different pacing configurations. Median SS varied 42%, median TPSC varied 35%, and median FS varied 19% across RV, LV, and BiV pacing interventions. The RV‐LV distance waveform showed subtle sensitivity to varying pacing timing cycles when measured in a subset of patients. For all pacing configurations, RV‐LV distance waveforms were stable during 2‐minute recordings.

Conclusions

Tracking the motion of CRT pacing electrodes with a mapping system to derive contractility surrogates during implant is feasible.
Comparison of the Effects of Epicardial and Endocardial Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy on Transmural Dispersion of Repolarization
Authors: ÖZCAN EMIN EVREN , SZILAGYI SZABOLCS , SALLO ZOLTAN , MOLNAR LEVENTE , ZIMA ENDRE , SZEPLAKI GABOR , OSZTHEIMER ISTVAN , ÖZTÜRK ALI , MERKELY BÉLA , GELLER LASZLO
Published: June 2015

Background

Despite significant improvements in cardiac output and functional capacity with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), incidence of sudden cardiac death still remains high. Reversal of physiological myocardial activation sequence during epicardial pacing increases the transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR). The aim of this study was to compare the effects of endocardial and epicardial biventricular pacing on repolarization parameters in the same patient group.

Methods

Seven patients who had transseptal endocardial left ventricle (LV) lead placement, in whom epicardial CRT had failed due to coronary sinus (CS) lead dislodgement after successful implantation, were admitted to the study. LV endocardial leads were implanted through the interatrial septum in a lateral position. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were scanned before and after successful epicardial and endocardial biventricular pacing and analyzed using digital calipers. ECG markers of TDR (TpTe and TpTe/QT ratio) were measured and compared.

Results

Baseline QRS durations (161.7 ± 15.9 ms vs 162.2 ± 17.8 ms, P = 0.95), TpTe values (107.1 ± 20.5 ms vs 108.5 ± 17.6 ms, P = 0.89), and TpTe/QT ratios (0.24 ± 0.05 vs 0.24 ± 0.03, P = 0.88) were similar before epicardial and endocardial CRT. QRS interval reduction was similar (–28.3 ± 11.6 ms vs –29.1 ± 11.4 ms, P = 0.89) in both groups. Compared to transseptal endocardial CRT, epicardial CRT was associated with a significant increase in TpTe (17.1 ± 19.5 ms vs –12.6 ± 18.9 ms, P = 0.01) and TpTe/QT ratio (0.03 ± 0.04 vs –0.02 ± 0.03, P = 0.04).

Conclusion

Transseptal LV endocardial pacing is associated with significant reduction in TDR characteristics compared to epicardial pacing in CRT. Further studies are warranted to determine whether these effects may contribute to reduction of arrhythmias in patients with CRT.
Interspecies gene transfer provides soybean resistance to a fungal pathogen
Authors: Langenbach Caspar , Schultheiss Holger , Rosendahl Martin , Tresch Nadine , Conrath Uwe , Goellner Katharina
Published: June 2015

Fungal pathogens pose a major challenge to global crop production. Crop varieties that resist disease present the best defence and offer an alternative to chemical fungicides. Exploiting durable nonhost resistance (NHR) for crop protection often requires identification and transfer of NHR‐linked genes to the target crop. Here, we identify genes associated with NHR of Arabidopsis thaliana to Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the causative agent of the devastating fungal disease called Asian soybean rust. We transfer selected Arabidopsis NHR‐linked genes to the soybean host and discover enhanced resistance to rust disease in some transgenic soybean lines in the greenhouse. Interspecies NHR gene transfer thus presents a promising strategy for genetically engineered control of crop diseases.
Disagreement between parents on assessment of child temperament traits
Authors: Kitamura Toshinori , Ohashi Yukiko , Minatani Mariko , Haruna Megumi , Murakami Mikihiko , Goto Yoshitaka
Published: June 2015

Background

Accuracy of temperament assessment is a prerequisite in research studies. To identify the extent to which parental assessment of child temperament is biased by their personal attributes, we proposed a new structural equation model, in which biases of parental attributes in their assessment of child temperament can be separated from the true (i.e. non‐biased) associations between the two.

Methods

We examined 234 father–mother pairs using questionnaires including Emotionality, Activity, Sociability, and Impulsivity; Social Desirability Scale; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; Temperament and Character Inventory; and State–Trait Anger Expression Inventory.

Results

Paternal Depression and Persistence, maternal Trait Anger, and parental Novelty Seeking showed significant bias in assessment of Emotionality. Maternal Self‐transcendence showed significant bias in assessment of child Impulsivity.

Conclusion

Researchers should be cautious about biases in parental assessment of children's Emotionality and Impulsivity, but other temperament traits may be free from such biases.
Dormancy and germination: How does the crop seed decide?
Authors: Shu K. , Meng Y. J. , Shuai H. W. , Liu W. G. , Du J. B. , Liu J. , Yang W. Y.
Published: June 2015

Whether seeds germinate or maintain dormancy is decided upon through very intricate physiological processes. Correct timing of these processes is most important for the plants life cycle. If moist conditions are encountered, a low dormancy level causes pre‐harvest sprouting in various crop species, such as wheat, corn and rice, this decreases crop yield and negatively impacts downstream industrial processing. In contrast, a deep level of seed dormancy prevents normal germination even under favourable conditions, resulting in a low emergence rate during agricultural production. Therefore, an optimal seed dormancy level is valuable for modern mechanised agricultural systems. Over the past several years, numerous studies have demonstrated that diverse endogenous and environmental factors regulate the balance between dormancy and germination, such as light, temperature, water status and bacteria in soil, and phytohormones such as ABA (abscisic acid) and GA (gibberellic acid). In this updated review, we highlight recent advances regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of seed dormancy and germination processes, including the external environmental and internal hormonal cues, and primarily focusing on the staple crop species. Furthermore, future challenges and research directions for developing a full understanding of crop seed dormancy and germination are also discussed.
Bundling and Scheduling Service Packages with Customer Behavior: Model and Heuristic
Authors: Dixon Michael J. , Thompson Gary M.
Published: June 2015

Past researchers have found evidence that customers consider the sequence of event utility when evaluating past and future service experiences. Specifically, the evidence confirms that the placement of a peak event, the utility of the last event, and the slope of event utility over time all affect customer behavior and perception. We formulate an optimization problem with a focus on optimizing schedule sequence characteristics in order to maximize customer experiences. We discuss possible contexts in which this type of scheduling might be considered and, as an example, present a particularly complex model of a world‐renowned performing arts venue. We solve the problem with a simulated annealing algorithm and further discuss the complexity and opportunities associated with this type of scheduling effort.
Strategic Consumer Cooperation in a Name‐Your‐Own‐Price Channel
Authors: Levina Tatsiana , Levin Yuri , McGill Jeff , Nediak Mikhail
Published: June 2015

Supplier reluctance to openly advertise highly discounted products on the Internet has stimulated development of “opaque” name‐Your‐Own‐Price sales channels. Unfortunately (for suppliers), there is significant potential for online consumers to exploit these channels through collaboration in social networks. In this paper, we study three possible forms of consumer collaboration: exchange of bid result information, coordinated bidding, and coordinated bidding with risk pooling. We propose an egalitarian total utility maximizing mechanism for coordination and risk pooling in a bidding club and describe characteristics of consumers for whom participation in the club makes sense. We show that, in the absence of risk pooling, a plausible bidding club strategy using just information exchange gives almost the same benefits to consumers as coordinated bidding. In contrast, coordinated bidding with risk pooling can lead to significantly increased benefits for consumers. The benefits of risk pooling are highest for consumers with a low tolerance to risk. We also demonstrate that suppliers that actively adjust for such strategic consumer behavior can reduce the impact on their businesses and, under some circumstances, even increase revenues.
Between‐site and ‐year variation in the relative susceptibility of native Scottish Pinus sylvestris populations to dothistroma needle blight
Authors: Fraser S. , Mullett M. S. , Woodward S. , Brown A. V.
Published: June 2015

Dothistroma needle blight (DNB), caused by Dothistroma septosporum, is currently the disease causing most concern in British pine plantations. Previous artificial inoculation (AI) experiments showed that native Scottish Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) populations vary in susceptibility to DNB. However, it is unclear if the relative susceptibility of Scots pine populations observed in these experiments can be replicated under natural conditions. It is also unknown whether relative susceptibility of Scots pine populations varies between sites or years. To answer these two questions, young Scots pine plants from six native Scottish populations (Abernethy, Allt Broighleachan, Amat, Beinn Eighe, Glen Cannich and Glen Loyne) were exposed to natural D. septosporum inoculum at two Scottish sites (Culbin and Torrs Warren) between 2012 and 2014. DNB disease incidence and severity was assessed each October. Relative susceptibilities of the Scots pine populations varied between sites and across years. In two of the three years at Torrs Warren (2012 and 2014), the relative susceptibilities of the populations were strongly positively correlated with those observed in previous AI experiments. In these years, trees from Glen Loyne and Glen Cannich were the most susceptible. Conversely, there was no correlation between the relative susceptibilities seen in any year at Culbin with those observed in AI experiments. At Culbin, Beinn Eighe was the most susceptible population. Across both sites, there was a strong positive relationship between total summer precipitation and DNB severity (R = 0·93, t = 8·2, P = 0·001).
Overexpression of MdSOS2L1, a CIPK protein kinase, increases the antioxidant metabolites to enhance salt tolerance in apple and tomato
Authors: Hu Da‐Gang , Ma Qi‐Jun , Sun Cui‐Hui , Sun Mei‐Hong , You Chun‐Xiang , Hao Yu‐Jin
Published: June 2015

Soil salinity hinders the growth of most higher plants and becomes a gradually increasing threat to the agricultural production of such crops as the woody plant apple. In this study, a calcineurin B-like protein (CBL)‐interacting protein kinase, MdCIPK24‐LIKE1 (named as MdSOS2L1), was identified. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) assay revealed that the expression of MdSOS2L1 was upregulated by CaCl2. Yeast two‐hybrid (Y2H) assay and transiently transgenic analysis demonstrated that the MdSOS2L1 protein kinase physically interacted with MdCBL1, MdCBL4 and MdCBL10 proteins to increase salt tolerance in apple. Furthermore, iTRAQ proteome combined with liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis found that several proteins, which are involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, procyanidin biosynthesis and malate metabolism, were induced in MdSOS2L1‐overexpressing apple plants. Subsequent studies have shown that MdSOS2L1 increased antioxidant metabolites such as procyanidin and malate to improve salt tolerance in apple and tomato. In summary, our studies provide a mechanism in which SOS2L1 enhances the salt stress tolerance in apple and tomato.
Relaxation training assisted by heart rate variability biofeedback: Implication for a military predeployment stress inoculation protocol
Authors: Lewis Gregory F. , Hourani Laurel , Tueller Stephen , Kizakevich Paul , Bryant Stephanie , Weimer Belinda , Strange Laura
Published: June 2015

Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms, but PTSD's effects on the autonomic stress response and the potential influence of HRV biofeedback in stress relaxation training on improving PTSD symptoms are not well understood. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of a predeployment stress inoculation training (PRESTINT) protocol on physiologic measures of HRV in a large sample of the military population randomly assigned to experimental HRV biofeedback‐assisted relaxation training versus a control condition. PRESTINT altered the parasympathetic regulation of cardiac activity, with experimental subjects exhibiting greater HRV, that is, less arousal, during a posttraining combat simulation designed to heighten arousal. Autonomic reactivity was also found to be related to PTSD and self‐reported use of mental health services. Future PRESTINT training could be appropriate for efficiently teaching self‐help skills to reduce the psychological harm following trauma exposure by increasing the capacity for parasympathetically modulated reactions to stress and providing a coping tool (i.e., relaxation method) for use following a stressful situation.
Social proof in the human brain: Electrophysiological signatures of agreement and disagreement with the majority
Authors: Schnuerch Robert , Gibbons Henning
Published: June 2015

Perceiving one's deviance from the majority usually instigates conformal adjustments of one's own behavior to that of the group. Using ERPs, we investigated the mechanisms by which agreeing and disagreeing with the majority are differentially represented in the human brain and affect subsequent cognitive processing. Replicating previous findings obtained in a slightly different paradigm, we found that learning about one's disagreement with the majority, as compared to learning about one's agreement with the majority, elicited a mediofrontal feedback negativity. Moreover, an enhanced posterior late positive complex was observed during the processing of agreement as compared to disagreement. Finally, when the to‐be‐judged faces were viewed for a second time, a stronger posterior P2 was observed for faces on whose judgment one had previously agreed with the majority than for those on which one had disagreed. We thus demonstrate that the brain places particular emphasis on the encoding of the rewarding experience of finding strong social proof for one's judgments. Likewise, having experienced agreement on the judgment of a certain item affects even the later reanalysis of this very item, as previous agreement increases early attention, as reflected in the P2. These findings corroborate and extend previous results and theories on the neurocognitive principles of social influence.
Aetiology and clinical characteristics of patients with bronchiectasis in a Chinese Han population: A prospective study
Authors: Qi Qian , Wang Wen , Li Tao , Zhang Yan , Li Yu
Published: June 2015

Background and objective

Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease with diverse causes that may differ in clinical features and thus treatment options. However, few large‐scale studies on the aetiology of bronchiectasis are currently available. This study aims to determine aetiology and clinical features of bronchiectasis in a Chinese Han population.

Methods

This prospective study enrolled adult patients diagnosed with bronchiectasis as confirmed by high‐resolution computed tomography at five general hospitals in Shandong from January 2010 to August 2014. Causes of bronchiectasis were sought by analysis of clinical history and auxiliary examinations (including serum immunoglobulin determination, saccharin test, Aspergillus skin prick test, autoantibody detection and electronic bronchoscopy).

Results

A total of 476 adult patients with bronchiectasis were included, and all patients were of Chinese Han ethnicity. Idiopathic (66.0%) was the most common cause, followed by post‐tuberculosis (16.0%). Other uncommon causes included post‐infective (3.8%), immunodeficiency (3.8%), allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (4.0%), rheumatic diseases (4.4%) and primary ciliary dyskinesia (0.9%). Patients with post‐tuberculosis bronchiectasis had a higher frequency of upper lobe involvement (P < 0.05). Cylindrical bronchiectasis was the most common type of all causes, with varicose bronchiectasis occurring more frequently in post‐tuberculosis bronchiectasis and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (P < 0.05). However, patients with different causes did not differ in lung function and sputum isolation rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

In a Chinese Han population in Shandong, idiopathic bronchiectasis is the most common form of bronchiectasis followed by post‐tuberculosis bronchiectasis. Patients with different causes differ in distribution and pattern of bronchiectasis on computed tomography.
Modelling the Link Between US Inflation and Output: The Importance of the Uncertainty Channel
Authors: Conrad Christian , Karanasos Menelaos
Published: June 2015

This article employs an augmented version of the UECCC GARCH specification proposed in Conrad and Karanasos (2010) which allows for lagged in‐mean effects, level effects as well as asymmetries in the conditional variances. In this unified framework, we examine the twelve potential intertemporal relationships among inflation, growth and their respective uncertainties using US data. We find that high inflation is detrimental to output growth both directly and indirectly via the nominal uncertainty. Output growth boosts inflation but mainly indirectly through a reduction in real uncertainty. Our findings highlight how macroeconomic performance affects nominal and real uncertainty in many ways and that the bidirectional relation between inflation and growth works to a large extent indirectly via the uncertainty channel.
The Effects of Incidence of Care Needs in Households on Employment, Subjective Health, and Life Satisfaction among Middle‐aged Family Members
Authors: Fukahori Ryotaro , Sakai Tadashi , Sato Kazuma
Published: June 2015

In this study, based on longitudinal data, we investigate whether Japanese middle‐aged men and women become less likely to have a job and whether their sense of well‐being decreases when they have a family member who needs care. We find a consistent negative impact of having a family member who needs care on employment, but no impact on subjective health and life satisfaction. Further, the differences‐in‐differences (DID) estimation, based on both unmatched and matched data, shows that the Long‐Term Care Insurance (LTCI) introduced in 2000 did not mitigate the adverse impact on the probability of being employed.
Revisiting the Effects of Remittances on Bank Credit: A Macro Perspective
Authors: Brown Richard P.C. , Carmignani Fabrizio
Published: June 2015

We investigate the effect of remittances on bank credit in developing countries. Understanding this link is important in view of the growing relevance of remittances as a source of external finance and of the beneficial impact that financial intermediation is likely to have on economic growth. Our contribution is twofold. First, we present a theoretical model of bank credit in a hypothetical remittances‐receiving country where: (1) the banking sector is imperfectly competitive; and (2) bank rates change infrequently because of the presence of adjustment costs. We show that in equilibrium, the relationship between remittances and bank‐credit is likely to be non‐linear. Second, we look at the evidence using a panel data set for a large group of developing and emerging economies over the period 1970–2009. We find that at initially low levels of remittances, an increase in remittances reduces the volume of credit extended by banks. However, at sufficiently high levels of remittances, the effect becomes positive. The turning point of the relationship occurs at a level of remittances of about 2.5% of GDP, which would imply that approximately 50% of our sample lies to each side of this threshold.
Regime Dependent Effects of Inflation Uncertainty on Real Growth: A Markov Switching Approach
Authors: Caglayan Mustafa , Kocaaslan Ozge Kandemir , Mouratidis Kostas
Published: June 2015

We empirically investigate the effects of inflation uncertainty on output growth for the United States between 1960 and 2012. Modeling output dynamics within a Markov regime switching framework, we provide evidence that inflation uncertainty exerts a negative and regime‐dependent impact on output growth. A battery of sensitivity checks confirm our findings.
Low Inflation vs. Stable Inflation: Evidence from the UK, 1688–2009
Authors: Karras Georgios
Published: June 2015

This paper investigates the relationship between inflation and inflation volatility. Using annual data from 1688 to 2009, the results show that UK inflation and its volatility have been positively correlated when inflation exceeds a certain value, but negatively correlated when inflation is below this threshold. The evidence also suggests that the break in the relationship occurs between annual inflation rates of 0.6% and 5.5%, which includes both the 2% inflation target of many central banks, and the 3.5% break point predicted by the New Keynesian model of Coibionet al. (2012).
Factors that Influence Chaplains’ Suicide Intervention Behavior in the Army
Authors: Ramchand Rajeev , Ayer Lynsay , Geyer Lily , Kofner Aaron
Published: June 2015

We surveyed 868 Army chaplains and 410 chaplain assistants (CAs) about their role in identifying, caring for, and referring soldiers at risk of suicide to behavioral health care. We applied structural equation modeling to identify how behaviors and attitudes related to intervention behavior. In both samples, reluctance and stigma were related to intervention behaviors; efficacy was correlated with intervention behaviors only among chaplains. Training was associated with increased efficacy and lower levels of stigma among chaplains. Improved training may be warranted, but research needs to identify why chaplains and CAs are reluctant to refer soldiers in distress to behavioral health care.
Autofluorescence of eccrine sweat glands
Authors: Zhao HL. , Chen Y. , Zhao HJ. , Tan ZJ. , Zhang CP. , Fu XB. , Ma K.
Published: June 2015

Background/Purpose

The monitoring of autofluorescence in skin tissue samples can have diagnostic and therapy significance. In this study, we are the first to describe autofluorescence of eccrine sweat glands, which is important and helpful for the diagnosis and therapy of diseases that involve the eccrine sweat glands.

Methods

Eccrine sweat gland autofluorescence in haematoxylin‐eosin (HE) stained skin tissue sections was observed under a fluorescence microscope, which was compared to the immunofluorescence of keratin 19 and 15 in the skin tissue sections. The single eccrine sweat glands from five volunteers including three males and two females were isolated and also observed under a fluorescence microscope. The autofluorescence intensity of the single eccrine sweat gland was measured using a laser confocal scanning microscope system.

Results

Eccrine sweat gland autofluorescence in HE stained skin tissue sections appears green under GFP fliter system (470/40 nm) and red under N2.1 fliter system (515–560 nm). Furthermore, the single eccrine sweat gland showed various autofluorescence colours, including green under wide blue and red under wide green. The autofluorescence intensity of the single eccrine sweat gland was measured. The spectrum excited at 488 nm exhibited two peaks located at approximately 530 nm (11.54 ± 4.66) and 590 nm (10.38 ± 4.33). The results suggest flavin and lipopigment as the endogenous fluorophores.

Conclusion

The autofluorescence of the HE stained eccrine sweat gland sections is simple and helpful for easily determining the structure of eccrine sweat glands. The autofluorescence of the single eccrine sweat gland may be due to the existence of flavin and lipopigment.
Materials used to simulate physical properties of human skin
Authors: Dąbrowska A. K. , Rotaru G.‐M. , Derler S. , Spano F. , Camenzind M. , Annaheim S. , Stämpfli R. , Schmid M. , Rossi R. M.
Published: June 2015

Background

For many applications in research, material development and testing, physical skin models are preferable to the use of human skin, because more reliable and reproducible results can be obtained.

Purpose

This article gives an overview of materials applied to model physical properties of human skin to encourage multidisciplinary approaches for more realistic testing and improved understanding of skin–material interactions.

Methods

The literature databases Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched using the terms ‘skin model’, ‘skin phantom’, ‘skin equivalent’, ‘synthetic skin’, ‘skin substitute’, ‘artificial skin’, ‘skin replica’, and ‘skin model substrate.’ Articles addressing material developments or measurements that include the replication of skin properties or behaviour were analysed.

Results

It was found that the most common materials used to simulate skin are liquid suspensions, gelatinous substances, elastomers, epoxy resins, metals and textiles. Nano‐ and micro‐fillers can be incorporated in the skin models to tune their physical properties.

Conclusion

While numerous physical skin models have been reported, most developments are research field‐specific and based on trial‐and‐error methods. As the complexity of advanced measurement techniques increases, new interdisciplinary approaches are needed in future to achieve refined models which realistically simulate multiple properties of human skin.
Analysis of comedone, sebum and porphyrin on the face and body for comedogenicity assay
Authors: Baek J. H. , Ahn S. M. , Choi K. M. , Jung M. K. , Shin M. K. , Koh J. S.
Published: June 2015

Background/Purpose

Many ingredients used in cosmetics evoke a comedogenic response. Rabbit ear model (REM) is a useful method that can replace human in examining materials and products in early developmental stage. However, a number of studies pointed out its disadvantage that it overreacts to comedogenic materials. The purpose of this study was to find the most appropriate region for evaluating comedogenicity in human skin.

Methods

Sixty‐six female subjects (age 32.48 ± 10 years; range 20–52 years) with mild to moderate facial acne lesions were included in this study. The whole face, upper chest, and back of volunteers were photographed. Lesion (closed and open comedones) counting, instrumentation of sebum secretion level, and analysis of porphyrin number were performed. The entire study was performed under environmental conditions of specific relative temperature and humidity, controlled and maintained identically for each volunteer.

Results

In case of closed comedone, forehead showed a significant correlation with frontal cheek, lateral cheek, chin, and upper back. Meanwhile, significant correlations were observed between frontal cheek and chin as well as lateral cheek and chest. As for open comedone, forehead showed a significant correlation with chin site. A significant correlation was also observed between front cheek and lateral cheek as well as between upper chest and back. Analyzing the correlation between the occurrence of comedones and sebum in each region, a significant correlation between closed comedone and sebum was observed in frontal and lateral cheek. Analyzing the correlation between the occurrence of comedones and porphyrine in each region, a significant correlation between open comedone and porphyrin was observed in chin.

Conclusion

When evaluating the comedogenicity of cosmetics ingredients or products, this study recommends using both of the methods of testing on back and directly testing on face according to the characteristics of the materials. In case of mild potent ingredients or products in particular, verification through usability test that the directly test on face will help securing reliability.
Public Officials and a “Private” Matter: Attitudes and Policies in the County Sheriff Office Regarding Violence Against Women*
Authors: Farris Emily M. , Holman Mirya R.
Published: June 2015

Objective

This article examines sheriffs’ attitudes and their offices’ policies concerning violence against women and assesses the connection between their attitudes and policies.

Methods

Using data from an original, national survey completed in the fall of 2012 of elected sheriffs (N = 553), we evaluate a battery of rape and domestic violence myths and examine the presence of various violence against women policies.

Results

We find that many sheriffs express belief in inaccurate myths concerning violence against women. We find strong connections between sheriffs’ attitudes about women's equality and their attitudes about violence against women. In turn, their attitudes about gender‐based violence relate to training and policies for addressing these cases.

Conclusion

In an office like that of the sheriff, with both bureaucratic and political elements, attitudes of political leaders influence policies. Our findings suggest an important connection between elected officials’ attitudes and policy actions beyond the traditional legislative arena.
A Point‐wise Approach to the Analysis of Complex Composite Structures Using Digital Image Correlation and Thermoelastic Stress Analysis
Authors: Crammond G. , Boyd S. W. , Dulieu‐Barton J. M.
Published: June 2015

Thermoelastic stress analysis (TSA) and digital image correlation (DIC) are used to examine the stress and strain distributions around the geometric discontinuity in a composite double butt strap joint. A well‐known major limitation in conducting analysis using TSA is that it provides a metric that is only related to the sum of the principal stresses and cannot provide the component stresses/strains. The stress metric is related to the thermoelastic response by a combination of material properties known as the thermoelastic constant (coefficient of thermal expansion divided by density and specific heat). The thermoelastic constant is usually obtained by a calibration process. For calibration purposes when using orthotropic materials, it is necessary to obtain the thermoelastic constant in the principal material directions, as the principal stress directions for a general structure are unknown. Often, it is assumed that the principal stress directions are coincident with the principal material directions. Clearly, this assumption is not valid in complex stress systems, and therefore, a means of obtaining the thermoelastic constants in the principal stress directions is required. Such a region is that in the neighbourhood of the discontinuities in a bonded lap joint. A methodology is presented that employs a point‐wise manipulation of the thermoelastic constants from the material directions to the principal stress directions using full‐field DIC strain data obtained from the neighbourhood of the discontinuity. A comparison of stress metrics generated from the TSA and DIC data is conducted to provide an independent experimental validation of the two‐dimensional DIC analysis. The accuracy of a two‐dimensional plane strain finite element model representing the joint is assessed against the two experimental data sets. Excellent agreement is found between the experimental and numerical results in the adhesive layer; the adhesive is the only component of the joint where the material properties were not obtained experimentally. The reason for the discrepancy is discussed in the paper.
Modelling the long‐term deformation of the sedimentary substrate of Mt. Etna volcano (Italy)
Authors: Scudero Salvatore , De Guidi Giorgio , Imposa Sebastiano , Currenti Gilda
Published: June 2015

This study investigates in detail the deformation events that have affected the sedimentary successions forming the substrate of Mt. Etna volcano (Italy). Based on the geometric reconstruction of a buried sedimentary marker, we have been able to identify and quantify the effects of three different mechanisms of deformation that have affected the area in the last 600 ka. Numerical results from Finite Element Method (FEM) applied to model viscoelastic deformation suggest the occurrence of a crustal doming process originating at the mantle‐crust transition (~16 km). We propose that the source of deformation is related to the diapiric uprise of hydrothermal material originating in altered ocean‐like crust and its emplacement at a shallower level in the crust. This process has great relevance in the volcanic system and should be considered for the full assessment of its origin and evolution.