bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Land‐use changes and monk parakeet expansion in the Pampas grasslands of Argentina
Authors: Bucher Enrique H. , Aramburú Rosana M.
Published: February 2014

Aim

The monk parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus (Boddaert, 1783), is a successful invasive species that has established viable populations on four continents, including North America and Europe. Of particular interest is the little known, large‐scale expansion of monk parakeet within its native range on the Pampas grasslands of Argentina during the 20th century. To understand the key factors involved in this large‐scale expansion and their implications in terms of current hypotheses on bird introductions, we investigated in detail the expansion process and related changes in land use during the period 1860–2010.

Location

The Pampas grassland ecoregion of Argentina.

Methods

Range expansion was assessed using the following information sources: museum specimens, published scientific literature, reports from government agencies, postal questionnaires, internet public media, and data obtained during extensive travelling by the authors.

Results

The range of the monk parakeet has expanded by about 327,958 km2 in 150 years. The linear range expansion rate was between 2.1 and 7.6 km year−1. Range expansion followed a neighbourhood diffusion pattern. Key land‐use changes included expansion of eucalyptus trees (the preferred nesting tree), introduction of European cattle, weed (thistle) invasion, conversion of grassland to cropland, and urban development.

Main conclusions

Eucalyptus was a key factor favouring parakeet range expansion. Food availability increased as a result of changes in grassland structure, weed invasion and cropland expansion. Urban environments operated as expansion stepping stones along the routes of railways. The invasive potential of monk parakeet and other parrots appears to be related to behavioural flexibility and dietary opportunism favoured by high intelligence and morphological adaptations (beak and foot structure).
Fish length exclusively determines sexual maturation in the European whitefish Coregonus lavaretus species complex
Authors: Ficker H. , Mazzucco R. , Gassner H. , Wanzenböck J. , Dieckmann U.
Published: February 2014

The probability that a fish matures at a certain age and length (the so‐called probabilistic maturation reaction norm, PMRN) was analysed for a European whitefish Coregonus lavaretus species complex population living in the Austrian pre‐alpine Lake Irrsee. Fish length was found to be the only relevant determinant of maturation probability, and females matured at slightly smaller sizes than males.
Kaolinitic clay protects against Flavobacterium columnare infection in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)
Authors: Beck B H , Barnett L M , Farmer B D , Peatman E , Carter D
Published: February 2014

Columnaris disease, caused by the bacterial pathogen Flavobacterium columnare, continues to be a major problem worldwide in both wild and cultured freshwater finfish. Despite the far‐reaching negative impacts of columnaris disease, safe and efficacious preventatives and curatives for this disease remain limited. In this study, we evaluated the potential of kaolin (Al2Si205(OH)4), a type of clay, for the prevention of columnaris disease. Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), fingerlings were experimentally challenged with Flavobacterium columnare in untreated water or with water containing kaolin (1 g L−1). Over the 7‐day course of study, kaolin treatment led to significantly (P < 0.001) improved survival (96%) as compared to untreated fish (78% survival). Histological examination of the gills revealed that kaolin‐treated fish had substantially less gill damage than untreated controls. Quantitative PCR analysis of gill tissue revealed that kaolin significantly reduced F. columnare adhesion (measured at 1 h post‐challenge) and colonization (24 h post‐challenge). Incubation of kaolin with F. columnare in vitro demonstrated that kaolin reduced the number of F. columnare cells in culture supernatants, presumably through the formation of physical complexes through adsorption. In summary, kaolin can improve survival, reduce gill pathologies and reduce bacterial attachment to key tissues associated with columnaris disease in channel catfish by binding to F. columnare.
The Role of Social Performance and Physical Attractiveness in Peer Rejection of Socially Anxious Adolescents
Authors: Blöte Anke W. , Miers Anne C. , Westenberg P. Michiel
Published: February 2014

This study addressed the role of social performance and physical attractiveness in the link between social anxiety and peer rejection in first‐time social situations. Recordings of 20 high and 20 low socially anxious adolescents giving a speech were rated by unfamiliar peers (N = 534) with regard to desire for future interaction (lower scores indicating rejection), social performance, and physical attractiveness; trained adult raters also evaluated social performance. Findings showed high interrelations between the different peer ratings and moderate correlations between adult and peer ratings. High socially anxious students were more rejected and social performance and physical attractiveness partly mediated the link between social anxiety and rejection. The findings may have important implications for socially anxious youth entering new social situations.
Use of ACP‐104 at Different Dilutions for Sperm Cryopreservation of Dourado, Salminus brasiliensis
Authors: Carolina V. Zanandrea Ana , Weingartner Marcos , Zaniboni‐Filho Evoy
Published: February 2014

The dourado, Salminus brasiliensis, is an important fish in South American river basins. The fish‐farming potential and concerns for its conservation in watersheds has stimulated studies with this species. This study compared the effect of different dilutions of two cryoprotectant solutions on the quality of cryopreserved dourado sperm (duration of motility/motility rate) post‐thawing using three different activating solutions. The cryoprotectant solution ACP‐104 was compared with the cryoprotectant solution most commonly used for dourado, which consists of a mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide, glucose, egg yolk, and distilled water. The semen was mixed following dilutions of semen : cryoprotectant solution: 1:3, 1:9, 1:15, 1:21, and 1:27. The cryopreserved samples were activated using distilled water, 0.45% NaCl or 1% NaHCO3. The results showed differences in thawed semen using the different activating solutions and cryoprotectant solutions. The glucose‐based cryoprotectant not only resulted in sperm motility equal to or better than that produced by ACP‐104, but the quality was not affected by the dilution. However, the sperm quality improved with increasing dilutions for ACP‐104. Under the conditions tested, the standard cryoprotectant solution is recommended for the cryopreservation of dourado semen because it requires a lower solution volume and, therefore, reduced storage space for the same volume of semen.
Essential Oregano Oil as a Growth Promoter for the Yellowtail Tetra, Astyanax altiparanae
Authors: de Moraes França Ferreira Pollyanna , da Silva Nascimento Lidiane , Coelho Dias Devlynn , da Veiga Moreira Diogo Magalhães , Lúcia Salaro Ana , Duca de Freitas Mariella Bontempo , Souza Carneiro Antonio Policarpo , Sampaio Zuanon Jener Alexandre
Published: February 2014

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of oregano oil as a growth promoter for the yellowtail tetra, Astyanax altiparanae. The fish (1.46 ± 0.09 g) were distributed into twenty‐four 60‐L aquaria at a stocking density of 0.5 fish/L. Six isonitrogenous (350 g crude protein/kg) and isocaloric (4272 kcal gross energy/kg) diets containing 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 g/kg of oregano oil were evaluated. At the end of 90 d there was a quadratic effect of oregano oil levels for weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and carcass weight, and the estimated values to maximize these variables were between 0.2 and 0.6 g/kg. There was also a quadratic effect on the feed conversion ratio, and the estimated value to improve this variable was 0.62 g/kg. A positive linear effect of the treatments was observed for muscle glycogen. With increased levels of oregano oil in the diet, there was a reduction in dry matter and ether extract and an increase in the protein content of the carcass. Thus, it can be concluded that oregano oil, at the level of 0.5 g/kg, acts as a growth promoter for A. altiparanae by improving growth performance and carcass composition.
Introduction: Exploring Forgiveness in Nineteenth‐Century Poetry
Authors: Mason Emma
Published: February 2014

This essay serves as an introduction to the essays collected in the ‘Nineteenth‐century Poetry and Forgiveness’ cluster. It takes as its foundation the recent turn to questions of hospitality, forgiveness and gift in the intra‐disciplinary field of religion, philosophy and literature and highlights the centrality of these issues for reading nineteenth‐century poetry. The essay argues that nineteenth‐century poetry attempts to figure forgiveness as poetic sound and rhythm as a way of thinking reciprocal forgiving relationships between people. Part I contextualizes this argument and argues for an understanding of forgiveness through emotion. Part II offers an overview of the field of forgiveness scholarship and explores its relevance for nineteenth‐century debate on the topic. Part III offers a way into thinking forgiveness as sound and rhythm in Wordsworth's poem ‘Airey‐Force Valley’ through Martin Heidegger's reading of poetics and being.
Reuse of Infected Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices in the Same Patients: A Single‐Center Experience
Authors: ZE FENG , LI XUEBIN , ZHANG PING , ZHANG HAICHENG , WANG LONG , LI DING , DUAN JIANGBO , GUO FEI , YUAN CUIZHEN , GUO JIHONG
Published: February 2014

Background

In developing countries, patients with a cardiac rhythm management device (CRMD) that has become infected cannot always afford a new device, and reuse of the infected CRMD may be appropriate. To evaluate the safety of this practice, a cohort of consecutive patients with reused pacemakers was compared with a control group.

Methods

A single‐center cohort of consecutive patients treated from 2007 to 2012 was analyzed in a two‐way noninferiority study. Patients who had infected CRMDs removed at the Cardiovascular Center of The Peking University People's Hospital were enrolled, including those who had the same CRMD reimplanted and those who had a new CRMD implanted.

Results

This study included 212 patients, of who 99 (study group) had the same CRMD reimplanted, and 113 (control group) had a new CRMD implanted. During a mean follow‐up period of 3.52 years (interquartile range: 2.1–4.7 years), 10 patients reached the primary end point of the study (infection, unexpected battery depletion, or device malfunction), including five (5%) in the study group and five (4.3%) in the control group. Recurrent infection occurred in three patients in the study group and two patients in the control group (3.0% vs 1.7%, relative risk: 1.29, 95% confidence interval: 0.62–2.29, P = 0.561). There were no cases of unexpected battery depletion in either group.

Conclusions

Reuse of infected CRMDs in the same patients is noninferior to the implantation of new devices. In developing countries without full medical coverage, careful reuse of infected CRMDs can be considered.
Assessment of Pain and Activity Using an Electronic Pain Diary and Actigraphy Device in a Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled Crossover Trial of Celecoxib in Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Authors: Trudeau Jeremiah , Van Inwegen Richard , Eaton Thomas , Bhat Gajanan , Paillard Florence , Ng Dik , Tan Keith , Katz Nathaniel P.
Published: February 2014

Objective

The primary goal was to determine whether a composite measure of pain and activity is a more responsive assessment of analgesic effect than pain alone or activity alone in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.

Design

We conducted a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, 2‐period, crossover study of celecoxib vs. placebo in subjects with chronic pain due to knee OA. Patients with knee OA and baseline pain intensity score ≥4 on a 0–10 numerical rating scale (NRS) before each period were randomized. Pain endpoints included in‐clinic pain score (24‐hour and 1‐week recall), daily paper diary pain score, current pain on an electronic pain diary (each on NRS), and WOMAC pain subscale. Activity measures included WOMAC function subscale and actigraphy using a device. Three composite pain–activity measures were prespecified.

Results

Sixty‐three patients were randomized and 47 completed the study. The WOMAC pain subscale was the most responsive of all five pain measures. Pain–activity composites resulted in a statistically significant difference between celecoxib and placebo but were not more responsive than pain measures alone. However, a composite responder defined as having 20% improvement in pain or 10% improvement in activity yielded much larger differences between celecoxib and placebo than with pain scores alone. Actigraphy was more responsive than the WOMAC function scale, possibly due to lower placebo responsiveness.

Conclusion

We have identified composite pain–activity measures that are similarly or more responsive than pain‐alone measures in patients with OA. Further research is warranted to determine the optimal method for computing these composites.
Pragmatist Political Philosophy
Authors: Talisse Robert B.
Published: February 2014

This essay surveys three prominent trends in current pragmatist political philosophy: Deweyan Democratic Perfectionism, Rortyan Ironism, and Pragmatist Epistemic Deliberativism. After articulating the main commitments of each view, the author raises philosophical problems each must confront. The essay closes with the more general criticism that pragmatist political theory has been nearly exclusively focused on democracy, but needs to address additional topics.
The Enduring Appeal of Natural Theological Arguments
Authors: De Cruz Helen
Published: February 2014

Natural theology is the branch of theology and philosophy that attempts to gain knowledge of God through non‐revealed sources. In a narrower sense, natural theology is the discipline that presents rational arguments for the existence of God. Given that these arguments rarely directly persuade those who are not convinced by their conclusions, why do they enjoy an enduring appeal? This article examines two reasons for the continuing popularity of natural theological arguments: (i) they appeal to intuitions that humans robustly hold and that emerge early in cognitive development; (ii) they serve an argumentative function by presenting particular religious views as live options. I conclude with observations on the role of natural theology in contemporary analytic philosophy of religion.
Women on Liberty in Early Modern England
Authors: Broad Jacqueline
Published: February 2014

Our modern ideals about liberty were forged in the great political and philosophical debates of the 17th and 18th centuries, but we seldom hear about women's contributions to those debates. This paper examines the ideas of early modern English women – namely Margaret Cavendish, Mary Astell, Mary Overton, ‘Eugenia’, Sarah Chapone and the civil war women petitioners – with respect to the classic political concepts of negative, positive and republican liberty. The author suggests that these writers' woman‐centred concerns provide a unique historical perspective on these much‐discussed ideals of freedom from external interference, freedom as self‐determination and freedom from domination.
Muhammad Iqbal and the Immanence of God in Islamic Modernism
Authors: Noorani Yaseen
Published: February 2014

The Indian Muslim poet and philosopher Muhammad Iqbal is widely known for his influential contribution to Islamic modernist thought. Iqbal's metaphysical account of the nature of reality has attracted a massive body of commentary and provoked substantial scholarly controversy. One of the primary areas of scholarly debate is Iqbal's conception of divine immanence and how it is related to the Quran and to the Islamic theological tradition, particularly doctrines associated with Sufism. This debate concerns question of how faithful Iqbal is to the God of the Quran, whether or not Iqbal rejects traditional Islamic conceptions of God, and to what extent Iqbal adopts Western philosophical notions of God. The present paper surveys this debate in arguing that the tensions between Iqbal's thought on God and traditional Islamic notions shed significant light on the aims of Islamic modernism. The aspects of Iqbal's conception of God that have given rise to controversy are precisely those that make possible an evolutionary, progressive, and human‐centered depiction of the universe and of history. For this reason, the scholarly debate over Iqbal's conception of God provides a point of departure for understanding the altered metaphysical assumptions behind the Islamic modernist project.
Jews, Muslims and Bildung: the German‐Jewish Orientalist Gustav Weil in Egypt
Authors: Johnston‐Bloom Ruchama
Published: February 2014

In the 19th century, German Jews made a disproportionate contribution to the academic study of Islam, a subject that fell under the rubric of Orientalism. One German‐Jewish Orientalist, Gustav Weil (1808–1889), spent most of 1830–1835 in Algeria, Egypt, and the Ottoman Empire, writing for the German periodicals the Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung and the Morgenblatt für gebildete Stände. Weil's 1830s travel writing reflects 19th‐century German‐Jewish embourgeoisement, which entailed a strong commitment to the ideals of Bildung, rationalism, and universalism. This article focuses on the comparisons Weil draws between traditional Judaism and Islam and between Jewish and Islamic reform and modernization. After briefly discussing Weil's own education and career, it argues that Weil's discussion of Oriental Jewry, Jewish and Islamic reform, and education reform in Mehmed Ali's Egypt, exemplify how the Jewish question informed representations of the Orient and Islam in the European press.
Does EPA Underestimate Cancer Risks by Ignoring Susceptibility Differences?
Authors: Bogen Kenneth T.
Published: February 2014

A 2009 report of the National Research Council (NRC) recommended that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) increase its estimates of increased cancer risk from exposure to environmental agents by ∼7‐fold, due to an approximate ∼25‐fold typical ratio between the median and upper 95th percentile persons’ cancer sensitivity assuming approximately lognormally distributed sensitivities. EPA inaction on this issue has raised concerns that cancer risks to environmentally exposed populations remain systematically underestimated. This concern is unwarranted, however, because EPA point estimates of cancer risk have always pertained to the average, not the median, person in each modeled exposure group. Nevertheless, EPA has yet to explain clearly how its risk characterization and risk management policies concerning individual risks from environmental chemical carcinogens do appropriately address broad variability in human cancer susceptibility that has been a focus of two major NRC reports to EPA concerning its risk assessment methods.
Exploring Risk Judgments in a Trade Dispute Using Bayesian Networks
Authors: Wintle Bonnie C. , Nicholson Ann
Published: February 2014

Bayesian networks (BNs) are graphical modeling tools that are generally recommended for exploring what‐if scenarios, visualizing systems and problems, and for communication between stakeholders during decision making. In this article, we investigate their potential for exploring different perspectives in trade disputes. To do so, we draw on a specific case study that was arbitrated by the World Trade Organization (WTO): the Australia‐New Zealand apples dispute. The dispute centered on disagreement about judgments contained within Australia's 2006 import risk analysis (IRA).

We built a range of BNs of increasing complexity that modeled various approaches to undertaking IRAs, from the basic qualitative and semi‐quantitative risk analyses routinely performed in government agencies, to the more complex quantitative simulation undertaken by Australia in the apples dispute. We found the BNs useful for exploring disagreements under uncertainty because they are probabilistic and transparently represent steps in the analysis. Different scenarios and evidence can easily be entered. Specifically, we explore the sensitivity of the risk output to different judgments (particularly volume of trade). Thus, we explore how BNs could usefully aid WTO dispute settlement.

We conclude that BNs are preferable to basic qualitative and semi‐quantitative risk analyses because they offer an accessible interface and are mathematically sound. However, most current BN modeling tools are limited compared with complex simulations, as was used in the 2006 apples IRA. Although complex simulations may be more accurate, they are a black box for stakeholders. BNs have the potential to be a transparent aid to complex decision making, but they are currently computationally limited. Recent technological software developments are promising.
Behavioral Design: A New Approach to Development Policy
Authors: Datta Saugato , Mullainathan Sendhil
Published: February 2014

Successful development programs rely on people to behave and choose in certain ways, and behavioral economics helps us understand why people behave and choose as they do. This paper sketches how to design development programs and policies in ways that are cognizant of and informed by the insights behavioral economics provides into human behavior. It distills the key insights of behavioral economics into a parsimonious framework about the constraints under which people make decisions. It then shows how this framework leads to a set of design principles that can be employed to design programs in areas including health, education, productivity, agriculture, finance, and the delivery of public services. Finally, it offers some reflections on the ways in which these insights and design principles can be incorporated into existing and planned programs to improve their reach and effectiveness.
Sensitivity Analysis in Non-Inferiority Trials with Residual Inconstancy After Covariate Adjustment
Authors: Zhang Zhiwei , Nie Lei , Soon Guoxing , Zhang Bo
Published: February 2014

A major issue in non-inferiority trials is the controversial assumption of constancy, namely that the active control has the same effect relative to placebo as in previous studies comparing the active control with placebo. The constancy assumption is often in doubt, which has motivated various methods that ‘discount’ the control effect estimate from historical data as well as methods that adjust for imbalances in observed covariates. We develop a new approach to deal with residual inconstancy, i.e. possible violations of the constancy assumption due to imbalances in unmeasured covariates after adjusting for the measured covariates. We characterize the extent of residual inconstancy under a generalized linear model framework and use the results to obtain fully adjusted estimates of the control effect in the current study based on plausible assumptions about an unmeasured covariate. Because such assumptions may be difficult to justify, we propose a sensitivity analysis approach that covers a range of situations. This approach is developed for indirect comparison with placebo and effect retention, and implemented through additive and multiplicative adjustments. The approach proposed is applied to two examples concerning benign prostate hyperplasia and human immunodeficiency virus infection, and evaluated in simulation studies.
Informal and formal care of older people in Iceland
Authors: Sigurdardottir Sigurveig H. , Kåreholt Ingemar
Published: February 2014

Background

Even if older people in the Nordic countries living in their homes usually have good access to formal help, the family plays an important role. Few studies have looked at the distribution of informal and formal care and the interplay between these spheres. The aim of this study is to shed light on the distribution of care and to analyse the patterns of care depending on the degree of limitations, the gender of the recipient and whether she/he is cohabitating or not.

Method and sample

The Icelandic survey ‘Icelandic Older People’ (ICEOLD) is a random nationally representative survey among persons 65+ living in their homes. Of those who participated (n = 782), 341 were men and 441 were women, giving a response rate of 66%.

Findings

About 60% of the people investigated in the survey had limitations with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and 10% of people had limitations with personal activities of daily living (PADL). The majority of the respondents with IADL or PADL limitations received either informal or formal help, but not both. When the IADL limitations increase, the informal care increases for men, but not for women, and the formal care increases for women, but decreases for men. Cohabiting men are much likelier to receive informal IADL help and less likely to receive formal help than men not cohabiting. Among women, corresponding differences are much smaller and not significant. When there is no spouse, the daughters help more than the sons and they help their mothers more than they help their fathers.

Conclusion

More persons receive informal care than formal care, which shows the importance of the family. There is a gender difference in receiving care. Cohabitation is important for receiving informal care, especially for men.
Fistula Eligibility: A Work in Progress
Authors: Al‐Jaishi Ahmed A. , Moist Louise M.
Published: February 2014

Effective hemodialysis requires a reliable vascular access. Clinical practice guidelines strongly recommend the fistula as the preferred option followed by arteriovenous (AV) grafts, with central venous catheters being least preferred. Recently, there has been a growing awareness of the limitations of the fistula, its high rate of primary failure and that a fistula may not be appropriate for all patients initiating or on hemodialysis. However, determinates for fistula eligibility have not been clearly defined. The creation and use of a fistula requires the complex integration of patient, biological, and surgical factors, none of which can be easily predicted or planned. There have been several successful initiatives over the last decade addressing patient suitability for AV access, but none have validated defined criteria for fistula eligibility. We discuss these initiatives by addressing: 1) process of care, 2) radiological and nonradiological tests and procedures, and 3) alternative surgical approaches. Careful clinical judgment, appropriate vascular access assessment and placement, and an individualized approach to the risks and benefits will optimize patient health outcomes while minimizing prolonged catheter dependence among hemodialysis patients.
Nanotemplate-directed InGaAs/GaAs single quantum dots: Toward addressable single photon emitter arrays
Authors: Zhang Jiefei , Lingley Zachary , Lu Siyuan , Madhukar Anupam
Published: February 2014

The lattice mismatch strain-driven coherent three-dimensional InGaAs island self-assembled quantum dots (SAQDs) formed on GaAs (001) and buried in an appropriate optical cavity have been shown to be effective single photon sources at low temperature. However, SAQDs suffer from (1) structural and chemical inhomogeneity resulting in large variation in emission wavelengths and (2) being randomly positioned, virtually insurmountable obstacles for input-output communication in any systems architecture. In this paper, the authors exploit the engineered surface stress-directed atom migration approach to create single flat InGaAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) on nanotemplated mesas in regular arrays with control on QD size, shape and physical location. Photoluminescence studies on this class of QDs show an exciton coherence time longer than 1 ps and radiative decay time ∼0.8 ns, which is comparable to the findings on SAQDs but has higher uniformity than SAQDs.
Role of the blocking capacitor in control of ion energy distributions in pulsed capacitively coupled plasmas sustained in Ar/CF4/O2
Authors: Song Sang-Heon , Kushner Mark J.
Published: February 2014

In plasma etching for microelectronics fabrication, the quality of the process is in large part determined by the ability to control the ion energy distribution (IED) onto the wafer. To achieve this control, dual frequency capacitively coupled plasmas (DF-CCPs) have been developed with the goal of separately controlling the magnitude of the fluxes of ions and radicals with the high frequency (HF) and the shape of the IED with the low frequency (LF). In steady state operation, plasma properties are determined by a real time balance between electron sources and losses. As such, for a given geometry, pressure, and frequency of operation, the latitude for controlling the IED may be limited. Pulsed power is one technique being investigated to provide additional degrees of freedom to control the IED. In one configuration of a DF-CCP, the HF power is applied to the upper electrode and LF power is applied to the lower electrode which is serially connected to a blocking capacitor (BC) which generates a self dc-bias. In the steady state, the value of the dc-bias is, in fact, constant. During pulsed operation, however, there may be time modulation of the dc-bias which provides an additional means to control the IED. In this paper, IEDs to the wafer in pulsed DF-CCPs sustained in Ar/CF4/O2 are discussed with results from a two-dimensional plasma hydrodynamics model. The IED can be manipulated depending on whether the LF or HF power is pulsed. The dynamic range of the control can be tuned by the dc-bias generated on the substrate, whose time variation depends on the size of the BC during pulsed operation. It was found that high energy ions can be preferentially produced when pulsing the HF power and low energy ions are preferentially produced when pulsing the LF power. A smaller BC value which allows the bias to follow the change in charged particle fluxes produces a larger dynamic range with which to control IEDs.
A Point-by-Point Analysis of Performance in a Fencing Match: Psychological Processes Associated with Winning and Losing Streaks
Authors: Doron Julie , Gaudreau Patrick
Published: February 2014

This study aimed to revisit the complex nature of serial dependency of performance during a match, examining the prospective associations between psychological processes and subsequent performance at the within-person level of analysis, and explore whether psychological processes are associated with the likelihood of winning series of points. A process-oriented sequential approach was used with 16 elite fencers during a simulated competition. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that serial dependency of performance fluctuates within a match. Results of a Bayesian multilevel structural equation model showed that prior performance subsequently influenced psychological processes. Although psychological processes did not predict performance in the subsequent point, successive winnings were associated with higher perceived control and task-oriented coping and lower negative affectivity compared with both losing streaks and nonstreaks. Overall, serial dependencies of performance are nonstationary during a match whereas psychological processes significantly differ in episodes of winning after winning versus losing after losing.
Observation Interventions as a Means to Manipulate Collective Efficacy in Groups
Authors: Bruton Adam M. , Mellalieu Stephen D. , Shearer David A.
Published: February 2014

The purpose of this multistudy investigation was to examine observation as an intervention for the manipulation of individual collective efficacy beliefs. Study 1 compared the effects of positive, neutral, and negative video footage of practice trials from an obstacle course task on collective efficacy beliefs in assigned groups. The content of the observation intervention (i.e., positive, neutral, and negative video footage) significantly influenced the direction of change in collective efficacy (p < .05). Study 2 assessed the influence of content familiarity (own team/sport vs. unfamiliar team/sport) on individual collective efficacy perceptions when observing positive footage of competitive basketball performance. Collective efficacy significantly increased for both the familiar and unfamiliar conditions postintervention, with the largest increase for the familiar condition (p < .05). The studies support the use of observation as an intervention to enhance individual perceptions of collective efficacy in group-based activities. The findings suggest that observations of any group displaying positive group characteristics are likely to increase collective efficacy beliefs; however, observation of one’s own team leads to the greatest increases.
Effects of Social Belonging and Task Framing on Exercise Cognitions and Behavior
Authors: Dowd A. Justine , Schmader Toni , Sylvester Benjamin D. , Jung Mary E. , Zumbo Bruno D. , Martin Luc J. , Beauchamp Mark R.
Published: February 2014

The objective of the studies presented in this paper was to examine whether the need to belong can be used to enhance exercise cognitions and behavior. Two studies examined the effectiveness of framing exercise as a means of boosting social skills (versus health benefits) for self-regulatory efficacy, exercise intentions, and (in Study 2) exercise behavior. In Study 1, inactive adults primed to feel a lack of social belonging revealed that this manipulation led to greater self-regulatory efficacy (but not exercise intentions). In Study 2, involving a sample of inactive lonely adults, all participants reported engaging in more exercise; however, those in the social skills condition also reported a greater sense of belonging than those in the health benefits comparison condition. These findings provide an important basis for developing physical activity interventions that might be particularly relevant for people at risk for feeling socially isolated or lonely.
High-Dose Parenteral Ascorbate Enhanced Chemosensitivity of Ovarian Cancer and Reduced Toxicity of Chemotherapy
Authors: Ma Yan , Chapman Julia , Levine Mark , Polireddy Kishore , Drisko Jeanne , Chen Qi
Published: February 2014

Pharmacological use of ascorbate (vitamin C) enhanced chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer in preclinical models and reduced chemotherapy-associated toxicity in patients.
Extracorporeal Circulation Without Bleeding
Authors: Schmaier Alvin H.
Published: February 2014

A newly created antibody protects against blood coagulation in extracorporeal bypass systems without bleeding risk in vivo.
Schizophrenia at the Synapse
Authors: Gregg Christopher
Published: February 2014

Proteins that power excitatory synapses are mutated in schizophrenia.
Differential Locus Expansion Distinguishes
Toxoplasmatinae
Species and Closely Related Strains of Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Adomako-Ankomah Yaw , Wier Gregory M. , Borges Adair L. , Wand Hannah E. , Boyle Jon P.
Published: February 2014

Toxoplasma gondii
is a human obligate intracellular parasite that has infected over 20% of the world population and has a vast intermediate host range compared to those of its nearest relatives
Neospora caninum
and
Hammondia hammondi
. While these 3 species have highly syntenic genomes (80 to 99%), in this study we examined and compared species-specific structural variations, specifically at loci that have undergone local (i.e., tandem) duplication and expansion. To do so, we used genomic sequence coverage analysis to identify and curate
T. gondii
and
N. caninum
loci that have undergone duplication and expansion (expanded loci [ELs]). The 53
T. gondii
ELs are significantly enriched for genes with predicted signal sequences and single-exon genes and genes that are developmentally regulated at the transcriptional level. We validated 24
T. gondii
ELs using comparative genomic hybridization; these data suggested significant copy number variation at these loci. High-molecular-weight Southern blotting for 3
T. gondii
ELs revealed that copy number varies across
T. gondii
lineages and also between members of the same clonal lineage. Using similar methods, we identified 64
N. caninum
ELs which were significantly enriched genes belonging to the SAG-related surface (SRS) antigen family. Moreover, there is significantly less overlap (30%) between the expanded gene sets in
T. gondii
and
N. caninum
than would be predicted by overall genomic synteny (81%). Consistent with this finding, only 59% of queried
T. gondii
ELs are similarly duplicated/expanded in
H. hammondi
despite over 99% genomic synteny between these species.

IMPORTANCE
Gene duplication, expansion, and diversification are a basis for phenotypic differences both within and between species. This study represents the first characterization of both the extent and degree of overlap in gene duplication and locus expansion across multiple apicomplexan parasite species. The most important finding of this study is that the locus duplications/expansions are quantitatively and qualitatively distinct, despite the high degree of genetic relatedness between the species. Given that these differential expansions are prominent species-specific genetic differences, they may also contribute to some of the more striking phenotypic differences between these species. More broadly, this work is important in providing further support for the idea that postspeciation selection events may have a dramatic impact on locus structure and copy number that overshadows selection on single-copy genes.
Iron-Regulated Expression of Alginate Production, Mucoid Phenotype, and Biofilm Formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Wiens Jacinta R. , Vasil Adriana I. , Schurr Michael J. , Vasil Michael L.
Published: February 2014

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
strains of non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) origin do not produce significant amounts of extracellular alginate and are nonmucoid. In CF, such isolates can become mucoid through mutation of one of the genes (
mucA
,
mucB
,
mucC
, or
mucD
) that produce regulatory factors that sequester AlgU, required for increased expression of alginate genes. Mutation of the
muc
genes in the nonmucoid PAO1, PA14, PAKS-1, and Ps388 strains led to increased levels of extracellular alginate and an obvious mucoid phenotype, but only under iron-limiting growth conditions (≤5 µM), not under iron-replete conditions (≥10 µM). In contrast, >50% of
P. aeruginosa
isolates from chronic CF pulmonary infections expressed increased levels of alginate and mucoidy both under iron-limiting and iron-replete conditions (i.e., iron-constitutive phenotype). No single iron regulatory factor (e.g., Fur, PvdS) was associated with this loss of iron-regulated alginate expression and mucoidy in these CF isolates. However, the loss of only pyoverdine production, or its uptake, abrogated the ability of
P. aeruginosa
to produce a robust biofilm that represents the Psl-type of biofilm. In contrast, we show that mutation of the pyoverdine and pyochelin biosynthesis genes and the pyoverdine receptor (FpvA) lead to iron-constitutive expression of the key alginate biosynthesis gene,
algD
, and an explicitly mucoid phenotype in both iron-limiting and iron-replete conditions. These data indicate that alginate production and mucoidy, in contrast to other types of biofilms produced by
P. aeruginosa
, are substantially enhanced under iron limitation. These results also have compelling implications in relation to the use of iron chelators in the treatment of
P. aeruginosa
CF infections.

IMPORTANCE
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a leading model for the investigation of biofilms. While data have been generated about the role of iron in alginate-independent (Psl/Pel) biofilm development, there is a paucity of data regarding the role of iron in alginate production and its associated mucoid phenotype. We demonstrate that biologically relevant levels of iron that exist in the airway mucus of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients have a substantial influence on production of alginate and the overt mucoid phenotype, pathognomonic of
P. aeruginosa
infections in CF. Mucoid mutants of non-CF
P. aeruginosa
isolates are mucoid only under iron limitation and do not express increased levels of alginate under iron-replete growth conditions. However, a significant number of long-term CF isolates lost their iron-regulated expression of increased alginate production and mucoidy and became iron constitutive for these properties. In contrast to the formation of Psl-type biofilms, increasing iron limitation ultimately leads to an iron-constitutive expression of alginate and mucoidy.
The Cryptococcus neoformans Transcriptome at the Site of Human Meningitis
Authors: Chen Yuan , Toffaletti Dena L. , Tenor Jennifer L. , Litvintseva Anastasia P. , Fang Charles , Mitchell Thomas G. , McDonald Tami R. , Nielsen Kirsten , Boulware David R. , Bicanic Tihana , Perfect John R.
Published: February 2014

Cryptococcus neoformansis the leading cause of fungal meningitis worldwide. Previous studies have characterized the cryptococcal transcriptome under various stress conditions, but a comprehensive profile of theC. neoformanstranscriptome in the human host has not been attempted. Here, we extracted RNA from yeast cells taken directly from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of two AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis prior to antifungal therapy. The patients were infected with strains ofC. neoformansvar.grubiiof molecular type VNI and VNII. Using RNA-seq, we compared the transcriptional profiles of these strains under three environmental conditions (in vivoCSF,ex vivoCSF, and yeast extract-peptone-dextrose [YPD]). Although we identified a number of differentially expressed genes, single nucleotide variants, and novel genes that were unique to each strain, the overall expression patterns of the two strains were similar under the same environmental conditions. Specifically, yeast cells obtained directly from each patient’s CSF were more metabolically active than cells that were incubatedex vivoin CSF. Compared with growth in YPD, some genes were identified as significantly upregulated in bothin vivoandex vivoCSF, and they were associated with genes previously recognized for contributing to pathogenicity. For example, genes with known stress response functions, such asRIM101,ENA1, andCFO1, were regulated similarly in the two clinical strains. Conversely, many genes that were differentially regulated between the two strains appeared to be transporters. These findings establish a platform for further studies of how this yeast survives and produces disease.

IMPORTANCECryptococcus neoformans, an environmental, opportunistic yeast, is annually responsible for an estimated million cases of meningitis and over 600,000 deaths, mostly among HIV-infected patients in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Using RNA-seq, we analyzed the gene expression of two strains ofC. neoformansobtained from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of infected patients, thus creating a comprehensive snapshot of the yeasts’ genetic responses within the human body. By comparing the gene expression of each clinical strain under three conditions (in vivoCSF,ex vivoCSF, and laboratory culture), we identified genes and pathways that were uniquely regulated by exposure to CSF and likely crucial for the survival ofC. neoformansin the central nervous system. Further analyses revealed genetic diversity between the strains, providing evidence for cryptococcal evolution and strain specificity. This ability to characterize transcriptionin vivoenables the elucidation of specific genetic responses that promote disease production and progression.
Rationale and study design of the Prospective comparison of Angiotensin Receptor neprilysin inhibitor with Angiotensin receptor blocker MEasuring arterial sTiffness in the eldERly (PARAMETER) study
Authors: Williams Bryan , Cockcroft John R , Kario Kazuomi , Zappe Dion H , Cardenas Pamela , Hester Allen , Brunel Patrick , Zhang Jack
Published: February 2014

Introduction

Hypertension in elderly people is characterised by elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) and increased pulse pressure (PP), which indicate large artery ageing and stiffness. LCZ696, a first-in-class angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), is being developed to treat hypertension and heart failure. The Prospective comparison of Angiotensin Receptor neprilysin inhibitor with Angiotensin receptor blocker MEasuring arterial sTiffness in the eldERly (PARAMETER) study will assess the efficacy of LCZ696 versus olmesartan on aortic stiffness and central aortic haemodynamics.

Methods and analysis

In this 52-week multicentre study, patients with hypertension aged ≥60 years with a mean sitting (ms) SBP ≥150 to <180 and a PP>60 mm Hg will be randomised to once daily LCZ696 200 mg or olmesartan 20 mg for 4 weeks, followed by a forced-titration to double the initial doses for the next 8 weeks. At 12–24 weeks, if the BP target has not been attained (msSBP <140  and ms diastolic BP <90 mm Hg), amlodipine (2.5–5 mg) and subsequently hydrochlorothiazide (6.25–25 mg) can be added. The primary and secondary endpoints are changes from baseline in central aortic systolic pressure (CASP) and central aortic PP (CAPP) at week 12, respectively. Other secondary endpoints are the changes in CASP and CAPP at week 52. A sample size of 432 randomised patients is estimated to ensure a power of 90% to assess the superiority of LCZ696 over olmesartan at week 12 in the change from baseline of mean CASP, assuming an SD of 19 mm Hg, the difference of 6.5 mm Hg and a 15% dropout rate. The primary variable will be analysed using a two-way analysis of covariance.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was initiated in December 2012 and final results are expected in 2015. The results of this study will impact the design of future phase III studies assessing cardiovascular protection.

Clinical trials identifier

EUDract number 2012-002899-14 and ClinicalTrials.govNCT01692301.
The Surgical Safety Checklist and Teamwork Coaching Tools: a study of inter-rater reliability
Authors: Huang Lyen C , Conley Dante , Lipsitz Stu , Wright Christopher C , Diller Thomas W , Edmondson Lizabeth , Berry William R , Singer Sara J
Published: February 2014

Objective

To assess the inter-rater reliability (IRR) of two novel observation tools for measuring surgical safety checklist performance and teamwork.

Summary background

Data surgical safety checklists can promote adherence to standards of care and improve teamwork in the operating room. Their use has been associated with reductions in mortality and other postoperative complications. However, checklist effectiveness depends on how well they are performed.

Methods

Authors from the Safe Surgery 2015 initiative developed a pair of novel observation tools through literature review, expert consultation and end-user testing. In one South Carolina hospital participating in the initiative, two observers jointly attended 50 surgical cases and independently rated surgical teams using both tools. We used descriptive statistics to measure checklist performance and teamwork at the hospital. We assessed IRR by measuring percent agreement, Cohen's κ, and weighted κ scores.

Results

The overall percent agreement and κ between the two observers was 93% and 0.74 (95% CI 0.66 to 0.79), respectively, for the Checklist Coaching Tool and 86% and 0.84 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.90) for the Surgical Teamwork Tool. Percent agreement for individual sections of both tools was 79% or higher. Additionally, κ scores for six of eight sections on the Checklist Coaching Tool and for two of five domains on the Surgical Teamwork Tool achieved the desired 0.7 threshold. However, teamwork scores were high and variation was limited. There were no significant changes in the percent agreement or κ scores between the first 10 and last 10 cases observed.

Conclusions

Both tools demonstrated substantial IRR and required limited training to use. These instruments may be used to observe checklist performance and teamwork in the operating room. However, further refinement and calibration of observer expectations, particularly in rating teamwork, could improve the utility of the tools.