bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mobilization by Different Means: Nativity and GOTV in the United States
Authors: Michelson Melissa R. , Bedolla Lisa García
Published: March 2014

We compare the impact of 15 randomized get-out-the-vote (GOTV) field experiments on naturalized and U.S.-born voters. We find that mobilization increased turnout among U.S.-born Latinos, but had no measurable effect among Latino naturalized citizens. In contrast, GOTV increased turnout among naturalized Asian Americans but had no measureable effect among U.S.-born Asian Americans. Race politics scholars have long argued that the terms we use to describe ethnoracial groups mask significant internal heterogeneity. We show how this heterogeneity affects voter mobilization, demonstrating the importance of seeing nativity and national origin as critical lines of demarcation that affect how certain individuals are mobilized to participate in politics. 2
Prevalence of molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in Singaporean children
Authors: Ng Jing Jing , Eu Oy Chu , Nair Rahul , Hong Catherine Hsu Ling
Published: March 2014

Background

There is a lack of data on molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in Asia, but this is not an indication that MIH is rare in the Asian population. Early identification of MIH is important as affected teeth frequently display post‐eruptive enamel loss which would result in rapid caries progression.

Aim

This objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of MIH in Singaporean children.

Design

Patients were recruited from 30 schools across Singapore. All children were examined by a single dentist, and the judgement criteria used were based on the 2003 European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry criteria.

Results

A total of 1083 children; average age of 7.7 ± 0.3 years were examined. One hundred and thirty‐five children (12.5%) had MIH. A significantly higher proportion of children of the Malay ethnicity had MIH, compared to Chinese children (P = 0.02). Post‐eruptive enamel breakdown and the presence of atypical restorations were correlated with increasing number of MIH teeth/child (Rho= 0.599, P < 0.001) and the cumulative enamel opacity colour score (Rho = 0.601, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest the role of ethnicity in MIH occurrence and that MIH severity may be influenced by the number of MIH teeth/child and the cumulative enamel opacity colour score.
The effect of botulinum neurotoxin type A on capsule formation around silicone implants: the in vivo and in vitro study
Authors: Lee Sang D , Yi Min‐Hee , Kim Dong W , Lee Young , Choi YoungWoong , Oh Sang‐Ha
Published: March 2014

This study confirms that botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT‐A) decreases capsular contracture and elucidates a possible mechanism. Silicone blocks were implanted subcutaneously in 20 mice. The experimental groups received BoNT‐A (1, 2·5 or 5 U) instilled into the subcutaneous pocket. After 30 days, periprosthetic capsules were harvested and evaluated. The effect of BoNT‐A on the differentiation of human dermal fibroblasts to myofibroblasts in culture was examined by Western blot analysis. Changes in transforming growth factor‐beta1 (TGF‐β1) expression in cultured fibroblasts were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In in vivo study, the thickness of capsules (P < 0·05) and the number of alpha‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA)+ cells in capsules (P < 0·05) were significantly decreased in the experimental groups. TGF‐β1 was significantly underexpressed in the experimental groups (P < 0·05). In in vitro study, BoNT‐A did not significantly affect fibroblast viability. Western blot analysis showed that α‐SMA protein levels were significantly decreased in the experimental groups (P < 0·05). Based on ELISA, the amount of TGF‐β1 was significantly decreased in the experimental groups (P < 0·05), especially cells treated with a high dose of BoNT‐A (P < 0·001). This study confirms that BoNT‐A prevents capsular formation around silicone implants, possibly by blocking TGF‐β1 signalling and interrupting the differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts.
A prospective, open, multicentre study to evaluate a new gelling fibre dressing containing silver in the management of venous leg ulcers
Authors: Forlee Martin , Rossington Alan , Searle Richard
Published: March 2014

This study investigated the performance of a new gelling fibre dressing containing silver (DURAFIBER™ Ag; Smith & Nephew, Hull, UK) in moderate to highly exuding venous leg ulcers with one or more clinical signs of infection. Fourteen patients with venous leg ulceration of median ulcer duration 12·5 weeks, recruited from three centres in South Africa, received treatment with the new dressing for a maximum of 8 weeks. Multilayer compression bandaging was used for all patients, at the majority of assessments. The objectives of this study were to assess the clinical acceptability of the dressing in terms of the following characteristics: antimicrobial properties, the progress of the wound towards healing, wear time, exudate management, conformability, patient comfort, pain on application, pain on removal and dressing integrity. The new dressing was rated as clinically acceptable for all characteristics, for all 14 patients (100%). It was easy to apply and remove; in 96·8% of removals, the dressing stayed intact on removal and could be removed in one piece. Fifty per cent of the wounds healed within the 8‐week study duration; between baseline and final assessment, the median percentage reduction in wound area was 98·2% and the median percentage reduction in devitalised tissue was 78%. Exudate levels and wound pain were significantly improved at final assessment compared to baseline assessment, and an increase in the number of patients with healthy peri‐wound skin between baseline and final assessment was observed. A reduction in bioburden and signs of clinical infection and an improvement in quality of life were observed over the 8‐week period. The average wear time was 6·4 days. This study supports the use of new dressing in the management of moderately to highly exuding venous leg ulcers with clinical signs of infection.
Effect of TGO Thickness on Thermal Cyclic Lifetime and Failure Mode of Plasma‐Sprayed TBCs
Authors: Dong Hui , Yang Guan‐Jun , Li Cheng‐Xin , Luo Xiao‐Tao , Li Chang‐Jiu
Published: March 2014

Gradient thermal cycling test was performed on atmospheric plasma‐sprayed (APS) thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) with different thermally grown oxide (TGO) thicknesses. The TBCs with a thickness of TGO from 1.3 μm to 7.7 μm were prepared by controlling isothermal oxidation time of cold‐sprayed MCrAlY bond coat. The gradient thermal cycling test was performed at a peak surface temperature of 1150°C with 150°C difference across 250 μm thick YSZ with a duration of 240 s for each cycle. Results indicate that the thermal cyclic lifetime of APS TBCs is significantly influenced by TGO thickness. When initial TGO thickness increases from 1.3 μm to 7.7 μm, the thermal cyclic lifetime decreases following a power functions by a factor of about 20. It was revealed that there exists a critical TGO thickness over which the thermal cyclic lifetime is reduced more significantly with the increase in TGO thickness. Moreover, two typical failure modes were observed. The failure mode changes from the cracking within APS YSZ at a TGO thickness less than the critical value to through YSZ/TGO interface at TGO thickness range higher than the critical value.
Novel Temperature Stable Li2MnO3 Dielectric Ceramics with High Q for LTCC Applications
Authors: Tseng Ching‐Fang , Tseng Po‐Ju , Chang Chi‐Min , Kao Yu‐Chieh
Published: March 2014

Novel microwave dielectric ceramics in the Li2MnO3 system with high Q prepared through a conventional solid‐state route had been investigated. All the specimens exhibited single phase ceramics sintered in the temperature range 1140°C–1230°C. The microwave dielectric properties of Li2MnO3 ceramics were strongly correlated with sintering temperature and density. The best microwave dielectric properties of εr = 13.6, Q × f = 97 000 (GHz), and τf = −5.2 ppm/°C could be obtained as sintered at 1200°C for 4 h. BaCu(B2O5) (BCB) could effectively lower the sintering temperature from 1200°C to 930°C and slightly induced degradation of the microwave dielectric properties. The Li2MnO3 ceramics doped with 2 wt% BaCu(B2O5) had excellent dielectric properties of εr = 11.9, Q × f = 80 600 (GHz), and τf = 0 ppm/°C. With low sintering temperature and good dielectric properties, the BCB added Li2MnO3 ceramics are suitable candidates for LTCC applications in wireless communication system.
Evaluating the psychometric properties of the Jacelon Attributed Dignity Scale
Authors: Jacelon Cynthia S. , Choi Jeungok
Published: March 2014

Aim

To develop and psychometrically test the Jacelon Attributed Dignity Scale (JADS).

Background

TheJADSwas designed to measure self‐perceived attributed dignity in community‐dwelling older adults. Attributed dignity was conceived of as a state characteristic of the self. TheJADSis a short, positively scored, norm‐referenced, evaluation index designed to measure self‐perceived attributed dignity during the last week.

Design

Instrument development and testing including psychometric properties, internal consistency, factor structure, temporal stability and construct validity.

Method

Using a quota sample, 289 older adults (65–99 years old) were recruited from senior centres in western New England to complete theJADS, demographic information, the Self‐Esteem Scale and the Social Desirability Scale during 2010–2011. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, construct validity and temporal stability were evaluated.

Results

The resulting positively scored 18‐item scale has four factors with high internal consistency for each factor and the entire scale. Construct validity was established by examining correlations with instruments that measured self‐esteem and social desirability. Attributed dignity is a unique concept that is stable over time.

Conclusion

TheJADSis an 18‐item Likert‐scaled instrument designed to measure attributed dignity. Attributed dignity is a concept with four factors and is defined as a cognitive component of the selfconnoting self‐value, perceived value from others, self in relation to others and behaving with respect. The importance of attributed dignity for older adults in relation to health, function, independence, quality of life and successful ageing can now be evaluated.
TSC2 epigenetic defect in primary LAM cells. Evidence of an anchorage‐independent survival
Authors: Lesma Elena , Ancona Silvia , Sirchia Silvia M. , Orpianesi Emanuela , Grande Vera , Colapietro Patrizia , Chiaramonte Eloisa , Di Giulio Anna Maria , Gorio Alfredo
Published: March 2014

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is caused by mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 genes. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) can be sporadic or associated with TSC and is characterized by widespread pulmonary proliferation of abnormal α‐smooth muscle (ASM)‐like cells. We investigated the features of ASM cells isolated from chylous thorax of a patient affected by LAM associated with TSC, named LAM/TSC cells, bearing a germline TSC2 mutation and an epigenetic defect causing the absence of tuberin. Proliferation of LAM/TSC cells is epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐dependent and blockade of EGF receptor causes cell death as we previously showed in cells lacking tuberin. LAM/TSC cells spontaneously detach probably for the inactivation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Akt/mTOR pathway and display the ability to survive independently from adhesion. Non‐adherent LAM/TSC cells show an extremely low proliferation rate consistent with tumour stem‐cell characteristics. Moreover, LAM/TSC cells bear characteristics of stemness and secrete high amount of interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐8. Anti‐EGF receptor antibodies and rapamycin affect proliferation and viability of non‐adherent cells. In conclusion, the understanding of LAM/TSC cell features is important in the assessment of cell invasiveness in LAM and TSC and should provide a useful model to test therapeutic approaches aimed at controlling their migratory ability.
Rediscovery of Acanthobrama hadiyahensis (Cyprinidae) in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Hamidan N. , Aloufi A.
Published: March 2014

This study documents the rediscovery of Acanthobrama hadiyahensis in Saudi Arabia and the first report since it was described in 1983. One female and one juvenile were collected from Qusaiba'a Dam, in the Al‐Thamad area of Khaybar City. Threats facing this species are the same as those facing all other freshwater fishes in Arabia, mainly habitat loss and damming.
Salmonella sp. Occurrence in Minced Meat, Meat Preparations and Mechanically Separated Meat in Poland
Authors: Modzelewska‐Kapituła Monika , Maj‐Sobotka Katarzyna
Published: March 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of Salmonella sp. in raw meat products such as porcine and bovine minced meat, meat preparations including chopped, gourmet and grill porcine meat, bovine gourmet and stew meat, poultry products such as gourmet and chopped turkey, mechanically separated poultry meat and porcine fresh sausages (n = 1,943). Salmonella sp. occurred in 2.9% of the tested products. The bacteria were absent in bovine and porcine minced meat (0/300) and bovine meat preparations (0/55); whereas, Salmonella sp. occurred in 0.4% (1/260) of porcine meat preparations and in 0.7% (2/305) of fresh sausages. The highest prevalence of the pathogen was noted in poultry products such as poultry meat preparations (5.5%, 50/913) and mechanically separated meat (3.6%, 4/110).

Practical Applications

The present study demonstrates that poultry meat preparations and mechanically separated poultry meat are more frequent carriers of Salmonella sp. than porcine and bovine meat products. Thus, special attention shall be given to hygienic conditions and appropriate thermal treatment during the processing of poultry meat in meat processing plants and households to avoid cross‐contamination. The information contained in this article may also be useful for national and international food safety regulatory officials.
Macrophages and CNS remyelination
Authors: Miron Veronique E. , Franklin Robin J. M.
Published: March 2014

Microglia are the resident macrophages of the central nervous system that survey the microenvironment for signals of injury or infection. The response to such signals induces an inflammatory response involving macrophages derived from both resident microglia and recruited circulating monocytes. Although implicated as contributors to autoimmune‐mediated injury, microglia/ macrophages have recently been shown to be critical for the important central nervous system regenerative process of remyelination. This functional dichotomy may reflect their ability to be polarized along a continuum of activation states including the well‐characterized cytotoxic M1 and regenerative M2 phenotypes. Here, we review the roles of microglia, monocytes and the macrophages which they give rise to in creating lesion environments favourable to remyelination, highlighting the specific roles of M1 and M2 phenotypes and how the pro‐regenerative role of the innate immune system is altered by ageing.

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Here, we review the roles of microglia, monocytes and the macrophages, which they give rise to in creating lesion environments favourable to remyelination, highlighting the specific roles of activation phenotypes and how the pro‐regenerative role of the innate immune system is altered by ageing.
Down‐regulation of serum gonadotropins but not estrogen replacement improves cognition in aged‐ovariectomized 3xTg AD female mice
Authors: Palm Russell , Chang Jaewon , Blair Jeffrey , Garcia‐Mesa Yoelvis , Lee Hyoung‐gon , Castellani Rudy J. , Smith Mark A. , Zhu Xiongwei , Casadesus Gemma
Published: March 2014

Development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been linked to the de‐regulation of estrogen and gonadotropins such as luteinizing hormone (LH). In this study, we found increases in AD pathology in the hippocampi of aged female 3xTg AD mice after ovariectomy that were unable to be reduced by estrogen therapy or down‐regulation of serum LH levels. Despite the lack of effect of these treatments on AD pathology, down‐regulation of serum LH but not estrogen improved factors associated with neuronal plasticity such as spatial memory, inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase‐3 beta, expression of beta‐catenin, and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor transcription. Contrasting previous studies in younger mice, estrogen replacement was not able to rescue behavioral deficits, reduced glycogen synthase kinase‐3 beta inhibition and increased hippocampal phosphorylation of tau. Of critical importance, serum LH was negatively correlated with brain LH in regions associated with spatial memory, and increases in brain LH correlated with cognitive improvement. This paralleled changes in human female AD brains which showed a significant reduction in brain LH mRNA compared to healthy age‐ and PMI‐matched controls. Taken together, these findings should promote further research into the LH‐dependent mechanisms associated with AD cognitive deficits as well as the effects of estrogen within the aged brain.

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In the aged triple transgenic Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model (3xAD‐Tg), estrogen replacement after ovariectomy does not improve cognitive function, increases phosphorylated Tau levels and decreases inhibition of GSK3 beta. Luprolide acetate rescues ovariectomy‐dependent cognitive function, increases signaling events associated with synaptic plasticity including GSK3 beta inhibition, but does not alter AD pathology. In the human AD female brain, luteinizing hormone (LH) mRNA levels are reduced. In the 3XAD‐tg model, brain LH protein levels are reduced by ovariectomy and normalized by leuprolide acetate treatment. These treatment‐dependent normalization of LH positively correlates with markers of neuroplasticity and cognitive improvement.
2‐Methoxyestradiol confers neuroprotection and inhibits a maladaptive HIF‐1α response after traumatic brain injury in mice
Authors: Schaible Eva‐Verena , Windschügl Julia , Bobkiewicz Wiesia , Kaburov Yordan , Dangel Larissa , Krämer Tobias , Huang Changsheng , Sebastiani Anne , Luh Clara , Werner Christian , Engelhard Kristin , Thal Serge C. , Schäfer Michael K.E.
Published: March 2014

HIF‐1α is pivotal for cellular homeostasis in response to cerebral ischemia. Pharmacological inhibition of HIF‐1α may reduce secondary brain damage by targeting post‐translational mechanisms associated with its proteasomal degradation and nuclear translocation. This study examined the neuroprotective effects of 2‐methoxyestradiol (2ME2), the involved HIF‐1α‐dependent response, and alternative splicing in exon 14 of HIF‐1α (HIF‐1α∆Ex14) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice. Intraperitoneal 2ME2 administration 30 min after TBI caused a dose‐dependent reduction in secondary brain damage after 24 h. 2ME2 was physiologically tolerated, showed no effects on immune cell brain migration, and mitigated trauma‐induced brain expression of neuropathologically relevant HIF‐1α target genes encoding for Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Moreover, TBI‐induced expression of pro‐apoptotic BNIP3 was attenuated by 2ME2 treatment. Alternatively, spliced HIF‐1α∆Ex14 was substantially up‐regulated from 6 to 48 h after TBI. In vitro, nuclear location and gene transcription activity of HIF‐1α∆Ex14 were impaired compared to full‐length HIF‐1α, but no effects on nuclear translocation of the transcriptional complex partner HIF‐1β were observed. This study demonstrates that 2ME2 confers neuroprotection after TBI. While the role of alternatively spliced HIF‐1α∆Ex14 remains elusive, the in vivo data provide evidence that inhibition of a maladaptive HIF‐1α‐dependent response contributes to the neuroprotective effects of 2ME2.

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We examined neuroprotective effects of 2‐methoxyestradiol (2ME2) and the hypoxia‐inducible factor 1‐α (HIF‐1α) response following traumatic brain injury in mice. Early 2ME2 administration reduced the secondary brain damage and neuronal HIF‐1α probably involving ubiquitin proteasome system‐mediated degradation. The up‐regulation of neuropathological HIF‐1α target genes and pro‐apoptotic BNIP3 protein was attenuated. We propose that the inhibition of a maladaptive HIF‐1α response may contribute to 2ME2‐mediated neuroprotection.
Targeted inhibition of KCa3.1 attenuates TGF‐β‐induced reactive astrogliosis through the Smad2/3 signaling pathway
Authors: Yu Zhihua , Yu Panpan , Chen Hongzhuan , Geller Herbert M.
Published: March 2014

Reactive astrogliosis, characterized by cellular hypertrophy and various alterations in gene expression and proliferative phenotypes, is considered to contribute to brain injuries and diseases as diverse as trauma, neurodegeneration, and ischemia. KCa3.1 (intermediate‐conductance calcium‐activated potassium channel), a potassium channel protein, has been reported to be up‐regulated in reactive astrocytes after spinal cord injury in vivo. However, little is known regarding the exact role of KCa3.1 in reactive astrogliosis. To elucidate the role of KCa3.1 in regulating reactive astrogliosis, we investigated the effects of either blocking or knockout of KCa3.1 channels on the production of astrogliosis and astrocytic proliferation in response to transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β in primary cultures of mouse astrocytes. We found that TGF‐β increased KCa3.1 protein expression in astrocytes, with a concomitant marked increase in the expression of reactive astrogliosis, including glial fibrillary acidic protein and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. These changes were significantly attenuated by the KCa3.1 inhibitor 1‐((2‐chlorophenyl) (diphenyl)methyl)‐1H‐pyrazole (TRAM‐34). Similarly, the increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in response to TGF‐β was attenuated in KCa3.1−/− astrocytes. TRAM‐34 also suppressed astrocytic proliferation. In addition, the TGF‐β‐induced phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 proteins was reduced with either inhibition of KCa3.1 with TRAM‐34 or in KCa3.1−/− astrocytes. These findings highlight a novel role for the KCa3.1 channel in reactive astrogliosis phenotypic modulation and provide a potential target for therapeutic intervention for brain injuries.

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Reactive astrogliosis is characterized by the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. We demonstrate that either pharmacological blockade or knockout of KCa3.1 channels reduces reactive gliosis in cultured astrocytes caused by TGF‐β, and also reduces TGF‐β‐induced phosphorylation of Smad2/3.
Effect of Familiarity on a Cross‐Cultural Acceptance of a Sweet Ethnic Food: A Case Study withKorean Traditional Cookie (Yackwa)
Authors: Hong J.H. , Park H.S. , Chung S.J. , Chung L. , Cha S.M. , Lê S. , Kim K.O.
Published: March 2014

This study was conducted to understand the relationship between familiarity and cross‐cultural acceptance for an ethnic sweet treat (Yackwa;Korean traditional cookie) byKorean,Japanese andFrench consumers. Descriptive analysis and consumer testing were performed on sixYackwasamples. Overall, the samples received favorable responses from the foreign consumers.Korean consumers liked samples with a soft and cohesive texture, whereasJapanese andFrench consumers liked flaky and crispy texture. French consumers rated stronger sweetness to be more appropriate forYackwacompared toKorean andJapanese consumers. Texture liking was strongly correlated with familiarity rating in all three countries, indicating that the consumers' previous experience with similar products might affect their preference for certain textural attributes. Familiarity was correlated with all hedonic ratings byKorean consumers, who are most familiar withYackwa, but with overall and texture liking byJapanese consumers and flavor and texture liking by French consumers. These results suggest that familiarity partly contributes to a foreign consumers' hedonic rating.

Practical Applications

Globalization and cultural diversity have increased interest in ethnic foods. This trend is motivating food industries to expand into the ethnic food market sector. In this study, the sensory attributes and the cross‐cultural acceptability ofYackwa(Korean traditional cookie) were evaluated and the potential role of familiarity in determining consumer acceptance was measured. The outcome of this study will help food exporters,R&Dscientists and food marketers in ethnic food market to optimize an ethnic food for other cultural communities by educating them to consider familiarity as an important factor for product development and promotion.
Prevalence and demographics of the MYBPC3‐mutations in ragdolls and Maine coons in the British Isles
Authors: Casamian‐Sorrosal D. , Chong S. K. , Fonfara S. , Helps C.
Published: March 2014

OBJECTIVES

To determine prevalence and demographics of two myosin‐binding protein C (MYBPC3) mutations that affect ragdolls (R820W) and Maine coons (A31P) in the British Isles.

METHODS

From the database of a genetic testing laboratory samples from 2018 ragdolls and 742 Maine coons were analysed with respect to mutation status, age, sex and county of origin. The actual prevalence was compared to the expected Hardy–Weinberg prevalence by chi‐squared test.

RESULTS

The prevalence of the R820W mutation in ragdolls was 27% (25·6% heterozygous, 1·4% homozygous), and that of the A31P mutation in Maine coons was 39·4% (36·4% homozygous, 3% heterozygous). There were more female cats (69·5% ragdoll, 70·3% Maine coon). The median age was 6·4 months (ragdolls) and 5·9 months (Maine coons). Cats from more than 60 counties were represented for each breed. The difference between the expected and observed allele frequency was significant in Maine coons (P=0·047) but not in ragdolls (P=0·092).

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This is the first report of prevalence and demographics of the R820W and A31P mutations in ragdolls and Maine coons, respectively, in the British Isles. The prevalence is high, which is of relevance for breeding and screening programmes. The significant difference in genetic distribution may suggest early death of homozygous Maine coons.
Use of sedation and ropivacaine‐morphine epidural for femoral head and neck ostectomy in a dog
Authors: Aarnes T. K. , Hubbell J. A. E. , Hildreth B. E.
Published: March 2014

A five‐year‐old male German shepherd dog presented with traumatic craniodorsal luxation of the right coxofemoral joint with pre‐existing moderate hip dysplasia. A femoral head and neck ostectomy was performed. The patient was sedated with acepromazine and morphine administered intramuscularly. A lumbosacral epidural was performed using a combination of morphine and ropivacaine. Intraoperatively, an infusion of medetomidine, morphine, lidocaine, and ketamine was administered intravenously, and oxygen was administered via facemask. Heart rate, respiratory rate and oscillometric arterial blood pressures were monitored. Postoperatively, carprofen was administered once subcutaneously. On the day of hospital discharge, carprofen and tramadol were administered orally every 12 hours. Twenty‐one days later, the dog was doing well and the surgical staples were removed. Sedation with acepromazine and morphine, administration of an epidural containing morphine and ropivacaine, and intraoperative sedation with medetomidine, morphine, lidocaine and ketamine were suitable for femoral head and neck ostectomy.
Pharmacological characterization of muscarinic receptors in the contractions of isolated bronchi in the horse
Authors: Menozzi A. , Pozzoli C. , Poli E. , Delvescovo B. , Serventi P. , Bertini S.
Published: March 2014

We investigated the effects of nonselective muscarinic antagonist (atropine) and of selective muscarinic subtype 1 (M1), 2 (M2), 3 (M3) antagonists (VU0255035, methoctramine, pFHHSiD, respectively) on the contractions evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS) or by exogenousACh in isolated horse bronchial muscle. Atropine completely inhibited neurogenic contractions in a concentration‐dependent fashion, whereas selective muscarinic antagonists induced relevant modifications only at the highest concentration tested. Experiments with selective muscarinic antagonists in combination showed that only the simultaneous blockade ofM1/M3orM2/M3receptors was able to induce a nearly complete suppression of contractions. The contractions induced by exogenousACh were competitively antagonized only by atropine (pA2 = 9.01 ± 0.05).M3selective antagonist, up to 10−6 m, caused a moderate concentration‐dependent rightward shift ofACh curve (pA2 = 7.96 ± 0.10). These data show thatM3muscarinic receptors possess a central role in mediating cholinergic contraction of horse bronchi, whileM1andM2receptors seem to have a cooperative role. Selective muscarinic antagonists seem unlikely to be useful against bronchoconstriction associated with airway diseases in horses. Conversely, compounds with selectivity for bothM1andM3receptors could be as effective as traditional anticholinergics and induce fewer cardiac side effects.
A Generalization of the Lone Wolf Theorem
Authors: İnal Hakan
Published: March 2014

A non‐constructive generalization of the ‘lone wolf’ theorem, which states that in the roommates problem an agent is single in a stable matching if and only if that agent is single in every other stable matching, is presented. The generalization is in two directions: (i) the set of permissible roommates is arbitrary as long as all singles are allowed, and (ii) the set of preference profiles is any subset of the set of all profiles of strict preferences defined over permissible roommates.
Practical Visualization of Local Vibration Data Collected over Large Concrete Elements
Authors: Oh Taekeun , Popovics John S.
Published: March 2014

In this article, an original multidimensional presentation format for nondestructive evaluation point test spectral data is proposed. Time domain signals from air‐coupled impact‐echo (IE) tests are transformed into the frequency domain and arranged along x and y coordinates of the tested surface to give a 3‐D data set volume. Spectral amplitude is indicated by gray scale, giving rise to a “fourth” dimension of information within the data volume. This presentation, which stacks data in both spatial and spectral domains, includes all spectral data up to a natural frequency threshold (5–6 kHz) to isolate the response generated by near‐surface delamination defects. Visual interpretation of the dense data set of spectral information within the volume is enabled by incorporating transparency/opacity control on the data set, where higher spectral amplitudes are associated with more opacity. Consistent rule‐based criteria for optimal image parameter determination for a given test structure are established to optimize application for defect detection. Application of this data manipulation and visualization technique to IE data collected from two different reinforced concrete samples demonstrates improved near‐surface delamination detection as compared with conventional data presentation formats.
What's (not) in a parade? Nationhood, ethnicity and regionalism in a diasporic context
Authors: Leal João
Published: March 2014

Long‐distance nationalism and political transnationalism have been concepts largely explored in the analysis of the attachments of contemporary migrants to home. In some cases, this focus on the trans‐nation has downplayed competing or complementary identifications to the home country and to the context of settlement, based on locality, region or ethnicity. Focusing on the commemorations of Portugal Day among the Portuguese diaspora in Toronto, this paper seeks to explore how the national script of the event coexists with other narratives of identity and belonging, linked to Portuguese‐Canadian ethnicity and to Azorean long‐distance regionalism. It thus argues for the need of a more balanced study of the role of national identity in diasporic contexts, able to articulate different layers of collective selfhood and belonging.
Discovery of rare mutations in extensively pooled DNA samples using multiple target enrichment
Authors: Chi Xu , Zhang Yingchun , Xue Zheyong , Feng Laibao , Liu Huaqing , Wang Feng , Qi Xiaoquan
Published: March 2014

Chemical mutagenesis is routinely used to create large numbers of rare mutations in plant and animal populations, which can be subsequently subjected to selection for beneficial traits and phenotypes that enable the characterization of gene functions. Several next‐generation sequencing (NGS)‐based target enrichment methods have been developed for the detection of mutations in target DNA regions. However, most of these methods aim to sequence a large number of target regions from a small number of individuals. Here, we demonstrate an effective and affordable strategy for the discovery of rare mutations in a large sodium azide‐induced mutant rice population (F2). The integration of multiplex, semi‐nested PCR combined with NGS library construction allowed for the amplification of multiple target DNA fragments for sequencing. The 8 × 8 × 8 tridimensional DNA sample pooling strategy enabled us to obtain DNA sequences of 512 individuals while only sequencing 24 samples. A stepwise filtering procedure was then elaborated to eliminate most of the false positives expected to arise through sequencing error, and the application of a simple Student's t‐test against position‐prone error allowed for the discovery of 16 mutations from 36 enriched targeted DNA fragments of 1024 mutagenized rice plants, all without any false calls.
From the woods of experience to the open fields of metaphysics: Bacon's notion of silva
Authors: Giglioni Guido
Published: March 2014

In the annals of both philosophy and science, Francis Bacon is usually portrayed as one of the most vocal advocates for the need to apply a method to the study of nature. And yet both in his methodological writings and in the actual samples of natural history he produced in the course of his life, Bacon insisted that the investigator should be able to cope with particulars, contingencies and anomalies without projecting hastily drawn conclusions and untested notions of order onto a material that, by its very nature, resists being ordered. In this article, I argue that Bacon viewed lack of order as both heuristically productive and socially beneficial. His well‐known pronouncements on method should be read against the background of his recurrent pleas for a direct experiential involvement with nature. On more than one occasion, Bacon emphasized the need for the human mind to be – temporarily – lost in experience. He represented this form of experimental alienation through the symbol of the forest, the silva. Bacon's silva alludes to a pre‐linguistic stage of experience in which the mind is kept as far as possible from notiones and verba (read idola) and allowed to explore the copious array of natural particulars and resemblances that constitutes nature.
Child Sacrifice in the Soviet Press: Sensationalism and the “Sectarian” in the Post‐Stalin Era
Authors: DOBSON MIRIAM
Published: March 2014

The blood libel is normally associated with anti‐Semitic traditions, but in Soviet atheist propaganda of the 1950s and early 1960s it was evangelical Christians who were accused of ritually killing young children. In the existing scholarly literature, the anti‐religious campaigns of the Khrushchev era tend to be explained in terms of a quest for scientific, rational modernity, but by focusing on the blood libel I uncover a rather more sensationalist dimension to them. The shocking and emotive stories and images found in the press and other published materials had a powerful impact on the popular imagination, and even when the Soviet government criticized such approaches after 1964, fears of a “sectarian” conspiracy remained. Drawing on two case‐studies from the archives, I examine in detail the legal proceedings, the press coverage, and public reactions and I suggest that belief in the blood libel should be understood not only in terms of concerns over religious boundaries but also, and perhaps primarily, in relation to anxiety about the safety of children.
Moving beyond the Russian‐American Ghetto: The Fiction of Keith Gessen and Michael Idov
Authors: WANNER ADRIAN
Published: March 2014

In the wake of Gary Shteyngart's novel The Russian Debutante's Handbook (2002), Russian‐American immigrant fiction written in English has enjoyed an unprecedented boom in recent years. At the same time, a certain weariness seems to have settled in among some of the providers of these narratives. How can an immigrant author avoid being confined to an ethnic niche? This article explores this question by analyzing the work of two Russian‐American authors, Keith Gessen (b. 1975 in Moscow) and Michael Idov (b. 1976 in Riga), who have been bucking the trend by refusing to openly play the “Russian card,” the “Jewish card,” or the “immigrant card” in their fictional work. As I will argue, their debut novels All the Sad Young Literary Men (2008) and Ground Up (2009) were written in dialogue with and at the same time as an implied repudiation of the currently fashionable literature capitalizing on an author's ethnic identity. As “global Russians” and “cosmopolitan Americans,” Gessen and Idov tap into a reservoir of Russian intellectuality that differs from the usual focus on Russian‐Jewish clichés and the stereotypical narrative of immigrant hardship. In doing so, they may be charting a possible future for Russian‐American literature that is moving beyond the ethnic ghetto.
Intersubjectivity and Receptive Experience
Authors: Kukla Rebecca , Lance Mark
Published: March 2014

Wilfrid Sellars's iconic exposé of the ‘myth of the given’ taught us that experience must present the world to us as normatively laden, in the sense that the contents of experience must license inferences, rule out and justify various beliefs, and rationalize actions. Somehow our beliefs must be governed by the objects as they present themselves to us. Often this requirement is cashed out using language that attributes agent‐like properties to objects: we are described as ‘accountable to’ objects, while objects ‘hold us’ to standards, and so forth. But such language is either deeply anti‐naturalistic or trades on a set of metaphors in need of a literal translation. We offer an explanation of how the material features of the world, as received in experience, can rationally constrain our beliefs and practices—one that makes no recourse to this imagery. In particular, we examine the structure of ostensive practices (that is, practices of directing one another's attention to objects and features of the world) and the distinctive role they play in making us jointly beholden to how things actually are.
Local Worlds of Marketization – Employment Policies inGermany,Italy and theUKCompared
Authors: Zimmermann Katharina , Aurich Patrizia , Graziano Paolo R. , Fuertes Vanesa
Published: March 2014

The majority of theEuropean countries have experienced a turn towards activation policies during the last two decades (SerranoPascual andMagnusson 2007; vanBerkel andBorghi 2008;Bonoli 2010;Aurich 2011;Graziano 2009 and 2012). The interlinked aim to increase employment rates by integrating formerly excluded groups into the labour market requires new forms of governance and new structures of policy implementation. One of these policy changes concerns the marketization of employment and social services (Considine 2001;Newman 2001), an important part of policy delivery in most welfare states although in very different forms and extents. Since the local level plays a crucial role in delivering policies (Künzel 2012;Green andOrton 2012), an important element, and the main focus of the article, is the level of discretion of local actors and their relation to activation interventions.

This article draws on the findings of three qualitative case studies on the organization of activation policies in three most different countries regarding worlds of welfare:Germany,Italy and theUK. It develops a theoretical framework of regulating marketization in regard to activation, and analyses the three empirical cases according to it. The findings show a link between the regulation of market‐based interventions (i.e. type of marketization, outsourcing decisions and purchaser‐provider split) and the level of discretion for local actors with regard to these measures. Local contexts of policy‐making and their suitability and willingness to become marketized will affect the usage of local discretion.
Conditionality and the Financing of Employment Services – Implications for the Social Divisions of Work and Welfare
Authors: Shutes Isabel , Taylor Rebecca
Published: March 2014

Increasing conditionality in access to welfare has been central to the reform of welfare states (Dean 2004; Dwyer 2004) and to the development of welfare‐to‐work policies and programmes (Peck 2001). This article addresses the ways in which the reform of employment services has, likewise, been marked by increasing conditionality in the financing of a market of those services. This form of conditionality involves the obligation of contracted providers to achieve employment outcomes as a condition of funding. The article examines how conditionality in the financing of employment services impacts on the provision of services to unemployed groups, and more disadvantaged groups in particular, and the implications for the social divisions of work and welfare.
The Public Accountability of Privatized Activation – The Case of Israel
Authors: Benish Avishai
Published: March 2014

The study explores the accountability implications of the increasingly privatized and marketized models of welfare governance. Privatization of public services radically destabilizes our concepts of accountability. While on the one hand, accountability deficits are created as traditional public accountability systems become less relevant; on the other hand, new market and results‐based forms of accountability emerge. In order to examine how accountability is safeguarded under privatized activation, the study provides an in‐depth look at private contractors' accountability in the case of activation in Israel. It finds that results‐based accountability mechanisms were perceived as insufficient to legitimize contractors' discretion; and sometimes they even intensified accountability concerns. In practice, significant traditional public accountability requirements were extended to the private contractors, creating a hybrid public‐private model of accountability. The article discusses the contradictory dynamics leading to the development of this hybrid accountability model and the tensions and instabilities it produces. It closes by stressing the need for more research into activation accountability regimes and their complexity.
Identification of KIR3DL1*0150208 using long‐range sequence‐based techniques
Authors: Wang L. , Xu K. , Dong T. , Rowland‐Jones S. L. , Yindom L.‐M.
Published: March 2014

KIR3DL1*0150208 possesses five point mutations: 3037G>A, 4115A>G, 6053G>C, 8034A>G, and 9446T>C compared to KIR3DL1*0150201.
From dead leaf, to new life: TAL effectors as tools for synthetic biology
Authors: de Lange Orlando , Binder Andreas , Lahaye Thomas
Published: March 2014

Whether rice, yeast or fly there is barely a model organism not yet reached by transcription activator‐like effectors (TALEs) and their derivative fusion proteins. Insights into fundamental biology are now arriving on the back of work in recent years to develop these proteins as tools for molecular biology. This began with the publication of the simple cipher determining base‐specific DNA recognition by TALEs in 2009, and now encompasses a huge variety of established fusion proteins mediating targeted modifications to transcriptome, genome and, recently, epigenome. Straightforward design and exquisite specificity, allowing unique sites to be targeted even within complex eukaryote genomes, are key to the popularity of this system. Synthetic biology is one field that is just beginning to make use of these properties, with a number of recent publications demonstrating TALE‐mediated regulation of synthetic genetic circuits. Intense interest has surrounded the CRISPR/Cas9 system within the last 12 months, and it is already proving its mettle as a tool for targeted gene modifications and transcriptional regulation. However, questions over off‐target activity and means for independent regulation of multiple Cas9‐guide RNA pairs must be resolved before this method can be included in the synthetic biology toolbox. TALEs are already showing promise as regulators of synthetic biological systems, a role that is likely to be developed further in the coming years.
The Blood Donor Identity Survey: a multidimensional measure of blood donor motivations
Authors: France Christopher R. , Kowalsky Jennifer M. , France Janis L. , Himawan Lina K. , Kessler Debra A. , Shaz Beth H.
Published: March 2014

Background

Evidence indicates that donor identity is an important predictor of donation behavior; however, prior studies have relied on diverse, unidimensional measures with limited psychometric support. The goals of this study were to examine the application of self‐determination theory to blood donor motivations and to develop and validate a related multidimensional measure of donor identity.

Study Design and Methods

Items were developed and administered electronically to a sample of New York Blood Center (NYBC) donors (n = 582) and then to a sample of Ohio University students (n = 1005). Following initial confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the NYBC sample to identify key items related to self‐determination theory's six motivational factors, a revised survey was administered to the university sample to reexamine model fit and to assess survey reliability and validity.

Results

Consistent with self‐determination theory, for both samples CFAs indicated that the best fit to the data was provided by a six‐motivational‐factor model, including amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, integrated regulation, and intrinsic regulation.

Conclusion

The Blood Donor Identity Survey provides a psychometrically sound, multidimensional measure of donor motivations (ranging from unmotivated to donate to increasing levels of autonomous motivation to donate) that is suitable for nondonors as well as donors with varying levels of experience. Future research is needed to examine longitudinal changes in donor identity and its relationship to actual donation behavior.
Stability of 1% voriconazole solution in a constant‐rate infusion pump for topical ocular delivery to horses
Authors: Smith Kathryn M. , Maxwell Lara , Gull Tamara , Payton Mark E. , Gilmour Margi A.
Published: March 2014

Objective

To establish the effect of storage in a constant‐rate infusion (CRI) pump on the sterility and stability of voriconazole 1% solution.

Procedure

Nine vials of voriconazole (Vfend® I.V.) 1% solution were prepared. Approximately half of each solution was used to prime a commercially available CRI pump with attached subpalpebral lavage system (CRI/SPL unit) with the remaining solution stored in the commercial glass vial. Three CRI/SPL units and their three corresponding vials were stored at one of three temperatures: 23 °C, 33 °C, and 40 °C. The CRI pumps ran for 7 days, and the vials were stored for 30 days. Fungal and aerobic bacterial cultures were performed on the first and last day of the storage period for each vessel. Samples were obtained at regular intervals for determination of voriconazole concentration using high‐performance liquid chromatography.

Results

No bacterial or fungal contamination was identified in any solution at any time point. All solutions stored in the commercial glass vial remained stable throughout the study period. Multiple CRI/SPL units became blocked with crystallized voriconazole. There was a significant increase in voriconazole concentration after passage through the CRI/SPL units.

Conclusions

Voriconazole 1% solution is not compatible for use in a CRI/SPL unit at temperatures between 23 and 40 °C. Voriconazole 1% solution is stable in the commercial glass vial when stored at controlled temperatures as high as 40 °C for up to 30 days.