bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishing a dedicated toxicology unit reduces length of stay of poisoned patients and saves hospital bed days
Authors: Isoardi Katherine Z , Armitage Melanie C , Harris Keith , Page Colin B
Published: March 2017

Objective

This study evaluates the effect on the average length of stay (LOS), relative stay index (RSI), bed days and costs saved following the establishment of a dedicated clinical toxicology unit in an Australian tertiary referral hospital.

Methods

This retrospective descriptive study uses Health Roundtable and other state and federal data to compare the average LOS, RSI, estimated bed days and costs saved by patients admitted with a diagnosis‐related group (DRG) of X62 (Poisoning/Toxic Effects of Drugs and Other Substances), over the 4 year period 2012–2015. This period corresponds to before and after the introduction of the clinical toxicology unit in February 2014 at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, a tertiary referral teaching hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Results

There was a reduction in the average LOS and RSI from 2.1 days and 122% in 2012 to 0.9 days and 52% in 2015, respectively. This reduction correlates with a reduction in 1350 bed days and a saving of $2.25 million over the 2 year period 2014–2015 since the clinical toxicology unit was established.

Conclusion

The reduction in average LOS is similar to results previously published by two Australian toxicology units over 15 years ago. Despite changes in healthcare delivery since this time, these results continue to support the efficiency and associated cost saving of a dedicated toxicology unit in managing poisoned patients.
Development of a Method for Evaluating Floor Dry‐Cleanability from Wheat Flour in the Food Industry
Authors: Barreca F. , Cardinali G.D. , Borgese E. , Russo M.
Published: March 2017

Many productive processes are characterized by inadequate protocols of sanitation that increase the possibility of proliferation of microbial contaminants, especially on surfaces. The use of this method for evaluating the degree of floor cleanability in agri‐food companies is important not only to reduce the risk of contamination of products, but also to provide companies with a tool to identify critical issues. The method is based on the usage of bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA) in a solution at a 1:50 ratio of Cu2+/BCA, which is ideal for detecting the amount of proteins contained in wheat flour residues on industrial flooring. Spectrophotometric analysis allowed identifying maximum absorbance values at 562 nm for different protein concentrations, although the construction of a regression function led to the definition of the intervals of evaluation corresponding to different degrees of cleanliness from residues of wheat flour. The results of the absorbance curves, obtained by applying the proposed evaluation method to 6 tiles commonly used in agri‐food buildings, showed the clear persistence of food material on 2 tiles with surface relief. In particular, such tiles showed a higher presence of proteins, with a level of contamination 440% higher. Furthermore, a robotic system was designed to standardize the cleaning method commonly employed in agri‐food companies to remove solid particles from flooring.
Lexicon Development, Consumer Acceptance, and Drivers of Liking of Quinoa Varieties
Authors: Wu Geyang , Ross Carolyn F. , Morris Craig F. , Murphy Kevin M.
Published: March 2017

Quinoa is becoming increasingly popular, with an expanding number of commercially available varieties. To compare the sensory properties of these quinoa varieties, a common sensory lexicon needs to be developed. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a lexicon of cooked quinoa and examine consumer acceptance of diverse varieties. A trained panel (n = 9) developed aroma, taste/flavor, texture, and color descriptors to describe the sensory properties of 21 quinoa varieties. In addition, texture of the cooked quinoa was determined using a texture analyzer. Results indicated that the developed lexicon could distinguish among these quinoa varieties, showing significant differences in aromas, taste/flavors, and texture attributes. Specifically, quinoa variety effects were observed for the aromas of caramel, nutty, buttery, grassy, earthy, and woody; taste/flavor of sweet, bitter, grain‐like, nutty, earthy, and toasty; and firm, cohesive, pasty, adhesive, crunchy, chewy, astringent, and moist textures. Three varieties, “QQ74,” “Linares,” and “CO407D,” exhibited an adhesive texture that has not been described in other commercialized quinoa. Subsequent consumer evaluation (n = 100) on 6 selected samples found that the “Commercial Red” sample was the most accepted overall whereas the least accepted was the field variety “QQ74.” For all consumers, overall acceptance of quinoa was driven by higher intensities of grassy aroma, and firm and crunchy texture. Segmentation of the consumers into 4 groups was explored and showed that consumers varied in their acceptance of specific attributes, particularly texture. From the present study, the quinoa lexicon and key drivers of consumer acceptance can be utilized in the industry to evaluate quinoa varieties, product quality and processing procedures.
Particle Size of Milk Protein Concentrate Powder Affects the Texture of High‐Protein Nutrition Bars During Storage
Authors: Banach J.C. , Clark S. , Lamsal B.P
Published: March 2017

Milk protein concentrate powder with 85% protein (MPC85) was jet‐milled to give 2 particle size distributions (that is, JM‐Coarse and JM‐Fine) or freeze‐dried (FD), in order to improve the functional properties of MPC85 for use in high‐protein nutrition (HPN) bars. Volume‐weighted mean diameter decreased from 86 μm to 49, 22, and 8 μm in FD, JM‐Coarse, and JM‐Fine, respectively (P < 0.05). The MPC85 powders modified by jet‐milling and freeze‐drying were significantly denser than the control MPC85 (P < 0.05). Volume of occluded air in the modified powders decreased (P < 0.05) by an order of magnitude, yet only FD possessed a lower volume of interstitial air (P < 0.05). Particle size reduction and freeze‐drying MPC85 decreased its water holding capacity and improved its dispersibility by at least 20%. Contact angle measurements showed that these modifications increased initial hydrophobicity and did not improve wettability. HPN bars made from JM‐Fine or FD were firmer by 40 or 17 N, respectively, than the control on day 0 (P < 0.05). HPN bar maximum compressive force increased by 38%, 33%, and 242% after 42 d at 32 °C when formulated with JM‐Fine, FD, or control MPC85, respectively. HPN bars prepared with JM‐Fine were less crumbly than those formulated with control or FD MPC85. Physically altering the particle structure of MPC85 improved its ability to plasticize within HPN bars and this improved their cohesiveness and textural stability.
Prognositc significance of SUVmax on pretreatment 18F‐FDG PET/CT in early‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Dong Min , Liu Jing , Sun Xiaorong , Xing Ligang
Published: March 2017

Introduction

The prognostic importance of the 18F‐FDG PET maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) for early stage non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is not well defined. The purpose of this meta‐analysis is to evaluate the efficacy of SUVmax on pretreatment 18F‐FDG PET imaging to predict prognosis after SBRT.

Methods

All published English‐language studies that assessed the treatment response after SBRT in patients with early‐stage NSCLC using 18F‐FDG PET were collected from the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases. All the included studies were published between January 2000 and June 2015 and limited to NSCLC, PET/CT, SBRT, and the impact of SUVmax on survival. The necessary data for the calculation of individual hazard ratios (HRs) were extracted from each publication. All the results were independently verified and examined by two reviewers to ensure accuracy.

Results

After evaluating the original articles, 11 retrospective studies (1008 patients) were included into the meta‐analysis. Data were available in 11 studies for pre‐SBRT primary tumour SUVmax. Seven studies (798 patients) were included for the overall survival (OS) analysis with a combined HR of 1.10 (95% CI, 1.05–1.15). Five studies (487 patients) were included for the local control analysis with a combined HR of 1.13 (95% CI, 1.06–1.21). Three studies (365 patients) were analysed for distant metastasis with a combined HR of 1.09 (95% CI, 1.03–1.16).

Conclusion

Patients with high levels of pre‐SBRT SUVmax had poorer overall survival and local control and higher distant metastases. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm the prognostic value of FDG uptake in early‐stage NSCLC patients receiving SBRT.
Safety and efficacy of microwave ablation for medically inoperable colorectal pulmonary metastases: Single‐centre experience
Authors: Ferguson Craig D , Luis Chris R , Steinke Karin
Published: March 2017

Introduction

To evaluate the safety and therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for colorectal pulmonary metastases.

Methods

Retrospective review of CT‐guided lung MWA at a single tertiary institution. Adverse events within 30 days of MWA were considered procedure‐related complications. Imaging follow‐up was with 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT and contrast‐enhanced CT. Response of index tumours was assessed using modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumours (mRECIST).

Results

The CT‐guided lung MWA was performed in 14 patients with treatment of 20 colorectal pulmonary metastases during 19 procedures. Mean follow‐up from completion of the treatment protocol was 24.4 ± 11.8 months. Primary and secondary technique effectiveness rates were 75% and 50% respectively. Mean pre‐ and post‐procedural carcino‐embryonic antigen (CEA) levels were 7.9 ± 10.8 µg/L and 2.5 ± 2.1 µg/L respectively. Procedure‐related complications were major in three procedures (15.8%) and minor in six procedures (31.6%). No procedure‐related deaths occurred.

Conclusion

Microwave ablation is safe and efficacious in the local control of colorectal pulmonary metastases. The frequent systemic disease progression despite local control would favour a minimally invasive treatment option over invasive surgery in the setting of oligometastatic disease.
Collaborative Resource Solutions
Authors: Johnstone Nathalie , Bruni‐Bossio Vince
Published: March 2017

Collaborative Resources Solutions (CRS) is based on a real situation outlining the issues related to buying a service organization. This instructional case requires students to provide advice to a client who is considering purchasing a 50 percent ownership of a similar consulting business with the vision of blending the two companies together and increasing the knowledge base of her current company; therefore improving the ability to target more to clients. The case requires the students to evaluate the strategic, valuation, and financial issues in considering the acquisition of the existing business. In order to do so, students are required to analyze the financial information provided, both historical and forecasted, as well as analyzing key internal operations issues that may impact the future success of the business. This case is suitable for use in upper‐level undergraduate business strategy courses and accounting courses, as well as in master‐level accounting courses. Assessment rubrics and teaching notes accompany the case for use by instructors.
Multiple cutaneous leiomyomas leading to discovery of novel splice mutation in the fumarate hydratase gene associated with HLRCC
Authors: Tan Rachel Yi Ping , Walsh Maie , Howard Anne , Winship Ingrid
Published: March 2017

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) is a rare autosomal dominant condition, which manifests as cutaneous leiomyomas (CL), uterine fibroids and renal cell cancer (RCC). We describe the case of a 53‐year‐old woman who presented with multiple CL with a novel heterozygous canonical splice site mutation in intron 9 of the fumarate hydratase (FH) gene IVS 9–1 G>C (NM_000143.3:c 1391–1 G>C) that was not detected on initial screening of a mutation hotspot but was picked up on sequencing the remaining exons and splice site junctions. This report highlights the importance of clinical suspicion in the diagnosis of HLRCC in the absence of a family or personal history of cancer and despite initial genetic testing being negative.
The efficacy of Australian essential oils for the treatment of head lice infestation in children: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Greive Kerryn A , Barnes Tanya M
Published: March 2017

Background

The increase in resistance of head lice to neurotoxic pediculicides and public concern over their safety has led to an increase in alternative treatments, many of which are poorly researched or even untested.

Methods

A multicentre, randomised, assessor‐blind, parallel‐group trial (Trial 1) was conducted to compare the safety and efficacy of a head lice treatment containing Australian eucalyptus oil and Leptospermum petersonii (EO/LP solution; applied thrice with 7‐day intervals between applications) with a neurotoxic treatment containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide (P/PB mousse; applied twice with a 7‐day interval) in children. A single‐blind, open trial (Trial 2) was conducted to assess the efficacy of EO/LP solution following a single application. In addition, skin irritancy and sensitisation tests using EO/LP solution were performed in adults and children. In vitro tests were performed to further assess the ovicidal and pediculicidal efficacy of EO/LP solution.

Results

EO/LP solution was found to be more than twice as effective in curing head lice infestation as P/PB mousse in per‐protocol participants (Trial 1; 83% vs 36%, P < 0.0001), and was also found to be 100% pediculicidal following a single application (Trial 2). Adverse events were limited to transient itching, burning or stinging. Further skin testing with the EO/LP solution reported no irritation or sensitisation in adults, or irritation in children. In vitro exposure of lice and eggs to the EO/LP solution resulted in 100% mortality.

Conclusion

The efficacy, safety and relative ease of use of the EO/LP solution make it a viable alternative in treating head lice.
Gray Matters on Screen: Intelligence Agencies, Secret Societies, and Hollywood Movies
Authors: Franz Aaron
Published: March 2017

We normally think of government agencies as acting in a purely rational and instrumental way. In the case of intelligence agencies, we presume they rely on reason and science to protect the national interest. By contrast, the general view of secret societies and occult groups is that they engage in rituals and practices that have little or nothing to do with normal social intercourse, or even with reality. This article shows that these common assumptions are false, and that secret societies and intelligence agencies share many important traits. Our understanding of the CIA's role in supporting the production of Hollywood movies will be enhanced by taking these similarities into account. Intelligence work and the operations of secret societies are shown to overlap in five categories: religious underpinnings, occult practices to control the mind, cryptography, violations of social convention, and cryptic transparency—the ability to carry out secret activities in plain sight. These affinities explain why the CIA can promote movies that are actually quite candid in their revelation of the dark underside of the Agency. In so doing, the CIA projects a subliminal message that whatever questionable actions it takes are justified by a higher good, which can only be known by insiders.
Edward Snowden, Frenemy of the State
Authors: Tarzie
Published: March 2017

The Edward Snowden whistleblowing event is a calculated spectacle of pseudo‐dissidence that has more in common with Hollywood‐produced propaganda than with genuine whistleblowing. This article presents evidence that Snowden has lied on a number of occasions, calling his credibility into question. Nothing that Snowden has revealed was truly a secret, since several previous whistleblowers had reported, since 2002, about illegal mass surveillance of American citizens by the National Security Agency. Snowden's most striking difference from other NSA whistleblowers is the warm embrace from mainstream media, which has made him a celebrity. The 1998 theatrical film Enemy of the State contained the same sorts of revelations offered by Snowden, and imparts a number of messages to its audience about the security state that are strikingly similar to recurring messages in the Snowden Affair. Since that movie was made with assistance from the CIA these similarities are important to considering how authentic and socially useful his whistleblowing is. It seems evident from Snowden's support for the renewal of the Patriot Act (now the Freedom Act), that he objectively serves the interests of the surveillance state, rather than the public it spies upon.
Why are the Pentagon and the CIA in Hollywood?
Authors: Secker Tom , Alford Matthew
Published: March 2017

The CIA and the U.S. Department of Defense are both engaged in programs to influence the content of movies produced by Hollywood studios. Although they claim their only purpose in these ventures is to guarantee the accuracy of how military and intelligence activities are conducted, it is clear that their agenda goes beyond that goal. Their true aims include ensuring that movies project a positive image of the relevant government agencies. However, the CIA and DoD differ in their understanding of what constitutes good publicity. Films scrutinized and supported by military agencies are primarily evaluated according to whether they provide a vehicle for showing the technical and organizational competence of the Pentagon. To that end, films based on comic book characters or extraterrestrial invaders are viewed positively because they show the war‐fighting capacity of the military without having to name any actual enemy. The CIA, by contrast, prefers to support films that enable citizens to develop a stronger sense of patriotism in a world of moral ambiguities. As a result, the CIA is much less fearful of revealing the dark side of its undertakings, as long as a given movie presents a story that shows the value of the CIA in protecting the security of the nation.
Learning to Love Biomimetic Killing: How Jurassic World Embraces Life Forms as Weapons
Authors: Andersen Robin
Published: March 2017

This article examines how the latest film in a series of movies about a dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, became entangled in the politics of military representations in popular culture. Beginning with the ways in which the Pentagon has influenced the film industry in the 9/11 media environment, we go on to detail how Jurassic World enacts the current high‐tech military research into biowarfare—weaponizing animals and defining nature as the ultimate killing machine. In the film, the dino‐stars are harnessed into battle to protect the humans, led by a former Navy soldier who takes a pack of Velociraptors, and filmgoers, on a thrilling hunt to destroy a bioengineered, genetically modified dino‐monster. Though the film offers a commercial critique of designing animals purely for profit, it fails to challenge the profit‐making ties between the military industries, weapons technology, and corporate entertainment media. Character depictions, narrative, and visual and filmic storytelling devices are explored in order to identify the tropes directing the film's message. Ultimately, Jurassic World presents the military's new frontier of biowarfare with enthusiasm, not skepticism, and Hollywood welcomes a “brave new world” in which the biological world has been harnessed for military purposes.
The Many Layers of Meaning of 007
Authors: Dyer Jay
Published: March 2017

Until Umberto Eco developed a semiotic analysis of Ian Fleming's series of novels with James Bond as the protagonist, few literary critics took them seriously. That was a mistake. There are many layers of meaning in Fleming's simple prose, and some of those layers may still elude analysts. The Bond series of books and novels have been mined for ideas about cultural change, sexuality, politics, consumerism, the body as symbol, and other features of the Bond persona. Yet, all of these methods of analysis fail to dig beneath the surface. To fully comprehend the character of James Bond, this article suggests that one must take into account the imperialism of the author, Ian Fleming, who strongly believed in the national destiny of England. Another crucial feature that underlies the motivations of James Bond is the ideology of eugenics, which Fleming wholeheartedly embraced. Finally, some features of the Bond series only make sense if one considers the mystical and alchemical beliefs of Fleming. The heroic archetype of James Bond is not merely a symbol of patriotism. Bond, in a sense, is an alchemist who is able to draw upon elements of fantasy to bring about a purpose that is even higher than nationalism.
Equation and Adequation: The World Traced by the Phillips Curve
Authors: Mann Geoff
Published: March 2017

This paper considers the power of abstract formalization in capitalism, via an account of the politics and geography of an equation. The equation in question lies behind the Phillips curve, which describes the relation between price inflation and unemployment or output. I examine the evolution of the equation and its relation to macroeconomics' renewed emphasis, since the late 1960s, on long‐run monetary neutrality. Considering the Phillips curve and its theoretical and technical armature as social practice, I discuss some of the political and distributional questions that arise from the mode of spatial and temporal abstraction particular to modern macroeconomic analysis and policy‐making. The paper has three parts: a brief history of the Phillips curve, an examination of its modern equation‐form, and an analysis of its part in the dialectical process of “real abstraction”, through which logical space and time prioritize and produce both the spatial “macro” and the temporal “long‐run”.
CSR and the workplace attitudes of irregular employees: The case of subcontracted workers in Korea
Authors: Ali Mohammad A. , Jung Heung‐Jun
Published: March 2017

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in organizational trends to hire irregular workers. This inclination, in a time of great flux and uncertainty, exacerbates human resource issues faced by firms. We argue that corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be an important antecedent to improve the workplace attitudes of irregular workers and as a result reduce the negative impact on organizations of the increased use of an irregular workforce. Hence, we explore the relationship between perceived CSR (composite and disaggregated) and unfairness perception and social relations of subcontracted workers with regular workers. We further attempt to explain these relationships through the mediating effects of psychological contract violation and organizational identity, respectively. Our analysis supports a negative effect of composite and external CSR on unfairness perception and positive effect on social relations. Additionally, our results support partial mediating roles of psychological contract violation and organizational identity. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are also discussed.
Consequences of childhood reading difficulties and behaviour problems for educational achievement and employment in early adulthood
Authors: Smart Diana , Youssef George J. , Sanson Ann , Prior Margot , Toumbourou John W. , Olsson Craig A.
Published: March 2017

Background

Reading difficulties (RDs) and behaviour problems (BPs) are two common childhood problems that have a high degree of stability and often negatively affect well‐being in both the short and longer terms.

Aims

The study aimed to shed light on the unique and joint consequences of these two childhood problems for educational and occupational outcomes in early adulthood.

Sample

Data were drawn from a life‐course longitudinal study of psychosocial development, the Australian Temperament Project.

Methods

Parent and teacher reports and a standard reading test were used to define four groups of children at 7–8 years: RDs only; BPs only; both problems; and neither problem. These groups were followed forward to ascertain educational attainment and employment status at 19–20 and 23–24 years.

Results

Each childhood problem was a unique risk for poorer educational and occupational outcomes, with co‐occurring problems significantly increasing the risk of poorer educational outcomes. Further analyses revealed that the effects of childhood BPs on occupational status were mediated by secondary school non‐completion, but childhood RDs were not.

Conclusions

The findings point to the importance of screening and early intervention to prevent or minimize the development of these two childhood problems, as well as continuing to support vulnerable children to increase their likelihood of secondary school completion.
Theory of mind and wisdom: The development of different forms of perspective‐taking in late adulthood
Authors: Rakoczy Hannes , Wandt Raphaela , Thomas Stefanie , Nowak Jana , Kunzmann Ute
Published: March 2017

How does perspective‐taking develop over the lifespan? This question has been investigated in two separate research traditions, dealing with theory of mind (ToM) and wisdom, respectively. Operating in almost complete isolation from each other, and using rather different conceptual approaches, these two traditions have produced seemingly contradictory results: While perspective‐taking has been consistently found to decline in old age in ToM research, studies on wisdom have mostly found that perspective‐taking remains constant or sometimes even increases in later adulthood. This study sought to integrate these two lines of research and clarify the seemingly contradictory patterns of findings by systematically testing for both forms of perspective‐taking and their potential cognitive foundations. The results revealed (1) the dissociation in developmental patterns between ToM perspective‐taking (declining with age) and wisdom‐related perspective‐taking (no decline with age) also held – documented here for the first time – in one and the same sample of younger versus older adults; (2) this dissociation was of limited generality: It did not (or only partly) hold once the material of the two types of tasks was more closely matched; and (3) the divergent developmental patterns of ToM perspective‐taking versus wisdom‐related perspective‐taking could be accounted for to some degree by the fact that only TOM perspective‐taking was related to developmental changes in fluid intelligence.
Disabled people, medical inadmissibility, and the differential politics of immigration
Authors: Wilton Robert , Hansen Stine , Hall Edward
Published: March 2017

Key Messages

Medical inadmissibility provisions in Canada's immigration law exclude some disabled applicants on the basis that they would place “excessive demand” on health and social services.

These statutory provisions construct disabled persons as burdensome, with little acknowledgment of the potential contributions such applicants might make to Canada.

Recent legal cases have contested this narrow reading of disability, but have yet to challenge the underlying assumptions of the provision.
A systematic review examining quality of life following pelvic exenteration for locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer
Authors: Rausa E. , Kelly M. E. , Bonavina L. , O'Connell P. R. , Winter D. C.
Published: March 2017

Aim

Pelvic exenteration is a complex surgical procedure associated with considerable morbidity. Quality of life (QoL) is a crucial metric of surgical outcome. The aim of this review was to assess the QoL following pelvic exenteration for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and local recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC).

Method

A comprehensive search of studies published between 2000 and 2016 that examined QoL outcome following pelvic exenteration was performed. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Colorectal (FACT‐C), SF‐36 version 2, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ‐C30, and Brief Pain Inventory assessments from these studies were reviewed.

Results

Seven studies reporting on 382 patients were included. Baseline QoL was the strongest predictor of postoperative QoL. Female gender, total pelvic exenteration with or without bone resection, and positive surgical margins were associated with a reduced QoL. In the majority of patients, QoL gradually improved between 2 and 9 months post‐operation.

Conclusion

QoL is an important patient‐reported outcome. This review highlights factors associated with reduced postoperative QoL that should be borne in mind when surgical resection is being considered.
Surviving in Contemporary Kerala: Reflections from Recent Research in a Fisher Village
Authors: Devika J.
Published: March 2017

This article is based on mixed‐method field research in Adimalathura, a coastal village in south Kerala, India, which has been identified as one of the poorest communities in the area. Although this fishing community has been facing severe ecological challenges, including massive resource depletion, it has been able to put up stiff resistance to impending dispossession in the face of a large port project actively promoted by the government, most major political parties and globalized capital. This article traces the history of public action and work in Adimalathura since the early 20th century, and reflects on its significance in the context of the present resistance. It examines the role of women in bolstering the community in times of severe challenges to men's livelihoods, and highlights the importance of women's provisioning work. Ultimately, the author cautions against exaggerating community strength and the capacities of the women even when they are able to utilize available resources competently.
Bumblebees take the high road: climatically integrative biogeography shows that escape from Tibet, not Tibetan uplift, is associated with divergences of present‐day Mendacibombus
Authors: Williams Paul H. , Lobo Jorge M. , Meseguer Andrea S.
Published: March 2017

Many claims that uplift of the Qinghai‐Tibetan plateau (QTP) drove the divergences of extant high‐elevation biota have recently been challenged. For Mendacibombus bumblebees, high‐elevation specialists with distributions centred on the QTP, we examine broader explanations. We extend integrative biogeography to cover multiple contributing factors by using a framework of sequential filters: 1) molecular evidence from four genes is used to estimate phylogenetic relationships, with time calibration from a published estimate; 2) spatial evidence from current distributions is combined with the phylogeny and constrained by a model of short‐distance dispersal along mountain corridors to estimate ancestral distributions by both S‐DIVA and S‐DEC analysis; 3) geological evidence from the literature is used to constrain when high mountain ranges were uplifted to become potential corridors; and 4) climatological evidence from Mendacibombus niche‐evolution reconstructions and from palaeoclimate simulations is used to constrain when habitat was suitable in key gaps within corridors. Explanations for Mendacibombus distributions can be identified that require only short‐distance dispersal along mountain corridors, commensurate with the limited dispersal ability observed for bumblebees. These explanations depend on the timing of uplift of mountain ranges, regional climate change, and climate‐niche evolution. The uplift of the QTP may have contributed to the initial Oligocene divergence of the common ancestor of Mendacibombus from other bumblebees, but for the first two thirds of the history of Mendacibombus, only a single lineage has present‐day descendants. Divergence of multiple extant Mendacibombus lineages coincided with the Late Miocene–Pliocene uplift of externally connecting mountains, combined with regional climate cooling. These changes provided greater connectivity of suitable habitat, allowing these bumblebees to disperse out of the western QTP via new high bridges, escaping along the mountain corridors of the Tian Shan and Hindu Kush ranges, reaching eventually far to the west (Iberian Peninsula) and to the north‐east (Kamchatka).
The influence of nest site selection on the population dynamics of Africanized honey bees in an urban landscape
Authors: Birt Andrew G. , Chen Szu‐Hung V. , Baum Kristen A. , Tchakerian Maria D. , Coulson Robert N.
Published: March 2017

Urban landscapes provide habitat for many species, including domesticated and feral honey bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). With recent losses of managed honey bee colonies, there is increasing interest in feral honey bee colonies and their potential contribution to pollination services in agricultural, natural, and urban settings. However, in some regions the feral honey bee population consists primarily of Africanized honey bees. Africanized honey bees (AHB) are hybrids between European honey bees and the African honey bee, Apis mellifera scutellataLepeletier, and have generated economic, ecological, and human health concerns because of their aggressive behavior. In this study, we used two long‐term datasets (7–10 years) detailing the spatial and temporal distribution of AHB colonies in Tucson, AZ, USA, where feral colonies occupy a variety of cavities including water meter boxes. A stage‐structured matrix model was used to elucidate the implications of nest site selection and the effects of colony terminations on the structure and dynamics of the AHB population. Our results suggest that Tucson's AHB population is driven by a relatively small number of ‘source’ colonies that escape termination (ca. 0.165 colonies per km2 or 125 colonies in total), although immigrating swarms and absconding colonies from the surrounding area may have also contributed to the stability of the Tucson AHB population. Furthermore, the structure of the population has likely been impacted by the number and spatial distribution of water meter boxes across the city. The study provides an example of how urban wildlife populations are driven by interactions among landscape structure, human management, and behavioral traits conferred by an invasive genotype.
An in situ method for real‐time measurement of gas transport in soil
Authors: Laemmel T. , Maier M. , Schack‐Kirchner H. , Lang F.
Published: March 2017

Soil aeration is central to the biogeochemistry of soil. Gas transport in soil is governed mainly by molecular diffusion and depends on the soil gas diffusion coefficient (DS). Several methods exist to determine this property based on field and laboratory measurements. These methods, however, are unsuitable for continuous monitoring of DS over time. Moreover, non‐diffusive processes can affect gas transport in soil during certain situations that last several hours only and discontinuous measurements might fail to identify such processes. We developed a novel in situ method for the real‐time monitoring of gas transport in soil. Helium (He) was injected continuously into the soil and the resulting steady‐state gas profile was monitored. We used a gas sampling probe with very permeable membranes, which enables passive sampling of the soil gas at different depths. The DS profile was modelled by inverse finite‐element modelling (FEM) of an exact geometrical model of the sampler and soil. Molecular diffusion was assumed to be the only process of gas transport. The method was tested in the laboratory with different granular materials and in two field studies. The DS values obtained with this new method agreed well with reference measurements from soil cores and diffusion models. Soil gas diffusivity was monitored over a few days that included a major rain event. During this period the effect of increasing soil moisture on gas transport in soil could be observed in real time. Our novel method is suitable for monitoring gas transport in soil over several days. This enables the monitoring and investigation of situations including non‐diffusive transport processes that result from barometric pressure changes or strong wind events.

Highlights

We present a novel method for in situ monitoring of gas transport in soil.

Helium was continuously injected into the soil and its distribution in the soil modelled.

Soil gas diffusivity profiles determined in situ agreed well with laboratory measurements of DS.

Our novel method is ideal for the investigation of specific situations in gas transport in soil.
Volvulus of the large colon in a neonatal foal
Authors: du Preez S. , Trope G. D. , Owens C. , Hughes K. J.
Published: March 2017

A one‐day‐old Thoroughbred colt foal was presented for assessment of abdominal pain and reduced urine output. Physical examination of the foal revealed marked abdominal distension, mild tachycardia, tachypnoea and congested mucous membranes. A marked anechoic peritoneal effusion, intestinal hypomotility and mural thickening of the large colon were detected sonographically. Serosanguinous fluid was obtained by abdominocentesis. After haemodynamic stabilisation, the foal underwent general anaesthesia and exploratory laparotomy and a 720° volvulus of the large colon at the sternal and diaphragmatic flexures was identified. After correction of the volvulus, the intraoperative findings were consistent with nonviability of the affected portion of the colon. The owner declined partial colon resection and elected for euthanasia of the foal. Although rare in neonatal foals, large colon volvulus should be considered in foals with signs of abdominal pain, abdominal distension and ultrasonographic findings of colonic mural thickening and luminal distension.
A pulmonary metastatic model of murine melanoma assessed by magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Numata Takafumi , Kiryu Shigeru , Maeda Tatsuo , Egusa Chizu , Tsuboi Ryoji , Harada Kazutoshi
Published: March 2017

Immune checkpoint inhibitors and kinase inhibitors have improved prognosis of malignant melanoma (MM) patients. However, these therapies cannot completely overcome the metastasis of MM. Thus, development of new therapy against metastasis should be required. A first step towards this goal, the aim of this study, is to establish a model of pulmonary metastasis from primary cutaneous MM and a monitoring system. B16‐F10, a murine melanoma cell line, was subcutaneously injected into the pinna of mice. The pinna was excised when the lesion was detected. A metastatic nodule on T2‐weighted imaging was detected 4 weeks after resection of the pinna. Lung metastases were observed in 37.5% (6/16) of the specimens. We established a novel murine model of the high pulmonary metastasis of MM. The MRI was useful for observations of the growth of the metastatic lesions in the lungs without dissection.
Type IV collagen aggregates promote keratinocyte proliferation and formation of epidermal layer in human skin equivalents
Authors: Matsuura‐Hachiya Yuko , Arai Koji Y. , Muraguchi Taichi , Sasaki Tasuku , Nishiyama Toshio
Published: March 2017

Type IV collagen isolated from lens capsule without enzymatic treatment is known to form a gel under physiological condition and influences cellular activities. In case of human keratinocytes, the suppression of proliferation on reconstituted type IV collagen gels was reported in monolayer culture. In this study, we examined effects of type IV collagen isolated from porcine lens capsule on epidermal formation in human skin equivalents (HSEs). Type IV collagen aggregates were prepared under the culture condition and the aggregates suppressed keratinocyte proliferation in monolayer culture as well as the culture on the gels. In HSEs, type IV collagen aggregates were reconstituted on the surface of contracted collagen gels containing human dermal fibroblasts and the keratinocytes were then cultured on the aggregates for 14 days. Interestingly, in HSEs with type IV collagen aggregates, the BrdU‐positive keratinocytes were increased and the thickness of the epidermal layer was around twice than that of control culture. Epidermal differentiation markers were expressed in the upper layer of the epidermis and the defined deposition of human basement membrane components were increased at the dermal‐epidermal junction. These results indicate that the type IV collagen aggregates stimulate the proliferation of basal keratinocytes and improve the stratification of epidermal layers in HSEs.
Stepfamily Relationship Quality and Children's Internalizing and Externalizing Problems
Authors: Jensen Todd M. , Lippold Melissa A. , Mills‐Koonce Roger , Fosco Gregory M.
Published: March 2017

The stepfamily literature is replete with between‐group analyses by which youth residing in stepfamilies are compared to youth in other family structures across indicators of adjustment and well‐being. Few longitudinal studies examine variation in stepfamily functioning to identify factors that promote the positive adjustment of stepchildren over time. Using a longitudinal sample of 191 stepchildren (56% female, mean age = 11.3 years), the current study examines the association between the relationship quality of three central stepfamily dyads (stepparent–child, parent–child, and stepcouple) and children's internalizing and externalizing problems concurrently and over time. Results from path analyses indicate that higher levels of parent–child affective quality are associated with lower levels of children's concurrent internalizing and externalizing problems at Wave 1. Higher levels of stepparent–child affective quality are associated with decreases in children's internalizing and externalizing problems at Wave 2 (6 months beyond baseline), even after controlling for children's internalizing and externalizing problems at Wave 1 and other covariates. The stepcouple relationship was not directly linked to youth outcomes. Our findings provide implications for future research and practice.
‘VON UNS AUS BETRACHTET – EBEN VERRÜCKT!’: LOUISE VON COBURG, PROFLIGACY, AND FELIX SALTEN'S CAMPAIGN FOR A CIVIL CONSENSUS
Authors: Krobb Florian
Published: March 2017

Royal scandals intrigued Austrian (and indeed European) society right through the nineteenth and into the twentieth century. In the light of Karl Kraus's commentary and Felix Salten's literary treatment, the case of Princess Louise of Belgium, who left her husband Philipp von Coburg and was institutionalised for six years in 1898 because her adultery and her uncontrolled spending were diagnosed as symptoms of insanity, can be read as an irritant and a challenge to civil society's principles of equality, inclusiveness, and due process. Issues that come to the fore here include the status of sexual morality and financial probity as core civic virtues (as a foray into legal debates on profligacy demonstrates), as well as the duties or failures of agents of civil society such as the legal and medical professions and journalism, to uphold its principles.

Skandale um Mitglieder von Herrscherhäusern hielten die österreichische (und gesamteuropäische) Öffentlichkeit während des gesamten neunzehnten und frühen zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts in Atem. Im Lichte von Karl Kraus’ Satiren und Felix Saltens literarischen Behandlungen gelesen, enthüllt sich der Fall der Prinzessin Louise von Belgien, die ihren Ehemann Philipp von Coburg verließ und 1898 auf Grund von Ehebruchs‐ und Verschwendungsvorwürfen für sechs Jahre in eine Irrenanstalt eingeliefert wurde, als Herausforderung für die Gleichheits‐ und Toleranzideale der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft. Auf dem Prüfstand stehen nicht nur Sexualmoral und finanzielle Redlichkeit, sondern auch die Rolle von Medizin, Justiz und Journalismus als Repräsentanten bürgerlicher Prinzipien.
The Creative Economies of Texas Metropolitan Regions: A Comparative Analysis Before, During, and After the Recession
Authors: Seman Michael , Carroll Michael C.
Published: March 2017

With the exception of Austin, metropolitan regions in Texas are not commonly included in research and analysis concerning creative economies—attention is largely focused on either the traditional capitals of creative production, New York and Los Angeles, or emerging, secondary regions such as Austin and Seattle, Washington. This article utilizes an industrial approach to examine the creative economies of the four most populous metropolitan regions of Texas—Austin, Dallas‐Ft. Worth, Houston, and San Antonio—and detail their scale, scope, and change between 2005 and 2015. Results help establish the creative economies of the Dallas‐Ft. Worth, Houston, and San Antonio metropolitan regions in the existing stream of creative research and discussion, offer further perspective on the dynamics and strength of the Austin region's creative economy, and provide insight into how regional creative economies emerge in rapidly urbanizing regions during the digital era. Additionally, special attention is paid to how these four creative economies transformed during the recessionary period from 2007 to 2009. Results of that attention build on prior research which points to the recession having a varied influence on creative economies depending on trends in the broader regional economies that house them.
Heterogeneity of nitrification potentials within a paddock of a sheep farming system
Authors: Mogi Hirosato , Anzai Miyuki , Uchida Yoshitaka
Published: March 2017

Nitrification and denitrification are important processes of the nitrogen (N) cycle in soils because of their relations to N availability for plants and to environmental risks. However, paddock scale heterogeneity of these processes is not well understood in pasture ecosystems. Thus, we focused on the variability of nitrification and denitrification potentials within one pasture paddock. Twelve soil samples were taken from various places within a 2.3 ha paddock in September and were analyzed for nitrification and denitrification potentials, inorganic‐N, total carbon (C) and N, C/N ratio, soil pH and moisture contents. The variability of the denitrification potentials was smaller than that of the nitrification potentials. We found that inorganic‐N, total C and N, and soil pH were positively correlated to the nitrification potential. We also identified a “hot‐area” with 3.3‐fold higher nitrification potentials than other areas. A better understanding of this paddock scale nitrification variability may help to decrease environmental risks, such as nitrate leaching and/or nitrous oxide emissions, and to improve N use efficiencies.
Risks of unregulated use of alpha‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone analogues: a review
Authors: Habbema Louis , Halk Anne Berthe , Neumann Martino , Bergman Wilma
Published: March 2017

Recently, the unregulated use of untested synthetic alpha‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) analogues, commonly known as melanotan I and II, appears to have increased. These analogues are primarily used for their tan‐stimulating effects. Dermatologists see many patients in their clinic who tan. This review provides an overview of the risks of the unregulated use of these substances. Other topics discussed here include the history and safety of afamelanotide, which is the only α‐MSH analogue that is approved for use in a limited number of medical indications. Although afamelanotide has been thoroughly tested and deemed safe, illegal melanotans are likely risky for several reasons. There are questions regarding the preparation, administration, and dosage of these substances. In addition to these general risks, increasing numbers of case reports indicate that the unregulated use of both melanotan I and II is associated with cutaneous complications, particularly melanocytic changes in existing moles and newly emerging (dysplastic) nevi. Four case reports have described melanomas emerging from existing moles either during or shortly after the use of melanotan. Although conclusive evidence linking these phenomena is lacking, publications have stressed the importance of awareness that melanotan is a part of a ‘tanning culture’ in certain subpopulations. Multiple national health organizations have issued safety warnings regarding the use of melanotan I and II.