bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of the impact of a new hurdle technology composed of electro‐activated solution and low heat treatment on the canned pea and corn quality and microbial safety
Authors: Liato Viacheslav , Labrie Steve , Benali Marzouk , Aïder Mohammed
Published: October 2015

The objective of this work was to evaluate the quality of sterilised canned pea and corn in electro‐activated brine solutions at moderate temperatures. The lowest change in vitamin C was associated with the lowest heat treatment, while the short treatment time resulted in significant changes in texture and colour of vegetables. Best texture profile was obtained with the acid electro‐activated brine solution for pea and corn. The neutral electro‐activated brine solution resulted in a less firm texture for pea and corn. The green colour and brightness of canned pea were higher when neutral solution was used (a* = −8.4 ± 0.3) than for the acidic one (a* = −3.7 ± 0.6). The yellowness of corn was better with the neutral electro‐activated brine solution (b* = 36.32 ± 1.24) than with the acidic one (b* = 28.44 ± 2.39). Thirty‐three percent decrease of energy consumption was obtained using the electro‐activation technology.
Interaction of β‐casein with (−)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate assayed by fluorescence quenching: effect of thermal processing temperature
Authors: He Zhiyong , Chen Jie , Moser Sydney E. , Jones Owen G. , Ferruzzi Mario G.
Published: October 2015

The interactions between the flavan‐3‐ol (−)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) and bovine β‐casein in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) of pH 6.5 subjected to thermal processing at various temperatures (25–100 °C) were investigated using fluorescence quenching. The results indicated that different temperatures had different effects on the structural changes and EGCG‐binding ability of β‐casein. At temperatures below 60 °C, the β‐casein–EGCG interaction changed little (P > 0.05) with increasing temperature. At temperatures above 80 °C, native assemblies of β‐casein in solution dissociated into individual β‐casein molecules and unfolded, as demonstrated by a red shift of the maximum fluorescence emission wavelength (λmax) of up to 8.8 nm. The highest quenching constant (Kq) and the number of binding sites (n) were 0.92 (±0.01) × 1013 m−1 s−1 and 0.73 (±0.02) (100 °C), respectively. These results provide insight into the potential of interactions between β‐casein–EGCG that may modulate bioactivity or bioavailability to be altered during thermal process.
Price and Earnings Momentum, Transaction Costs, and an Innovative Practitioner Technique
Authors: Tajaddini Reza , Crack Timothy Falcon , Roberts Helen
Published: October 2015

We use an innovative practitioner technique to investigate the interplay between the ex post performance of momentum strategies and transaction costs, rebalancing frequency, turnover constraints, and fund size. We have three interrelated main results: first, the level of and correlation between active returns to price momentum and earnings momentum strategies vary dramatically with these factors; second, strategies that are fearful of ex ante transaction costs generate returns net of transaction costs that are far superior to the net returns of naive strategies; and third, obtaining better traction with the unique elements of each strategy yields a more profitable combined strategy.
Fear and Numbers in Fukushima
Authors: Spiegelhalter David
Published: October 2015

So how dangerous was the radiation from the Japanese disaster? David Spiegelhalter tells how scientists and officials gave changing advice, how the public were confused, and how the media struggled to get a grip on it all.
Francis Galton Centenary
Authors: Champkin Julian
Published: October 2015

This year marks the centenary of the death of the great Victorian scientist Sir Francis Galton (1822–1911). Galton, a cousin of Charles Darwin, and wildly eccentric, is a key and curious figure in the founding of modern statistics – and of several other sciences as well. We celebrate the life and achievements of an extraordinary man.
Matrixx v. Siracusano and Student v. Fisher
Authors: Ziliak Stephen T.
Published: October 2015

“Matrixx's argument rests on the premise that statistical significance is the only reliable indication of causation. This premise is flawed.” So ruled the US Supreme Court this year in a judgment of huge significance. As a drug company learns that it must disclose even statistically insignificant side effects, Stephen T. Ziliak congratulates the judges, and two giants of statistics fight on from their graves.
Cells on biomaterials – some aspects of elemental analysis by means of electron probes
Authors: TYLKO G.
Published: October 2015

Electron probe X‐ray microanalysis enables concomitant observation of specimens and analysis of their elemental composition. The method is attractive for engineers developing tissue‐compatible biomaterials. Either changes in element composition of cells or biomaterial can be defined according to well‐established preparation and quantification procedures. However, the qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis appears more complicated when cells or thin tissue sections are deposited on biomaterials. X‐ray spectra generated at the cell/tissue–biomaterial interface are modelled using a Monte Carlo simulation of a cell deposited on borosilicate glass. Enhanced electron backscattering from borosilicate glass was noted until the thickness of the biological layer deposited on the substrate reached 1.25 μm. It resulted in significant increase in X‐ray intensities typical for the elements present in the cellular part. In this case, the mean atomic number value of the biomaterial determines the strength of this effect. When elements are present in the cells only, the positive linear relationship appears between X‐ray intensities and cell thickness. Then, spatial dimensions of X‐ray emission for the particular elements are exclusively in the range of the biological part and the intensities of X‐rays become constant. When the elements are present in both the cell and the biomaterial, X‐ray intensities are registered for the biological part and the substrate simultaneously leading to a negative linear relationship of X‐ray intensities in the function of cell thickness. In the case of the analysis of an element typical for the biomaterial, strong decrease in X‐ray emission is observed in the function of cell thickness as the effect of X‐ray absorption and the limited excitation range to biological part rather than to the substrate. Correction procedures for calculations of element concentrations in thin films and coatings deposited on substrates are well established in materials science, but little is known about factors that have to be taken into account to accurately quantify bioelements in thin and semi‐thick biological samples. Thus thorough tests of currently available quantification procedures are required to verify their applicability to cells or tissues deposited on the biomaterials.
Differential roles of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor‐containing neurons of the nucleus accumbens shell in behavioral sensitization
Authors: Kai Nobuyuki , Nishizawa Kayo , Tsutsui Yuji , Ueda Shuichi , Kobayashi Kazuto
Published: October 2015

The nucleus accumbens (Nac) mediates the reinforcing and motor stimulating properties of psychostimulants. It receives dopaminergic afferents from the ventral midbrain and is divided into two distinct subregions: shell and core. Each of these contains two subtypes of medium spiny neurons, which express either dopamine D1 (D1R) or D2 (D2R) receptors. However, functional dissociation between the two subtypes in psychostimulant response remains to be elucidated. We performed selective ablation of each subtype in the Nac shell in mice, using immunotoxin‐mediated cell targeting, and examined the behavioral sensitization evoked by repeated administration of methamphetamine. The D1R cell‐ablated mice exhibited delayed induction of sensitized locomotion compared to control mice, whereas the D2R cell‐ablated mice showed a mildly enhanced rate of induction of sensitization. In vivo microdialysis revealed a marked blockade of the increase in extracellular dopamine in the Nac of the D1R cell‐ablated animals in response to methamphetamine, indicating that the observed delay in behavioral sensitization in these mice involves an impairment in accumbal dopamine release. Our results reveal differential roles of D1R‐ and D2R‐containing accumbal shell neurons in the development of behavioral sensitization to psychostimulants.

image

Behavioral sensitization, enhanced motility by repetitive psychostimulant administration, is a model of drug addiction. Here, we show that the nucleus accumbens (Nac) shell neurons containing dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) or D2 receptor (D2R) play distinct roles in behavioral sensitization triggered by methamphetamine, and that D1R‐containing neurons enhance the induction of behavioral sensitization at the early phase, whereas D2R‐contianing neurons act to suppress the rate of development of the behavior.
Bullying and Its Prevention Among Intensive Care Nurses
Authors: Ganz Freda DeKeyser , Levy Hadassa , Khalaila Rabia , Arad Dana , Bennaroch Kochav , Kolpak Orly , Drori Yardena , Benbinishty Julie , Raanan Ofra
Published: October 2015

Purpose

International studies report that nurse bullying is a common occurrence. The intensive care unit (ICU) is known for its high stress levels, one factor thought to increase bullying. No studies were found that investigated bullying in this population. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of ICU nurse bullying and what measures were taken to prevent bullying.

Design

This was a descriptive study of a convenience sample of 156 ICU nurses from five medical centers in Israel. Data collection was conducted over a 10‐month period in 2012 and 2013.

Methods

After ethical approval, three questionnaires (background characteristics, Negative Acts Questionnaire‐Revised, and Prevention of Bullying Questionnaire) were administered according to unit preference. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all responses and a Pearson product moment correlation was calculated to determine the relationship between bullying and its prevention.

Findings

Most of the nurses in the study were married, female staff nurses with a baccalaureate in nursing. No participant responded that they had been bullied daily, but 29% reported that they were a victim of bullying. The mean bullying score was 1.6 ± 1.4 out of 5. The mean prevention score was 2.4 ± 0.3 out of 4. Significant differences were found between hospitals on bullying, F (4,155) = 2.7, p = .039, and between hospitals, F (4,155) = 2.9, p = .026, and units, F (5,143) = 3.4, p = .006, on prevention. The Prevention Scale significantly correlated with the bullying scale (r = .58, p < .001). No other variables were found to be associated with either bullying or prevention scores.

Conclusions

An alarming percentage of nurses were victims of bullying. Levels of bullying were low to moderate. Level of prevention was weak or moderate. The higher the level of bullying, the lower the level of prevention. The work environment as opposed to individual characteristics seems to have an impact on bullying and its prevention.

Clinical Relevance

More measures must be taken to prevent bullying. Nurses must be educated to accept only a zero tolerance to bullying and to report bullying when confronted by bullying.
Addressing the Challenges of Conducting Research in Developing Countries
Authors: Amerson Roxanne M. , Strang Cecily W.
Published: October 2015

Purpose

To explore the unique challenges that occur when conducting research in developing countries so the reader can consider approaches for providing ethically and culturally appropriate research strategies applicable for the context of the host country.

Organizing Construct

This article presents an overview of the challenges, which are organized based on the phases of the research period: pre‐enrollment, enrollment, and post‐enrollment. At each stage, examples of adaptation to meet the challenges are presented and recommendations are posited.

Conclusions

Strategies for research should protect the rights of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations while balancing the needs of society at large, provide culturally relevant ethical informed consent while balancing institutional review board requirements, and conduct research in a culturally appropriate manner for the host country while balancing the principles of ethical research established by developed countries.

Clinical Relevance

Researchers are implored to focus on the ethical and cultural appropriateness of each aspect of the study process to afford the highest level of research credibility and validity.
Life in standby: hemodialysis patients' experiences of waiting for kidney transplantation
Authors: Yngman‐Uhlin Pia , Fogelberg Annika , Uhlin Fredrik
Published: October 2015

Aim and objectives

Our aim was to explore the experiences of hemodialysis patients who are waiting for a kidney transplant.

Background

Currently, more than 100,000 persons are waiting for kidney transplantation in the United States. In Sweden, the number is exceeding 600. The waiting period for a deceased donor can be one to three years or even longer in Sweden. This can be challenging, since the patients' situation, with chronic treatment and illness, is burdensome and requires advanced self‐care.

Design

This study included a purposeful sample of eight patients (33–53 years old) who had been undergoing hemodialysis treatment for at least six months and were waiting for kidney transplantation.

Methods

The patients were interviewed, and descriptive content analysis was performed.

Results

Four categories emerged: (1) ‘The waiting process,’ what thoughts and expectations occur and what to do and how to be prepared for the transplant. (2) ‘Awareness that time is running out,’ patients felt tied up by treatment and by needing to be available for transplantation, and they had concerns about health. (3) ‘Need for communication,’ patients described needing support from others and continuous information from the staff. (4) ‘Having relief and hope for the future,’ patients described how to preserve the hope of being able to participate fully in life once again.

Conclusions

This study reveals the need for extra attention paid to patients waiting for kidney transplantation. Patients' experiences during the waiting period indicate that pretransplant patients have an increased need to be prepared for the transition and for life post‐transplantation.

Relevance to clinical practice

Dialysis patients on waiting lists must be prepared for the upcoming life change. This includes preserving hope during the waiting period and being mentally prepared for transplantation and a dialysis‐free life. A pretransplant education program to prevent medical and psychosocial issues is highly recommended.
Effects of lip‐closing training on maximum voluntary lip‐closing force during lip pursing in healthy young adults
Authors: Kaede K. , Kato T. , Yamaguchi M. , Nakamura N. , Yamada K. , Masuda Y.
Published: October 2015

To investigate the effect of lip‐closing training, the time‐course of multidirectional lip‐closing forces during training was evaluated. The subjects were healthy young adults with no systemic disease. Ten subjects each were allocated to the training and non‐training (control) groups. The subjects were instructed to use a lip muscle strength fixation device (M Patakara) for lip‐closing training. Regarding closing the upper and lower lips against this force for 3 min as one task, the subjects were instructed to perform three tasks a day for 4 weeks. The multidirectional lip‐closing forces were measured before, during and after training every week. In the control group, the forces were measured under the same schedule without training. After the initiation of training, the total lip‐closing force significantly increased at 3 and 4 weeks in the training group compared with that in the control group (P = 0·003 at 3 weeks, P < 0·001 at 4 weeks). After the completion of training, the force decreased from 1 week and no significant difference from the control group was noted. When the lip‐closing force was evaluated by direction, significant increases in the upward and downward directions were noted in the training group compared with those in the control group (P = 0·034 at 3 weeks for upwards; P = 0·027 at 4 weeks for downwards). Quantitative analysis confirmed that lip‐closing training enhanced the lip‐closing force regionally.
Melatonin prevents neural tube defects in the offspring of diabetic pregnancy
Authors: Liu Shangming , Guo Yuji , Yuan Qiuhuan , Pan Yan , Wang Liyan , Liu Qian , Wang Fuwu , Wang Jingjing , Hao Aijun
Published: October 2015

Melatonin, an endogenous neurohormone secreted by the pineal gland, has a variety of physiological functions and neuroprotective effects. However, its protective role on the neural tube defects (NTDs) was not very clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin on the incidence of NTDs (including anencephaly, encephalocele, and spina bifida) of offspring from diabetic pregnant mice as well as its underlying mechanisms. Pregnant mice were given 10 mg/kg melatonin by daily i.p. injection from embryonic day (E) 0.5 until being killed on E11.5. Here, we showed that melatonin decreased the NTDs (especially exencephaly) rate of embryos exposed to maternal diabetes. Melatonin stimulated proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs) under hyperglycemic condition through the extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) pathway. Furthermore, as a direct free radical scavenger, melatonin decreased apoptosis of NSCs exposed to hyperglycemia. In the light of these findings, it suggests that melatonin supplementation may play an important role in the prevention of neural malformations in diabetic pregnancy.
Melatonin overcomes gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by abrogating nuclear factor‐κB activation
Authors: Ju Huai‐Qiang , Li Hao , Tian Tian , Lu Yun‐Xin , Bai Long , Chen Le‐Zong , Sheng Hui , Mo Hai‐Yu , Zeng Jun‐Bo , Deng Wuguo , Chiao Paul J. , Xu Rui‐Hua
Published: October 2015

Constitutive activation and gemcitabine induction of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) contribute to the aggressive behavior and chemotherapeutic resistance of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Thus, targeting the NF‐κB pathway has proven an insurmountable challenge for PDAC therapy. In this study, we investigated whether the inhibition of NF‐κB signaling pathway by melatonin might lead to tumor suppression and overcome gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic tumors. Our results showed that melatonin inhibited activities of NF‐κB by suppressing IκBα phosphorylation and decreased the expression of NF‐κB response genes in MiaPaCa‐2, AsPc‐1, Panc‐28 cells and gemcitabine resistance MiaPaCa‐2/GR cells. Moreover, melatonin not only inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in a receptor‐independent manner, but also enhanced gemcitabine cytotoxicity at pharmacologic concentrations in these PDAC cells. In vivo, the mice treated with both agents experienced a larger reduction in tumor burden than the single drug‐treated groups in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model. Taken together, these results indicate that melatonin inhibits proliferation and invasion of PDAC cells and overcomes gemcitabine resistance of pancreatic tumors through NF‐κB inhibition. Our findings therefore provide novel preclinical knowledge about melatonin inhibition of NF‐κB in PDAC and suggest that melatonin should be investigated clinically, alone or in combination with gemcitabine for PDAC treatment.
Chodatodesmus australis sp. nov. (Scenedesmaceae, Chlorophyta) from Antarctica, with the emended description of the genus Chodatodesmus, and circumscription of Flechtneria rotunda gen. et sp. nov.
Authors: Sciuto Katia , Lewis Louise A. , Verleyen Elie , Moro Isabella , La Rocca Nicoletta
Published: October 2015

The family Scenedesmaceae is a taxonomically complicated group due to its simple morphology, high phenotypic plasticity, and the presence of cryptic taxa. Over the years several taxonomic revisions, based on molecular data, affected the family. Here, we describe a new scenedesmacean species from Antarctica, Chodatodesmus australis, based on phylogenetic analyses of data from nuclear (ITS2 spacer, 18S rDNA), and plastid (rbcL, tufA) markers. Morphological (LM and SEM) and ultrastructural (TEM) observations, carried out both on the holotype of C. australis and on the generitype of Chodatodesmus, allow us to emend the original generic description of this genus. Our molecular and phylogenetic data also reveal the existence of a new monotypic genus, Flechtneria, inside the family Scenedesmaceae and lead to the taxonomic reassignment of some microalgal strains available in International Culture Collections to new taxa. Of the considered genomic regions, the tufA gene was the easiest to amplify and sequence and it showed the highest phylogenetic signal, even if the number of sequences already available for this marker in the public databases was considerably lower than for the other chosen loci. The rbcL gene also provided good phylogenetic signal, but its amplification and sequencing were generally more problematic. The nuclear markers gave lower phylogenetic signals, but the 18S rDNA allowed distinction at the genus level and the ITS2 spacer had the advantage that secondary structures could be considered in the analyses. The use of more than one molecular locus is suggested to obtain reliable results in the characterization of scenedesmacean strains.
Cost‐effectiveness of noninvasive liver fibrosis tests for treatment decisions in patients with chronic hepatitis B in the UK: systematic review and economic evaluation
Authors: Crossan C. , Tsochatzis E. A. , Longworth L. , Gurusamy K. , Papastergiou V. , Thalassinos E. , Mantzoukis K. , Rodriguez‐Peralvarez M. , O'Brien J. , Noel‐Storr A. , Papatheodoridis G. V. , Davidson B. , Burroughs A. K
Published: October 2015

We compared the cost‐effectiveness of various noninvasive tests (NITs) in patients with chronic hepatitis B and elevated transaminases and/or viral load who would normally undergo liver biopsy to inform treatment decisions. We searched various databases until April 2012. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to calculate the diagnostic accuracy of various NITs using a bivariate random‐effects model. We constructed a probabilistic decision analytical model to estimate health care costs and outcomes quality‐adjusted‐life‐years (QALYs) using data from the meta‐analysis, literature, and national UK data. We compared the cost‐effectiveness of four decision‐making strategies: testing with NITs and treating patients with fibrosis stage ≥F2, testing with liver biopsy and treating patients with ≥F2, treat none (watchful waiting) and treat all irrespective of fibrosis. Treating all patients without prior fibrosis assessment had an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £28 137 per additional QALY gained for HBeAg‐negative patients. For HBeAg‐positive patients, using Fibroscan was the most cost‐effective option with an ICER of £23 345. The base case results remained robust in the majority of sensitivity analyses, but were sensitive to changes in the ≥F2 prevalence and the benefit of treatment in patients with F0–F1. For HBeAg‐negative patients, strategies excluding NITs were the most cost‐effective: treating all patients regardless of fibrosis level if the high cost‐effectiveness threshold of £30 000 is accepted; watchful waiting if not. For HBeAg‐positive patients, using Fibroscan to identify and treat those with ≥F2 was the most cost‐effective option.
Associationist Philosophy, Cognitive Literary Studies, and Objective–Subjective Habits of Mind
Authors: Jenkins Melissa Shields
Published: October 2015

This article discusses the lasting impact of associationist philosophy on studies of Romantic and Victorian literature. Associationism, which involves belief that “mental and moral phenomena may be accounted for by association of ideas” (OED), combines habits of thinking with habits of feeling. The suggestion that detectable patterns of thought impact personal preferences and social decisions has special significance in scholarship about sympathy and distance. The explosion of scholarship within cognitive theory and the arts, spearheaded by Nicholas Dames, Sean O'Toole, Anne Stiles, Laura Otis, Lisa Zunshine, and many others, has offered powerful insights into attention, recollection, and the understanding of the self through literature. Analyses of narrative form and affect by scholars such as Amanda Anderson, Sarah Winter, Catherine Robson, and Suzanne Keen underscore how associations dictate and shape sympathetic interactions. This article argues for productive overlap between these strains of scholarship. Together, the works suggest that insights into habits of mind can and should be applied to the social realm.
Triglycerides to high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio is an independent predictor of incident fatty liver; a population‐based cohort study
Authors: Fukuda Yukiko , Hashimoto Yoshitaka , Hamaguchi Masahide , Fukuda Takuya , Nakamura Naoto , Ohbora Akihiro , Kato Takahiro , Kojima Takao , Fukui Michiaki
Published: October 2015

Background

Triglycerides (TG) to high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) ratio (TG/HDL‐C) has been recommended for surrogates of insulin resistance. However, it remains to be elucidated the association between TG/HDL‐C and incident fatty liver.

Aims

To investigate the association between TG/HDL‐C and incident fatty liver.

Methods

We performed population‐based historical cohort study consisted with 4518 healthy Japanese who received yearly health‐checkup programmes over decade. Fatty liver was diagnosed using ultrasonography.

Results

During the observation periods, 38.8% (case/N = 1023/2637) of men and 17.2% (case/N = 324/1881) of women developed fatty liver. Adjusting odds ratio of TG/HDL‐C for incident fatty liver were 1.59 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42–1.79, P < 0.0001) in men and 2.50 (95% CI 1.80–3.51, P < 0.0001) in women. In addition, adjusting odds ratio of TG/HDL‐C for incident non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease were 1.55 (95% CI 1.35–1.77, P < 0.0001) in men and 2.72 (95% CI 1.88–3.95, P < 0.0001) in women. According to the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis, the optimal cut‐off point of TG/HDL‐C for incident fatty liver was 0.88 (area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.67 [95% CI 0.65–0.69], sensitivity = 0.64, specificity = 0.60, P < 0.0001) in men and 0.64 (AUC 0.69 [95% CI 0.66–0.72], sensitivity = 0.50, specificity = 0.78, P < 0.0001) in women.

Conclusions

The TG/HDL‐C could predict the incident fatty liver. Thus, it is important to check TG/HDL‐C and lifestyles modification is needed for preventing future fatty liver disease in patients with high TG/HDL‐C.
Why Do Countries Adopt Fiscal Rules?
Authors: Altunbaş Yener , Thornton John
Published: October 2015

This paper examines which economic, institutional and political characteristics of countries affect the likelihood that a numeral rule will be adopted as part of a fiscal strategy to limit the level of public debt. We estimate a panel binary response model over the period 1970–2012 for 110 countries, of which 58 opted to adopt such a rule. Our results suggest that the probability such a rule will be adopted is greater if a country has a high level of public debt, a relatively inflexible exchange rate regime, has already adopted inflation targeting, has deep credit markets and if other countries already have adopted a debt rule. There are some differences in decision factors between high‐income and lower income countries, with the level of economic development and the openness of the economy playing opposite roles in each country group, and the impact of monetary unions on debt rule adoption being much stronger in the former group. The results are robust to testing for reverse causality, including using different econometric techniques.
Small‐mammal isotope ecology tracks climate and vegetation gradients across western North America
Authors: Smiley Tara M. , Cotton Jennifer M. , Badgley Catherine , Cerling Thure E.
Published: October 2015

Stable carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes have been used to infer aspects of species ecology and environment in both modern ecosystems and the fossil record. Compared to large mammals, stable isotopic studies of small‐mammal ecology are limited; however, high species and ecological diversity within small mammals presents several advantages for quantifying resource use and organism–environment interactions using stable isotopes over various spatial and temporal scales. We analyzed the isotopic composition of hair from two heteromyid rodent species, Dipodomys ordii and Perognathus parvus, from localities across western North America in order to characterize dietary variation in relation to vegetation and climatic gradients. Significant correlations between the carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of these species and several climatic variables imply that seasonal temperature and precipitation control the composition and distribution of dietary resources (grass seeds). Our results also suggest a moisture influence on the nitrogen isotopic composition (δ15N) of heteromyid diets. Population‐ and species‐level variation in δ13C and δ15N values record fine‐scale habitat heterogeneity and significant differences in resource use between species. Using classification and regression‐tree techniques, we modeled the geographic variation in heteromyid δ13Cdiet values based on 10 climatic variables and generated an isotope landscape model (‘isoscape’). The isoscape predictions for δ13Cdiet differ from expectations based on observed C4 distributions and instead indicate that D. ordii and P. parvus record seasonally abundant grass resources, with additional model deviations potentially attributed to geographic variation in dietary selection. The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition of D. ordii is enriched relative to local meteoric water and suggests that individuals rely on highly evaporated water sources, such as seed moisture. Based on the climatic influences on vegetation and diet documented in this study, the isotopic composition of small mammals has high potential for recording ecological responses to environmental changes over short and long time scales.
Affectivity in Heidegger I: Moods and Emotions in Being and Time
Authors: Elpidorou Andreas , Freeman Lauren
Published: October 2015

This essay provides an analysis of the role of affectivity in Martin Heidegger's writings from the mid to late 1920s. We begin by situating his account of mood within the context of his project of fundamental ontology in Being and Time. We then discuss the role of Befindlichkeit (often translated as ‘attunement’ or ‘disposition’) and Stimmung (‘mood’) in his account of human existence, explicate the relationship between the former and the latter, and consider the ways in which the former discloses the world. To give a more vivid and comprehensive picture of Heidegger's account of mood, we focus on the experience of anxiety (Angst) by articulating both its function within fundamental ontology and, relatedly, its revelatory nature. We conclude by considering the place of emotions in Heidegger's thinking from this period. In a companion essay, ‘Affectivity in Heidegger II: Temporality, Boredom, and Beyond’, we complement our present analysis by revisiting the issue of affectivity in terms of Heidegger's discussion of temporality in Division II of Being and Time. We also expand our present discussion by considering the fundamental mood of boredom and other specific moods that Heidegger considers within his later thinking.
Seeking Solidarity
Authors: Scholz Sally J.
Published: October 2015

Using relations of solidarity in global contexts, this article explores some of the debates about what constitutes solidarity. Three primary forms of solidarity are discussed, with particular attention to the different nature of the solidaristic relations and their moral obligations.
The Guise of the Good
Authors: Orsi Francesco
Published: October 2015

According to the doctrine of the guise of the good, all that is desired is seen by the subject as good to some extent. As a claim about action, the idea is that intentional action, or acting for a reason, is action that is seen as good by the agent. I explore the thesis' main attractions: it provides an account of intentional behavior as something that makes sense to the agent, it paves the way for various views in meta‐ethics and normative ethics, and it offers a unified account of practical and theoretical reason. In response to common objections, I examine points of current debate: what is it for something to appear as good? Is value or normative reasons the basic concept at work? How to explain akrasia, perversity in action, and expressive action? I conclude with an overview of alternatives to the guise of the good.
Piecing Together the Religion of the Nabataeans
Authors: Erickson‐Gini Tali
Published: October 2015

The legacy of one ancient Arabian people, the Nabataeans, is rich in material remains: the rock‐carved monuments of Petra, their delicately crafted pottery vessels, and huge desert cisterns and aqueducts, to name only a few. Unlike their neighbors to the north in ancient Judea, the Nabataeans did not leave a written history of themselves, and what is known about them is mainly derived from non‐Nabataean sources: the reports of Greeks and Romans and the Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus. Our knowledge of the religion of the Nabataeans must be pieced together from fragmentary historical and epigraphic evidence as well as the mute evidence provided by the archeological record.
Where do all the red blood cells (RBCs) go? Results of a survey of RBC use in England and North Wales in 2014
Authors: Tinegate Hazel , Pendry Kate , Murphy Michael , Babra Paul , Grant‐Casey John , Hopkinson Cathy , Hyare Jot , Rowley Megan , Seeney Frances , Watson Denise , Wallis Jonathan
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of blood utilization can assist clinicians in directing patient blood management (PBM) initiatives and can facilitate demand planning by blood services. We describe a national study of red blood cell (RBC) utilization in England and North Wales in 2014.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

All hospitals that are supplied with blood components by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) were asked to provide data on the age and sex of all recipients of transfusions of RBCs, and the clinical indication for every unit transfused, for two separate weeks in 2014. Clinical indication categories were derived from those used in previous studies in an English region. Completeness of data collection was checked against NHSBT issue and wastage data.

RESULTS

Data on 46,111 RBC units were collected, representing 73% of all RBCs issued by NHSBT during the weeks surveyed. A total of 67% of RBC units were transfused for a medical indication, with 27 and 6% being transfused for surgical and obstetric/gynecologic indications, respectively. For comparison, figures from a study in the North of England in 2009, on which this national study was based, showed that 64% of RBCs were transfused to medical patients. All but 20 units could be ascribed to a broad clinical heading, for example, “gastrointestinal bleeding.”

CONCLUSION

Our findings confirm the previous regional finding that the percentage of RBC units that are transfused to surgical patients in England and North Wales is now much lower than for medical patients and suggest that PBM initiatives should now focus on medical patients.
Incidence of alloantibody formation after ABO‐D or extended matched red blood cell transfusions: a randomized trial (MATCH study)
Authors: Schonewille Henk , Honohan Áine , van der Watering Leo M.G. , Hudig Francisca , te Boekhorst Peter A. , Koopman‐van Gemert Ankie W.M.M. , Brand Anneke
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND

Most incidentally transfused patients receive only ABO‐D–compatible transfusions and antibodies are formed in up to 8%. The effect of extended (c, C, E, K, Fya, Jka, and S antigens) matched (EM) and ABO‐D–matched red blood cell (RBC) transfusions on the incidence of new clinically relevant RBC antibody formation after a first elective transfusion event in surgical patients was studied.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A multicenter randomized trial was performed in nontransfused patients who were scheduled to experience a single elective transfusion event of maximal 4 RBC units. The primary outcome was the incidence of newly formed warm reacting clinically relevant RBC alloantibodies measured in three follow‐up (FU) samples taken at 7 to 10 days, 4 to 6 weeks, and 4 to 6 months posttransfusion.

RESULTS

A total of 853 patients were randomized, and of these, 333 patients were transfused with a total of 1035 RBC units. At least one FU sample was available from 97% of transfused patients. In intention‐to‐treat analysis, new antibodies were detected in 10 of 155 ABO‐D and seven of 178 EM patients, respectively. Per‐protocol analysis including 190 patients showed a nonsignificant absolute risk difference (ARD) of 5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], −1.4% to 12%) in alloimmunization between study arms. In a post hoc analysis of 138 patients who received RBCs but no platelet (PLT) transfusions the ARD increased to significance, 8.0% (95% CI, 0.4‐16.0).

CONCLUSION

Extended matching for selected antigens reduced the alloimmunization risk by 64% in surgical patients. Extended matching seems successful only if the patient did not receive accompanying nonmatched PLT transfusions.
Platelets made HLA deficient by acid treatment aggregate normally and escape destruction by complement and phagocytes in the presence of HLA antibodies
Authors: Meinke Stephan , Sandgren Per , Mörtberg Anette , Karlström Cecilia , Kadri Nadir , Wikman Agneta , Höglund Petter
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND

The presence of antibodies against HLA Class I can lead to platelet (PLT) transfusion refractoriness, that is, the repeated failure to achieve adequate posttransfusion PLT count increments. PLT refractoriness can be overcome by transfusion of HLA‐matched donor PLTs. A different approach is to remove HLA from the PLT surface using low pH. Previous case studies using HLA‐stripped PLTs showed encouraging but inconsistent results and lacked information on the biologic effects of acid treatment on PLT function as well as sensitivity to PLT destruction in the presence of HLA antibodies.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

PLTs prepared from buffy coats were stripped from HLA Class I using a brief incubation at pH 2.9. Kinetics of acid stripping, viability, phenotypic alterations, and sensitivity to complement‐mediated lysis and phagocytosis were determined by flow cytometry. Functional potential was evaluated using a multiplate analyzer.

RESULTS

Acid‐treated PLTs were viable, upregulated activation markers normally and aggregated to a similar extent as untreated PLTs in response to stimulation with three natural agonists. Acid treatment removed 70% to 90% of HLA Class I complexes from the PLT surface, which led to complete protection from HLA antibody–mediated complement lysis and reduced monocyte‐mediated phagocytosis in the presence of anti‐HLA in vitro.

CONCLUSION

Our study fills an important knowledge gap in how acid treatment affects PLT function and interactions with immune cells, paving the way for controlled clinical trials to evaluate acid‐treated PLTs as an alternative to HLA‐matched donors in PLT refractoriness.
Focused assessment with sonography in nontraumatized dogs and cats in the emergency and critical care setting
Authors: McMurray Jantina , Boysen Søren , Chalhoub Serge
Published: October 2015

Objective

To evaluate the use of abdominal‐ and thoracic‐focused assessment with sonography for trauma (AFAST and TFAST) in nontraumatized dogs and cats in the emergency and critical care setting and to compare prevalence of free fluid identified via these techniques between stable and unstable patients.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

University Distributed Veterinary Learning Community.

Animals

One hundred client‐owned dogs and cats presenting to an emergency service with no evidence of trauma.

Interventions

AFAST and TFAST performed within 12 hours of presentation.

Measurement and Main Results

Free fluid was identified on AFAST or TFAST in 33% of dogs and cats in this study. Free fluid was identified in 27 of 36 (75%) cardiovascularly unstable or dyspneic patients, compared to 6 of 64 (9%) stable patients. A significantly greater proportion of unstable patients had free fluid compared to stable patients (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Results of this study support the use of AFAST and TFAST to detect free fluid in nontraumatized dogs and cats in the emergency and critical care setting, particularly patients that are unstable on presentation.
The Effect of Uterine and Nipple Stimulation on Induction With Oxytocin and the Labor Process
Authors: Demirel Gulbahtiyar , Guler Handan
Published: October 2015

Aims

The present research study was conducted with the objective of determining the effect of uterine and nipple stimulation on induction with oxytocin and the birth process.

Methods

A randomized controlled experiment was conducted at the maternity ward of a state hospital located in the province of Sivas in Turkey. Three hundred ninety pregnant women who were giving birth via vaginal delivery were randomly assigned to three groups (nipple stimulation, uterine stimulation, control). After the birth, the groups were assessed in terms of the birth duration and synthetic induction with oxytocin. Statistical analyses were performed through the use of SPSS 14.0 software and included analysis of variance, Tukey's test, Dunnett's test, Tamhane's T2 test, and chi‐square test.

Results

The study established statistically significant differences (p < .05) among the groups in terms of the average durations of the first, second and third phases of the action of birth, the status concerning delivery by C‐section and the application of labor induction. The phases of birth were shorter for the nipple stimulation group (first phase: 3.8 hours, second phase: 16 minutes, third phase: 5 minutes) and the uterine stimulation group (first phase: 4.0 hours, second phase: 21 minutes, third phase: 6 minutes) when compared to the control group (first phase: 6.8 hours, second phase: 27 minutes, third phase: 6 minutes). In the control group, 89.2% of the pregnant women were subject to labor induction and 8.5% to cesarean section. No women in the nipple stimulation group or uterine stimulation group had a cesarean section.

Linking Evidence to Action

Nipple and uterine stimulation reduce the frequency of elective labor induction, the rate of relevant complications, and support normal vaginal birth by providing endogenous labor induction. Therefore, these interventions should be considered for pregnant women in labor.
Protective effect of nitric oxide in aristolochic acid‐induced toxic acute kidney injury: an old friend with new assets
Authors: Declèves Anne‐Émilie , Jadot Inès , Colombaro Vanessa , Martin Blanche , Voisin Virginie , Nortier Joëlle , Caron Nathalie
Published: October 2015

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Despite the fact that the pathogenesis of aristolochic acid (AA) nephropathy is still unclear, we sought to determine whether nitric oxide is involved in the underlying mechanism of AA‐induced acute kidney injury (AKI).

What is the main finding and its importance?

Using a model of progressive tubulointerstitial nephritis, in which AA nephropathy exhibits two interconnected phases, an acute phase and a chronic phase of injury, we demonstrated that maintenance of nitric oxide bioavailability is essential to improve the outcome of AA‐induced AKI.

Aristolochic acid (AA) nephropathy (AAN), a progressive tubulointerstitial injury of toxic origin, is characterized by early and transient acute tubular necrosis. This process has been demonstrated to be associated with reduced nitric oxide (NO) production, which can disrupt the regulation of renal function. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that l‐arginine (l‐Arg) supplementation could restore renal function and reduce renal injury after AA intoxication. C57BL/6 J male mice were randomly subjected to daily i.p. injection of either sterile saline solution or AA (2.5 mg kg−1) for 4 days. To determine whether AA‐induced renal injuries were linked to reduced NO production, l‐Arg, a substrate for NO synthase, was supplemented (5%) in drinking water. Mice intoxicated with AA exhibited features of rapid‐onset acute kidney injury, including polyuria, significantly increased plasma creatinine concentrations, proteinuria and fractional excretion of sodium (P < 0.05), along with severe proximal tubular cell injury and increased NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2)‐derived oxidative stress (P < 0.05). This was associated with a significant reduction in NO bioavailability. l‐Arg supplementation in AA‐treated mice significantly increased NO bioavailability, which in turn improved renal function (creatininaemia, polyuria, proteinuria, fractional excreted sodium and N‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucosaminidase enzymuria) and renal structure (tubular necrosis and tubular cell apoptosis). These changes were associated with significant reductions in Nox2 expression and in production of reactive oxygen species and with an increase in antioxidant concentrations. Our results demonstrate that preservation of NO bioavailability leads to renal protection in AA‐induced acute kidney injury by reducing oxidative stress and maintaining renal function.
Guaranteed Performance State-Feedback Gain-Scheduling Control With Uncertain Scheduling Parameters
Authors: Al-Jiboory Ali Khudhair , Zhu Guoming G. , Choi Jongeun
Published: October 2015

State-feedback gain-scheduling controller synthesis with guaranteed performance is considered in this brief. Practical assumption has been considered in the sense that scheduling parameters are assumed to be uncertain. The contribution of this paper is the characterization of the control synthesis that parameterized linear matrix inequalities (PLMIs) to synthesize robust gain-scheduling controllers. Additive uncertainty model has been used to model measurement noise of the scheduling parameters. The resulting controllers not only ensure robustness against scheduling parameters uncertainties but also guarantee closed-loop performance in terms of H2 and H∞ performances as well. Numerical examples and simulations are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the synthesized controller. Compared to other control design methods from literature, the synthesized controllers achieve less conservative results as measurement noise increases.
Selection of Materials and Design of Multilayer Lightweight Passive Thermal Protection System
Authors: Kumar Sachin , Mahulikar Shripad P.
Published: October 2015

A methodology has been established aiming to design a lightweight thermal protection system (TPS), using advanced lightweight ablative materials developed at the NASA Ames Research Center. An explicit finite-difference scheme is presented for the analysis of one-dimensional transient heat transfer in a multilayer TPS. This problem is solved in two steps, in the first step, best candidate materials are selected for TPS. The selection of materials is based mainly on their thermal properties. In the second step, the geometrical dimensions are determined by using an explicit finite-difference scheme for different combinations of the selected materials, and these dimensions are optimized for the design of lightweight TPS. The best combination of material employs silicone impregnated reusable ceramic ablator (SIRCA), Saffil, and glass-wool for the first, second, and third layer, respectively.