bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parents' and nurses' experiences of partnership in neonatal intensive care units: A qualitative review and meta‐synthesis
Authors: Brødsgaard Anne , Pedersen Jette Thise , Larsen Palle , Weis Janne
Published: May 2019

Aims and objectives

To explore how parents and nurses experience partnership in neonatal intensive care units and to identify existing barriers and facilitators to a successful partnership.

Background

Family‐centred care is recommended as a frame of reference for treatment and care in neonatal intensive care units. A key element in family‐centred care is partnership. Such partnerships are characterised by complex interpersonal relationships and interactions between nurses and parents/families. Partnerships therefore appear to present a significant challenge.

Design

A qualitative review and meta‐synthesis.

Methods

Comprehensive searching in ten databases: CINAHL, PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, PsycINFO, Scopus and SweMed+, OpenGrey, MedNar, Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertations & Thesis Global. A total of 1,644 studies (after removal of duplicates) were critically assessed, and 21 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A meta‐aggregation was used to synthesise the findings from the studies and was methodically quality assessed with QUARI/SUMARI and PRISMA.

Findings

Through a meta‐aggregative approach, two synthesised findings were developed: (a) co‐creation of mutual knowledge and (b) developing competencies and negotiating roles. The first synthesis embraced the categories: being respected and listened to, trust and sharing knowledge, and the second synthesis embraced the categories: space to learn with guidance, encouraging and enabling, being in control. In constructing the categories, findings were identified as characteristics, barriers and facilitators to application.

Conclusion

A successful relationship between parents and nurses can be achieved through co‐creation of mutual knowledge and development of competencies and negotiation of roles. Neonatal intensive care unit nurses are in a position where they exercise power, but they can change the culture if they are aware of what seems to facilitate or create a barrier to a partnership with parents.

Relevance to clinical practice

This new evidence may inform a change in policies and guidelines which could be integrated into nurses' clinical practice in neonatal intensive care units.
Susceptibility and Tumor Size Changes During the Time Course of Standard Treatment in Recurrent Glioblastoma
Authors: van Leyen K. , Roelcke U. , Gruber P. , Remonda L. , Berberat J.
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Susceptibility‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (SWI) yields information regarding tumor biology (e.g., hemorrhage) of growing gliomas. SWI changes can also be observed as a consequence of treatment, for example radiation therapy. The aim of our study was to investigate how susceptibility changes occur during the time course after completion of standard treatment in newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM).

METHODS

Eighteen GBM patients were retrospectively analyzed. After completion of therapy, imaging was performed every 3 months. MRI was analyzed at the following time points: after the third and sixth cycle of adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy, thereafter in 3 month intervals and at recurrence. The number of SWI positive tumor pixels was quantified and compared with progression as defined by the RANO criteria on T2‐ and contrast‐enhanced T1‐weighted MRI sequences (T1‐CE).

RESULTS

The MRI interval between completion of the sixth chemotherapy cycle and last MRI before progression was 390 ± 292 days. Between the last MRI before progression and at progression a significant increase in SWI positive tumor pixels was observed (P = .012), whereas tumor size remained unchanged (RANO T2: P = .385; RANO T1‐CE: P = .165). The number of SWI positive pixels remained unchanged between last MRI before progression until progression (P = .149), whereas RANO T2 and T1‐CE showed tumor progression (interval 128 ± 69 days).

CONCLUSIONS

SWI positive pixel count increases significantly prior to changes in tumor size (RANO). Our findings may be explained by microbleeds compatible with stimulation of angiogenesis and possibly serve as an early biomarker of tumor progression.
Determinate attitudes and indeterminate norms
Authors: Giromini José
Published: May 2019

The aim of this paper is to offer a version of social normative pragmatism – that is, the approach that takes norms to be the result of shared practices – that comes closer to social reality than its cousins in the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind. The purpose is presenting a framework that can be useful for social theorists sympathetic to normative concepts. This version introduces the concepts of the adoption of the normative stance, the projective structure of evaluation and a sketch of a theory of normative force in terms of accumulation of normative attitude. In order to motivate this conceptual tools, we present them as allowing us to overcome the traditional skeptical challenge put forward by Kripke.
The role of social representations in the construction of power relations
Authors: Negura Lilian , Plante Nathalie , Lévesque Maude
Published: May 2019

The conceptualizations of power, traditionally associated with control, have been nuanced in the past decades by influential authors such as Michel Foucault, Hannah Arendt and Pierre Bourdieu. These authors offer a perspective on power focused on the agency of individuals, with an emphasis on the way the dynamics and relations of power operate. Relying on these conceptual frameworks, we argue that the theory of social representations is of particular relevance to an analysis of the construction of power relations, whether it be to criticize the effects of domination or examine those of emancipation. The results of our research on the social representations of depression illustrate the latter's role in the construction, continuity and transformation of the power dynamics at play in the area of access to healthcare services by people who have experienced a depressive episode.
Use of HCV‐infected organs in solid organ transplantation: An ethical challenge but plausible option
Authors: Nangia Gayatri , Borges Kelly , Reddy K. Rajender
Published: May 2019

Due to the unfortunate epidemic of opioid overdose deaths among people who inject drugs (PWID) in North America, there has been an increase in the availability of hepatitis C (HCV)‐positive organs for transplantation and consequently the potential to decrease waiting times for solid organ transplantation if an HCV‐uninfected recipient is willing to accept an HCV‐positive donor. The confidence in this potential new strategy comes as a result of the advent of safe and highly effective pan‐genotypic direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs). This promising strategy has been the most widely studied in kidney transplantation. Liver transplantation has positive results preliminarily, but has even less available data because viable HCV‐infected donor livers are typically transplanted into HCV‐infected individuals. Further, while HCV‐infected heart and lung transplantation, which face additional post‐transplant issues, have shown encouraging results, these studies are small scale and are limited by short‐term follow‐up. Thus, it would be premature to implement this strategy as standard of care without large scale clinical and real‐world trials and longer‐term follow‐up studies. Further, the ethics of this practice need to be considered. While some transplant professionals argue that more harm will be done by not utilizing HCV‐infected organs, others contend that cautiously conducted multi‐centre studies involving extensive post‐transplant follow‐up are paramount prior to endorsing widespread implementation of this strategy. The ethical permissibility of this practice hinges on whether access to DAA therapy can be secured in advance, and prospective recipients understand and accept all the risks associated with acquiring HCV.
Multiple adrenocortical steroid response to administration of exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone to hospitalized foals
Authors: Dembek Katarzyna A. , Johnson Lindsey M. , Timko Kathryn J. , Minuto Jillian S. , Hart Kelsey A. , Barr Bonnie S. , Toribio Ramiro E.
Published: May 2019

Background

The hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis regulates the response to sepsis‐associated stress. Relative adrenal insufficiency or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH):cortisol imbalance, defined as a poor cortisol response to administration of ACTH, is common and associated with death in hospitalized foals. However, information on other adrenal steroid response to ACTH stimulation in sick foals is minimal.

Objective

To investigate the response of multiple adrenocortical steroids to administration of ACTH in foals.

Animals

Hospitalized (n = 34) and healthy (n = 13) foals.

Methods

In this prospective study, hospitalized foals were categorized into 2 groups using cluster analysis based on adrenal steroids response to ACTH stimulation: Cluster 1 (n = 11) and Cluster 2 (n = 23). After baseline blood sample collection, foals received 10 μg of ACTH with additional samples collected at 30 and 90 minutes after ACTH. Steroid and ACTH concentrations were determined by immunoassays. The area under the curve (AUC) and Delta0‐30 were calculated for each hormone.

Results

The AUC for cortisol, aldosterone, androstenedione, pregnenolone, 17α‐OH‐progesterone, and progesterone were higher in critically ill (Cluster 1) compared to healthy foals (P < .01). Delta0‐30 for cortisol and 17α‐OH‐progesterone was lower in Cluster 1 (24%, 26.7%) and Cluster 2 (16%, 11.2%) compared to healthy foals (125%, 71%), respectively (P < .05). Foals that died had increased AUC for endogenous ACTH (269 versus 76.4 pg/mL/h, P < .05) accompanied by a low AUC for cortisol (5.5 versus 15.5 μg/dL/h, P < .05), suggesting adrenocortical dysfunction.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

The 17α‐OH‐progesterone response to administration of ACTH was a good predictor of disease severity and death in hospitalized foals.
Assessing sampling coverage of species distribution in biodiversity databases
Authors: Sporbert Maria , Bruelheide Helge , Seidler Gunnar , Keil Petr , Jandt Ute , Austrheim Gunnar , Biurrun Idoia , Campos Juan Antonio , Čarni Andraž , Chytrý Milan , Csiky János , De Bie Els , Dengler Jürgen , Golub Valentin , Grytnes John‐Arvid , Indreica Adrian , Jansen Florian , Jiroušek Martin , Lenoir Jonathan , Luoto Miska , Marcenò Corrado , Moeslund Jesper Erenskjold , Pérez‐Haase Aaron , Rūsiņa Solvita , Vandvik Vigdis , Vassilev Kiril , Welk Erik
Published: May 2019

Aim

Biodiversity databases are valuable resources for understanding plant species distributions and dynamics, but they may insufficiently represent the actual geographic distribution and climatic niches of species. Here we propose and test a method to assess sampling coverage of species distribution in biodiversity databases in geographic and climatic space.

Location

Europe.

Methods

Using a test selection of 808,794 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA), we assessed the sampling coverage of 564 European vascular plant species across both their geographic ranges and realized climatic niches. Range maps from the Chorological Database Halle (CDH) were used as background reference data to capture species geographic ranges and to derive species climatic niches. To quantify sampling coverage, we developed a box‐counting method, the Dynamic Match Coefficient (DMC), which quantifies how much a set of occurrences of a given species matches with its geographic range or climatic niche. DMC is the area under the curve measuring the match between occurrence data and background reference (geographic range or climatic niche) across grids with variable resolution. High DMC values indicate good sampling coverage. We applied null models to compare observed DMC values with expectations from random distributions across species ranges and niches.

Results

Comparisons with null models showed that, for most species, actual distributions within EVA are deviating from null model expectations and are more clumped than expected in both geographic and climatic space. Despite high interspecific variation, we found a positive relationship in DMC values between geographic and climatic space, but sampling coverage was in general more random across geographic space.

Conclusion

Because DMC values are species‐specific and most biodiversity databases are clearly biased in terms of sampling coverage of species occurrences, we recommend using DMC values as covariates in macro‐ecological models that use species as the observation unit.
Biological soil crust and vascular plant interactions in Western Myall (Acacia papyrocarpa) open woodland in South Australia
Authors: Steggles Emma K. , Facelli José M. , Ainsley Phillip J. , Pound Leanne M.
Published: May 2019

Aim

Biological soil crust (BSC) is a key component of arid environments and plays a major role in determining ecological structure and function. Our research aim was to examine several mechanisms that contribute to BSC–plant interactions at species and community levels, to increase our understanding of plant community dynamics.

Location

Yellabinna Regional Reserve, South Australia (30°50′17.99″ S, 132°12′10.37″ E).

Methods

We used seed extraction techniques to examine soil seed banks beneath patches with and without BSC, and field and glasshouse experiments to study the effects of crust presence and disturbance on seedling emergence and survival. We also explored the influence of chemical leachates from BSC on seed germination.

Results

Biological soil crust plays a pivotal role in influencing spatial patterns in soil seed bank composition. Our results showed less propagules accumulate in soils beneath crust when compared with patches without crust, and that propagule size is a contributing factor to determining their distribution between patch types. We found that late‐stage BSC physically inhibited seedling emergence, which increased when the BSC was disturbed in field experiments. Low seedling survivorship in both patch types suggests that although BSC may suppress recruitment in favourable years, it is low precipitation levels that have the over‐riding impact on recruitment success. Finally, leachates from late‐stage BSC were found to inhibit germination in three annual plant species, whilst early‐stage BSC accelerated germination in one annual plant. This clearly shows that leachate effects on seed germination vary according to plant species and crust successional stage.

Conclusion

Overall, we identified several mechanisms through which BSC has complex effects on the annual and short‐lived perennial plant guilds of arid lands. These mechanisms contribute to species diversity through the creation of spatial heterogeneity in soil seed bank structure and emergence opportunities.
Auxin‐mediated statolith production for root gravitropism
Authors: Zhang Yuzhou , He Peng , Ma Xiongfeng , Yang Zuoren , Pang Chaoyou , Yu Jianing , Wang Guodong , Friml Jiří , Xiao Guanghui
Published: May 2019

Root gravitropism is one of the most important processes allowing plant adaptation to the land environment. Auxin plays a central role in mediating root gravitropism, but how auxin contributes to gravitational perception and the subsequent response are still unclear.

Here, we showed that the local auxin maximum/gradient within the root apex, which is generated by the PIN directional auxin transporters, regulates the expression of three key starch granule synthesis genes, SS4, PGM and ADG1, which in turn influence the accumulation of starch granules that serve as a statolith perceiving gravity.

Moreover, using the cvxIAA‐ccvTIR1 system, we also showed that TIR1‐mediated auxin signaling is required for starch granule formation and gravitropic response within root tips. In addition, axr3 mutants showed reduced auxin‐mediated starch granule accumulation and disruption of gravitropism within the root apex.

Our results indicate that auxin‐mediated statolith production relies on the TIR1/AFB‐AXR3‐mediated auxin signaling pathway. In summary, we propose a dual role for auxin in gravitropism: the regulation of both gravity perception and response.
pH and Charge Effects Behind the Interaction of Artepillin C, the Major Component of Green Propolis, With Amphiphilic Aggregates: Optical Absorption and Fluorescence Spectroscopy Studies
Authors: Camuri Isamara Julia , da Costa Adriano Batista , Ito Amando Siuiti , Pazin Wallance Moreira
Published: May 2019

Brazilian green propolis is one of the bee products most consumed in the world to prevent diseases, owing antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory and antitumor activities. The major component of Brazilian green propolis is Artepillin C (ArtC), a cinnamic acid derivative with two prenylated groups that improve the affinity of the compound for lipophilic environment. Here, we have employed optical absorption and fluorescence techniques to draw conclusions on how ArtC interacts with amphiphilic aggregates commonly used as model membranes having different charges in the polar head group. Optical absorption spectra were representative of the protonation state of ArtC, dictated by the local pH at the surface of micelles and lipid vesicles. Fluorescence results showed that, in the presence of micelles and vesicles, the polarizability around ArtC was modified, compared to the value in aqueous medium, and the molecule should be located preferentially on the surface region of the model membranes, with an enhanced interaction with the less ordered state of the lipid vesicles.
Advocacy Coalition Framework and Policy Changes in a Third‐World Country
Authors: Nwalie Martin Ike
Published: May 2019

This work concerns health sector reform in Nigeria between 2003 and 2014. Using qualitative content analysis, I investigate the factors that led to the reform, the reform process, and its outcome. The objective is to assess the conformity of the policy reform to Sabatier and Weible's Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) in order to ascertain the applicability, or otherwise, of the ACF in policy analysis in stable democratic African states. In the article, external shock, policy subsystem, stable parameter, technical experts, advocacy coalitions, the “devil shift,” and policy core beliefs—which are basic components of ACF—were all identified in the policy reform process. I conclude that the ACF can be applied in policy reform in democratic African states, so long as there is the rule of law, a separation of powers, freedom of speech and association, a fairly stable political environment, and the presence of policy participants with expert knowledge of the policy issues.

Related Articles

Morris, Mary Hallock. 2007. “The Political Strategies of Winning and Losing Coalitions: Agricultural and Environmental Groups in the Debate over Hypoxia.” Politics & Policy 35 (4): 836‐871. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2007.00086.x

Swigger, Alexandra, and Bruce Timothy Heinmiller. 2014. “Advocacy Coalitions and Mental Health Policy: The Adoption of Community Treatment Orders in Ontario.” Politics & Policy 42 (2): 246‐270. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12066

Udjo, Eric O., and Barney Erasmus. 2014. “Impact of Retirement Age Policy on the Workforce of a Higher Education Institution in South Africa.” Politics & Policy 42 (5): 744‐768. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12092

Related Media

CNBC Africa. 2017. “How Can Nigeria Improve Its Healthcare System?” https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2017/09/14/how-can-nigeria-improve-its-healthcare-system/

Opeyemi, Agbaje. 2012. “Health Sector Reforms in Nigeria 1.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YvV_xj0meU
Offering Discretionary Healthcare Services with Medical Consumption
Authors: Wang Xiaofang , Wu Qi , Lai Guoming , Scheller‐Wolf Alan
Published: May 2019

This study studies discretionary healthcare services with consumption of medical goods (e.g., tests, drugs). Specifically, we focus on a setting where the service provider obtains revenue from the medical consumption, and the perceived service value improves while the amount of medical consumption decreases in the service time (e.g., due to more thorough inquiry and examination). We find that the equilibrium service and demand rates both decrease if the service provider’s share of revenue from the medical consumption decreases, or if the medical goods become more expensive. Moreover, the consumption of goods can reverse some well‐known results in models without goods: the service provider may reduce the service time when the perceived service value depends more heavily on the service time. From a policy perspective, we find that service price caps—often put in place to control medical costs—can lead to shorter service times and increased medical consumption. This effect is more severe when the service provider retains less revenue from the medical goods or when they are less expensive. Furthermore, without service price caps, facing a smaller market size, the service provider generally offers a longer service time inducing less medical consumption; however, this can be reversed with service price caps. Thus, in discretionary healthcare services accompanied by medical goods, price regulations may lead to wasteful consumption; extra attention is needed for certain market scenarios.
A Bayesian Approach to Developing a Stochastic Mortality Model for China
Authors: Li Johnny Siu-Hang , Zhou Kenneth Q. , Zhu Xiaobai , Chan Wai-Sum , Chan Felix Wai-Hon
Published: May 2019

Stochastic mortality models have a wide range of applications. They are particularly important for analysing Chinese mortality, which is subject to rapid and uncertain changes. However, owing to data-related problems, stochastic modelling of Chinese mortality has not been given adequate attention. We attempt to use a Bayesian approach to model the evolution of Chinese mortality over time, taking into account all of the problems associated with the data set. We build on the Gaussian state space formulation of the Lee–Carter model, introducing new features to handle the missing data points, to acknowledge the fact that the data are obtained from different sources and to mitigate the erratic behaviour of the parameter estimates that arises from the data limitations. The approach proposed yields stochastic mortality forecasts that are in line with both the trend and the variation of the historical observations. We further use simulated pseudodata sets with resembling limitations to validate the approach. The validation result confirms our approach’s success in dealing with the limitations of the Chinese mortality data.
Realizing appreciative management from the viewpoint of first‐line managers in social and health care
Authors: Harmoinen Merja , Suominen Tarja
Published: May 2019

Background

First‐line managers are links between an organizations’ administration and the workforce. They transmit information from higher managers to workers and vice versa. Their management skills and especially their interaction with staff are a key point in successful management.

Aim

To describe how first‐line managers realized appreciative management in their everyday management practice in health and social care.

Method

A quantitative descriptive study was conducted by means of an electronic survey among social and healthcare managers in Finland.

Results

Based on the self‐evaluations of the managers, appreciative management is well realized. The most recognition was given to equality and the least to appreciative know‐how. Connections were seen between appreciative management and gender, education, education level and managers with higher education, and those with fewer work units below them tended to have a better realization of appreciative management.

Conclusion

The education level of first‐line nurse managers is meaningful when realizing appreciative management in social and healthcare settings.

Implications for nursing management

More advanced education levels of first‐line managers help to promote appreciative management in social and health care, together with the amount of work units (meaning outpatient and inpatient wards). A first‐line manager is responsible for the needs of their workforce and needs to be critically assessed so that they might have more time for managing in an appreciative way. Appreciative management should be given increased focus when educating nurse managers.
Collaboration between home care staff, leaders and care partners of older people with mental health problems: a focus on personhood
Authors: Anker‐Hansen Camilla , Skovdahl Kirsti , McCormack Brendan , Tønnessen Siri
Published: May 2019

Background

Collaboration with care partners is a political aim in recent white papers in Norway and internationally. Home care services regularly work closely with care partners, but there are many indications that the collaboration does not work satisfactorily.

Aim

To explore home care staff and leaders’ experiences of collaborating with care partners of older people with mental health problems through a personhood perspective.

Methods

The study had a qualitative design and comprised eight health professionals in two focus groups and in‐depth interviews with three leaders in one home care district. The data were analysed using a thematic framework analysis building on previous research on personhood. criteria for reporting qualitative reporting guidelines were used to ensure comprehensive reporting.

Results

Four themes were identified in the analysis: ‘non‐negotiated relationships’, ‘contradictory agendas’, ‘weak paternalism’ and ‘moral compromise’.

Conclusion

There seems to be a lack of facilitation of collaborative relationships through all levels of the home care organisation. The interactions between care partners and home care staff sometimes appear to produce low or negative levels of emotional energy, and situations where the personhood of neither of them is respected occurs. Paying attention to the four modes of being as a framework for understanding personhood creates the foundation for a person‐centred approach that enhances the potential of creating stronger partnership in care relationships.
Nurses’ perceptions of early person‐centred palliative care: a cross‐sectional descriptive study
Authors: Kmetec Sergej , Štiglic Gregor , Lorber Mateja , Mikkonen Irma , McCormack Brendan , Pajnkihar Majda , Fekonja Zvonka
Published: May 2019

Background

Palliative care is aimed at improving the quality of life of an individual with chronic noncommunicable disease and their care partners. Limitations in the provision of palliative care are mainly lack of knowledge and experience by nurses, fear of treating palliative persons, loss of control over treatment and fear of providing poor‐quality palliative care to persons and care partners.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the perception, knowledge and attitudes of palliative care by nurses who use palliative care approaches in practice, as well as the difference in perception, knowledge and attitudes of palliative care between nurses in Slovenia and Finland.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional descriptive study. The survey included 440 nurses in clinical environments in Slovenia and Finland with a completed bachelor, master or doctoral level of education.

Results

We found statistically significant differences between both countries in the perception of palliative care. Differences between the two countries in the knowledge of palliative care were not confirmed. We confirmed statistically significant differences between both countries in the attitudes of palliative nursing care.

Conclusion

Early person‐centred palliative care is an important part of the holistic and integrative treatment of a person who has a disease with disturbing symptoms. For such an approach, it is important to educate nurses about knowledge, expectations, values and beliefs in developing a concept of person‐centred palliative care to improve quality of life. The better perception, knowledge and attitudes of palliative care by nurses may help persons to improve and raise their quality of life, as well as diminish stress in their care partners and improve quality of life.
Social and non‐social measures of cognition for predicting self‐reported and informant‐reported functional outcomes in early psychosis
Authors: Vidarsdottir Olina G. , Twamley Elizabeth W. , Roberts David L. , Gudmundsdottir Berglind , Sigurdsson Engilbert , Magnusdottir Brynja B.
Published: May 2019

The main aim of this study was to investigate the individual contributions of neurocognitive and social‐cognitive domains to self‐reported and informant‐reported functional outcome in early psychosis. We also sought to further characterize the nature of cognitive impairments in this sample and explore the interrelationships between the social‐cognitive measures and how they correlate with measures of neurocognition and clinical symptoms. In this study, 70 patients (mean age: 24.1; 87.1% males) with primary psychotic disorder diagnosed in the previous 5 years were assessed on multiple neurocognitive (processing speed, attention, working memory, immediate verbal memory, delayed recall, visual reasoning, inhibition, planning, cognitive flexibility), and social‐cognitive domains (theory of mind (ToM), emotion recognition, attributional style, metacognitive overconfidence) as well as measures of clinical symptoms. Functional outcome was assessed with three self‐reports and two informant‐reports. On average, patients performed one or more SD below healthy controls on measures of delayed recall, ToM and metacognitive overconfidence. Emotion recognition and ToM were intercorrelated and correlated with multiple neurocognitive domains and negative symptoms. Attributional style correlated with positive symptoms. In the context of multiple variables, self‐reported functional outcomes were predicted by attributional style, whereas emotion recognition and immediate verbal memory predicted variance in informant‐reported community functioning. These results support the suggestion of a likely distinction between the predictive factors for self‐reported and informant‐reported functional outcome in early psychosis and suggest that consideration of self‐assessment of functional outcome is critical when attempting to evaluate the effects attributional style has on functional disability.
Enhancing driving safety: Discovering individualized hazardous driving scenes using GIS and mobile sensing
Authors: Li Xiao , Goldberg Daniel W. , Chu Tianxing , Ma Andong
Published: May 2019

Traffic collisions have been well acknowledged as a significant threat to public health, closely related to human driving errors. This study introduces an innovative approach to investigate spatiotemporal distributions of individualized driving errors and to characterize hazardous driving scenes, in which drivers are more prone to make driving mistakes. We first create a multi‐feature‐fusion framework to extract driving errors using smartphone sensors. Then, the detected errors are geo‐statistically analyzed with road networks and driving trajectories to identify driving error hotspots. We next construct a “scenic tuple” for representing the occurrence of driving errors. Finally, the individualized hazardous driving scenes are extracted by mining a long‐term collection of scenic tuples. Results demonstrate that our proposed approach can effectively identify driving errors. Additionally, the spatiotemporal patterns of driving mistakes can be identified from the individualized hazardous driving scenes, which has the potential to aid in reducing driving risks.
Rosa hybrida RhERF1 and RhERF4 mediate ethylene‐ and auxin‐regulated petal abscission by influencing pectin degradation
Authors: Gao Yuerong , Liu Yang , Liang Yue , Lu Jingyun , Jiang Chuyan , Fei Zhangjun , Jiang Cai‐Zhong , Ma Chao , Gao Junping
Published: May 2019

The timing of plant organ abscission is modulated by the balance of two hormones, ethylene and auxin, while the mechanism of organ shedding depends on the loss of middle lamella pectin in the abscission zone (AZ). However, the mechanisms involved in sensing the balance of auxin and ethylene and that affect pectin degradation during abscission are not well understood. In this study, we identified two members of the APETALA2/ethylene‐responsive factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factor family in rose (Rosa hybrida), RhERF1 and RhERF4 which play a role in petal abscission. The expression of RhERF1 and RhERF4 was influenced by ethylene and auxin, respectively. Reduced expression of RhERF1 or RhERF4 was observed to accelerate petal abscission. Global expression analysis and real‐time PCR assays revealed that RhERF1 and RhERF4 modulate the expression of genes encoding pectin‐metabolizing enzymes. A reduction in the abundance of pectin epitopes was detected in the AZs of RhERF1 and RhERF4‐silenced plants by immunofluorescence microscopy analysis. In addition, RhERF1 and RhERF4 were shown to bind to the promoter of the pectin‐metabolizing gene β‐GALACTOSIDASE 1 (RhBGLA1), and reduced expression of RhBGLA1 delayed petal abscission. We conclude that during petal abscission, RhERF1 and RhERF4 integrate and coordinate ethylene and auxin signals to modulate pectin metabolism, in part by regulating the expression of RhBGLA1.
The B‐box protein BBX19 suppresses seed germination via induction of ABI5
Authors: Bai Mengjuan , Sun Jingjing , Liu Jinyi , Ren Haoran , Wang Kang , Wang Yanling , Wang Changquan , Dehesh Katayoon
Published: May 2019

Seed germination is a fundamental process in the plant life cycle and is regulated by functionally opposing internal and external inputs. Here we explored the role of a negative regulator of photomorphogenesis, a B‐box‐containing protein (BBX19), as a molecular link between the inhibitory action of the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) and the promoting role of light in germination. We show that seeds of BBX19‐overexpressing lines, in contrast to those of BBX19 RNA interference lines, display ABA hypersensitivity, albeit independently of elongated hypocotyl 5 (HY5). Moreover, we establish that BBX19 functions neither via perturbation of GA signaling, the ABA antagonistic phytohormone, nor through interference with the DELLA protein germination repressors. Rather, BBX19 functions as an inducer of ABA INSENSITIVE5 (ABI5) by binding to the light‐responsive GT1 motifs in the gene promoter. In summary, we identify BBX19 as a regulatory checkpoint, directing diverse developmental processes and tailoring adaptive responses to distinct endogenous and exogenous signals.
In vitro effects of the activity of novel platinum (II) complex in canine and human cell lines
Authors: Henklewska Marta , Pawlak Aleksandra , Kutkowska Justyna , Pruchnik Hanna , Rapak Andrzej , Obminska‐Mrukowicz Bozena
Published: May 2019

The anticancer activity of novel platinum derivative, a complex of platinum with tris(2‐carboxyethyl)phosphine (Pt‐TCEP), has been evaluated in canine (D‐17) and human osteosarcoma (U2‐OS) cell lines. Viability of cells after incubation for 24 or 72 hours with increasing concentrations (0.625, 1.25, 2.50, 5, 10 and 20 μM) of Pt‐TCEP was tested in an MTT assay and compared to effect of cisplatin. Longer‐term effect of Pt‐TCEP was evaluated in the colony‐forming unit assay after 24 hours exposure to the Pt‐TCEP (2 and 3 μM) and subsequent incubation for 2 weeks. The influence of the compound on the cell cycle was measured after 24 hours treatment with Pt‐TCEP (3 μM). Its pro‐apoptotic activity was examined after 24 hours treatment with Pt‐TCEP (1.25, 2.50, 5, 10 and 20 μM) using flow cytometry. Expression of main proteins involved in apoptosis was measured after exposure for 24 hours to 3 or 5 μM Pt‐TCEP in Western Blot. The compound much more effectively decreased cell viability than cisplatin in case of both cell lines. IC50of Pt‐TCEP was 5.93 ± 0.12 in D‐17 and 3.45 ± 0.14 in U2‐OS cell lines after 24 hours, and 1.77 ± 0.14 in D‐17 and 1.53 ± 0.11 in U2‐OS after 72 hours (P< .05). The compound arrested cells in the G2/M phase and inhibited the ability of cells to form colonies. Pt‐TCEP induced caspase‐dependent apoptosis. The expression of the anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐XLprotein was decreased after Pt‐TCEP treatment in both cell lines. The results confirmed anti‐cancer activity of Pt‐TCEP against canine and human osteosarcoma cell lines.
Female Managers in Japan: How to Set the Goal of Increasing Women in Leadership Roles
Authors: Ming Lau Chung
Published: May 2019

How to increase the number of female manager is still one of the contemporary issues in Japan. In comparison with other developed countries, Japan is far below others in terms of the level of employing women as management staffs. This paper was undertaken to shed light on the factors hindering the promotion of female manager in Japan workforce. It was also intended to discover more relevant improvement area that Japan government can consider to put more efforts in order to enhance the Japanese women for working as senior positions. The perspective of employee and employer are adopted for discussing and illustrating important insights which are considered able to explain the current phenomenon in Japan. On the other hand, a question from the survey of human resources management in Japanese companies in China (JCCs) which was conducted previously is used to further test if the factors of industry, location, company size, and years of business have any influence on the degree of employing women in management position of Japanese companies in China. According to the result by analyzing 180 valid response, 113 from Mainland China and 67 from Hong Kong, companies in servicing industries are likely to have higher percentage of female manager than those in manufacturing industries. A positive association existed between the industrial factor and percentage of female managers in JCCs.
Experimental Comparison of Gasoline Compression Ignition and Diesel Combustion in a Medium-Duty Opposed-Piston Engine
Authors: Hanson Reed , Salvi Ashwin , Redon Fabien , Regner Gerhard
Published: May 2019

The Achates Power Inc. (API) opposed-piston (OP) engine architecture provides fundamental advantages that increase thermal efficiency over current poppet valve 4 stroke engines. In this paper, the combustion performance of diesel and gasoline compression ignition (GCI) combustion in a medium-duty, OP engine are shown. By using GCI, NOx and/or soot reductions can be seen compared with diesel combustion at similar or increased thermal efficiencies. The results also show that high combustion efficiency can be achieved with GCI combustion with acceptable noise and stability over the same load range as diesel combustion in an OP engine.
Lithium-based transition-metal oxides for battery electrodes analyzed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. VII. LiNi0.33Co0.33Mn0.33O2
Authors: Haasch Richard T. , Abraham Daniel P.
Published: May 2019

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and x-ray-induced Auger electron spectroscopy were used to analyze fresh LiNi0.33Co0.33Mn0.33O2 powder obtained from TODA America. X-ray photoelectron and x-ray-induced Auger electron spectra were obtained using incident monochromatic Al Kα radiation at 0.834 01 nm. A survey spectrum together with Ni 2p, Co 2p, Mn 2p, Ni LMM, O 1s, C 1s, Ni 3s, Co 3s, Mn 3s, Ni 3p, Co 3p, Li 1s, and Mn 3p are presented. The spectra indicate the principal core level photoelectron and Auger electron signals and show carbon with only minor fluorine contamination. Making use of the O 1s, Ni 3p, Co 3p, Mn 3p, and Li 1s lines and neglecting the components related to surface contaminants, XPS quantitative analysis reveals an altered stoichiometry of the air-exposed powder surface of LiNi0.4Co0.1Mn0.7O2.0.
Lithium-based transition-metal oxides for battery electrodes analyzed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. VIII. Li1.2Ni0.15Co0.1Mn0.55O2
Authors: Haasch Richard T. , Abraham Daniel P.
Published: May 2019

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and x-ray-induced Auger electron spectroscopy were used to analyze untreated Li1.2Ni0.15Co0.1Mn0.55O2 powder obtained from TODA America. X-ray photoelectron and x-ray-induced Auger electron spectra were obtained using incident monochromatic Al Kα radiation at 0.834 01 nm. A survey spectrum together with Ni 2p, Co 2p, Mn 2p, Ni LMM, O 1s, C 1s, Ni 3s, Co 3s, Mn 3s, Ni 3p, Co 3p, Li 1s, and Mn 3p are presented. The spectra indicate the principal core level photoelectron and Auger electron signals. Making use of the O 1s, Ni 3p, Co 3p, Mn 3p, and Li 1s lines and neglecting the components related to surface contaminants, XPS quantitative analysis reveals an altered stoichiometry of the air-exposed powder surface of Li1.2Ni0.4Co0.2Mn0.9O2.8.
Lithium-based transition-metal oxides for battery electrodes analyzed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. X. Li4Ti5O12
Authors: Haasch Richard T. , Abraham Daniel P.
Published: May 2019

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and x-ray-induced Auger electron spectroscopy were used to analyze untreated Li4Ti5O12 powders obtained from Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd. and Samsung Fine Chemicals Company, Ltd. X-ray photoelectron and x-ray-induced Auger electron spectra were obtained using incident monochromatic Al Kα radiation at 0.834 01 nm. A survey spectrum together with O 1s, Ti 2p, C 1s, Ti 3s, Li 1s, and Ti 3p are presented. The spectra indicate the principal core level photoelectron and Auger electron signals and show only minor potassium signal. Making use of the O 1s, Li 1s, and Ti 3p lines and neglecting the components related to surface contaminants, XPS quantitative analysis reveals an altered stoichiometry of the air-exposed powder surfaces from Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd. and Samsung Fine Chemicals Company, Ltd. of Li4Ti4.7O14.1 and Li4Ti4.3O13.2, respectively.
Differentiating post-cancer from healthy tongue muscle coordination patterns during speech using deep learning
Authors: Woo Jonghye , Xing Fangxu , Prince Jerry L. , Stone Maureen , Green Jordan R. , Goldsmith Tessa , Reese Timothy G. , Wedeen Van J. , El Fakhri Georges
Published: May 2019

The ability to differentiate post-cancer from healthy tongue muscle coordination patterns is necessary for the advancement of speech motor control theories and for the development of therapeutic and rehabilitative strategies. A deep learning approach is presented to classify two groups using muscle coordination patterns from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The proposed method uses tagged-MRI to track the tongue's internal tissue points and atlas-driven non-negative matrix factorization to reduce the dimensionality of the deformation fields. A convolutional neural network is applied to the classification task yielding an accuracy of 96.90%, offering the potential to the development of therapeutic or rehabilitative strategies in speech-related disorders.
Rough geometries with viscoelastic Boger fluids: Predicting the apparent wall slip with a porous medium approach
Authors: Paduano Liana P. , Schweizer Thomas , Carotenuto Claudia , Vermant Jan , Minale Mario
Published: May 2019

Multiphase fluids and highly non-Newtonian fluids often show wall slip. The typical approach to reduce wall slip in experiments is to use roughened geometries, which are thin porous layers. However, the presence of the roughness introduces in itself an apparent wall slip due to the flow within the porous layer. To account for wall slip typically, measurements must be run at several gaps in a plate-plate device. With Newtonian fluids, the apparent wall slip can be conveniently accounted for in the measurements at a single gap since it can be accurately predicted using models describing the flow of Newtonian fluids through and over porous media. Here, we extend this approach to viscoelastic fluids by using Minale's model [Phys. Fluids 28, 023102 and 023103 (2016)] for the flow of second order fluids (SOFs) through and over a porous medium. In this work, we first validate the theoretical predictions and then propose an experimental protocol to measure a SOF with rough geometries by executing the experiments at a single chosen gap. Two Boger fluids are used as model SOFs, and three different rough geometries are considered: Two commercial crosshatched plates and a homemade pillared one. The apparent wall slip is shown to be reduced for the viscoelastic fluids, with respect to the Newtonian case, and agreement with the theoretical predictions is excellent.
mTORC1 amplifies the ATF4-dependent de novo serine-glycine pathway to supply glycine during TGF-β
1
–induced collagen biosynthesis
Authors: Selvarajah Brintha , Azuelos Ilan , Platé Manuela , Guillotin Delphine , Forty Ellen J. , Contento Greg , Woodcock Hannah V. , Redding Matthew , Taylor Adam , Brunori Gino , Durrenberger Pascal F. , Ronzoni Riccardo , Blanchard Andy D. , Mercer Paul F. , Anastasiou Dimitrios , Chambers Rachel C.
Published: May 2019

Through mTORC1 signaling, TGF-β
1
stimulates glycine synthesis from glucose to support collagen production in lung fibroblasts.
CRAC channels regulate astrocyte Ca
2+
signaling and gliotransmitter release to modulate hippocampal GABAergic transmission
Authors: Toth Anna B. , Hori Kotaro , Novakovic Michaela M. , Bernstein Natalie G. , Lambot Laurie , Prakriya Murali
Published: May 2019

Astrocyte store-operated Ca
2+
entry controls gliotransmitter release to alter hippocampal excitability.
New connections: Decoding macrophages in disease
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: May 2019

Deciphering how macrophages are reprogrammed in disease may lead to better patient therapies.
Glycoside Hydrolase Genes Are Required for Virulence of Agrobacterium tumefaciens on
Bryophyllum daigremontiana
and Tomato
Authors: Mathews Stephanie L. , Hannah Haylea , Samagaio Hillary , Martin Camille , Rodriguez-Rassi Eleanor , Matthysse Ann G.
Published: May 2019

A. tumefaciens
is used in the construction of genetically engineered plants, as it is able to transfer DNA to plant hosts. Knowledge of the mechanisms of DNA transfer and the genes required will aid in the understanding of this process. Manipulation of glycoside hydrolases may increase transformation and widen the host range of the bacterium.
A. tumefaciens
also causes disease (crown gall tumors) on a variety of plants, including stone fruit trees, grapes, and grafted ornamentals such as roses. It is possible that compounds that inhibit glycoside hydrolases could be used to control crown gall disease caused by
A. tumefaciens
.
Effects of Exposure Time and Biological State on Acquisition and Accumulation of Erwinia amylovora by Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Boucher Matthew , Collins Rowan , Cox Kerik , Loeb Greg
Published: May 2019

A recent hypothesis proposed that dissemination of
Erwinia amylovora
from ooze by flies to native rosaceous trees was likely key to the life cycle of the bacterium during its evolution. Our study validates an important component of this hypothesis by showing that flies are capable of acquiring and transmitting this bacterium from ooze under various biotic conditions. Understanding how dipterans interact with ooze advances our current knowledge of its epidemiological function and provides strong evidence for an underappreciated role of flies in the disease cycle. These findings may be especially important as they pertain to shoot blight, because this stage of the disease is poorly understood and may involve a significant amount of insect activity. Broadly, this study underscores a need to consider the depth, breadth, and origin of interactions between flies and
E. amylovora
to better understand its epidemiology.
Activation of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response Impacts the NOD1 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Mendez Jonathan M. , Kolora Lakshmi Divya , Lemon James S. , Dupree Steven L. , Keestra-Gounder A. Marijke
Published: May 2019

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 1 (NOD1) is an intracellular pattern recognition receptor (PRR) responsible for sensing bacterial peptidoglycan fragments. Stimulation of NOD1 leads to a robust innate immune response via activation of the major transcription factor NF-κB. In addition to peptidoglycan sensing, NOD1 and the closely related PRR NOD2 have been linked to inflammation by responding to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced unfolded protein response (UPR).