bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Christified Universe and the Vanquished Creatures: The Perspectives of Ilia Delio and Elizabeth A. Johnson
Authors: Sasongko Nindyo
Published: March 2017

This article is a study of Christology in which Christ, the center of cosmos, is on the side of creatures in pain. I examine the argument of Jesuit paleontologist and mystic Teilhard de Chardin that the whole universe is in the process of Christification. With Ilia Delio and Elizabeth A. Johnson, I contend that Christ takes the side of suffering creatures going extinct just like Christ opts for the people on the margins of power. First, I sketch a background in which natural evil must be placed within an evolutionary framework. Second, in highlighting Delio's and Johnson's views, I ask, where is Christ in evolution? Finally, I revisit christological notions implied in Colossians 1 and John 1.
The hemodynamic response to interictal epileptic discharges localizes the seizure‐onset zone
Authors: Khoo Hui Ming , Hao Yongfu , von Ellenrieder Nicolás , Zazubovits Natalja , Hall Jeffery , Olivier André , Dubeau François , Gotman Jean
Published: March 2017

Objective

Intracranial electroencephalography (EEG), performed presurgically in patients with drug‐resistant and difficult‐to‐localize focal epilepsy, samples only a small fraction of brain tissue and thus requires strong hypotheses regarding the possible localization of the epileptogenic zone. EEG/fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), a noninvasive tool resulting in hemodynamic responses, could contribute to the generation of these hypotheses. This study assessed how these responses, despite their interictal origin, predict the seizure‐onset zone (SOZ).

Methods

We retrospectively studied 37 consecutive patients who underwent stereo‐EEG (SEEG) and EEG/fMRI that resulted in significant hemodynamic responses. Hemodynamic response maps were co‐registered to postimplantation anatomic imaging, allowing inspection of these responses in relation to SEEG electrode's location. The area containing the most significant t‐value (primary cluster) explored with an electrode was assessed for concordance with SEEG‐defined SOZ. Discriminant analysis was performed to distinguish the primary clusters having a high probability of localizing the SOZ.

Results

Thirty‐one patients had at least one study with primary cluster explored with an electrode, and 24 (77%) had at least one study with primary cluster concordant with the SOZ. Each patient could have multiple types of interictal discharge and therefore multiple studies. Among 59 studies from the 37 patients, 44 had a primary cluster explored with an electrode and 30 (68%) were concordant with the SOZ. Discriminant analysis showed that the SOZ is predictable with high confidence (>90%) if the primary cluster is highly significant and if the next significant cluster is much less significant or absent.

Significance

The most significant hemodynamic response to interictal discharges delineates the subset of the irritative zone that generates seizures in a high proportion of patients with difficult‐to‐localize focal epilepsy. EEG/fMRI generates responses that are valuable targets for electrode implantation and may reduce the need for implantation in patients in whom the most significant response satisfies the condition of our discriminant analysis.
A Cretaceous calamity? The Hypsilophodon Bed of the Isle of Wight, southern England
Authors: Coram Robert A. , Radley Jonathan D. , Martill David M.
Published: March 2017

Complete or near‐complete skeletons of the herbivorous dinosaur Hypsilophodon foxii occur frequently in a metre‐thick band of mudstone and sandstone in the Lower Cretaceous Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight. The reasons for this accumulation have been the subject of some debate. This article examines new sedimentological clues that provide a plausible explanation for these dinosaurs’ demise.
Social and material aspects of life and their impact on the physical health of people diagnosed with mental illness
Authors: Ewart Stephanie B. , Happell Brenda , Bocking Julia , Platania‐Phung Chris , Stanton Robert , Scholz Brett
Published: March 2017

Background

People diagnosed with mental illness have shorter lives and poorer physical health, compared to the general population. These health inequities are usually viewed at an individual and clinical level, yet there is little research on the views of mental health consumers on clinical factors in broader contexts.

Objective

To elicit the views of consumers of mental health services regarding their physical health and experiences of accessing physical health‐care services.

Design

Qualitative exploratory design involving focus groups.

Setting and participants

The research was conducted in the Australian Capital Territory. Participants were consumers of mental health services.

Main outcome measures

The Commission on Social Determinants of Health Framework was drawn on to lead deductive analysis of focus group interview transcripts.

Results

Issues impacting consumers included poverty, the neglect of public services and being treated as second‐class citizens because of diagnosis of mental illness and/or experiencing a psychosocial disability. These factors were connected with significant barriers in accessing physical health care, including the quality and relevance of health provider communication, especially when the broader contexts of mental health consumer's lives are not well understood.

Discussion and conclusions

These findings suggest the Commission on Social Determinants of Health Framework could be utilized in research and policy, and may provide an effective platform for exploring better health communication with mental health consumers regarding this neglected health inequity.
Fluvial to bay sequence stratigraphy and seismic facies of the Cretaceous to Paleogene successions in the MITI Sanriku‐oki well and the vicinities, the Sanriku‐oki forearc basin, northeast Japan
Authors: Takano Osamu , Tsuji Takashi
Published: March 2017

This paper describes the significant depositional setting information derived from well and seismic survey data for the Upper Cretaceous to Lower Eocene forearc basin sediments in the central part of the Sanriku‐oki basin, which is regarded as a key area for elucidating the plate tectonic history of the Northeast Japan Arc. According to the results of well facies analysis utilizing cores, well logs and borehole images, the major depositional environments were of braided and meandering fluvial environments with sporadically intercalated marine incursion beds. Seismic facies, reflection terminations and isopach information provide the actual spatial distributions of fluvial channel zones flowing in a north–south trending direction. The transgression and regression cycles indicate that the Upper Cretaceous to Lower Eocene successions can be divided into thirteen depositional sequences (Sequences SrCr‐0 to SrCr‐5, and SrPg‐1 to SrPg‐7). These depositional sequences demonstrate three types of stacking patterns: Types A to C, each of which shows a succession mainly comprising a meandering fluvial system, a braided fluvial system with minor meandering aspects in the upper part, and major marine incursion beds in the middle part, respectively, although all show an overall transgressive to regressive succession. The Type C marine incursion beds characteristically comprise bay center and tidal‐dominated bay margin facies. Basin‐transecting long seismic sections demonstrate a roll up structure on the trench slope break (TSB) side of the basin. These facts suggest that during the Cretaceous to Eocene periods, the studied fluvial‐dominated forearc basin was sheltered by the uplifted TSB. The selective occurrences of the Type C sequences suggest that when a longer‐scale transgression occurred, especially in Santonian and early Campanian periods, a large bay basin was developed, creating accommodation space, which induced the deposition of the Cretaceous Kuji Group along the arc‐side basin margin.
The influence of resilience on mental health: The role of general well‐being
Authors: Gao Tingting , Ding Xinna , Chai Jingxin , Zhang Zhao , Zhang Han , Kong Yixi , Mei Songli
Published: March 2017

Background

Nurses are suffering from increasing stress, and nursing is recognized as one of the most stressful job. Their mental health problems are serious and worthy of attention.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between resilience and mental health and general well‐being among nurses.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in 2014, using a self‐reported questionnaire. Participants were asked to complete the measure of resilience, mental health, and general well‐being. The method of randomly cluster sampling was used to select nurses as participants. A survey of 365 nurses was conducted to test the hypothesized model.

Results

This study showed that resilience, mental health, and general well‐being correlated with each other. General well‐being was an effective predictor of resilience and mental health, whereas it both can moderate and mediate the relationship.

Conclusions

Strategies to increase nurses' general well‐being could enhance their resilience and reduce mental health problems. It is important to improve the mental health of nurses and maintain the professional values that ensure career sustainability.
Imagined contact can be more effective for participants with stronger initial prejudices
Authors: West Keon , Hotchin Victoria , Wood Chantelle
Published: March 2017

Imagined contact is an intervention that combines the prejudice‐reduction of intergroup contact with the easy, low‐risk application of imagery‐based techniques. Accordingly, it can be applied where direct contact is difficult or risky. However, a possible limitation of imagined contact is that it may not be effective for participants with stronger initial prejudices, which would limit its usefulness and application. Two experiments (N1 = 103, N2 = 95) investigated whether initial prejudice moderated imagined contact's effects on explicit attitudes, behavioral intentions (Experiment 1), implicit attitudes, and petition‐signing behaviors (Experiment 2) toward two different outgroups. In both experiments, imagined contact was more effective when initial prejudice was higher. Implications for imagined contact theory and application are discussed.
Hill–Robertson interference maintained by Red Queen dynamics favours the evolution of sex
Authors: da Silva J. , Galbraith J. D.
Published: March 2017

Although it is well established theoretically that selective interference among mutations (Hill–Robertson interference) favours meiotic recombination, genomewide mean rates of mutation and strengths of selection appear too low to support this as the mechanism favouring recombination in nature. A possible solution to this discrepancy between theory and observation is that selection is at least intermittently very strong due to the antagonistic coevolution between a host and its parasites. The Red Queen theory posits that such coevolution generates fitness epistasis among loci, which generates negative linkage disequilibrium among beneficial mutations, which in turn favours recombination. This theory has received only limited support. However, Red Queen dynamics without epistasis may provide the ecological conditions that maintain strong and frequent selective interference in finite populations that indirectly selects for recombination. This hypothesis is developed here through the simulation of Red Queen dynamics. This approach required the development of a method to calculate the exact frequencies of multilocus haplotypes after recombination. Simulations show that recombination is favoured by the moderately weak selection of many loci involved in the interaction between a host and its parasites, which results in substitution rates that are compatible with empirical estimates. The model also reproduces the previously reported rapid increase in the rate of outcrossing in Caenorhabditis elegans coevolving with a bacterial pathogen.
Structure, composition, mechanics and growth of spines of the dorsal fin of blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus and common carp Cyprinus carpio
Authors: Kalish‐Achrai N. , Monsonego‐Ornan E. , Shahar R.
Published: March 2017

The structural, compositional and mechanical properties of the spines of the dorsal fin in mature anosteocytic blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus and osteocytic common carp Cyprinus carpio are described, as well as their temporal growth pattern and regenerative capacities. The three‐dimensional architecture of both spines, from macro to sub‐micron levels, is shown to be axially oriented and therefore highly anisotropic and the spines of both species are able to regenerate after partial amputation.
Replacement of Fishmeal with a Blend of Poultry Byproduct Meal and Soybean Meal in Diets for Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides
Authors: Ren Xing , Wang Yan , Chen Jian‐Ming , Wu Yu‐Bo , Huang Di , Jiang Dan‐Li , Li Peng
Published: March 2017

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the potential of replacing fishmeal with poultry byproduct meal (PBM) and soybean meal in diets for largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides. A reference diet (C) contained 400 g/kg fishmeal, and 40 or 60% of the fishmeal was replaced with a blend of pet‐food‐grade PBM and soybean meal (diets PP1 and PP2) or a blend of feed‐grade PBM and soybean meal (diets PF1 and PF2). No significant differences were found in weight gain, nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE), condition factor, and body composition among fish fed diets PP1, PP2, PF1, and PF2. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were higher in fish fed diet PF1 than in fish fed diet PP1. No significant differences were found in weight gain, NRE, condition factor, and body composition between fish fed diet C and diets PP1, PP2, PF1, and PF2. The feed intake and FCR were lower in fish fed diet C than in fish fed diets PP2, PF1, and PF2. This study reveals that dietary fishmeal level for largemouth bass could be reduced to 160 g/kg by inclusion of PBM and soybean meal in combination.
To hold or not to hold? The effects of prey type and size on the predatory strategy of a venomous snake
Authors: Glaudas X. , Kearney T. C. , Alexander G. J.
Published: March 2017

The dangerous prey hypothesis predicts that when predators can discriminate between harmless and dangerous prey, they should alter their predatory behavior according to the risk. Venomous snakes, which rely on an envenomating strike to kill prey, often feed on potentially dangerous prey such as rodents, and have the choice between two alternative strategies following a bite: they either hold onto prey until it is incapacitated, or release it immediately, relying on scent trailing to find the bitten prey. In this study, we combined observational and experimental data collected in the field in South Africa to test the hypothesis that prey type and size affected the predatory strategy of a venomous snake, the puff adder (Bitis arietans;Viperidae). Relative prey size, but not prey type, affected the snake's strategy: puff adders typically struck and held prey of small size (e.g., toads, small adult mice and shrews), but often struck and released larger prey (e.g., large adult mice and rats), presumably because retaliatory bites from the latter ones are more dangerous. Hence, puff adders discriminated according to prey size and adjusted their predatory strategy consequently. Contrary to the common belief that viperid snakes typically strike and release prey, our findings agree with empirical evidence found in the literature, that is, puff adders generally alter their predatory tactics based on prey size. Although a few laboratory studies have examined the theme of the present paper in other venomous snakes, our research was conducted in a natural setting and thus provides a better understanding of the factors used by predators to choose between alternative hunting strategies.
The RicAFT (YmcA‐YlbF‐YaaT) complex carries two [4Fe‐4S]2+ clusters and may respond to redox changes
Authors: Tanner Andrew W. , Carabetta Valerie J. , Martinie Ryan J. , Mashruwala Ameya A. , Boyd Jeffrey M. , Krebs Carsten , Dubnau David
Published: March 2017

During times of environmental insult, Bacillus subtilis undergoes developmental changes leading to biofilm formation, sporulation and competence. Each of these states is regulated in part by the phosphorylated form of the master response regulator Spo0A (Spo0A∼P). The phosphorylation state of Spo0A is controlled by a multi‐component phosphorelay. RicA, RicF and RicT (previously YmcA, YlbF and YaaT) have been shown to be important regulatory proteins for multiple developmental fates. These proteins directly interact and form a stable complex, which has been proposed to accelerate the phosphorelay. Indeed, this complex is sufficient to stimulate the rate of phosphotransfer amongst the phosphorelay proteins in vitro. In this study, we demonstrate that two [4Fe‐4S]2+ clusters can be assembled on the complex. As with other iron‐sulfur cluster‐binding proteins, the complex was also found to bind FAD, hinting that these cofactors may be involved in sensing the cellular redox state. This work provides the first comprehensive characterization of an iron‐sulfur protein complex that regulates Spo0A∼P levels. Phylogenetic and genetic evidence suggests that the complex plays a broader role beyond stimulation of the phosphorelay.
Growing pains? Change in the New Zealand childcare market 2006–2016
Authors: Gallagher Aisling
Published: March 2017

There has been a significant growth in childcare in New Zealand (NZ) since 2006. Shaped by debates around the marketisation of childcare, this paper will make some key observations about the NZ childcare market. I will argue that the landscape of childcare has changed in favour of a burgeoning private sector and consider the recent impetus for corporatisation. Finally, I will examine the discourse of parental ‘choice’ which pervades policy discussions around ECE in New Zealand and how this plays out in the face of an expanding private for‐profit sector.
Electrophysiological correlates of adaptive control and attentional engagement in patients with first episode schizophrenia and healthy young adults
Authors: Boudewyn Megan A. , Carter Cameron S.
Published: March 2017

The goal of this study was to investigate the neural dynamics of error processing and post‐error adjustments in cognitive control and attention to a cognitive task in schizophrenia. We adopted a time‐frequency approach in order to examine activity in the theta and alpha frequency bands as indices of cognitive control and attentional engagement. The results showed that error processing was characterized by increases in theta‐band activity, accompanied by decreases in alpha‐band activity, in both healthy control participants and participants with schizophrenia. However, both the theta and alpha effects were significantly reduced in participants with schizophrenia. Post‐error increases in theta activity were associated with improved accuracy on subsequent trials in control participants but not in participants with schizophrenia. In addition, increases in alpha‐band activity were found in the prestimulus period before partial attention lapses, but only for control participants and participants with schizophrenia with relatively low positive symptom severity. These results provide evidence for a deficit in cognitive control mechanisms mediated by midfrontal theta activity in schizophrenia, and suggest a particularly pronounced deficit in patients' ability to engage adaptive control mechanisms following errors. Our results also indicate that partial attention lapses can be indexed in both control participants and participants with schizophrenia by increases in alpha activity, but that in schizophrenia this varies as a function of positive symptom severity. We suggest that disrupted theta‐band function represents a key deficit of schizophrenia, whereas disruptions in the alpha band may be the byproduct of atypically regulated attention.
Patent characteristics and the age‐value relationship: study of OceanTomo auctioned US singleton patents for the period 2006–2008
Authors: Vimalnath Pratheeba , Gurtoo Anjula , Mathew Mary
Published: March 2017

The article characterizes high and low value patents based on the non‐linearity of the age‐value relationship, as an attempt to provide some statistical understanding on the difference in the value of patent characteristics over time. A set of 138 US singleton patents, mainly from the computers and communication field, successfully auctioned by an US auction firm called OceanTomo during 2006–2008 forms the data. Analysis shows evidence of non‐linearity in the patent age‐value relationship and the sensitivity of patent characteristics to temporal dimension in explaining value of patented knowledge. The U‐shaped temporal value of knowledge, identifying older patented knowledge as more valuable, thus, finds support. Furthermore, patents sold in their first half exhibit more lag, less patent scope and less forward citations. Patents sold by firms dominate the younger patent, while the older patent cohort finds more patents sold by individuals. These and other results are discussed for their significance for patent sale. We acknowledge the limitations of a small sample size. Nevertheless, the article provides statistical understanding on the potential characteristics of high and low value patents, explored through the non‐linear age value dynamics.
Incremental Hemodialysis: The University of California Irvine Experience
Authors: Ghahremani‐Ghajar Mehrdad , Rojas‐Bautista Vanessa , Lau Wei‐Ling , Pahl Madeleine , Hernandez Miguel , Jin Anna , Reddy Uttam , Chou Jason , Obi Yoshitsugu , Kalantar‐Zadeh Kamyar , Rhee Connie M.
Published: March 2017

Incremental hemodialysis has been examined as a viable hemodialysis regimen for selected end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Preservation of residual kidney function (RKF) has been the driving impetus for this approach given its benefits upon the survival and quality of life of dialysis patients. While clinical practice guidelines recommend an incremental start of dialysis in peritoneal dialysis patients with substantial RKF, there remains little guidance with respect to incremental hemodialysis as an initial renal replacement therapy regimen. Indeed, several large population‐based studies suggest that incremental twice‐weekly vs. conventional thrice‐weekly hemodialysis has favorable impact upon RKF trajectory and survival among patients with adequate renal urea clearance and/or urine output. In this report, we describe a case series of 13 ambulatory incident ESRD patients enrolled in a university‐based center's Incremental Hemodialysis Program over the period of January 2015 to August 2016 and followed through December 2016. Among five patients who maintained a twice‐weekly hemodialysis schedule vs. eight patients who transitioned to thrice‐weekly hemodialysis, we describe and compare patients’ longitudinal case‐mix, laboratory, and dialysis treatment characteristics over time. The University of California Irvine Experience is the first systemically examined twice‐weekly hemodialysis practice in North America. While future studies are needed to refine the optimal approaches and the ideal patient population for implementation of incremental hemodialysis, our case‐series serves as a first report of this innovative management strategy among incident ESRD patients with substantial RKF, and a template for implementation of this regimen.
Should optimal timing between two intrauterine transfusions be based on estimated daily decrease of hemoglobin or on measurement of fetal middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity?
Authors: Ghesquière Louise , Houfflin‐Debarge Véronique , Behal Hélène , Coulon Capucine , Subtil Damien , Vaast Pascal , Garabedian Charles
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

To best predict the recurrence of fetal anemia after intrauterine transfusion (IUT), the measurement of middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (PSV) and the estimation of hemoglobin (Hb) daily decrease are compared.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A retrospective study including 38 patients who had at least two IUTs in a context of red blood cell alloimmunization was conducted. PSV values before first, second, and third IUTs were collected and expected Hb level was calculated according to various Hb daily decrease formulas as proposed in the literature.

RESULTS

Comparison of PSV receiver operating characteristic curves with the various Hb levels did not find any significant difference between first and second IUTs. On the other hand, we found a significant difference between the second and third IUTs, with better prediction of fetal anemia through Hb decrease calculation, whatever the formula. Between the second and third IUTs, no formula was significantly better than the others.

CONCLUSION

The timing of a second transfusion can be difficult to determine with certainty, but PSV can give an accurate assessment of when to resample the fetus with probably a higher recommended threshold for the diagnosis of fetal anemia. Subsequent to a second transfusion, the intertransfusion interval should be based on estimated Hb decrease rather than PSV thresholds, whatever the chosen formula proposed in the literature. Larger numbers are needed to definitely make this recommendation and it will be interesting to evaluate correlation between different antibodies.
Determination of Schirmer tear test‐1 values in clinically normal alpacas (Vicugña pacos) in North America
Authors: McDonald Jessica E. , Knollinger Amy M. , Dees Darryl D. , MacLaren Nicole E.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

To determine the normal reference range for Schirmer tear test‐1 (STT‐1) values in eyes of healthy alpacas (Vicugña pacos).

Methods

Complete ophthalmic examinations were performed on forty healthy alpacas (80 eyes). STT‐1 values were obtained in both eyes of all alpacas using a commercial STT strip of a single lot number. Data were analyzed, using a doubly repeated measures ANOVA design, Student's paired t‐test, and Pearson correlation test, with P ≤ 0.05 considered significant.

Results

The STT‐1 values ± standard deviation (SD) were 20.80 ± 4.01 mm/min OD, 20.00 ± 4.13 mm/min OS, and 20.88 ± 4.04 mm/min OU (range 15.50–30.50 mm/min). No significant differences in STT‐1 were found between OD and OS. STT‐1 was not significantly affected by breed. Schirmer tear test‐1 values were significantly increased by 3.45 mm/min for every 10 year increase in age.

Conclusions

This study provides a reference range of STT‐1 in the healthy alpaca which can assist veterinarians in diagnosing potential keratoconjunctivitis sicca, tear film abnormalities, as well as ocular surface diseases in alpacas.
Spatial Dynamics of Chinese Manufacturing Industries: Comparative Advantage versus New Economic Geography
Authors: Wang Fei , Mao Qiliang
Published: March 2017

This paper analyzes the evolving spatial distribution of manufacturing industries in China. Besides, we explore the substantial determinants by adopting a spatial panel model. The spatial pattern of Chinese manufacturing industries has changed significantly, which is featured by obvious trend of labor intensive industries and some of capital and tech intensive ones in Eastern China spread to Central and Western China. Generally, spatial dynamics of industries present an order to a certain degree. Central China has been the main region where industries spread to, and relative large range of sectors is involved. We test the determinants in terms of comparative advantage and new economic geography. It turns out that the factors driving industry spatial dynamics is not the enlarging regional cost differences of production factors but endogenous agglomeration externalities. Specifically, more and more fierce competition of local firms in same sector has become one of the principal reasons cause spatial relocation. More congestion happens in labor intensive industries compared to technology intensive industries and capital intensive industries. The findings of this study indicate that comparative advantage theory and new economic geography will be suitable in different spatial scape of economic issues. Geographic evolution of industries in one country is less determined by changing regional comparative advantage differences but the endogenous effect of varying agglomeration externalities.
The Relationship between Cash Flows and Stock Returns: An Empirical Study of Financial Investment Banks on the Khartoum Stock of Exchange
Authors: Bala Sayed Abbas
Published: March 2017

This study aims to test the relationship between cash flows from operational, investment, and financing activities individually and jointly, and the stock returns of financial investment Banks on the Khartoum stock exchange. Using an analytical approach, the study analyzes the financial statements for 2010-2015. The statistical analysis showed no statistically significant relationship between cash flows from operations, investment, and financing activities individually or jointly, and stock returns of financial investment Banks on the Khartoum Stock Exchange. This study yielded several recommendations such as that the statement of cash flows requires a special awareness because it provides important, quality information that reflects the ability of the firm to meet obligations and function as a going concern, which is useful for users in making decisions.
Mechanically sensitive Aδ nociceptors that innervate bone marrow respond to changes in intra‐osseous pressure
Authors: Nencini Sara , Ivanusic Jason
Published: March 2017

Key points

Sensory neurons that innervate the bone marrow provide the CNS with information about pain associated with bone disease and pathology, but little is known of their function.

Here we use a novel in vivo bone–nerve electrophysiological preparation to study how they respond to noxious mechanical stimulation delivered by increasing intra‐osseous pressure.

We provide evidence that sensory neurons that innervate the bone marrow respond to high threshold noxious mechanical stimulation, have response properties consistent with a role in nociception, provide information about different features of an intra‐osseous pressure stimulus and express the Piezo2 mechano‐transducer molecule.

Our findings show how some bone marrow nociceptors signal pain in bony diseases and pathologies that involve a mechanical disturbance or increased intra‐osseous pressure, and that the Piezo2 mechano‐transducer may be involved.

Whilst the sensory neurons and nerve terminals that innervate bone marrow have a morphology and molecular phenotype consistent with a role in nociception, little is known about their physiology or the mechanisms that generate and maintain bone pain. In the present study, we provide evidence that Aδ nociceptors that innervate the bone marrow respond to high threshold noxious mechanical stimulation, exhibit fatigue in response to prior stimulation and in some cases can be sensitized by capsaicin. They can be classified on the basis of their response properties as either phasic–tonic units that appear to code for different intensities of intra‐osseous pressure, or phasic units that code for the rate of change in intra‐osseous pressure. Three different subclasses of mechanically sensitive Aδ units were observed: phasic units that were sensitized by capsaicin, phasic units that were not sensitized by capsaicin and phasic–tonic units (that were not sensitized by capsaicin). These could also, in part, be distinguished by differences in their thresholds for activation, mean discharge frequency, latency to peak activation and peak‐to‐peak action potential amplitude. The majority of small‐diameter myelinated sensory neurons projecting to the bone marrow expressed Piezo2. Our findings indicate that Aδ mechano‐nociceptors are likely to play an important role in generating and maintaining pain in response to bony pathologies that involve a mechanical disturbance or increased intra‐osseous pressure, and imply that Piezo2 signalling may be involved in mechano‐transduction in these receptors.
Energy Harvesting of a Multilayer Piezoelectric Beam in Resonance and Off-Resonance Cases
Authors: Jabbari Majid , Ghayour Mostafa , Mirdamadi Hamid Reza
Published: March 2017

This paper presents to verify the energy harvesting of a nonlinear piezoelectric multilayer beam under harmonic excitation. For getting the perfect performance in energy harvesting, the effect of the energy loss factor, resistive load, and excitation frequency are studied on the results of the power and voltage generated. In this paper, a numerical program is developed with matlab software. Numerical approximation of the nonlinear equations uses a mixed finite element formulation in terms of displacement and potential electrical variables. To verify the numerical results, the experimental results for the energy harvesting of a piezoelectric multilayer beam with harmonic base excitation are used. The multilayer piezoelectric beam (MPB) used consists of two bimorphs in the case of a series connection and a substructure layer of aluminum. For the considered electrical circuit, the piezoelectric energy harvesting model is connected to the resistive load and the generated power in MPB is sent to load resistance. The influence of the type of layer connection on the output voltage value is investigated. The generated voltage and electrical power of the resistive load are verified using the piezoelectric multilayer beam in both resonance and off-resonance cases. According to the results, the maximum value of electric power occurs at the optimum resistive load for the selected frequency value and the behavior of energy harvesting depends greatly on the excitation frequency. Also, the value of the capacitance and resistive load affects the voltage and power generated, and optimum resistance is vital for producing maximum power.
Displacement and Stress Fields in a Functionally Graded Fiber-Reinforced Rotating Disk With Nonuniform Thickness and Variable Angular Velocity
Authors: Zheng Y. , Bahaloo H. , Mousanezhad D. , Vaziri A. , Nayeb-Hashemi H.
Published: March 2017

Displacement and stress fields in a functionally graded (FG) fiber-reinforced rotating disk of nonuniform thickness subjected to angular deceleration are obtained. The disk has a central hole, which is assumed to be mounted on a rotating shaft. Unidirectional fibers are considered to be circumferentially distributed within the disk with a variable volume fraction along the radius. The governing equations for displacement and stress fields are derived and solved using finite difference method. The results show that for disks with fiber rich at the outer radius, the displacement field is lower in radial direction but higher in circumferential direction compared to the disk with the fiber rich at the inner radius. The circumferential stress value at the outer radius is substantially higher for disk with fiber rich at the outer radius compared to the disk with the fiber rich at the inner radius. It is also observed a considerable amount of compressive stress developed in the radial direction in a region close to the outer radius. These compressive stresses may prevent any crack growth in the circumferential direction of such disks. For disks with fiber rich at the inner radius, the presence of fibers results in minimal changes in the displacement and stress fields when compared to a homogenous disk made from the matrix material. In addition, we concluded that disk deceleration has no effect on the radial and hoop stresses. However, deceleration will affect the shear stress. Tsai–Wu failure criterion is evaluated for decelerating disks. For disks with fiber rich at the inner radius, the failure is initiated between inner and outer radii. However, for disks with fiber rich at the outer radius, the failure location depends on the fiber distribution.
A dye-assisted paper-based point-of-care assay for fast and reliable blood grouping
Authors: Zhang Hong , Qiu Xiaopei , Zou Yurui , Ye Yanyao , Qi Chao , Zou Lingyun , Yang Xiang , Yang Ke , Zhu Yuanfeng , Yang Yongjun , Zhou Yang , Luo Yang
Published: March 2017

A paper-based assay for rapid and reliable blood grouping uses dye-based color changes as a visual readout to identify distinct blood components.
Richer data with personalized GEMs
Authors: Miller Miles A.
Published: March 2017

Personalized genome-scale metabolic models augment clinical hepatic steatosis data and motivate treatment based on glutathione repletion.
Origins of Combination Therapy for Tuberculosis: Lessons for Future Antimicrobial Development and Application
Authors: Kerantzas Christopher A. , Jacobs William R.
Published: March 2017

Tuberculosis is a global health problem that causes the death of approximately 1.5 million people worldwide each year (WHO, p. 1–126,
Global Tuberculosis Report
, 2015). Treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis requires combination antimicrobial therapy with a minimum of four antimicrobial agents applied over the course of 6 months. The first instance of combination antimicrobial therapy applied to tuberculosis was the joint use of streptomycin and
para
-aminosalicylic acid as documented by the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom in 1950. These antimicrobial drugs were the product of many decades of investigation into both organism-derived antibiotics and synthetic chemotherapy and were the first agents in those respective categories to show substantial clinical efficacy and widespread use for tuberculosis. The events leading to the discovery and application of these two agents demonstrate that investments in all aspects of research, from basic science to clinical application, are necessary for the continued success of science in finding treatments for human disease. This observation is especially worth considering given the expanded role that combination therapy may play in combating the current rise in resistance to antimicrobial drugs.
Plaques Formed by Mutagenized Viral Populations Have Elevated Coinfection Frequencies
Authors: Aguilera Elizabeth R. , Erickson Andrea K. , Jesudhasan Palmy R. , Robinson Christopher M. , Pfeiffer Julie K.
Published: March 2017

The plaque assay is a common technique used to measure virus concentrations and is based upon the principle that each plaque represents a single infectious unit. As such, the number of plaques is expected to correlate linearly with the virus dilution plated, and each plaque should be formed by a single founder virus. Here, we examined whether more than one virus can contribute to plaque formation. By using genetic and phenotypic assays with genetically marked polioviruses, we found that multiple parental viruses are present in 5 to 7% of plaques, even at an extremely low multiplicity of infection. We demonstrated through visual and biophysical assays that, like many viral stocks, our viral stocks contain both single particles and aggregates. These data suggest that aggregated virions are capable of inducing coinfection and chimeric plaque formation. In fact, inducing virion aggregation via exposure to low pH increased coinfection in a flow cytometry-based assay. We hypothesized that plaques generated by viruses with high mutation loads may have higher coinfection frequencies due to processes restoring fitness, such as complementation and recombination. Indeed, we found that coinfection frequency correlated with mutation load, with 17% chimeric plaque formation for heavily mutagenized viruses. Importantly, the frequency of chimeric plaques may be underestimated by up to threefold, since coinfection with the same parental virus cannot be scored in our assay. This work indicates that more than one virus can contribute to plaque formation and that coinfection may assist plaque formation in situations where the amount of genome damage is high.

IMPORTANCE
One of the most common methods to quantify viruses is the plaque assay, where it is generally presumed that each plaque represents a single infectious virus. Using genetically marked polioviruses, we demonstrate that a plaque can contain more than one parental virus, likely due to aggregates within virus stocks that induce coinfection of a cell. A relatively small number of plaques are the products of coinfection for our standard virus stocks. However, mutagenized virus stocks with increased genome damage give rise to a higher amount of plaques that are chimeric. These results suggest that coinfection may aid plaque formation of viruses with genome damage, possibly due to processes such as complementation and recombination. Overall, our results suggest that the relationship between viral dilution and plaque number may not be linear, particularly for mutagenized viral populations.
Arginine Is a Critical Substrate for the Pathogenesis ofPseudomonas aeruginosain Burn Wound Infections
Authors: Everett Jake , Turner Keith , Cai Qiuxian , Gordon Vernita , Whiteley Marvin , Rumbaugh Kendra
Published: March 2017

Environmental conditions affect bacterial behavior and can greatly influence the course of an infection. However, the environmental cues that elicit bacterial responses in specific infection sites are relatively unknown.Pseudomonas aeruginosais ubiquitous in nature and typically innocuous. However, it is also one of the most prevalent causes of fatal sepsis in burn wound patients. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of environmental factors, specifically the availability of arginine, on the pathogenesis ofP. aeruginosain burn wound infections. Comparison of burned versus noninjured tissue revealed thatl-arginine (l-Arg) was significantly depleted in burn wounds as a consequence of elevated arginase produced by myeloid-derived suppressor cells. We also observed thatl-Arg was a potent chemoattractant forP. aeruginosa, and while low concentrations ofl-Arg increasedP. aeruginosa’s swimming motility, high concentrations resulted in diminished swimming. Based on these observations, we tested whether the administration of exogenousl-Arg into the burn wound could attenuate the virulence ofP. aeruginosain thermally injured mice. Administration ofl-Arg resulted in decreasedP. aeruginosaspread and sepsis and increased animal survival. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the availability of environmental arginine greatly influences the virulence ofP. aeruginosa in vivoand may represent a promising phenotype-modulating tool for future therapeutic avenues.

IMPORTANCEDespite our growing understanding of the pathophysiology of burn wounds and the evolution of techniques and practices to manage infections, sepsis remains a significant medical concern for burn patients.P. aeruginosacontinues to be a leader among all causes of bacteremic infections due to its tendency to cause complications in immunocompromised patients and its ubiquitous presence in the hospital setting. With the unforgiving emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, it is critical that alternative strategies to control or prevent septic infections in burn patients be developed in parallel with novel antimicrobial agents. In this study, we observed that administration ofl-Arg significantly reduced bacterial spread and sepsis in burned mice infected withP. aeruginosa. Given the safety ofl-Arg in high doses and its potential wound-healing benefits, this conditionally essential amino acid may represent a useful tool to modulate bacterial behaviorin vivoand prevent sepsis in burn patients.
‘The Score Matters’: wide variations in predictive performance of 18 paediatric track and trigger systems
Authors: Chapman Susan M , Wray Jo , Oulton Kate , Pagel Christina , Ray Samiran , Peters Mark J
Published: March 2017

Objective

To compare the predictive performance of 18 paediatric early warning systems (PEWS) in predicting critical deterioration.

Design

Retrospective case-controlled study. PEWS values were calculated from existing clinical data, and the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) compared.

Setting

UK tertiary referral children's hospital.

Patients

Patients without a ‘do not attempt resuscitation’ order admitted between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2012. All patients on paediatric wards who suffered a critical deterioration event were designated ‘cases’ and matched with a control closest in age who was present on the same ward at the same time.

Main outcome measures

Respiratory and/or cardiac arrest, unplanned transfer to paediatric intensive care and/or unexpected death.

Results

12 ‘scoring’ and 6 ‘trigger’ systems were suitable for comparative analysis. 297 case events in 224 patients were available for analysis. 244 control patients were identified for the 311 events. Three PEWS demonstrated better overall predictive performance with an AUROC of 0.87 or greater. Comparing each system with the highest performing PEWS with Bonferroni's correction for multiple comparisons resulted in statistically significant differences for 13 systems. Trigger systems performed worse than scoring systems, occupying the six lowest places in the AUROC rankings.

Conclusions

There is considerable variation in the performance of published PEWS, and as such the choice of PEWS has the potential to be clinically important. Trigger-based systems performed poorly overall, but it remains unclear what factors determine optimum performance. More complex systems did not necessarily demonstrate improved performance.
‘We identify, discuss, act and promise to prevent similar deaths’: a qualitative study of Ethiopia's Maternal Death Surveillance and Response system
Authors: Abebe Berhanu , Busza Joanna , Hadush Azmach , Usmael Abdurehman , Zeleke Amsalu Belew , Sita Sahle , Hailu Solomon , Graham Wendy J
Published: March 2017

Introduction

Ethiopia introduced national Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) in 2013 and is among the first sub-Saharan African countries to capture data on facility-based and community-based maternal deaths. We interviewed frontline MDSR implementers about their experiences of the first 2 years of MDSR, including perceptions of its introduction and outcomes for health services.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative case study in 4 zones in the largest regions, interviewing 69 key informants from regional, zonal, district and facility levels.

Results

A defining feature of Ethiopia's MDSR system is its integration within existing disease surveillance, with both benefits and challenges. Facilitators of the system's introduction were strong political support, alignment with broader health strategies and strong links across health system departments. Barriers included confusion around new responsibilities, high staff turnover and fear of legal repercussions. Stakeholders believed MDSR increased confidence in using local data to improve maternal health services and enhanced communication across the health system.

Conclusions

MDSR systems take time to establish, encountering challenges in early implementation. Ensuring MDSR has a clear purpose, explicitly defined roles and responsibilities, and adequate supervisory support from the start will ensure it becomes embedded within the health system as routine practice rather than perceived as a stand-alone system. Countries planning to adopt or extend MDSR can learn from Ethiopia's experience, particularly the decision to make maternal mortality a weekly reportable condition within Public Health Emergency Management.