bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Half-Century of Possessive Individualism: C.B. Macpherson and the Twenty-First-Century Prospects of Liberalism
Authors: McKay Ian
Published: September 2015

C.B. Macpherson (1911–1987) was one of the most influential and controversial thinkers of his time, identified above all with the theses of “possessive individualism” and the “transfer of powers.” Although sometimes misidentified as a Marxist, and as such critiqued by proponents of the Cambridge School in the depths of the Cold War, Macpherson by his own description was attempting to use the resources of the Marxist tradition to clarify and revive liberalism. At a time when neo-liberalism has become hegemonic throughout western civil society, Macpherson is being revisited today. By treating property as a philosophical event, Macpherson transformed a commonsense of his time (and ours) into a politico-ethical problem, a proposition of great interest not only to historians but also to any emergent left seeking to define the outlines of a more rational future.
A Border without Guards: First Nations and the Enforcement of National Space
Authors: Hoy Benjamin
Published: September 2015

During the mid-to-late nineteenth century, the American Civil War, Canadian Confederation, transnational violence, and rising concerns over undesirable immigration increased anxieties in Canada and the United States over the permeability of their shared border. Both countries turned to a combination of direct and indirect control to assert their authority and police movement across the line. Direct control utilized military units, police officers, customs officials, and border guards to restrict movement by stopping individuals at the border itself. This approach had minimal success in limiting the movement of groups such as the Coast Salish, Lakota, Dakota, and Cree. In response, both countries employed indirect border-control strategies that attacked the motivations for crossing the border instead of its physical manifestation. They used rations, annuities, extra-legal evictions, and reserve land to impose national boundaries onto First Nations communities in the prairies and on the West Coast. The application of this indirect approach differed by region, by tribe, and by community leading to a ragged set of borderland policies that remained in flux throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Employment status and sick-leave following obesity surgery: a five-year prospective cohort study
Authors: Andersen John Roger , Hernæs Ulrikke J.V. , Hufthammer Karl Ove , Våge Villy
Published: September 2015

Background.Severe obesity is a risk factor for lower participation in paid work, but whether employment increases and sick leave decreases after obesity surgery is not well documented.

Methods.We assessed 224 Norwegian patients with severe obesity (mean age: 40; mean BMI: 49; 61% female) regarding employment status (working versus not working) and the number of days of sick leave during the preceding 12 months, before and five years after obesity surgery (75% follow-up rate). Logistic regression analysis was used to study preoperative predictors of employment status after surgery.

Results.There were no change in the employment rate over time (54% versus 58%), but the number of days of sick leave per year was significantly reduced, from a mean of 63 to a mean of 26, and from a median of 36 to a median of 4. Most of this change was attributable to patients with zero days of sick leave, which increased from 25% to 41%. Being female, older, having low education level, receiving disability pension and not being employed before obesity surgery were important risk factors for not being employed after obesity surgery. The type of obesity surgery, BMI and marital status were not useful predictors.

Conclusions.Our findings suggest that undergoing obesity surgery is not associated with a higher rate of employment, although it may reduce the number of days of sick leave. Additional interventions are likely needed to influence the employment status of these patients. The significant preoperative predictors of not being employed in this study provide suggestions for further research.
Testing animal-assisted cleaning prior to transplantation in coral reef restoration
Authors: Frias-Torres Sarah , van de Geer Casper
Published: September 2015

Rearing coral fragments in nurseries and subsequent transplantation onto a degraded reef is a common approach for coral reef restoration. However, if barnacles and other biofouling organisms are not removed prior to transplantation, fish will dislodge newly cemented corals when feeding on biofouling organisms. This behavior can lead to an increase in diver time due to the need to reattach the corals. Thus, cleaning nurseries to remove biofouling organisms such as algae and invertebrates is necessary prior to transplantation, and this cleaning constitutes a significant time investment in a restoration project. We tested a novel biomimicry technique of animal-assisted cleaning on nursery corals prior to transplantation at a coral reef restoration site in Seychelles, Indian Ocean. To determine whether animal-assisted cleaning was possible, preliminary visual underwater surveys were performed to quantify the fish community at the study site. Then, cleaning stations consisting of nursery ropes carrying corals and biofouling organisms, set at 0.3 m, 2 m, 4 m, 6 m and 8 m from the seabed, were placed at both the transplantation (treatment) site and the nursery (control) site. Remote GoPro video cameras recorded fish feeding at the nursery ropes without human disturbance. A reef fish assemblage of 32 species from 4 trophic levels (18.8% herbivores, 18.8% omnivores, 59.3% secondary consumers and 3.1% carnivores) consumed 95% of the barnacles on the coral nursery ropes placed 0.3 m above the seabed. Using this cleaning station, we reduced coral dislodgement from 16% to zero. This cleaning station technique could be included as a step prior to coral transplantation worldwide on the basis of location-specific fish assemblages and during the early nursery phase of sexually produced juvenile corals.
A reflection on the first 50 years of Water Resources Research
Authors: Rajaram Harihar , Bahr Jean M. , Blöschl Günter , Cai Ximing , Scott Mackay D. , Michalak Anna M. , Montanari Alberto , Sanchez‐Villa Xavier , Sander Graham
Published: September 2015

The year 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of Water Resources Research (WRR), which was founded in 1965. More than 15,000 papers have been published in WRR since its inception, and these papers have been cited more than 430,000 times. The history of hydrology and the water sciences are also reflected in WRR, which has served as a premier publication outlet and instigator of scientific growth over the last 50 years. The legacy of WRR provides a strong scientific foundation for the hydrology community to rise to the challenges of sustainable water resources management in a future where dramatic environmental change and increasing human population are expected to stress the world's water resources from local to global scales.
Methanol Oxidation Reaction on α‐Tungsten Carbide Versus Platinum (1 1 1) Surfaces: A DFT Electrochemical Study
Authors: Di Valentin Cristiana , Fittipaldi Diego , Pacchioni Gianfranco
Published: September 2015

A density functional study of Gibbs free energy profiles for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) on Pt and α‐WC surfaces provides a solid basis for the rationalisation that transition metal carbides represent excellent alternative materials to Pt as fuel cell anodes. Furthermore, this study shows that a strategy to enhance the activity of the WC surfaces is by doping with an excess of electronic charge. Although on the neutral surface the preferred pathway is through the dissociation of the methanol O−H bond with no formation of CO, on the electron‐rich surface the reaction goes quite easily to CO, which is then transformed to CO2 by applying an onset potential of only 0.49 V (computed with reference to a standard hydrogen electrode). This is almost exactly the potential required to achieve full oxidation to CO2 on the Pt (1 1 1) surface (computed to be 0.48 V) through a direct CH mechanism (dissociation of the methanol C−H bond). This analysis is corroborated by the excellent agreement between the computed and experimental onset potentials.
Synthesis of Dispirocyclopentyl‐3,3′‐bisoxindoles via Domino Cycloaddition Reactions of 4‐Dimethylaminopyridinium Bromides with 3‐Phenacylideneoxindoles
Authors: Lu Lijuan , Yan Chaoguo
Published: September 2015

The base mediated cycloaddition reactions of 4‐dimethylamino‐1‐phenacylpyridinium bromides with two molecular 3‐phenacylideneoxindoles in methylene dichloride afforded functionalized dispirocyclopentyl‐3,3′‐bisoxindoles in good yields and with high diastereoselectivity. The similar cycloaddition reactions of 1‐(N,N‐dialkylcarbamoylmethyl) and 1‐cyanomethyl 4‐dimethylamino‐pyridinium bromide in refluxing ethanol in the presence of triethylamine also resulted in dispirocyclopentyl‐3,3′‐bisoxindoles with high diastereoselectivity. The stereochemistry of dispirocyclopentyl‐3,3′‐bisoxindoles was elucidated on the basis of 1H NMR data and single crystal structures.
Synthesis of Terphenyl Derivatives by Pd‐Catalyzed Suzuki‐Miyaura Reaction of Dibromobenzene Using 2N2O‐Salen as a Ligand in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Gu Ningning , Liu Yashuai , Liu Ping , Ma Xiaowei , Yan Liu , Dai Bin
Published: September 2015

A simple and efficient catalytic system for Na2PdCl4 catalyzing the Suzuki‐Miyaura reaction of dibromobenzene and arylboronic acid has been developed by using 2N2O‐salen as a ligand in H2O/EtOH (V:V=4:1) at 100°C. Using this method, the reactions of substrates containing sterically demanding ortho substituents (e.g. dibromobenzene and/or arylboronic acids) proceeded efficiently, with the corresponding terphenyl derivatives being produced in moderate to excellent yields. Furthermore, this method offers interesting features for the multi‐gram scale synthesis of terphenyl compound.
Vertex re‐identification attack using neighbourhood‐pair properties
Authors: Abawajy Jemal , Ninggal Mohd Izuan Hafez , Herawan Tutut
Published: September 2015

There has been a growing interest in sharing and mining social network data for a wide variety of applications. In this paper, we address the problem of privacy disclosure risks that arise from publishing social network data. Specifically, we look at the vertex re‐identification attack that aims to link specific vertex in social network data to specific individual in the real world. We show that even when identifiable attributes such as names are removed from released social network data, re‐identification attack is still possible by manipulating abstract information. We present a new type of vertex re‐identification attack model called neighbourhood‐pair attack. This attack utilizes the information about the local communities of two connected vertices to identify the target individual. We show both theoretically and empirically that the proposed attack provides higher re‐identification rate compared with the existing re‐identification attacks that also manipulate network structure properties. The experiments conducted also show that the proposed attack is still possible even on anonymised social network data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intelligent trading architecture
Authors: Freitas Fabio Daros , Freitas Christian Daros , De Souza Alberto Ferreira
Published: September 2015

This work presents the Intelligent Trading Architecture (ITA), which is a new automated trading system architecture that supports multiple strategies for multiple market conditions through hierarchical trading signals generation. The central idea of the proposed system architecture is decomposing the trading problem into a set of tasks that are handled by distributed autonomous agents under a minimal central coordination. With this kind of architecture, we can take advantage of currently available and future high‐performance computing systems. These systems, due to the way computer architecture has evolved in the recent past and foreseeable future, are composed of multiple processor cores. We are implementing the ITA software architecture employing the Carnegie Mellon Navigation (CARMEN) robot control software and using a publish/subscribe communication model. Together, CARMEN and this communication model allow the implementation of high‐performance, scalable parallel computing systems that leverage the architecture of multi‐core systems. For this work, we evaluated the data structures and algorithms employed by the symbol module of the ITA software architecture, which is responsible for maintaining the synchronized local copies of exchanges limit order books (LOB) for the instruments traded by the system. Our LOB implementation strongly outperformed a reference implementation in all evaluated parameters by more than one order of magnitude in some cases, achieving average throughputs of 4 million orders/s when creating new orders, 3 million orders/s when changing existing orders, and 17 million orders/s when querying orders. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Risk assessment based on indirect predation cues: revisiting fine‐grained variation
Authors: McCoy Michael W. , Wheat Stefan K. , Warkentin Karen M. , Vonesh James R.
Published: September 2015

To adaptively express inducible defenses, prey must gauge risk based on indirect cues of predation. However, the information contained in indirect cues that enable prey to fine‐tune their phenotypes to variation in risk is still unclear. In aquatic systems, research has focused on cue concentration as the key variable driving threat‐sensitive responses to risk. However, while risk is measured as individuals killed per time, cue concentration may vary with either the number or biomass killed. Alternatively, fine‐grained variation in cue, that is, frequency of cue pulses irrespective of concentration, may provide a more reliable signal of risk. Here, we present results from laboratory experiments that examine the relationship between red‐eyed treefrog tadpole growth and total cue, cue per pulse, and cue pulse frequency. We also reanalyze an earlier study that examined the effect of fine‐grained variation in predator cues on wood frog tadpole growth. Both studies show growth declines with increasing cue pulse frequency, even though individual pulses in high‐frequency treatments contained very little cue. This result suggests that counter to earlier conclusions, tadpoles are using fine‐grained variation in cue arising from the number of predation events to assess and respond to predation risk, as predicted by consumer–resource theory.
Deletion of Estrogen Receptor Beta in Osteoprogenitor Cells Increases Trabecular but Not Cortical Bone Mass in Female Mice
Authors: Nicks Kristy M , Fujita Koji , Fraser Daniel , McGregor Ulrike , Drake Matthew T , McGee-Lawrence Meghan E , Westendorf Jennifer J , Monroe David G , Khosla Sundeep
Published: September 2015

Although the role of ERα in regulating bone metabolism has been extensively studied, ERβ has been largely dismissed as a relevant modulator of bone mass. Previous studies examining ERβ utilized a germline knockout mouse expressing transcript variants of ERβ and displaying systemic hormonal changes that confounded interpretation of the skeletal phenotype. Thus, we used a conditional ERβ mouse model to achieve deletion of ERβ specifically in early osteoprogenitor cells using the Prx1-Cre driver. We observed marked increases in the trabecular bone volume fraction (of 58% [p < 0.003] and 93% [p < 0.0003] in 6- and 12-week-old female ERβPrx1–CKO mice, respectively) but no changes in cortical bone. Serum estradiol and IGF-I levels were unaltered in ERβPrx1–CKO mice. Bone formation and resorption indices by histomorphometry and serum assays were unchanged in these mice, suggesting that alterations in bone turnover may have occurred early in development. However, the ratio of colony-forming unit-osteoblasts (CFU-OBs) to CFU-fibroblasts (CFU-Fs) was increased in bone marrow cultures from ERβPrx1–CKO compared with control mice, indicating increased differentiation of osteoblast precursor cells into osteoblasts in ERβPrx1–CKO mice. Detailed quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses of 128 genes in 16 prespecified pathways revealed significant downregulation of 11 pathways in ERβPrx1–CKO mice. Thus, deletion of ERβ specifically in osteoblast lineage cells, in the absence of all splice variants, increases trabecular bone mass and modulates multiple pathways related to bone metabolism. These findings suggest that pharmacological inhibition of ERβ in bone may provide a novel approach to treat osteoporosis. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Does enhanced oxygen activation always facilitate CO oxidation on gold clusters?
Authors: Mondal Krishnakanta , Banerjee Arup , Fortunelli Alessandro , Ghanty Tapan K.
Published: September 2015

We investigate the catalytic activity of the subnanometer‐sized bimetallic Au19Pt cluster for oxidation of CO via first‐principles density functional theory calculations. For this purpose we consider two structurally similar and energetically close homotops of the Au19Pt cluster with the Pt atom occupying an edge (Td‐E) or a facet (Td‐S) site of a 20‐atom tetrahedron. Using these homotops as catalysts we calculate the complete reaction paths and the thermodynamic functions corresponding to the oxidation of CO to CO2. It is found that the oxidation of CO on the Td‐S isomer occurs through a smaller reaction barrier (0.38 eV) as compared with that on the Td‐E isomer (0.70 eV), although the activation of O2 on the latter is much higher than that on the former. Therefore, a clear conclusion is that a higher O2 activation, which is generally believed to be the key factor for CO oxidation, solely cannot determine the catalytic efficiency of the Au‐Pt bimetallic clusters. In addition, we find a stronger CO adsorption on the Td‐E isomer (2.06 eV) as compared with that on the Td‐S isomer (1.68 eV). Although stronger CO adsorption on the Td‐E isomer leads to a higher O2 activation; however, high value of CO adsorption energy deteriorates the catalytic activity of the Td‐E isomer towards the CO oxidation reaction. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
How is the effectiveness of root cause analysis measured in healthcare?
Authors: Latino Robert J.
Published: September 2015

If a hundred healthcare executives were polled about their definitions of root cause analysis, there would be a hundred different answers. Herein lies the problem—understanding the intent and power of root cause analysis (RCA). For this reason, RCA is viewed as having either limited or phenomenal value to an organization. This article will seek to strip away the labels associated with RCA brands and focus on the processes, their results, and how they are communicated (or miscommunicated) to executive management. Effective RCA efforts can fail because of their inability to demonstrate their value to the bottom line of the organization.
The new era of robotic neck surgery: The universal application of the retroauricular approach
Authors: Byeon Hyung Kwon , Koh Yoon Woo
Published: September 2015

Recent advances in technology has triggered the introduction of surgical robotics in the field of head and neck surgery and changed the landscape indefinitely. The advent of transoral robotic surgery and robotic thyroidectomy techniques has urged the extended applications of the robot to other neck surgeries including remote access surgeries. Based on earlier reports and our surgical experiences, this review will discuss in detail various robotic head and neck surgeries via retroauricular approach. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015;112:707–716. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Altering the emission properties of conjugated polymers
Authors: Botiz Ioan , Astilean Simion , Stingelin Natalie
Published: September 2015

Many technological applications that have had tremendous impact on our society and lifestyle are exploiting the emission properties of organic species such as conjugated polymers and organic small‐molecule semiconductors. The most prominent case‐in‐point here are possibly organic light‐emitting diodes, which have found use in information displays, touch screens and beyond. To further advance the rapid development of these powerful and versatile technologies, it will be of paramount importance to gain fundamental insights about which strategies and processes we can employ to alter, control and eventually enhance the emission properties of this interesting class of material. In this work, we focus on macromolecular systems and review the most important categories of tools that can be employed to efficiently alter their emission properties by manipulating their molecular architecture and electronic structure; by influencing their molecular ordering, packing motifs and overall microstructure; as well as by utilizing the ability of some of these materials to respond to external stimuli and other physical parameters (pressure, light exposure etc.) and/or to interact with other compounds, including systems of different functionalities. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Sequential deposition of block copolymer thin films and formation of lamellar heterolattices by electrospray deposition
Authors: Choo Youngwoo , Hu Hanqiong , Toth Kristof , Osuji Chinedum O.
Published: September 2015

The delivery of sub‐micron droplets of dilute polymer solutions to a heated substrate by electrospray atomization enabled precisely controlled and continuous deposition, or growth, of block copolymer thin films. It also provided, in principle, the ability to fabricate heterolattice materials using sequential depositions. This possibility was explored and the morphology of resulting composite films produced by such sequential electrospray deposition (ESD) of lamellar diblock copolymers of poly(styrene‐b‐4‐vinylpyridine) with differing molecular weights was examined. The structure of the heterolattice interface was a strong function of temperature. Sharp interfaces with abrupt changes in the lamellar period were observed at lower deposition temperatures, while higher temperatures produced a smooth variation in the lamellar period from one molecular weight to the next. The ordering kinetics of a secondary high molecular weight layer could be substantially enhanced depending on the molecular weight of the polymer present in the underlying primary layer. These findings were discussed in the context of temperature and molecular weight dependent diffusion dynamics of the polymers in the melt which control the inter‐mixing of the layers and therefore the structure of the heterolattice interface. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 247–253
Application of ion mobility tandem mass spectrometry to compositional and structural analysis of glycopeptides extracted from the urine of a patient diagnosed with Schindler disease
Authors: Sarbu Mirela , Zhu Feifei , Peter‐Katalinić Jasna , Clemmer David E. , Zamfir Alina D.
Published: September 2015

Rationale

Schindler disease is caused by the deficient activity of α‐N‐acetylgalactosaminidase, which leads to an abnormal accumulation of O‐glycopeptides in tissues and body fluids. In this work the Schindler condition is for the first time approached by ion mobility (IMS) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), for determining urine glycopeptide fingerprints and discriminate isomeric structures.

Methods

IMS‐MS experiments were conducted on a Synapt G2s mass spectrometer operating in negative ion mode. A glycopeptide mixture extracted from the urine of a patient suffering from Schindler disease was dissolved in methanol and infused into the mass spectrometer by electrospray ionization using a syringe‐pump system. MS/MS was performed by collision‐induced dissociation (CID) at low energies, after mobility separation in the transfer cell. Data acquisition and processing were performed using MassLynx and Waters Driftscope software.

Results

IMS‐MS data indicated that the attachment of one or two amino acids to the carbohydrate backbone has a minimal influence on the molecule conformation, which limits the discrimination of the free oligosaccharides from the glycosylated amino acids and dipeptides. The structural analysis by CID MS/MS in combination with IMS‐MS of species exhibiting the same m/z but different configurations demonstrated for the first time the presence of positional isomers for some of the Schindler disease biomarker candidates.

Conclusions

The IMS‐MS and CID MS/MS platform was for the first time optimized and applied to Schindler disease glycourinome. By this approach the separation and characterization of Neu5Ac positional isomers was possible. IMS CID MS/MS showed the ability to determine the type of the glycopeptide isomers from a series of possible candidates. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Instrumental improvements and sample preparations that enable reproducible, reliable acquisition of mass spectra from whole bacterial cells
Authors: Alusta Pierre , Buzatu Dan , Williams Anna , Cooper Willie‐Mae , Tarasenko Olga , Dorey R. Cameron , Hall Reggie , Parker W. Ryan , Wilkes Jon G.
Published: September 2015

Rationale

Rapid sub‐species characterization of pathogens is required for timely responses in outbreak situations. Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PyMS) has the potential to be used for this purpose.

Methods

However, in order to make PyMS practical for traceback applications, certain improvements related to spectrum reproducibility and data acquisition speed were required. The main objectives of this study were to facilitate fast detection (<30 min to analyze 6 samples, including preparation) and sub‐species‐level bacterial characterization based on pattern recognition of mass spectral fingerprints acquired from whole cells volatilized and ionized at atmospheric pressure. An AccuTOF DART mass spectrometer was re‐engineered to permit ionization of low‐volatility bacteria by means of Plasma Jet Ionization (PJI), in which an electric discharge, and, by extension, a plasma beam, impinges on sample cells.

Results

Instrumental improvements and spectral acquisition methodology are described. Performance of the re‐engineered system was assessed using a small challenge set comprised of assorted bacterial isolates differing in identity by varying amounts. In general, the spectral patterns obtained allowed differentiation of all samples tested, including those of the same genus and species but different serotypes.

Conclusions

Fluctuations of ±15% in bacterial cell concentrations did not substantially compromise replicate spectra reproducibility. © 2015 National Center for Toxicological Research. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
A new isotopic reference material for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope‐ratio measurements of water – USGS50 Lake Kyoga Water
Authors: Coplen Tyler B. , Wassenaar Leonard I. , Mukwaya Christine , Qi Haiping , Lorenz Jennifer M.
Published: September 2015

Rationale

As a result of the need for isotopic reference waters having high δ2HVSMOW‐SLAP and δ18OVSMOW‐SLAP values for daily use, especially for tropical and equatorial‐zone freshwaters, a new secondary isotopic reference material for international distribution was prepared from water collected from Lake Kyoga, Uganda.

Methods

This isotopic reference lakewater was filtered through a membrane with 0.2‐µm pore size, homogenized, loaded into glass ampoules that were sealed with a torch and autoclaved to eliminate biological activity, and measured by dual‐inlet isotope‐ratio mass spectrometry. This reference material is available in a case of 144 glass ampoules each containing 5 mL of water.

Results

The δ2H and δ18O values of this reference material are +32.8 ± 0.4 and +4.95 ± 0.02 mUr (milliurey = 0.001 = 1 ‰), respectively, relative to VSMOW, on scales normalized such that the δ2H and δ18O values of SLAP reference water are, respectively, −428 and −55.5 mUr. Each uncertainty is an estimated expanded uncertainty (U = 2uc) about the reference value that provides an interval that has about a 95 % probability of encompassing the true value.

Conclusions

This isotopic reference material, designated as USGS50, is intended as one of two reference waters for daily normalization of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic analysis of water with an isotope‐ratio mass spectrometer or a laser absorption spectrometer, of use especially for isotope‐hydrology laboratories analyzing freshwater samples from equatorial and tropical regions. Published in 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Definitive Hematopoiesis in the Yolk Sac Emerges from Wnt-Responsive Hemogenic Endothelium Independently of Circulation and Arterial Identity
Authors: Frame Jenna M. , Fegan Katherine H. , Conway Simon J. , McGrath Kathleen E. , Palis James
Published: September 2015

Adult-repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) emerge in low numbers in the midgestation mouse embryo from a subset of arterial endothelium, through an endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition. HSC-producing arterial hemogenic endothelium relies on the establishment of embryonic blood flow and arterial identity, and requires β-catenin signaling. Specified prior to and during the formation of these initial HSCs are thousands of yolk sac-derived erythro-myeloid progenitors (EMPs). EMPs ensure embryonic survival prior to the establishment of a permanent hematopoietic system, and provide subsets of long-lived tissue macrophages. While an endothelial origin for these HSC-independent definitive progenitors is also accepted, the spatial location and temporal output of yolk sac hemogenic endothelium over developmental time remain undefined. We performed a spatiotemporal analysis of EMP emergence, and document the morphological steps of the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition. Emergence of rounded EMPs from polygonal clusters of Kit+ cells initiates prior to the establishment of arborized arterial and venous vasculature in the yolk sac. Interestingly, Kit+ polygonal clusters are detected in both arterial and venous vessels after remodeling. To determine whether there are similar mechanisms regulating the specification of EMPs with other angiogenic signals regulating adult-repopulating HSCs, we investigated the role of embryonic blood flow and Wnt/β-catenin signaling during EMP emergence. In embryos lacking a functional circulation, rounded Kit+ EMPs still fully emerge from unremodeled yolk sac vasculature. In contrast, canonical Wnt signaling appears to be a common mechanism regulating hematopoietic emergence from hemogenic endothelium. These data illustrate the heterogeneity in hematopoietic output and spatiotemporal regulation of primary embryonic hemogenic endothelium.
Cardioprotective Actions of TGFβRI Inhibition Through Stimulating Autocrine/Paracrine of Survivin and Inhibiting Wnt in Cardiac Progenitors
Authors: Ho Yu-Sian , Tsai Wan-Hsuan , Lin Fen-Chiung , Huang Wei-Pang , Lin Lung-Chun , Wu Sean M. , Liu Yu-Ru , Chen Wen-Pin
Published: September 2015

Heart failure due to myocardial infarction (MI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. We found previously that A83-01, a TGFβRI inhibitor, could facilitate cardiac repair in post-MI mice and induce the expansion of a Nkx2.5 + cardiomyoblast population. This study aimed to investigate the key autocrine/paracrine factors regulated by A83-01 in the injured heart and the mechanism of cardioprotection by this molecule. Using a previously described transgenic Nkx2.5 enhancer-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter mice, we isolated cardiac progenitor cells (CPC) including Nkx2.5-GFP + (Nkx2.5+), sca1+, and Nkx2.5+/sca1 + cells. A83-01 was found to induce proliferation of these three subpopulations mainly through increasing Birc5 expression in the MEK/ERK-dependent pathway. Survivin, encoded by Birc5, could also directly proliferate Nkx2.5 + cells and enhance cultured cardiomyocytes viability. A83-01 could also reverse the downregulation of Birc5 in postinjured mice hearts (n = 6) to expand CPCs. Moreover, the increased Wnt3a in postinjured hearts could decrease CPCs, which could be reversed by A83-01 via inhibiting Fzd6 and Wnt1-induced signaling protein 1 expressions in CPCs. Next, we used inducible αMHC-cre/mTmG mice to label cardiomyocytes with GFP and nonmyocytes with RFP. We found A83-01 preserved more GFP + myocytes (68.6% ± 3.1% vs. 80.9% ± 3.0%; p < .05, n = 6) and fewer renewed RFP + myocytes (0.026% ± 0.005% vs. 0.062% ± 0.008%; p < .05, n = 6) in parallel with less cardiac fibrosis in isoprenaline-injected mice treated with A83-01. TGFβRI inhibition in an injured adult heart could both stimulate the autocrine/paracrine activity of survivin and inhibit Wnt in CPCs to mediate cardioprotection and improve cardiac function.
LncRNA-Hh Strengthen Cancer Stem Cells Generation in Twist-Positive Breast Cancer via Activation of Hedgehog Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhou Mingli , Hou Yixuan , Yang Guanglun , Zhang Hailong , Tu Gang , Du Yan-e , Wen Siyang , Xu Liyun , Tang Xi , Tang Shifu , Yang Li , Cui Xiaojiang , Liu Manran
Published: September 2015

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of neoplastic cells with self-renewal capacity and limitless proliferative potential as well as high invasion and migration capacity. These cells are commonly associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is also critical for tumor metastasis. Recent studies illustrate a direct link between EMT and stemness of cancer cells. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important new players in the regulation of multiple cellular processes in various diseases. To date, the role of lncRNAs in EMT-associated CSC stemness acquisition and maintenance remains unclear. In this study, we discovered that a set of lncRNAs were dysregulated in Twist-positive mammosphere cells using lncRNA microarray analysis. Multiple lncRNAs-associated canonical signaling pathways were identified via bioinformatics analysis. Especially, the Shh-GLI1 pathway associated lncRNA-Hh, transcriptionally regulated by Twist, directly targets GAS1 to stimulate the activation of hedgehog signaling (Hh). The activated Hh increases GLI1 expression, and enhances the expression of SOX2 and OCT4 to play a regulatory role in CSC maintenance. Thus, the mammosphere-formation efficiency (MFE) and the self-renewal capacity in vitro, and oncogenicity in vivo in Twist-positive breast cancer cells are elevated. lncRNA-Hh silence in Twist-positive breast cells attenuates the activated Shh-GLI1 signaling and decreases the CSC-associated SOX and OCT4 levels, thus reduces the MFE and tumorigenesis of transplanted tumor. Our results reveal that lncRNAs function as an important regulator endowing Twist-induced EMT cells to gain the CSC-like stemness properties.
Adolescents' emotional engagement in friends' problems and joys: Associations of empathetic distress and empathetic joy with friendship quality, depression, and anxiety
Authors: Smith Rhiannon L.
Published: September 2015

Although empathetic distress (i.e., taking on a friend's emotional distress as one's own) has been examined as a “cost of caring” especially common among girls, relations with adjustment remain untested. The current study tested associations of empathetic distress with friendship quality, depression, and anxiety. Adolescents (N = 300, ages 12–18) reported on their perceived experience of empathetic distress following a conversation with a friend about problems. The study also considered youths' emotional engagement in friends' positive life events, referred to as empathetic joy. Results indicated that girls reported greater empathetic distress and empathetic joy compared with boys. Findings also suggest that although empathetic distress may have positive implications for youths' friendship adjustment, this may come at the expense of emotional well‐being. In contrast, empathetic joy was associated with greater positive friendship quality and fewer internalizing symptoms.
Identity statuses and psychosocial functioning in Turkish youth: A person‐centered approach
Authors: Morsunbul Umit , Crocetti Elisabetta , Cok Figen , Meeus Wim
Published: September 2015

In the present study, we tested whether the five identity statuses of the original Meeus–Crocetti model could be extracted in a Turkish sample. Their three‐factor model of identity was used to examine identity formation. Participants were 1201 (59.6% females) youth aged between 12 and 24 years (Mage = 17.53 years, SDage = 3.25). Findings revealed that the five identity statuses extracted in previous studies (Crocetti, Rubini, Luyckx, & Meeus, 2008; Crocetti, Schwartz, Fermani, Klimstra, & Meeus, 2012) also emerged in a sample of Turkish adolescents and emerging adults. Findings indicated that gender and age affected the distribution of the individuals among the five identity statuses. Furthermore, individuals in the five identity statuses represented distinct profiles according to personality and self characteristics, problem behaviors and well‐being, and interpersonal and group relationships. Finally, the status × age interactions indicated that the searching moratorium status became more problematic with age. Implications and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
Clinical Issues‐October 2015
Authors: Wood Amber
Published: September 2015

This month

Personnel wearing hijabs in the OR

Key words: hijab, head covering, hair covering, Muslim, Islam.

Isolation precautions for perioperative patient visitors

Key words: isolation, contact, droplet, airborne, visitor.
Sterile Processing Accreditation Surveys: Risk Reduction and Process Improvement
Authors: Seavey Rose E.
Published: September 2015

Accreditation surveys protect patients and personnel by monitoring health care facility compliance with rules, regulations, and best practices. Accreditation, or the lack of it, can affect a facility's ability to be reimbursed. The ability of personnel to follow best practices and adhere to regulatory requirements in the surgical processing department and the OR has a critical effect on reducing or eliminating health care‐associated infections, including surgical site infections. This article discusses preparing for an accreditation survey, being ready to demonstrate compliance when surveyed, and how accreditation surveys help reduce risk for patients and personnel, promote best practices, and improve patient care.
Transfer‐of‐Care Communication: Nursing Best Practices
Authors: Chard Robin , Makary Martin A.
Published: September 2015

The successful and safe transfer of the patient from one phase of care to another is contingent on optimal communication by all team members. Nurses are often in a natural leadership position to improve safe practices during hand overs. A holistic understanding of the patient allows the perioperative nurse the opportunity to identify issues and choose a nursing diagnosis based on key elements of a patient's needs and goals—information that should be relayed during patient transfers. This article reviews best practices in transfer‐of‐care communication to enable perioperative RNs to take an active, leading role in hand‐over processes.
Interpreting Arterial Blood Gases Successfully
Authors: Larkin Brenda G. , Zimmanck Robert J.
Published: September 2015

Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is a crucial skill for perioperative nurses, in particular the RN circulator. This article provides the physiological basis for assessing ABGs perioperatively and presents a systematic approach to blood gas analysis using the Romanski method. Blood gas sample data allow the reader to practice ABG interpretation. In addition, four case studies are presented that give the reader the opportunity to analyze ABGs within the context of surgical patient scenarios. The ability to accurately assess ABGs allows the perioperative nurse to assist surgical team members in restoring a patient's acid‐base balance.
Creating a Culture of Safety by Reducing Noise Levels in the OR
Authors: Hogan Lisa J. , Harvey Renee L.
Published: September 2015

We implemented a quality improvement project to reduce noise levels in the OR in response to complaints from the anesthesia staff members at two community hospitals. Excessive noise has been shown to increase staff member stress, fatigue, distraction, and ineffective communication, which can lead to medical errors. We measured noise levels during anesthesia induction and emergence for 118 different surgical procedures and compared noise levels before and after the improvement project intervention. Staff member education and noise reduction strategies, which included signage, prominent noise meters, and specific suggestions to staff members, helped to significantly reduce the noise level during the anesthetic induction and emergence phases of OR procedures.
STOP: Can We Minimize OR Traffic?
Authors: Elliott Sara , Parker Stacy , Mills Judi , Meeusen Lindsay , Frana Theresa , Anderson Marie , Storsveen Amy , White Amy
Published: September 2015

Perioperative nurses at our institution voiced concerns about the amount of traffic in the ORs. We formed a workgroup consisting of perioperative nurses, educators, and leaders and initiated a quality improvement (QI) project to identify the amount of OR traffic that occurs during a procedure. The workgroup developed a check sheet to record door swings, staff classifications, reasons for opening the door, and the number of people in the OR at 15‐minute intervals. Baseline results showed that average door swings ranged from 33 per hour in general surgery to 54 per hour in cardiac surgery. Nurses accounted for the most traffic, citing retrieving supplies as the main reason. Interventions focused on decreasing nurse traffic for retrieval of supplies in general surgery. Follow‐up observations showed that average door swings increased to 41 per hour in general surgery, but nurse traffic decreased. Monitoring and limiting traffic could positively affect patient safety and outcomes.
Maternal and neonatal outcomes in multiple pregnancy: A multicentre study in the Beijing population
Authors: Su Ri‐Na , Zhu Wei‐Wei , Wei Yu‐Mei , Wang Chen , Feng Hui , Lin Li , Yang Hui‐Xia
Published: September 2015

Objective

To compare the adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes of multiple pregnancy and singleton pregnancy from multiple medical centers in Beijing.

Methods

Data concerning maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in multiple and singleton pregnancies were collected from 15 hospitals in Beijing by a systemic cluster sampling survey conducted from 20 June to 30 November 2013. The SPSS software (version 20.0) was used for data analysis. The χ2 test was used for statistical analyses.

Results

The rate of caesarean deliveries was much higher in women with multiple pregnancies (85.8%) than that in women with singleton pregnancies (42.6%, χ2 = 190.8, P < 0.001). The incidences of anemia (χ2 = 40.023, P < 0.001), preterm labor (χ2 = 1021.172, P < 0.001), gestational diabetes mellitus (χ2 = 9.311, P < 0.01), hypertensive disorders (χ2 = 122.708, P < 0.001) and post‐partum hemorrhage (χ2 = 48.550, P < 0.001) was significantly increased with multiple pregnancy. In addition, multiple pregnancy was associated with a significantly higher rate of small‐for‐gestational‐age infants (χ2 = 92.602, P < 0.001), low birth weight (χ2 = 1141.713, P < 0.001), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (χ2 = 340.129, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Multiple pregnancy is a significant risk factor for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in Beijing. Improving obstetric care for multiple pregnancy, particularly in reducing preterm labor, is required to reduce the risk to mothers and infants.
Rivaroxaban in preventing venous thromboembolism after arthroplastic surgery in Taiwan
Authors: Mao Yun‐Chuan , Chen Shih‐Tse , Chen Chung‐Hwan , Hsieh Kun‐Pin , Gan Kim‐Hong
Published: September 2015

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the severe complications of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The incidence of VTE could be reduced if preventive antithrombotic medicines are used; however, the incidence of bleeding may increase. Rivaroxaban is a factor Xa inhibitor that prevents VTE after THA or TKA. This study is designed to confirm the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in Taiwan. This is a retrospective database study based on the data of 6996 patients provided by the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 2008 to 2012. The data included the number of prescription, the cost of prescription, and case number for patients treated with antithrombotic agents for the prevention or treatment of joint arthroplasty complications (including THA, TKA, partial hip arthroplasty, revision THA and TKA), and the incidence of thrombosis and hemorrhage from year 2008 to 2012. The overall postoperative VTE rate was 0.49%. Compared with other antithrombotic drugs, rivaroxaban and heparin analogs can reduce the percentage of thrombosis. We also found that the expenditure and hospitalization was less in the rivaroxaban group than in the heparin analogs group. Because some benefits of rivaroxaban were found in our study, further cost‐effective and drug safety studies are warranted. It is important to consider the cost‐effective principle for the use of antithrombotic drugs in preventing thromboembolic complications after total joint arthroplasty.
Standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy alone versus in combination with intraoperative anterograde flexible nephroscopy for staghorn stones: A retrospective study
Authors: Goktug Goksel , Karakoyunlu Nihat , Sener Nevzat Can , Zengin Kursad , Nalbant Ismail , Karabacak Osman , Ozturk Ufuk , Imamoglu Abdurrahim
Published: September 2015

This study aimed to compare the outcomes of standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) to PCNL with intraoperative antegrade flexible nephroscopy (IAFN) for treating stones of staghorn nature. We retrospectively analyzed patients treated using PCNL between January 2007 and July 2013. A total of 1250 patients were treated using PCNL, and 166 patients had staghorn stones. All patients had been subjected to a complete blood count, routine biochemical analyses, coagulation tests, a complete urine analysis, and urine cultures. Patients with a positive urine culture had been treated with appropriate antibiotics until the urine culture became negative. After purchasing a flexible renoscope in March 2012, we routinely used this tool to improve the stone‐free (SF) rate. The 105 patients who underwent standard PCNL prior to March 2012 were classified as Group 1, and the 61 patients who underwent PCNL + IAFN after that date were classified as Group 2. The two groups had similar and homogeneous demographic data. The fluoroscopy and total operative times were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (p < 0.01). Additionally, the hospitalization time (p < 0.01) and the mean hematocrit decrease (p < 0.01) were significantly lower in Group 1. In both groups, the SF rates were higher than 85%, similar to those reported in the literature. Although Group 2 had a slightly better SF rates, this difference was not statistically significant. For staghorn calculi, PCNL combined with IAFN yields excellent outcomes. However, similar prospective studies on larger cohorts should be performed to support our findings.