bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
4. Living, loving, dying
Authors: Wilson Catherine
Published: April 2017

‘Living, loving, dying’ asks what is life? It considers the origins of life, self-assembly, or epigenesis of complex organisms, generation, and renewal. According to Epicureanism, living things are composed of the same material particles that compose all substances and objects. All such entities come into existence gradually as their parts are built up, and all are dissolved in time into their constituent particles in the cosmic flux, where they become material for the generation of new living and non-living entities. Lucretius described a ‘fixed limit’ to the duration and powers of every individual thing except the atom. For the Epicurean philosopher, generation and dying are symmetrical processes.
7. Politics and society
Authors: Wilson Catherine
Published: April 2017

‘Politics and society’ considers the Epicurean views on the evolution of civilisation, justice, political theory, and social organization. Epicurus said justice had a single basic function: to make people useful to one another and to prevent one person from harming or being harmed by another. Epicurean theory has no place for natural hierarchies, only degrees of complexity. As everyone is made of the same atomic material, all social relations depend on human perception and convention. The Epicureans also recognized, as their philosophical rivals rarely did, that the progress of technology and social organization, which had occurred over many centuries, had imposed not only gains, but also losses.
Votes at Work in Britain: Shareholder Monopolisation and the ‘Single Channel’
Authors: McGaughey Ewan
Published: April 2017

Why do shareholders monopolise voting rights in UK companies, and are trade unions the only way to get meaningful workplace representation? In 1967 a Labour Party policy document first coined the phrase that a ‘single channel’ for representation should ‘in the normal’ case mean trade unions. Since then, it has been said the labour movement embraced an ‘adversarial’ rather than a ‘constitutional’ conception of corporations, neglecting legal rights to worker voice in enterprise governance. This article shows that matters were not so simple. It explains the substantial history of legal rights to vote in British workplaces, and competition from the rival constitutional conception: employee share schemes. The UK has the oldest corporations – namely universities – which have consistently embedded worker participation rights in law. Britain has among the world’s most sophisticated ‘second channel’ participation rights in pension board governance. Developing with collective bargaining, it had the world’s first private corporations with legal participation rights. Although major plans in the 1920s for codetermination in rail and coal fell through, it maintained a ‘third channel’ of worker representatives on boards during the 20th century in numerous sectors, including ports, gas, post, steel, and buses. At different points every major political party had general proposals for votes at work. The narrative of the ‘single channel’ of workplace representation, and an ‘adversarial’ conception of the company contains some truth, but there has never been one size of regulation for all forms of enterprise.
Salve and Burdock: A Safe, Effective Amish Remedy for Treatment of Traumatic Wounds?
Authors: Flurry Mitchell D. , Herring Kelsie L. , Carr Logan W. , Hauck Randy M. , Potochny John D.
Published: April 2017

BACKGROUND:

Amish patients show a demonstrated preference for traditional, herbal remedies over modern medical interventions such as skin grafting. One such remedy is a mixture of Burn & Wound Ointment (B & W Ointment; Holistic Acres, LLC; Newcomerstown, Ohio) and steeped burdock leaves. Although both have demonstrated some antimicrobial and wound healing properties, burdock and/or the combination of B & W Ointment and burdock has never been studied to determine its purported ability to reduce pain, prevent infection, and accelerate wound healing.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review was performed on 6 Amish patients treated with salve and burdock leaves instead of skin grafting following complex traumatic wounds to determine whether the traditional treatment incurred any patient harm.

RESULTS:

The time of wound epithelialization and healing complications were noted, among other data points. Time to full epithelialization ranged from 1 to 7 months. Time to full wound healing was proportional to wound size.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although the treatment presented here is unconventional, it did not cause harm to the patients studied.
Eyelid Reconstruction Using Oral Mucosa and Ear Cartilage Strips as Sandwich Grafting
Authors: Yamamoto Naoto , Ogi Hiroyuki , Yanagibayashi Satoshi , Yoshida Ryuichi , Takikawa Megumi , Nishijima Akio , Kiyosawa Tomoharu
Published: April 2017

Background:

The eyelid structure can be divided into an inner layer and an outer layer. Reconstruction of a full-thickness eyelid defect is accomplished by full-thickness composite tissue transfer or combined layered reconstruction. We present a new technique for inner layer reconstruction using ear cartilage and oral mucosa.

Methods:

The oral mucosa graft is harvested from the inner side of the lower lip to fit the defect size and shape. The ear cartilage graft is harvested as a rectangular strip. The harvested mucosa is sutured to the defect margin and the cartilage strip graft is interposed to the defect. Finally, the outer layer of the defect is covered with skin flaps. Consequently, the ear cartilage graft is sandwiched between the mucosa graft and the skin flap.

Results:

We used this technique for the reconstruction of 13 full-thickness eyelid defects of various locations, sizes, and shapes. Ten cases involved the lower eyelid, 2 cases involved the lower eyelid including the medial canthus, and 1 case involved the upper eyelid. The oral mucosa graft survived in all patients. The reconstructions were successful and there were no postoperative reports of conjunctival or corneal irritation.

Conclusions:

The present technique using a combination of an ear cartilage strip graft and oral mucosa graft is an easy and versatile technique for reconstruction of inner layer eyelid defects. We believe that the beneficial effects of tears, which are richly oxygenated, improved survival of the grafted mucosa.
INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANTATION IN PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENT MORPHOLOGICAL DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA HAVING INSUFFICIENT RESPONSE TO RANIBIZUMAB
Authors: Kaldırım Havva , Yazgan Serpil , Atalay Kursat , Gurez Ceren , Savur Fatma
Published: April 2017

Purpose:

To evaluate the effectiveness of a single intravitreal injection of dexamethasone implant in resistant diabetic macular edema that have different morphological types.

Methods:

In this retrospective study, 31 patients (35 eyes) with persistent diabetic macular edema, who underwent a single injection of dexamethasone implant, were evaluated. Diabetic macular edema was classified into three types: diffuse retinal thickening (n = 10), cystoid macular edema (n = 13), and serous retinal detachment (n = 12). Primary outcome measures were best corrected visual acuity, and central macular thickness.

Results:

The three subgroups were similar in terms of age and gender (P > 0.05). Total duration of diabetes was significantly less in the serous retinal detachment subgroup (P = 0.01). There were no differences in the best corrected visual acuity between the three subgroups until the sixth month. However, the best corrected visual acuity was significantly better in the diffuse retinal thickness subgroup at the sixth month (P = 0.008). Regarding the central macular thickness values, it was statistically better in serous retinal detachment than in diffuse retinal thickening and cystoid macular edema subgroups till the sixth month (P = 0.001). However, at the sixth month, there was not any statistical difference between subgroups regarding central macular thickness values. Antiglaucomatous agents were required in 4 (11.4%) patients throughout the study.

Conclusion:

Treatment algorithms should differ according to the morphology of diabetic macular edema; however, more data is needed to give specific recommendations.
Componential Skills in Second Language Development of Bilingual Children With Specific Language Impairment
Authors: Verhoeven Ludo , Steenge Judit , van Leeuwe Jan , van Balkom Hans
Published: April 2017

In this study, we investigated which componential skills can be distinguished in the second language (L2) development of 140 bilingual children with specific language impairment in the Netherlands, aged 6–11 years, divided into 3 age groups. L2 development was assessed by means of spoken language tasks representing different language skills organized into 4 categories based on prior research. Factor analyses were consistent with this system, identifying 4 types of componential skills included in our original assessment battery: (i) speech production/phonological memory; (ii) auditory perception/phonological conceptualization; (iii) lexical-semantic skills; and (iv) morphosyntactic skills. Structural equation modeling showed the 4 types of componential skills to be reasonably stable over time. Moreover, empirical evidence for a lexical bootstrapping effect was found in that children's syntactic development at the age of 8 years could be predicted from their level of lexical-semantic development at the age of 7 years.
Integrative single-cell analysis by transcriptional and epigenetic states in human adult brain
Authors: Lake Blue B. , Chen Song , Sos Brandon C. , Fan Jean , Yung Yun , Kaeser Gwendolyn E. , Duong Thu E. , Gao Derek , Chun Jerold , Kharchenko Peter , Zhang Kun
Published: April 2017

Detailed characterization of the cell types comprising the highly complex human brain is essential to understanding its function. Such tasks require highly scalable experimental approaches to examine different aspects of the molecular state of individual cells, as well as the computational integration to produce unified cell state annotations. Here we report the development of two highly scalable methods (snDrop-Seq and scTHS-Seq), that we have used to acquire nuclear transcriptome and DNA accessibility maps for thousands of single cells from the human adult visual and frontal cortex. This has led to the best-resolved human neuronal subtypes to date, identification of a majority of the non-neuronal cell types, as well as the cell-type specific nuclear transcriptome and DNA accessibility maps. Integrative analysis allowed us to identify transcription factors and regulatory elements shaping the state of different brain cell types, and to map genetic risk factors of human brain common diseases to specific pathogenic cell types and subtypes.
Slingshot: Cell lineage and pseudotime inference for single-cell transcriptomics
Authors: Street Kelly , Risso Davide , Fletcher Russell B. , Das Diya , Ngai John , Yosef Nir , Purdom Elizabeth , Dudoit Sandrine
Published: April 2017

Single-cell transcriptomics allows researchers to investigate complex communities of heterogeneous cells. These methods can be applied to stem cells and their descendants in order to chart the progression from multipotent progenitors to fully differentiated cells. While a number of statistical and computational methods have been proposed for analyzing cell lineages, the problem of accurately characterizing multiple branching lineages remains difficult to solve. Here, we introduce a novel method, Slingshot, for inferring multiple developmental lineages from single-cell gene expression data. Slingshot is a uniquely robust and flexible tool for inferring developmental lineages and ordering cells to reflect continuous, branching processes.
The potential use of single-particle electron microscopy as a tool for structure-based inhibitor design
Authors: Rawson S. , McPhillie M. J. , Johnson R. M. , Fishwick C. W. G. , Muench S. P.
Published: April 2017

Recent developments in electron microscopy (EM) have led to a step change in our ability to solve the structures of previously intractable systems, especially membrane proteins and large protein complexes. This has provided new opportunities in the field of structure-based drug design, with a number of high-profile publications resolving the binding sites of small molecules and peptide inhibitors. There are a number of advantages of EM over the more traditional X-ray crystallographic approach, such as resolving different conformational states and permitting the dynamics of a system to be better resolved when not constrained by a crystal lattice. There are still significant challenges to be overcome using an EM approach, not least the speed of structure determination, difficulties with low-occupancy ligands and the modest resolution that is available. However, with the anticipated developments in the field of EM, the potential of EM to become a key tool for structure-based drug design, often complementing X-ray and NMR studies, seems promising.
BIM and project planning integration for on-site safety induction
Authors: Ganah Abdulkadir A. , John Godfaurd A.
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The section of the research presented in this paper aims to review and explore health and safety (H&S) issues on construction sites. It has the sole intention of using better computer visualisation to meet the needs of site practitioners in understanding such H&S problems.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology follows a traditional literature review approach to understand the development of building information modelling (BIM) technology up to its current status. A questionnaire survey was conducted to gather information on the embedding of H&S planning by site practitioners within the BIM environment.

Findings

BIM has the potential to be used in H&S planning procedures, particularly in those related to tasks on construction sites. A framework for an integrated visual tool is developed for better H&S practice on site. It may be used actively by all practitioners, starting with site induction and addresses, inter alia, personal hazard perception.

Research limitations/implications

This paper provides a foundation for developing a tool that helps construction personnel explore potential H&S risks on site before construction begins. By introducing a framework for integrating BIM and project planning, a prototype can be developed to demonstrate the application of the proposed framework.

Originality/value

The research presented in this paper introduces BIM usage during the construction stage as a tool that supports a H&S toolbox. The paper proposes the useful framework for better H&S practice on site that can be used actively by all practitioners. The intention is to find a way forward in addressing “real” H&S site issues that may not be easily understood by practitioners without the full aid of visualisation scenarios.
A prospective validation study of the START:AV
Authors: Sher Marilyn A. , Warner Lucy , McLean Anne , Rowe Katharyn , Gralton Ernest
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the validity and reliability of the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability: Adolescent Version (START:AV) to determine if it has predictive accuracy in relation to physical aggression, severe verbal aggression, property damage and self-harm, in a medium secure setting. In addition, the authors hoped to provide some of the first descriptive data available for the START:AV among a UK adolescent population in a medium secure adolescent unit.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted of 90 female and male adolescents, with and without developmental disabilities. It was important to explore the measure’s predictive accuracy across specific population groups, such as between males and females, as well as those with developmental disabilities, and those without.

Findings

Some significant relationships were found between the START:AV and adverse outcomes. For instance, total strength and vulnerability scores were predictive for verbal and physical aggression. Differences in predictive validity were evident when comparisons were made between males and females, with relationships being evident amongst the male population only. When splitting the male sample into developmental disability and non-developmental disability groups, significant relationships were found between strength and vulnerability scores and verbal and physical aggression.

Practical implications

A number of practical implications are considered, such as the START:AV is relevant for use with adolescents in hospital settings and the significant inverse relationship between strength scores and negative outcomes supports the importance of considering protective/strength factors when working with at risk youths.

Originality/value

There is currently limited validation data for the START:AV in the UK or elsewhere.
“On their own”: social isolation, loneliness and chronic musculoskeletal pain in older adults
Authors: Smith Toby
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the concepts of social isolation and loneliness in relation to people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Through these concepts, biological, psychological and social factors will be examined to consider how we can identify people at risk of social isolation and loneliness who have chronic musculoskeletal pain and then how health professionals may intervene to reduce their effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual paper.

Findings

Social isolation and loneliness are often evident in the situation of people with chronic musculoskeletal diseases. This may be bi-directional where pains may lead to social isolation and loneliness, but equally, social isolation and loneliness may exacerbate pain. Interventions to improve the symptoms of chronic musculoskeletal pain, and also approaches around social participation and engagement should be adopted in combination to ameliorate this potentially disabling scenario.

Originality/value

There remains limited evidence around the prevalence and management of social isolation and loneliness for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. By raising awareness of social isolation and loneliness in this population, people with chronic musculoskeletal pain may be better supported to reduce the negative impact that social isolation and loneliness can have on their health and well-being.
Joint liability in a classic microfinance contract: review of theory and empirics
Authors: Rathore Bhawani Singh
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of joint liability in improving the repayment performance of a microfinance program.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a systematic review of the theoretical and empirical literature.

Findings

The theoretical literature has shown, using models of peer selection, peer monitoring and peer pressure, that joint liability overcomes both the informational and enforcement failures present in credit markets for the poor. However, the empirical literature does not yield a clear answer on how much of the success of microfinance programs can be attributed to the effect of joint liability alone without considering the effect of other instruments used by microfinance programs. Further, it is seen that joint liability does not work in isolation, but its effect is dependent on social, cultural and economic environment.

Research limitations/implications

An important future research agenda could be to study the roles of different overlapping mechanisms in group lending and to look at their interactions.

Practical implications

The concept of joint liability works well both in the rural and urban areas, but different social, cultural and economic factors should be analyzed before initiating a microfinance program. In developed regions, focus should be on strengthening peer selection and peer monitoring, as information problems are prevalent. In underdeveloped regions, the major problem is of strategic default, so the focus should be on strengthening social sanctions.

Social implications

Findings can be used for optimal design of credit contracts for the poor.

Originality/value

The paper reviews the existing literature on – “whether and how” – joint liability lending works in inefficient credit markets and comes up with practical implications for the microfinance sector.
Endoscopic management of acute cholangitis as a result of common bile duct stones
Authors: Ramchandani Mohan , Pal Partha , Reddy D Nageshwar
Published: April 2017

Acute cholangitis is infectious disease of the biliary system and potentially can cause significant morbidity and mortality. With advances in intensive care, antibiotic therapy advances and endoscopic and other modalities of biliary drainage, mortality rates have significantly come down of late. Although most cases respond to antibiotics alone, definitive therapy is required later in most of the patients. Increased biliary pressure leads to biliovenous reflux of bacteria and purulent bile into the circulation leading to systemic inflammation and sepsis with subsequent organ dysfunction. Biliary decompression increases antibiotic penetration in bile. Therefore, patients with high‐risk factors and organ dysfunction require early and urgent biliary drainage, respectively, as they are unlikely to respond with antibiotics alone. Biliary decompression is best achieved by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) compared to percutaneous and surgical decompression. ERCP can be technically difficult and sometimes unsuccessful especially in patients with altered anatomy and upper gastrointestinal obstruction. Earlier percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and surgery were the only viable options in those patients. PTBD requires a dilated biliary system, is more invasive and cannot achieve ductal clearance in cholangitis as a result of choledocholithiasis, whereas surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Advances in therapeutic endoscopy such as balloon enteroscopy‐guided biliary drainage or endoscopic ultrasound guided‐biliary drainage have added new dimensions to endoscopic management of acute cholangitis as a result of choledocholithiasis obviating the need for more invasive procedures.
Post‐Heroic Leadership, Tempered Radicalism and Senior Leaders as Change Agents for Gender Equality
Authors: Kelan Elisabeth K. , Wratil Patricia
Published: April 2017

Micro change agents for gender equality in organisations are often considered to be tempered radicals who work within an existing structure to change the status quo. However for gender equality to happen, it is often claimed that heroic leadership of top leaders, or macro change agents, is required. The aim of this article is to show how CEOs as macro change agents for gender equality can be conceptualised. Drawing on interviews with 20 global CEOs and a literature review, the article develops a framework to conceptualise how CEOs are fostering gender equality around accountability, building ownership, communicating, leading by example, initiating and driving culture change. The article questions the conceptualisation of change agents of gender equality as either tempered radicals, for micro change agents, or heroic leaders, for macro change agents, and argues instead that to be macro change agents for gender equality, CEOs need to display post‐heroic leadership and tempered radicalism to foster change in regard to gender relations.
Atorvastatin treatment modulates p16 promoter methylation to regulate p16 expression
Authors: Zhu Boqian , Gong Yaoyao , Yan Gaoliang , Wang Dong , Wang Qingjie , Qiao Yong , Hou Jiantong , Liu Bo , Tang Chengchun
Published: April 2017

Intimal hyperplasia, the key event of arterial restenosis, is a result of cell proliferation and cell migration. Atorvastatin exerts an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and migration, but the mechanism remains largely unknown. p16, as a well‐known tumor suppressor, was also reported to suppress cell growth and migration, but with an unclear mechanism. In this study, we demonstrated that atorvastatin represses cell proliferation and migration in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and that this process is mediated by p16. Furthermore, we found that DNA methylation in the p16 promoter was reduced and p16 expression was restored in VSMCs treated with 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine or atorvastatin. However, the effect was absent when DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) was knocked down with RNA interference. These observations demonstrated that atorvastatin regulates p16 expression via DNMT1‐induced DNA methylation in the p16 promoter. In addition, we found that the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was involved in the regulation of p16 by DNMT1, and MAPK inhibitors partially released the effects of atorvastatin on p16 and DNMT1. Finally, we illustrated that atorvastatin inhibits neointima formation and modulates p16 expression in balloon catheter‐injured rat carotid artery. Taken together, we demonstrated that atorvastatin inhibits neointima formation through inducing p16 expression by affecting DNA methylation in the p16 promoter region.
Fatigue behaviour of innovative multifunctional epoxy resins
Authors: Pantelakis Sp. G. , Polydoropoulou P. V. , Katsiropoulos Ch. V.
Published: April 2017

Multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and glycidyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (GPOSS) are common additives to enhance electrical conductivity and flame resistance of polymer resins, respectively. Yet, these additions may appreciably influence the mechanical behaviour of the polymers. In this work, the synergistic effect of MWCNTs and GPOSS on the fatigue behaviour of the polymer RTM6‐2 was investigated. The results were discussed supported by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy analyses. By enhancing the polymer with MWCNTs, a slight decrease in the fatigue life is observed in the range of the low stress levels; however, it tends to coincide with the reference material at fatigue limit. The incorporation of the flame retardant GPOSS into the polymer enhanced with MWCNTs seems to have a significant deteriorating effect on the fatigue life. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy investigation revealed MWCNTs and GPOSS agglomerations; they seem to act as defects leading to a degradation of the fatigue resistance.
Incremental burden of cardiovascular comorbidity and psoriatic arthritis among adults with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis in five European countries
Authors: Augustin M. , Vietri J. , Tian H. , Gilloteau I.
Published: April 2017

Background

Moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis is associated with reduced health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Individuals with psoriasis are at increased risk for other medical conditions, but little information quantifies the incremental burden of psoriasis‐associated comorbidity among European adults, and data have generally been limited to clinical samples.

Objective

To quantify the incremental burden of cardiovascular comorbidity and psoriatic arthritis among adults with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis in the general population of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom (EU5).

Methods

All measures were self‐reported and came from the 2010–2013 EU5 National Health and Wellness Surveys (NHWS). Moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis was identified by >10% body surface area affected by psoriasis and/or use of therapies for moderate–severe disease. Outcomes were SF‐12v2/SF‐36v2 mental and physical component summary scores (MCS and PCS, respectively), SF‐6D health utility, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire and healthcare use in the past 6 months. Generalized linear models compared across cardiovascular comorbidity (CV) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) groups vs. non‐CV or non‐PsA groups with appropriate link functions to adjust for covariates.

Results

Among moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis respondents (n = 957), 19.8% (n = 190) reported CV comorbidity and 12.3% (n = 118) reported PsA. After adjustment for covariates, CV comorbidity was associated with 3.0 points lower MCS, 3.4 points lower PCS and 0.05 points lower SF‐6D (all P < 0.01). Likewise, they had greater mean work impairment (48% vs. 33%), more activity impairment (48% vs. 37%), and more healthcare provider visits (8.8 vs. 6.9), emergency room visits (0.65 vs. 0.31) and hospitalizations (0.61 vs. 0.22) (all P < 0.05). Compared to non‐PsA respondents, PsA respondents also had worse mean MCS (2.6 points), PCS (6.3 points) and SF‐6D scores (0.07 points), and more work impairment (52% vs. 34%), activity impairment (54% vs. 38%) and healthcare provider visits (10.5 vs. 6.9) (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

CV comorbidity and PsA were associated with significant incremental burden among EU5 adults with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis.
Fecal microbiota signatures of adult patients with different types of short bowel syndrome
Authors: Huang Yuhua , Guo Feilong , Li Yousheng , Wang Jian , Li Jieshou
Published: April 2017

Background and Aim

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a common cause of intestinal failure and can be divided into three types depending on intestinal anatomy. Gut dysbiosis has been observed in pediatric SBS patients and is associated with impaired outcome. Little is known about the changes in gut microbiota of adult SBS patients. Therefore, we aim to characterize the fecal microbiota of adult patients with different types of SBS.

Methods

Fifteen fecal samples from healthy controls and adult patients with type II or type III SBS were collected (five in each group). Fecal microbial compositions were determined by high‐throughput sequencing, and functional potential was predicted by Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States.

Results

Bacterial α‐diversity significantly decreased in SBS patients and positively correlated to the remaining small bowel length. SBS II patients were enriched with Proteobacteria but deficient in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Whereas Lactobacillus and Prevotella dominated the microbiomes of SBS III patients, commensal bacteria from Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Bacteroidaceae declined in SBS patients. The parenteral nutrition duration of SBS patients was positively related to the proportion of Enterobacteriaceae but negatively related to Lactobacillus. Functional pathways of citrate cycle and branched‐chain and aromatic amino acid biosynthesis were abundant in SBS II patients, while functional profiles of pyrimidine and purine metabolism were dominant in SBS III patients.

Conclusions

Short bowel syndrome patients have a marked intestinal dysbiosis with type II SBS characterized by Proteobacteria and type III SBS featured by Lactobacillus, resulting in altered functional profiles of fecal microbiomes.
Causes of nephrotic syndrome and nephrotic‐range proteinuria are different in adult Chinese patients: A single centre study over 33 years
Authors: Ng Jack Kit‐Chung , Ma Terry King‐Wing , Lai Fernand Mac‐Moune , Chow Kai Ming , Kwan Bonnie Ching‐Ha , Leung Chi Bon , Li Philip Kam‐To , Szeto Cheuk Chun
Published: April 2017

Aim

The reported causes of nephrotic syndrome (NS) varies between different countries. Less is known about the causes of nephrotic‐range proteinuria (NPU). We aimed to evaluate the underlying causes of NS and NPU.

Methods

This was a single‐centre, retrospective study of adult patients who underwent renal biopsy between 1983 and 2015 in a tertiary referral hospital in Hong Kong. We determined the distribution of histopathological diagnoses with regard to the age subgroups and time periods.

Results

Among 7456 patients who underwent renal biopsy, 982 and 838 patients had NS and NPU, respectively. The most common diagnosis in NS was minimal change disease (MCD) (33.3%), followed by membranous nephropathy (MN) (23.6%) and lupus nephritis (LN) (12.8%); whereas the most common diagnosis in NPU was LN (27.4%), followed by immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) (21.4%) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) (9.3%). In the NS group, MCD was the most common diagnosis in young adults while MN was the leading cause in the elderly. On the other hand, LN was the most common pathology in the NPU group until the age of 60. Over the past three decades, there was a trend of decrease in the proportion of IgAN in both NS and NPU group, while a combined pathology of hypertensive nephrosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy (HTNS and DN) increased significantly.

Conclusions

The causes of NS and NPU in Chinese adults were different and may represent two distinct pathological identities. The spectrum of renal histopathology among these two groups changed significantly over time.
Bacterial screening of platelet components by National Health Service Blood and Transplant, an effective risk reduction measure
Authors: McDonald Carl , Allen Jennifer , Brailsford Susan , Roy Anjana , Ball Joanne , Moule Richard , Vasconcelos Mariza , Morrison Rachael , Pitt Tyrone
Published: April 2017

BACKGROUND

Bacterial contamination of blood components remains a major cause of sepsis in transfusion medicine. Between 2006 and 2010 in the 5 years before the introduction of bacterial screening of platelet (PLT) components by National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), seven cases of PLT component–associated transmission of bacterial infection were recorded for 10 patients, three of which were fatal.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Sampling of individual PLT components was undertaken at 36 to 48 hours after donation and tested in the BacT/ALERT system with 8 mL inoculated into each of aerobic and anaerobic culture bottles. Bottles were incubated until the end of the 7‐day shelf life and initial reactive bottles were examined for contamination. Bacterial screened time‐expired PLTs were tested as in the screen method.

RESULTS

From February 2011 to September 2015, a total of 1,239,029 PLT components were screened. Initial‐reactive, confirmed‐positive, and false‐positive rates were 0.37, 0.03, and 0.19%, respectively. False‐negative cultures, all with Staphylococcus aureus, occurred on four occasions; three were visually detected before transfusion and one confirmed transmission resulted in patient morbidity. The NHSBT screening protocol effectively reduced the number of clinically adverse transfusion transmissions by 90% in this reporting period, compared to a similar time period before implementation. Delayed testing of 4515 time‐expired PLT units after screening revealed no positives.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of bacterial screening of PLT components with the NHSBT BacT/ALERT protocol was an effective risk reduction measure and increased the safety of the blood supply.
Equivalent Source Method-Based Nearfield Acoustic Holography in a Moving Medium
Authors: Bi Chuan-Xing , Dong Bi-Chun , Zhang Xiao-Zheng , Zhang Yong-Bin
Published: April 2017

To identify sound sources situated in a fluid flow, an equivalent source method (ESM)-based nearfield acoustic holography (NAH) in a moving medium is proposed, and two types of acoustic inputs, pressure and particle velocity, are considered. In particular, an analytical relationship between the particle velocity perpendicular to the flow direction and the equivalent source strength is deduced, which makes it possible to realize the reconstruction with particle velocity input. Compared to the planar NAH in a moving medium, the proposed method is applicable to sound sources with more complicated geometries. Numerical simulations with sound sources distributed over two types of geometries including planar geometry and nonplanar one are conducted to test the performances of the proposed method. The results indicate that the proposed method provides satisfactory reconstructed results whatever with pressure input or with particle velocity input, and it is valid and robust over a wide range of flow velocities and frequencies and under different levels of background noise.
Dynamics of Transition Regime in Bistable Vibration Energy Harvesters
Authors: Ibrahim Alwathiqbellah , Towfighian Shahrzad , Younis Mohammad I.
Published: April 2017

Vibration energy harvesting can be an effective method for scavenging wasted mechanical energy for use by wireless sensors that have limited battery life. Two major goals in designing energy harvesters are enhancing the power scavenged at low frequency and improving efficiency by increasing the frequency bandwidth. To achieve these goals, we derived a magnetoelastic beam operated at the transition between mono- and bi-stable regions. By improving the mathematical model of the interaction of magnetic force and beam dynamics, we obtained a precise prediction of natural frequencies as the distance of magnets varies. Using the shooting technique for the improved model, we present a fundamental understanding of interesting combined softening and hardening responses that happen at the transition between the two regimes. The transition regime is proposed as the optimal region for energy conversion in terms of frequency bandwidth and output voltage. Using this technique, low-frequency vibration energy harvesting at around 17 Hz was possible. The theoretical results were in good agreement with the experimental results. The target application is to power wildlife biologging devices from bird flights that have consistent high power density around 16 Hz (Shafer et al., 2015, “The Case for Energy Harvesting on Wildlife in Flight,” Smart Mater. Struct., 24(2), p. 025031).
Separation of measured noise coherence matrix into Toeplitz and Hankel parts
Authors: Harrison Chris H.
Published: April 2017

The cross-spectral density of ocean ambient noise is usually estimated from the product of the complex hydrophone signals, each of which already corresponds to the summed responses of sources from all angles. The true coherence is the integral over all angles of the angle-dependent product. The influence of this distinction on necessary time integration in geoacoustic inversion and passive fathometry is explored, and a meaningful separation of the cross-spectral density matrix into Toeplitz and Hankel parts is proposed. Various processing techniques are applied to synthesized data and some experimental vertical array data in a passive fathometry context. Passive fathometry is only sensitive to the Hankel part of the matrix.
Quantitative 3D evolution of colloidal nanoparticle oxidation in solution
Authors: Sun Yugang , Zuo Xiaobing , Sankaranarayanan Subramanian K. R. S. , Peng Sheng , Narayanan Badri , Kamath Ganesh
Published: April 2017

Watching nanomaterials transform in time

Real-time analysis of chemical transformations of nanoparticles is usually done with electron microscopy of a few particles. One limitation is interference by the electron beam. Sun
et al.
monitored the oxidation of iron nanoparticles in solution by using small- and wide-angle x-ray scattering and molecular dynamics simulations (see the Perspective by Cadavid and Cabot). These methods revealed the formation of voids within the nanoparticles, diffusion of material into and out of the nanoparticles, and ultimately the coalescence of the voids.

Science
, this issue p.
303
; see also p.
245
Beyond the roots of human inaction: Fostering collective effort toward ecosystem conservation
Authors: Amel Elise , Manning Christie , Scott Britain , Koger Susan
Published: April 2017

The term “environmental problem” exposes a fundamental misconception: Disruptions of Earth’s ecosystems are at their root a human behavior problem. Psychology is a potent tool for understanding the external and internal drivers of human behavior that lead to unsustainable living. Psychologists already contribute to individual-level behavior-change campaigns in the service of sustainability, but attention is turning toward understanding and facilitating the role of individuals in collective and collaborative actions that will modify the environmentally damaging systems in which humans are embedded. Especially crucial in moving toward long-term human and environmental well-being are transformational individuals who step outside of the norm, embrace ecological principles, and inspire collective action. Particularly in developed countries, fostering legions of sustainability leaders rests upon a fundamental renewal of humans’ connection to the natural world.
Pneumococcal Capsular Polysaccharide Immunity in the Elderly
Authors: Adler Hugh , Ferreira Daniela M. , Gordon Stephen B. , Rylance Jamie
Published: April 2017

Immunity to pneumococcal infections is impaired in older people, and current vaccines are poorly protective against pneumococcal disease in this population. Naturally acquired immunity to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides develops during childhood and is robust in young adults but deteriorates with advanced age. In particular, antibody levels and function are reduced in older people. Pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for people >65 years old. However, the benefits of polysaccharide and protein-conjugated vaccines in this population are small, because of both serotype replacement and incomplete protection against vaccine serotype pneumococcal disease. In this review, we overview the immune mechanisms by which naturally acquired and vaccine-induced pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide immunity declines with age, including altered colonization dynamics, reduced opsonic activity of antibodies (particularly IgM), and impaired mucosal immunity.
Assessing the safety culture of care homes: a multimethod evaluation of the adaptation, face validity and feasibility of the Manchester Patient Safety Framework
Authors: Marshall Martin , Cruickshank Lesley , Shand Jenny , Perry Sarah , Anderson James , Wei Li , Parker Dianne , de Silva Debra
Published: April 2017

Background

Understanding the cultural characteristics of healthcare organisations is widely recognised to be an important component of patient safety. A growing number of vulnerable older people are living in care homes but little attention has been paid to safety culture in this sector. In this study, we aimed to adapt the Manchester Patient Safety Framework (MaPSaF), a commonly used tool in the health sector, for use in care homes and then to test its face validity and preliminary feasibility as a tool for developing a better understanding of safety culture in the sector.

Methods

As part of a wider improvement programme to reduce the prevalence of common safety incidents among residents in 90 care homes in England, we adapted MaPSaF and carried out a multimethod participatory evaluation of its face validity and feasibility for care home staff. Data were collected using participant observation, interviews, documentary analysis and a survey, and were analysed thematically.

Results

MaPSaF required considerable adaptation in terms of its length, language and content in order for it to be perceived to be acceptable and useful to care home staff. The changes made reflected differences between the health and care home sectors in terms of the local context and wider policy environment, and the expectations, capacity and capabilities of the staff. Based on this preliminary study, the adapted tool, renamed ‘Culture is Key’, appears to have reasonable face validity and, with adequate facilitation, it is usable by front-line staff and useful in raising their awareness about safety issues.

Conclusions

‘Culture is Key’ is a new tool which appears to have acceptable face validity and feasibility to be used by care home staff to deepen their understanding of the safety culture of their organisations and therefore has potential to contribute to improving care for vulnerable older people.
Infrared traffic image enhancement algorithm based on dark channel prior and gamma correction
Authors: Zheng Lintao , Shi Hengliang , Gu Ming
Published: April 2017

The infrared traffic image acquired by the intelligent traffic surveillance equipment has low contrast, little hierarchical differences in perceptions of image and the blurred vision effect. Therefore, infrared traffic image enhancement, being an indispensable key step, is applied to nearly all infrared imaging based traffic engineering applications. In this paper, we propose an infrared traffic image enhancement algorithm that is based on dark channel prior and gamma correction. In existing research dark channel prior, known as a famous image dehazing method, here is used to do infrared image enhancement for the first time. Initially, in the proposed algorithm, the original degraded infrared traffic image is transformed with dark channel prior as the initial enhanced result. A further adjustment based on the gamma curve is needed because initial enhanced result has lower brightness. Comprehensive validation experiments reveal that the proposed algorithm outperforms the current state-of-the-art algorithms.
Dispersion characteristics and compensation in the POLMUX coherent optical communication system
Authors: Zhu Guijun , Ruan Xiukai , Zhou Zhili
Published: April 2017

The trend of high-speed optical communication is to realize large capacity, fast speed and long haul transmission. However, the dispersion in an optical fiber link can cause signals distortion or even inter symbol interference (ISI). With increasing signal rate and transmission distance in the optical communication system, the development of high-speed optical fiber communication is restricted seriously. This paper is focusing on the dispersion characteristics and compensation of the polarization multiplexing (POLMUX) coherent optical communication system: (i) to study on dispersion theoretically, e.g., chromatic dispersion (CD), polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and dispersion tolerance; (ii) to analyze and compare the performance of dispersion with various 16-ary modulation formats; (iii) to compensate dispersion by the classical dispersion compensation methods.
Spillovers from Conservation Programs
Authors: Pfaff Alexander , Robalino Juan
Published: April 2017

Conservation programs have increased significantly, as has the evaluation of their impacts. However, the evaluation of their potential impacts beyond program borders has been scarce. Such spillovers can significantly reduce or increase net impacts. In this review, we discuss how conservation programs might affect outcomes beyond their borders and present some evidence of when they have or have not. We focus on five major channels by which spillovers can arise: (1) input reallocation; (2) market prices; (3) learning; (4) nonpecuniary motivations; and (5) ecological-physical links. We highlight evidence for each channel and emphasize that estimates often may reflect multiple channels. Future research could test for spillovers within different contexts and could separate the effects of different channels.