bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An analysis of donor engagement with education policy development in Lao PDR from 1991 to 2000
Authors: Phommalangsy Phouvanh , Honan Eileen
Published: May 2017

This paper describes the relationship between donor agencies and government during the development of Lao basic education policy in the post‐Cold War period, 1991‐2000. We argue that Laos had only recently been ‘re‐ born’ from colonial regimes, and was thus unable to resist or mediate donor policy agendas and donors who acted on behalf of economically developed nations. The nature of the power relationship between donor and government is explored through an analysis of policy developed at that time as well as the perceptions of aid conditionalities, as recalled by government officials and those working in the aid sector at that time. These perceptions were gathered through interviews conducted by one of the authors.
The Unlearning of Managerial Skills: A Qualitative Study of Executive Officers
Authors: Matsuo Makoto
Published: May 2017

Although the abilities of executive officers to unlearn may have a significant impact on organizational unlearning, few studies have investigated the individual unlearning transition. The goal of this study was to examine the managerial unlearning process upon promotion from senior manager to executive officer, based on the upper echelons perspective and leadership pipeline model. Analyses of interview data with 46 executive officers at medium and large‐sized Japanese firms indicated that they unlearned and learned their managerial skills in relation to ‘decision making’, ‘delegation and motivation’, and ‘collecting information’, and that the unlearning process was discontinuous. Specifically, decision making skills were switched from ‘short‐term, analytic, and partial’ to ‘long‐term, intuitive, and holistic’. Skills in delegation and motivation were transformed from ‘directive’ to ‘dedicated and entrusting’. Skills in collecting information were switched from ‘direct collection’ to ‘network‐based collection’. This study contributes to the literature on managerial skills by showing empirically the discontinuous nature of management transitions with regard to an unlearning perspective.
Species diversity of insects in Japan: Their origins and diversification processes
Authors: Tojo Koji , Sekiné Kazuki , Takenaka Masaki , Isaka Yuichi , Komaki Shohei , Suzuki Tomoya , Schoville Sean D.
Published: May 2017

Japan is considered a global hot spot of biodiversity. With regard to species diversity, insects are no exception. To date, more than 32,000 insect species have been identified in Japan, while around 100,000 species of insects are estimated to inhabit this country. In this paper, we outline background factors having contributed to diversification of Japanese insects. Of course, the high degree of Japanese insect diversity is the result of many complex factors. In addition to the humid Asian monsoon climate and the extensive latitudinal gradient of habitats, the extremely complex geological history has contributed as an important factor to generate and maintain the high species diversity and endemism. In particular, the independent origins of northeastern and southwestern Japan from the Eurasian continent have greatly contributed to the diverse composition of Japanese insect fauna. To highlight the importance of this process, we introduce some case studies and previously published papers focusing on several insect groups with low dispersal ability. Those cases indicate that the geological history of Japan has played an important role in the differentiation of Japanese insect species. Besides such geological factors, climatic and ecological factors in combination have contributed to the formation of Japanese insect fauna in complicated ways and produced its particularly high degree of biodiversity. The knowledge compiled here will provide useful information for future studies aiming to understand more deeply the processes of speciation and faunal formation of Japanese insects.
List of trees and shrubs infested by Kalotermes flavicollis (Kalotermitidae) in Greece
Authors: Buchelos C. T. , Papadopoulou S. , Chryssohoides C. , Nota I.
Published: May 2017

In Greece, the damage caused to trees and shrubs by termites has been increasing over the last 10 years. Local government and citizens have become interested in this pest due to frequent accidents caused by trees falling onto pavements, cars and people. This led the authors to carry out a survey to list the termite‐infested plant species, mainly on urban streets and in fields all over the country. The only termite species found was Kalotermes flavicollis (family Kalotermitidae). The present study highlights the current situation in Greece and provides a list of the fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs found to be infested by K. flavicollis, during the survey.
A global geography of synchrony for terrestrial vegetation
Authors: Defriez Emma J. , Reuman Daniel C.
Published: May 2017

Aim

Previous work demonstrated a pronounced geography of synchrony for marine phytoplankton and used that geography to infer statistical environmental determinants of synchrony. Here, we determine whether terrestrial vegetation (measured by the enhanced vegetation index, EVI) also shows a geography of synchrony and we infer determinants of EVI synchrony. As vegetation is the basis of the terrestrial food web, changes in spatio‐temporal vegetation dynamics may have major consequences.

Location

The land.

Time period

2001–2014.

Major taxa

Plants.

Methods

Synchrony in terrestrial vegetation is mapped globally. Spatial statistics and model selection are used to identify main statistical determinants of synchrony and of geographical patterns in synchrony.

Results

The first main result is that there is a pronounced and previously unrecognized geography of synchrony for terrestrial vegetation. Some areas, such as the Sahara and Southern Africa, exhibited nearly perfect synchrony, whereas other areas, such as the Pacific coast of South America, showed very little synchrony. Spatial modelling provided the second main result, namely that synchrony in temperature and precipitation were major determinants of synchrony in EVI, supporting the presence of dual global Moran effects. These effects depended on the time‐scales on which synchrony was assessed, providing our third main result, namely that synchrony of EVI and its geography are time‐scale specific.

Main conclusions

To our knowledge, this study is the first to document the geography of synchrony in terrestrial vegetation. We showed that geographical variation in synchrony is pronounced. We used geographical patterns to identify determinants of synchrony. This study is one of very few studies to demonstrate two separate synchronous environmental variables driving synchrony simultaneously. The geography of synchrony is apparently a major phenomenon that has been little explored.
HLA genotyping using the Illumina HLA TruSight next‐generation sequencing kits: A comparison
Authors: Profaizer T. , Lázár‐Molnár E. , Pole A. , Delgado J. C. , Kumánovics A.
Published: May 2017

Illumina first introduced their TruSight human leucocyte antigen (HLA) next‐generation sequencing (NGS) typing kit in 2015 and subsequently followed up with a new version in 2016. Here we report on our experience comparing the two versions of the Illumina HLA NGS kits.
Implementation of a critical care outreach service: a qualitative study
Authors: Jeddian A. , Lindenmeyer A. , Marshall T. , Howard A.F. , Sayadi L. , Rashidian A. , Jafari N.
Published: May 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore hospital staff perceptions of the perceived challenges and outcomes of implementing a critical care outreach service.

Background

A nurse‐led critical care outreach service was designed and implemented to identify and treat acutely ill patients in a large tertiary care hospital in Iran.

Methods

A qualitative analysis of data from two focus groups and seven interviews was carried out using conventional content analyses techniques. A total of 24 hospital staff members participated, including critical care outreach team members, physicians, ward head nurses and ward staff.

Findings

Two main categories described the perceived challenges to the implementation of the critical care outreach service: 1) the hospital context, with four subcategories related to staff shortages, the instability of physician positions, the lack of specialized essential services and the absence of a system to establish do‐not‐resuscitate orders, and 2) staff resistance to different nursing priorities, routines and extra work. In two additional main categories, participants also described positive and negative perceived outcomes. The positive perceived outcomes included three subcategories of alleviating equipment shortages, improving nursing knowledge and patient care and improving patient and healthcare professional satisfaction.

Discussion

While critical care outreach has the potential to improve patient perceived outcomes and both patient and provider satisfaction with care, the contextual and clinical realities in hospitals are significant and must be examined during the planning and implementation of future outreach.

Conclusion and Implications for nursing and health policy

A critical care outreach service in the context of an Iranian hospital has the potential to improve ward nurse familiarity with the care of acutely ill patients and the quality of palliative care. However, attention ought to be paid to the hospital's structural and contextual factors. Alleviating nursing shortages, reducing staff resistance and preparing goals of care guidelines that address restrictions on resuscitation could facilitate implementation of critical care outreach services.
Circulation of hemocoelic fluid during slow and fast swimming in the pteropod mollusc Clione limacina
Authors: Szymik Brett G. , Satterlie Richard A.
Published: May 2017

In the pteropod mollusc Clione limacina Phipps 1774, individuals possess an open circulatory system that fills their body cavities and functions as a hydrostatic skeleton. Individuals of C. limacina demonstrate two distinct swimming behaviors, slow and fast swimming, and their wings are supported by their hydrostatic skeleton. We investigated the circulation of fluid within the body cavities of individuals of C. limacina by injecting dye into the hemocoelic compartments to visualize flow during both slow swimming and serotonin‐induced fast swimming. Hemocoelic fluid was observed to have a defined pattern of flow: rostrally from the heart into the wings and head, then following a dorsal pathway caudally into the body and tail before being taken up by the heart again. During patterned attack behavior, the neck constricted in width as the head's buccal cones were hydraulically inflated with hemocoelic fluid.
Dietary composition and prey selectivity of juvenile porcupine raysUrogymnus asperrimus
Authors: Elston C. , von Brandis R. G. , Cowley P. D.
Published: May 2017

Fifty‐five juvenile porcupine rayUrogymnus asperrimuswere collected in the isolated St Joseph Atoll, Seychelles. Stomach contents were sampled using non‐lethal gastric lavage to determine the dietary composition, degree of prey selectivity and whether sex or size affected their diet. Sediment samples were collected to quantify prey availability so that prey selectivity could be estimated. Two phyla (Sipuncula and Nemertea) and 11 polychaete and crustacean families were recorded in stomach contents. JuvenileU. asperrimusappeared to specialize on one polychaete family, Capitellidae, which was the most important prey item (index of importance = 35%). This polychaete family was also most abundant in the sediment samples andU. asperrimusare thus considered opportunistic predators. There was evidence of a size‐related shift in the crustacean families consumed by juvenileU. asperrimus. Data collected at this remote location provides important baseline ecological information that may prove useful in developing conservation strategies for this ecologically important species.
Long‐Term Oral Bisphosphonate Therapy and Fractures in Older Women: The Women's Health Initiative
Authors: Drieling Rebecca L. , LaCroix Andrea Z. , Beresford Shirley A. A. , Boudreau Denise M. , Kooperberg Charles , Chlebowski Rowan T. , Ko Marcia G. , Heckbert Susan R.
Published: May 2017

Objectives

To examine the association between long‐term bisphosphonate use and fracture in older women at high risk of fracture.

Design

Retrospective cohort.

Setting

Women's Health Initiative.

Participants

Older women who reported at least 2 years of bisphosphonate use in 2008–09 (N = 5,120).

Measurements

Exposure data were from a current medications inventory. Outcomes (hip, clinical vertebral, wrist or forearm, any clinical fracture) were ascertained annually. Using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models, the association between duration of bisphosphonate use (3–5, 6–9, 10–13 years) and fracture was estimated, using 2 years as the referent group.

Results

On average participants were 80 years old and were followed for 3.7 ± 1.2 years. There were 127 hip, 159 wrist or forearm, 235 clinical vertebral, and 1,313 clinical fractures. In multivariate‐adjusted analysis, 10 to 13 years of bisphosphonate use was associated with higher risk of any clinical fracture than 2 years of use (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07–1.57). This association persisted in analyses limited to women with a prior fracture (HR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.01–1.67) and women with no history of cancer (HR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.10–1.68). The association of 10 to 13 years of use, compared with 2 years of use, was not statistically significant for hip (HR = 1.66, 95% CI = 0.81–3.40), clinical vertebral (HR = 1.65, 95% CI = 0.99–2.76), or wrist fracture (HR = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.67–2.00).

Conclusion

In older women at high risk of fracture, 10 to 13 years of bisphosphonate use was associated with higher risk of any clinical fracture than 2 years of use. These results add to concerns about the benefit of very long‐term bisphosphonate use.
Tobacco Harms, Nicotine Pharmacology, and Pharmacologic Tobacco Cessation Interventions for Women
Authors: Baraona L. Kim , Lovelace Dawn , Daniels Julie L. , McDaniel Linda
Published: May 2017

Firsthand and secondhand tobacco use is linked to a multitude of harmful illnesses, adverse perinatal outcomes, and death. Cessation attempts among women may be hampered by their unique biologic response to nicotine. Current research has revealed epigenetic changes from intrauterine nicotine exposure that have intergenerational consequences. Multiple studies have demonstrated the efficacy of various pharmacologic tobacco cessation interventions in conjunction with behavioral counseling. Based on this evidence, the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) 2015 guideline recommends pharmacologic therapy for all nonpregnant persons who smoke in addition to behavioral counseling. The effectiveness of pharmacologic treatments among pregnant women is less clear, with far fewer studies evaluating potential benefits and harms. While exposure to pharmacologic therapies raises concerns for fetal safety, these potential risks must be weighed against those of continued tobacco use, which guarantees fetal exposure to nicotine. First‐line tobacco cessation medications include nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion, and varenicline. Second‐line medications include nortriptyline and clonidine. Pharmacokinetics, effectiveness, regimens, and safety profiles for nonpregnant, pregnant, and lactating women are reviewed. Alternative tobacco cessation options and potential new pharmacologic tobacco cessation agents are discussed. Initiating brief interventions, using the 5A's and 5R's model is described.
Initiating Intrapartum Nitrous Oxide in an Academic Hospital: Considerations and Challenges
Authors: Migliaccio Laura , Lawton Robyn , Leeman Lawrence , Holbrook Amanda
Published: May 2017

A 50%‐50% mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen has long been used for managing pain during labor in many countries, but only recently has this intrapartum analgesic technique become popular in the United States. Nitrous oxide is considered minimal sedation and a safe pain management alternative. Many facilities are now interested in providing laboring women this analgesic option. The process of establishing use of nitrous oxide in a large institution can be complicated and may seem daunting. This brief report describes the challenges that occurred during the process of initiating nitrous oxide for pain management during childbirth at an academic medical center and discusses various committee roles. Nurses at the University of New Mexico Hospital now directly oversee the administration of nitrous oxide to women in labor in accordance to an established guideline. Despite limited available research, the guideline also allows offering nitrous oxide as a pain management technique for women with opioid dependence. Key components of the guideline and specifics related to education, cost, and safety are reviewed.
A review of the role of sebum in the mechanism of acne pathogenesis
Authors: Li Xinchao , He Congfen , Chen Zhou , Zhou Cheng , Gan Yao , Jia Yan
Published: May 2017

Acne is one of the most common skin disorders, and its occurrence is closely related to many factors, including sebum secretion, hormone levels, bacterial infection, and inflammatory reactions. Among these, changes in sebum secretion are believed to be one important factor of acne. Increased sebum secretion can induce acne occurrence, and increasing evidence indicates sebum component changes are also strongly related to acne occurrence. Recently, developments in lipidomics have provided effective lipid analysis methods. These can help elucidate the effects of different types of sebum on acne occurrence and provide a theoretical basis for research on the mechanisms of acne pathogenesis and treatment.
Ambivalence and Living Apart Together in Later Life: A Critical Research Proposal
Authors: Connidis Ingrid Arnet , Borell Klas , Karlsson Sofie Ghazanfareeon
Published: May 2017

Most unattached older persons who would like an intimate partnership do not want to remarry or be in a marriage‐like relationship. A growing trend is to live apart together (LAT) in an ongoing intimate relationship that does not include a common home. We address the debate about whether LAT constitutes a new form of intimate relationship in a critical assessment of research on LAT relationships that applies ambivalence and concepts from the life course perspective. We conclude that among older but not younger adults, LAT relationships are generally a stable alternative to living with a partner, negotiated in the context of current social institutions and arrangements. We propose research questions that address later life living apart together as an innovative alternative intimate relationship. We encourage comparative work on the unique challenges of later life living apart together, their implications for other family ties, and their connection to social and cultural arrangements.
Refugee children and their health, development and well‐being over the first year of settlement: A longitudinal study
Authors: Zwi Karen , Rungan Santuri , Woolfenden Susan , Woodland Lisa , Palasanthiran Pamela , Williams Katrina
Published: May 2017

Aim

This study aimed to describe refugee children, their families and settlement characteristics, and how their development and social‐emotional well‐being change over time.

Methods

We conducted a longitudinal study of 61 refugee children (6 months to 15 years) in an Australian setting, over 2009–2013 and measured child, family and settlement factors as well as physical health, development and social‐emotional well‐being (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ).

Results

Questionnaires were completed with parents of 54 (89%) children at year 2 and 52 (100%) at year 3. Forty percent of parents had low levels of education, 30% of fathers were absent on arrival, 13% of children were born in refugee camps and 11% of parents self‐disclosed previous trauma. Over time, there was increased parental employment (P = 0.001), improved English proficiency for partners (P = 0.02) and reduced stressful life events in the last 12 months (P = 0.003). At years 2 and 3, parents were studying English (96%; 76%), accessing government financial support (96%; 100%) and primary health care (98%; 87%), and feeling supported by their own (78%; 73%) or the general (69%; 63%) community. Fifteen percent of children had a chronic disease, and 13% were obese and overweight. In pre‐school children, 27% had mild developmental problems in year 2; all were normal by year 3. Abnormal SDQ total difficulties scores reduced over time from 13 to 6% of children but this did not reach significance.

Conclusion

Most refugee children have developmental and well‐being outcomes within the normal range by year 3. However, a minority of children have persistently poor social‐emotional outcomes.
Non‐typhoidal Salmonella infections in children: Review of literature and recommendations for management
Authors: Wen Sophie CH , Best Emma , Nourse Clare
Published: May 2017

Non‐typhoidal Salmonellae are a major cause of infectious diarrhoea worldwide and can cause invasive diseases, including bacteraemia, meningitis and osteomyelitis. Young or immunocompromised children and those with underlying conditions such as sickle cell disease are particularly vulnerable to invasive disease. There has been an increase in the rate of resistant non‐typhoidal Salmonella, which is associated with invasive disease and hospitalisation. The intracellular nature of non‐typhoidal Salmonella protects against extracellular antibiotics and can facilitate disease relapse, particularly meningitis. Effective antimicrobial agents with good intracellular penetration include azithromycin, fluoroquinolones and third‐generation cephalosporins. Antibiotic treatment of non‐typhoidal Salmonella gastroenteritis is only indicated if there are risk factors for invasive disease as it can prolong excretion and does not shorten the duration of gastrointestinal symptoms. Optimal choice and length of therapy for gastroenteritis and invasive disease in children is not clear. Here, we provide a review of the literature and treatment recommendations.
A systematic review of the association between consumption of sugar‐containing beverages and excess weight gain among children under age 12
Authors: Frantsve‐Hawley Julie , Bader James D. , Welsh Jean A. , Wright J. Timothy
Published: May 2017

Objective

A systematic review was conducted to address this clinical question: Does consumption of (non‐dairy) sugar‐containing beverages (SCBs) among children under age 12 result in excess weight gain?

Methods

The authors searched four databases for controlled trials (randomized and non‐randomized) and cohort studies published in English through March 29, 2016: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL. Initial and full‐text screening, data abstraction, and risk of bias assessment were performed independently and in duplicate.

Results

Thirty‐eight studies met inclusion criteria for this systematic review. One was a randomized controlled trial, and 37 were cohort studies. Though the results of these studies were mixed, the majority demonstrated a statistically significant positive association between SCB consumption in children under age 12 and total adiposity and central adiposity. In contrast, most studies that assessed 100 percent fruit juice consumption only with either total adiposity or central adiposity did not support an association. Among only children under age 5 at baseline, no studies examined central adiposity, but nearly all studies examining SCBs and total adiposity, and a majority examining only fruit juice consumption, demonstrated a statistically significant positive association.

Conclusion

Our results support a statistically significant positive association between SCBs and total and central adiposity among children under age 12. This association is most consistent for total adiposity among children <5. Our results for 100 percent fruit juice only suggest differences by age, as most studies among those < 12 were negative but most among those <5 were positive.
Effects of high amylose corn starch and microbial transglutaminase on the textural and microstructural properties of wheat flour composite gels at high temperatures
Authors: Shahsavani Mojarrad Lida , Rafe Ali , Sadeghian Alireza , Niazmand Razieh
Published: May 2017

Textural and microstructural properties of composite gels (CGs), along with wheat flour and high amylose corn starch (Hylon VII) mixed with microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) at different levels and temperatures were investigated. The results showed by increasing Hylon starch content, the firmness increased and adhesiveness decreased. Indeed, high level of amylose and cross‐linking formed by MTGase enhanced the gel elasticity and reduced adhesiveness. Moreover, MTGase had more effect on the firmness and provided more cross‐linked intermolecular gel structures at high temperatures. By adding MTGase to the CG, the lowest peak viscosity and final viscosity were found for 15% of Hylon starch. As the more Hylon content in the CG, the more water solubility index was particularly obtained at high temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that MTGase and Hylon starch addition enhanced the structure. The differences in SEM of CG were reflected the pasting properties of the gels. Consequently, MTGase treated gels can withstand high temperature as well as maintain the overall structure of the samples gels. Therefore, the increment of Hylon to the CG gels supplied tighter, stronger, and denser protein network which were formed by MTGase cross‐linking within the network of starch and proteins.

Practical applications

Although, transglutaminase was practically used in the production of noodles and pasta in Japan, but there is little academic and industrial knowledge concerning its utilization in the pasta or noodles. Moreover, long shelf‐life noodle/pasta products have become popular in the Japanese market and in the emergency conditions like as floods or earthquake, but they can be stored for at least 5 months by applying heat treatment at 95C. Here, high amylose corn starch as a resistant starch, wheat flour, and microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) were selected as the main components in the composite gel (CG) systems to elucidate the effects of MTGase and Hylon on the texture, microstructure, and pasting behavior of CGs at high temperatures to produce long‐life noodle/pasta products (about 2 years) through retort processing.
A comparison of the lubrication behavior of whey protein model foods using tribology in linear and elliptical movement
Authors: Campbell Caroline L. , Foegeding E. Allen , van de Velde Fred
Published: May 2017

Lubrication is an important factor in the sensory evaluation of food products. Tribology provides a theoretical framework and instrumental methods for evaluating frictional properties between two moving surfaces and the lubrication behavior of products between these surfaces. Relating frictional measurements to sensory properties detected during oral processing requires careful and pertinent choices in surface materials and testing conditions. The aims of this study were to investigate: (a) differences in lubrication behavior of a range of food textures and (b) the differences between linear and elliptical movement and added saliva to understand the contribution of food structure to friction. Six whey protein model food samples, ranging in texture from fluid to semisolid to soft solid, were analyzed using a pin on disk tribometer to determine the coefficient of friction (COF) across a range of sliding speeds. The samples were analyzed in their initial form and post‐oral processing (n = 4) in both linear and elliptical movements. Elliptical movement slightly decreased coefficients of friction and extended the shape of the friction curve. Increases in test food viscosity decreased the COF but differences in viscosity were not apparent when test foods were mixed with saliva. Data correction for viscosity shifted the friction curves horizontally, indicating that lubrication had a greater impact upon friction than viscosity. This study provides initial insights for further comparison of linear and elliptical movement with a variety of sample compositions.

Practical applications

Sensory perception of smoothness and creaminess are often major contributors to overall hedonic food liking and are a major reason why products high in fat and sugar are more highly preferred over other foods. These parameters are influenced by friction and lubrication between the tongue, palate, teeth, food products, and saliva during oral processing. Tribology provides an instrumental method to evaluate friction between moving surfaces that mimic oral surfaces and the lubrication behavior of foods. Trends in frictional measurements can be correlated with sensory ratings of the same foods to better understand why preferences exist for certain foods or food compositions and how to effectively improve the acceptability and enjoyment of healthier foods.
A Multilevel Analysis of Unemployment in Egypt
Authors: Bertoni Eleonora , Ricchiuti Giorgio
Published: May 2017

Despite its recent economic development, Egypt's employment inequalities among gender and different age cohorts are still an unresolved issue. In this work we apply a Multilevel Generalized Linear Mixed Model to the Egyptian Labor Market Panel Survey 2006 (ELMPS 2006) and 2012 (ELMPS 2012). By exploiting the hierarchical structure of the survey data, we investigate how the interplay between individual characteristics and regional context affects Egyptians’ individual probability of being unemployed. Moreover, we attempt to identify if and how these same characteristics have changed between 2006 and 2012 as a consequence of the major changes that re‐shaped Egyptian demographics, labor market structure, and young cohorts’ educational achievements.
Selection of sites for establishing aquaculture parks, and estimation of fish production carrying capacity, for a tropical reservoir in South America
Authors: Canzi Carla , Roubach Rodrigo , Benassi Simone F. , Matos Flávia T. , Motter Irineu , Bueno Guilherme W.
Published: May 2017

Actions facilitating the reconciliation of multiple uses of a reservoir with electric power generation should be implemented so as to avoid conflicts and support the best development of the water resource. In view of the fish production potential existing in Itaipu Reservoir, the objective of this study was to select areas considered adequate for establishing aquaculture parks by means of integrated and ordered planning that respect the carrying capacity of the environment. This study was carried out in the branches of the São Francisco Falso, São Francisco Verdadeiro and Ocoí rivers in the Paraná Basin draining to Itaipu Reservoir. Using the Dillon and Rigler eutrophication model, the carrying capacity and estimated production were 2537, 2554 and 1569 t yr−1 in the respective branches. The percentages of occupation of each aquaculture park, taking into consideration the maximum area of dilution and safety level for the reservoir operation, were 0.46%, 0.48% and 0.09% for the three branches, respectively. It was concluded that the aquaculture activity could be promoted in a sustainable manner under constant monitoring of water quality and production parameters in accordance with a management programme, combined with planning of these aquaculture areas in a manner that ensured the application of physical limits for the carrying capacity established in this study.
Body Image Models among Low‐income African American Mothers and Daughters in the Southeast United States
Authors: Thomas Martina , DeCaro Jason A.
Published: May 2017

Obesity among low‐income African American women has been studied using the concepts of both satisfaction and acceptance. The satisfaction frame suggests greater satisfaction with their bodies than their white counterparts, irrespective of size. The acceptance frame suggests that alternative aesthetics serve as resistance against intersectional marginalization. Yet, while these women accept their body size in defiance of thinness ideals, they may not be satisfied. We describe cultural models of body image among mothers and daughters in Alabama. We found that respectability, material consumption, and parental support were important factors determining positive body image, exceeding descriptions of physical features. We further found that those expressing greater body dissatisfaction emphasized respectability, whereas those with less dissatisfaction assigned importance to consumerism and physical form. These findings suggest divergences between biomedical messaging and lived experience. They also challenge uncritical or universalist applications of these frames when interpreting African American women's perceptions of their own bodies.
Early Middle Ordovician scolecodonts from north‐western Argentina and the emergence of labidognath polychaete jaw apparatuses
Authors: Hints Olle , Tonarová Petra , Eriksson Mats E. , Rubinstein Claudia V. , de la Puente G. Susana
Published: May 2017

Scolecodonts provide fossil evidence of the evolution and diversification of jaw‐bearing polychaetes from the latest Cambrian onwards. However, their record before the Darriwilian (Middle Ordovician) is scarce worldwide, which limits our understanding of key evolutionary events. One such event is the emergence of taxa possessing the asymmetrical labidognath‐type jaw apparatus architecture, which became common in the Middle Ordovician and is often dominant throughout the Palaeozoic. Here, we document a small collection of Dapingian scolecodonts from the Capillas section, Sierras Subandinas, north‐western Argentina. The isolated elements recovered allowed us to reconstruct the distinctive jaw apparatus, and to introduce a new taxon, Andiprion paxtonae gen. et sp. nov. The maxillary apparatus of Andiprion is intermediate between the symmetrognath type of the Early Ordovician Kadriorgaspis and the labidognath type that is present in polychaetaspids and related taxa. The apparatus architecture of Andiprion corresponds best to the labidognath type, but the morphology of the individual jaws suggests that it may be the most primitive representative of this lineage currently known. We propose that Andiprion‐like forms were ancestral to polychaetaspids, polychaeturids and ramphoprionids. The Capillas collection provides supporting evidence for the evolutionary homology of the ‘basal plate’ and the left first maxilla. Thus the labidognath‐type asymmetry, with an unpaired left maxilla III, developed as a result of gradual reduction in size of the first right jaw (‘basal plate’) in front of the carriers, instead of loss or fusion of anterior maxillae.
Evidence for Central Sensitization in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis of Observational Studies
Authors: La Touche Roy , Paris‐Alemany Alba , Hidalgo‐Pérez Amanda , López‐de‐Uralde‐Villanueva Ibai , Angulo‐Diaz‐Parreño Santiago , Muñoz‐García Daniel
Published: May 2017

Objectives

Several authors have evaluated different pain measurements, including quantitative sensory testing (QST), temporal summation (TS), and conditioned pain modulation (CPM) in order to determine the presence of central sensitization (CS) and its influence on patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Since there are no convincing studies about this topic, the purpose of this study was to conduct a review of the studies involving CS‐related measures in TMD patients.

Methods

A meta‐analysis of case‐control and cohort/cross sectional studies was conducted. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for relevant QST outcomes and pooled in a meta‐analysis using the random effects model. Twenty‐two studies (eleven case‐control and eleven cross sectional studies) met the inclusion criteria; eight were included in the meta‐analysis (five cross‐sectional and three case‐control). Patients with TMD had decreased pressure pain thresholds in both trigeminal (five studies; n = 1,985; SMD = −1.55, 95% CI −2.23 to −0.77; P < 0.01) and remote areas (five studies; n = 1,985; SMD = −1.92, 95% CI −2.95 to −0.89; P < 0.01). When analyzing for thermal hyperalgesia (hot and cold pain thresholds), differences were not found in trigeminal areas or remote areas in patients with TMD. The TS qualitative analysis showed strong evidence of spinal hyperexcitability for mechanically evoked pain.

Conclusion

These meta‐analyses support the existence of differences in widespread pressure pain sensitivity in patients with TMD when compared with asymptomatic subjects. Spinal and central hyperexcitability can be found in TMD patients as shown by an increase in mechanical TS.
Over‐expression of mutated ZmDA1 or ZmDAR1 gene improves maize kernel yield by enhancing starch synthesis
Authors: Xie Guangning , Li Zhaoxia , Ran Qijun , Wang Hui , Zhang Juren
Published: May 2017

Grain weight and grain number are important crop yield determinants. DA1 and DAR1 are the ubiquitin receptors that function as the negative regulators of cell proliferation during development in Arabidopsis. An arginine to lysine mutant at amino acid site 358 could lead to the da1‐1 phenotype, which results in an increased organ size and larger seeds. In this study, the mutated ZmDA1 (Zmda1) and mutated ZmDAR1 (Zmdar1) driven by the maize ubiquitin promoter were separately introduced into maize elite inbred line DH4866. The grain yield of the transgenic plants was 15% greater than that of the wild‐type in 3 years of field trials due to improvements in the grain number, weight and starch content. Interestingly, the over‐expression of Zmda1 and Zmdar1 promoted kernel development, resulting in a more developed basal endosperm transfer cell layer (BETL) than WT and enhanced expression of starch synthase genes. This study suggests that the over‐expression of the mutated ZmDA1 or ZmDAR1 genes improves the sugar imports into the sink organ and starch synthesis in maize kernels.
Long‐term outcomes of de novo autoimmune hepatitis in pediatric liver transplant recipients
Authors: Ekong Udeme D. , McKiernan Patrick , Martinez Mercedes , Lobritto Steven , Kelly Deirdre , Ng Vicky L. , Alonso Estella M. , Avitzur Yaron
Published: May 2017

The long‐term course and outcome of DAIH is unknown. A retrospective multicenter study assessing associations and long‐term consequences of DAIH developing in a transplanted allograft is presented. Children with DAIH were followed from diagnosis until death, re‐LT, or transfer of care and for a minimum of 1 year. A total of 31 patients of 1833 (1.7%) LT were identified; 29 followed for a median of 7.1 years (range, 1.6‐15); 52% had no rejection preceding diagnosis of DAIH. Transaminases fell following treatment with steroids and antimetabolites (ALT 108 vs 39 U/L (P=.002); AST 112 vs 52 U/L (P=.003); GGT 72 vs 36 U/L (P=.03), but this was not universally sustained. Transaminases >2X ULN observed in 38% of patients at last follow‐up; commonly GGT, attributed to bile duct injury and ductopenia. Portal hypertension (PHT) was seen in four patients and associated with severe fibrosis and cirrhosis. Re‐LT occurred in two patients for chronic rejection (CR) and uncontrolled PHT with gastrointestinal bleeding, respectively. No deaths from DAIH were reported. DAIH is an uncommon complication following pediatric LT requiring prolonged and augmented immunosuppression. It is associated with continued allograft dysfunction and may lead to bile duct injury, CR, and PHT necessitating re‐LT.
Biochemical characterization and structural analysis of trypsin from Plodia interpunctella midgut: implication of determinants in extremely alkaline pH activity profile
Authors: Hemmati Seyed A. , Sajedi Reza H. , Moharramipour Saeid , Taghdir Majid , Rahmani Hossein , Etezad Seyed M. , Mehrabadi Mohammad
Published: May 2017

In the present study, trypsin from Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) is characterized to discover sequence, biochemical and structural features. This enzyme is purified by ion exchange chromatography using fast protein liquid chromatography on proteins from fifth‐instar larvae. The enzyme is optimally active at 50 °C and pH 11.0. The kinetic parameters (Km and Vmax) of the enzyme are 5.3 ± 0.6 µm and 31 ± 1.3 nmol min−1 mg−1, respectively (using Nα‐benzoyl‐l‐arginine ρ‐nitroanilide hydrochloride as substrate). The enzyme is inhibited by the addition of Cu2+ and Mn2+, whereas it is activated by Li+ at high concentrations. Moreover, the enzyme is almost completely inhibited in the presence of Nα‐tosyl‐l‐lysine chloromethyl ketone hydrochloride and phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride. To understand some characteristics of P. interpunctella trypsin, including active site structure and alkaline pH profile, a reliable structural model of P. interpunctella trypsin is built based on the Fusarium oxisporum (Schlecht) trypsin cystal structure (Protein Data Bank code: 1GDU). The secondary structure content of the purified trypsin from near‐ultraviolet circular dichroism data shows considerable similarities with that of P. interpunctella trypsin predicted structure. Analysis of pKa values of active site residues, a type of amino acid residue in the active site cleft and the surface charges of the model and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) trypsin structure as an insect species from different orders reveals some differences between them. These differences might effect on the microenvironment of the active site cleft and consequently shift its pH profile. The application of multiple theoretical and experimental techniques is well adapted to predict the enzyme structure with high accuracy and this could help in the design of a powerful inhibitor for trypsin with ideal properties.
Connecting insomnia, sleep apnoea and depression
Authors: Grandner Michael A. , Malhotra Atul
Published: May 2017

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Authors: Decrouez Geoffrey , Robinson Andrew
Published: May 2017

Continuous sampling plans (CSPs) are algorithms used for monitoring and maintaining the quality of a production line. Although considerable work has been done on the development of CSPs, to our knowledge, there has been no corresponding effort in developing estimators with good statistical properties for data arising from a CSP inspection process. For example, information about the failure rate of the process will affect the management of the process, both in terms of selecting appropriate CSP parameters to keep the failure rate after inspection at a suitable level, and in terms of policy, for example, whether the process should be completely inspected, or shut down. The motivation for this exercise was developing sampling protocols for Australia's Department of Agriculture and Water Resources for monitoring the biosecurity compliance of incoming goods at international borders. In this study, we show that maximum likelihood estimation of the failure rate under a sampling scheme can be biased depending on when estimation is performed, and we provide explicit expressions for the main contribution of the bias under various CSPs. We then construct bias‐corrected estimators and confidence intervals, and evaluate their performance in a numerical study.
Incremental Sampling Methodology: Applications for Background Screening Assessments
Authors: Pooler Penelope S. , Goodrum Philip E. , Crumbling Deana , Stuchal Leah D. , Roberts Stephen M.
Published: May 2017

This article presents the findings from a numerical simulation study that was conducted to evaluate the performance of alternative statistical analysis methods for background screening assessments when data sets are generated with incremental sampling methods (ISMs). A wide range of background and site conditions are represented in order to test different ISM sampling designs. Both hypothesis tests and upper tolerance limit (UTL) screening methods were implemented following U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidance for specifying error rates. The simulations show that hypothesis testing using two‐sample t‐tests can meet standard performance criteria under a wide range of conditions, even with relatively small sample sizes. Key factors that affect the performance include unequal population variances and small absolute differences in population means. UTL methods are generally not recommended due to conceptual limitations in the technique when applied to ISM data sets from single decision units and due to insufficient power given standard statistical sample sizes from ISM.
Industrial Safety and Utopia: Insights from the Fukushima Daiichi Accident
Authors: Travadel Sébastien , Guarnieri Franck , Portelli Aurélien
Published: May 2017

Feedback from industrial accidents is provided by various state or even international, institutions, and lessons learned can be controversial. However, there has been little research into organizational learning at the international level. This article helps to fill the gap through an in‐depth review of official reports of the Fukushima Daiichi accident published shortly after the event. We present a new method to analyze the arguments contained in these voluminous documents. Taking an intertextual perspective, the method focuses on the accident narratives, their rationale, and links between “facts,” “causes,” and “recommendations.” The aim is to evaluate how the findings of the various reports are consistent with (or contradict) “institutionalized knowledge,” and identify the social representations that underpin them. We find that although the scientific controversy surrounding the results of the various inquiries reflects different ethical perspectives, they are integrated into the same utopian ideal. The involvement of multiple actors in this controversy raises questions about the public construction of epistemic authority, and we highlight the special status given to the International Atomic Energy Agency in this regard.