bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical characterization of parts produced by ceramic on‐demand extrusion process
Authors: Ghazanfari Amir , Li Wenbin , Leu Ming , Watts Jeremy , Hilmas Gregory
Published: February 2017

Ceramic On‐Demand Extrusion (CODE) is an additive manufacturing process recently developed to produce dense three‐dimensional ceramic components. In this paper, the properties of parts produced using this freeform extrusion fabrication process are described. High solids loading (~60 vol%) alumina paste was prepared to fabricate parts and standard test methods were employed to examine their properties including the density, strength, Young's modulus, Weibull modulus, toughness, and hardness. Microstructural evaluation was also performed to measure the grain size and critical flaw size. The results indicate that the properties of parts surpass most other ceramic additive manufacturing processes and match conventional fabrication techniques.
Spectrum and clinical variants of giant cell elastolytic granuloma
Authors: Chen Wan‐Ting , Hsiao Pa‐Fan , Wu Yu‐Hung
Published: February 2017

Background

Giant cell elastolytic granuloma, also known as annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma or actinic granuloma, is histologically characterized by elastophagocytosis. Recent studies have revealed various clinical presentations in both sun‐exposed and non‐sun‐exposed areas.

Objectives

To clarify clinical characteristics based on case series observation.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients who fulfilled the pathological diagnosis criteria for giant cell elastolytic granuloma seen at Mackay Memorial Hospital from 2000 to 2014. Patient characteristics, clinical presentation, duration, associated diseases, treatment, and prognosis were analyzed.

Results

A total of 22 patients were analyzed and categorized into three major variants. Eight patients with the “annular form” showed large annular lesions, which were usually associated with sun exposure. Six patients with the “papular form” presented with small papules. Eight patients in the “mixed form” group exhibited both papules and smaller annular plaques. The papular form had the youngest age of onset and shortest disease duration. The known consequences in 19 patients were resolved in seven, improved in three, recurred in four, and persisted in five patients.

Conclusions

The term “giant cell elastolytic granuloma” is more appropriate because these were not completely related to actinic changes and may be nonannular. The papular form is not easily recognizable without a biopsy.
Melasma: systematic review of the systemic treatments
Authors: Zhou Linghong Linda , Baibergenova Akerke
Published: February 2017

Currently available treatment options for melasma include prevention of UV radiation, topical lightening agents, chemical peels, and light‐based and laser therapies. However, none have shown effective and sustained results, with incomplete clearance and frequent recurrences. There has been increasing interest recently in oral medications and dietary supplements in improving melasma. We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety/tolerability of oral medications and dietary supplements for the treatment of melasma. Multiple databases were systematically searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the use of oral medication for treatment of melasma alone or in combination with other treatments. A total of eight RCTs met inclusion criteria. Oral medications and dietary supplements evaluated include tranexamic acid, Polypodium leucotomos extract, beta‐carotenoid, melatonin, and procyanidin. These agents appear to have a beneficial effect on melasma improvement. In conclusion, oral medications have a role in melasma treatment and have been shown to be efficacious and tolerable with a minimal number and severity of adverse events. Therefore, dermatologists should keep oral medications and dietary supplements in their armamentarium for the treatment of melasma.
Spatial imprints of plate tectonics on extant richness of terrestrial vertebrates
Authors: Descombes Patrice , Leprieur Fabien , Albouy Camille , Heine Christian , Pellissier Loïc
Published: February 2017

Aim

In interaction with past climate changes, it is likely that plate tectonics contributed to the shaping of current global species diversity, but so far this has not been statistically quantified at the global level. Here, we tested whether plate tectonics since the breakup of Gondwana left an imprint on current patterns of species richness of amphibians, birds and mammals.

Location

Global.

Methods

We reconstructed the absolute positions of continental plates since the Early Cretaceous and used this information to derive variables of latitudinal shifts and potential exchanges among landmasses that could have modulated species richness. Using a multi‐model inference approach combining both contemporary and historical variables, we quantified the relative importance of variables related to plate tectonics in explaining the spatial variation of the richness of amphibians, birds and mammals. Next, we employed a moving window approach to test whether plate tectonics left a more marked imprint in specific regions.

Results

Plate tectonics left an imprint on current patterns of vertebrate species richness in geologically singular regions, especially in the Indo‐Australian Archipelago and the region comprising eastern Africa and Madagascar. For birds and mammals, but not amphibians, we found a marked contrast in species richness across Australia and Southeast Asia and eastern Africa and Madagascar associated with plate tectonics. Moreover, the relationship between species richness and plate tectonics varied across taxonomic orders for birds and mammals.

Main conclusions

While no general imprint of plate tectonics was detected at the global scale, our regional analysis highlighted a substantial role of geodynamics in shaping current patterns of vertebrate species richness in Southeast Asia and Madagascar. Future studies should integrate the full range of processes associated with plate tectonics, including orogeny, not considered here.
Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Defibrillators: Triggers, Treatment, and Implications
Authors: LINK MARK S. , BOCKSTALL KATY , WEINSTOCK JONATHAN , ALSHEIKH‐ALI ALAWI A. , SEMSARIAN CHRISTOPHER , ESTES N. A. MARK , SPIRITO PAOLO , HAAS TAMMY S. , ROWIN ETHAN J. , MARON MARTIN S. , MARON BARRY J.
Published: February 2017

Ventricular Arrhythmias in HCM

Introduction

Triggers and ICD interventions of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) offer insight into mechanisms and treatment.

Methods and Results

Intracardiac ICD electrograms from 71 HCM patients in the HCM I and II studies were analyzed by three individuals. Rhythms were defined as VF (polymorphic ventricular arrhythmia), VT (monomorphic ventricular tachycardia), and ventricular flutter (VFL; VT ≥ 240 bpm). Physical activity and rhythm preceding the arrhythmia were ascertained. Of 149 arrhythmias, VF was present in 74, VT in 57, and VFL in 18. In those whose activity was known, moderate or intense physical activity was associated with over 50% of the tachycardias (57 of 111). Rhythms preceding ventricular arrhythmias were often sinus tachycardia (49 of 149; 33%) or rapid atrial fibrillation (7 of 149; 5%). VF and VFL were more likely preceded by supraventricular rhythms >100 bpm (30 of 68 with VF; 44%; 12 of 16 with VFL 75%, vs. 14 of 50 with VT 28%; P = 0.001). Antitachycardia pacing (ATP) was successful in 39 of 53 (74%). Multiple shocks were more often required to terminate VFL (10 of 18; 56%) compared to VF (10 of 72; 14%) and VT (2 of 25; 8%; P < 0.0001). Of arrhythmias requiring more than one shock to terminate, 16 of 22 were preceded by sinus tachycardia and/or moderate or extreme physical activity.

Conclusions

Rapid supraventricular rhythms, and at least moderate activity, frequently precede VT and VF, and when they occur in these situations often require multiple ICD shocks to restore sinus rhythm. ATP is successful in terminating VT and VFL, and should be a programmed in all HCM patients with ICDs.
Performance of Orius insidiosus on alternative foods
Authors: Bernardo A. M. G. , de Oliveira C. M. , Oliveira R. A. , Vacacela H. E. , Venzon M. , Pallini A. , Janssen A.
Published: February 2017

Orius insidiosus is economically important for biological control of pests of vegetable and ornamental crops. To improve pest control with this predator, its densities in the crops can be enhanced by the provision of alternative foods, especially when prey are scarce. We therefore compared the performance of O. insidiosus on three alternative foods (Ricinus sp. pollen, bee pollen and the mixed stages of the astigmatid prey Tyrophagus putrescentiae) that are cheaper than frozen eggs of Ephestia kuehniella. Juvenile development was significantly shorter on E. kuehniella and T. putrescentiae than on Ricinus sp. pollen and on bee pollen and lowest without food. Female bugs had a higher oviposition rate when fed either E. kuehniella or T. putrescentiae, but produced fewer eggs when feeding on bee pollen and Ricinus sp. pollen. This shows that T. putrescentiae can possibly be used as cheap alternative food to boost predator populations in periods of low prey densities.
Isolation and characterization of an atypical Siberian sturgeon herpesvirus strain in Russia: novel North American Acipenserid herpesvirus 2 strain in Europe?
Authors: Doszpoly A , Kalabekov I M , Breyta R , Shchelkunov I S
Published: February 2017

Siberian sturgeon herpesvirus (SbSHV) was isolated in Russia for the first time in 2006. Nine SbSHV isolates were recovered from different fish hatcheries producing the same cytopathic effect in cell cultures, the same clinical signs and mortality kinetics in virus‐infected fish and the same virus neutralization pattern and shared identical nucleotide sequences. In 2011, a new isolate was recovered from juvenile sturgeon, which caused completely different cytopathic effect. That isolate was not readily neutralized by Siberian sturgeon hyperimmune antisera, and its DNA was not recognized by the routine PCR developed for SbSHV detection. Molecular study of the novel isolate revealed that it was more closely related to North American Acipenserid herpesvirus 2 (AciHV‐2) isolates from white sturgeon, while the genome sequences of the former SbSHV isolates showed high similarity to the AciHV‐2 isolated from shortnose sturgeon. While clinical signs and mortality caused by the novel isolate in infected Siberian sturgeon were similar to those of the formerly described SbSHV isolates, the incubation period and mean time to death produced by the novel isolate were twice as long. The differences between the former isolates and the recent one suggest that a novel SbSHV strain emerged in Europe and the molecular findings imply its North American origin.
Inappropriate Medication in Non‐Hospitalized Patients With Renal Insufficiency: A Systematic Review
Authors: Dörks Michael , Allers Katharina , Schmiemann Guido , Herget‐Rosenthal Stefan , Hoffmann Falk
Published: February 2017

Objectives

Renal insufficiency is common among older patients and, accordingly, renally excreted drugs may require an adjustment in dosage for them. Rates of non‐adherence to renal dosing guidelines range from 19% to 70% across all settings, with the highest rate occurring in outpatient care. However, there is a paucity of research in this field. The main objective of this systematic review is to assess how often drugs are inappropriately prescribed in non‐hospitalized patients with renal insufficiency.

Design

A systematic literature search was performed. Data were identified from three electronic databases: PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus. Studies were included if they reported quantitative data on inappropriate drug use with respect to renal function in non‐hospitalized patients.

Results

Our search strategy resulted in 2,403 hits, of which 18 articles satisfied the criteria for inclusion. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate ranged from 36.0 to 60.4 mL/min. Prevalence of renally inappropriate drug use ranged from 1% to 37% in outpatient settings other than nursing homes, and from 6% to 43% in nursing homes. Eight of the studies we included identified predictors for use of drugs inappropriate for kidney function. Most frequently determined risk factors were increasing age and a high number of prescribed drugs.

Conclusion

Lack of dose adjustment for renal impairment seems to be a common problem, even in outpatients. However, the differences in methodologies used in these studies hampered any direct comparison. Accepted and comparable standards regarding the drugs included in the studies as well as estimation of renal function would be beneficial.
‘Who's actually gonna read this?’ An evaluation of staff experiences of the value of information contained in written care plans in supporting care in three different dementia care settings
Authors: Drummond C. , Simpson A.
Published: February 2017

Accessible summary

What is known on the subject?

A written plan is designed to improve communication and co‐ordinate care between mental health inpatient wards and community settings.

Reports of care plan quality issues and staff and service user dissatisfaction with healthcare bureaucracy have focused on working age mental health or general hospital settings.

Little is known about mental health staff perspectives on the value of written care plans in supporting dementia care.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge?

Competing demands on staff time and resources to meet administrative standards for care plans caused a tension with their own professional priorities for supporting care.

Mental health staff face difficulties using electronic records alongside other systems of information sharing.

Further exploration is needed of the gap between frontline staff values and those of the local organization and managers when supporting good dementia care.

What are the implications for practice?

Frontline staff should be involved in designing new information systems including care plans.

Care plan documentation needs to be refocused to ensure it is effective in enabling staff to communicate amongst themselves and with others to support people with dementia.

Practice‐based mentors could be deployed to strengthen good practice in effective information sharing.

Background

Reports of increased healthcare bureaucracy and concerns over care plan quality have emerged from research and surveys into staff and service user experiences. Little is known of mental health staff perspectives on the value of written care plans in supporting dementia care.

Aim

To investigate the experiences and views of staff in relation to care planning in dementia services in one National Health Service (NHS) provider Trust in England.

Method

Grounded Theory methodology was used. A purposive sample of 11 multidisciplinary staff were interviewed across three sites in one NHS Trust. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed using the constant comparative method.

Findings

Five themes were identified and are explored in detail below: (1) Repetition; (2) the impact of electronic records on practice; (3) ambivalence about the value of paperwork; (4) time conflicts; and (5) alternative sources of information to plan care.

Discussion

Participants perceived that written care plans did not help staff with good practice in planning care or to support dementia care generally. Staff were frustrated by repetitive documentation, inflexible electronic records and conflicting demands on their time.

Implications for practice

Frontline staff should be involved in designing new information systems including care plans.
Standardization of a Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Protocol to Investigate Dysphagia in Dogs
Authors: Harris R.A. , Grobman M.E. , Allen M.J. , Schachtel J. , Rawson N.E. , Bennett B. , Ledyayev J. , Hopewell B. , Coates J.R. , Reinero C.R. , Lever T.E.
Published: February 2017

Background

Videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) is the gold standard for diagnosis of dysphagia in veterinary medicine but lacks standardized protocols that emulate physiologic feeding practices. Age impacts swallow function in humans but has not been evaluated by VFSS in dogs.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To develop a protocol with custom kennels designed to allow free‐feeding of 3 optimized formulations of contrast media and diets that address limitations of current VFSS protocols. We hypothesized that dogs evaluated by a free‐feeding VFSS protocol would show differences in objective swallow metrics based on age.

Animals

Healthy juvenile, adult, and geriatric dogs (n = 24).

Methods

Prospective, experimental study. Custom kennels were developed to maintain natural feeding behaviors during VFSS. Three food consistencies (thin liquid, pureed food, and dry kibble) were formulated with either iohexol or barium to maximize palatability and voluntary prehension. Dogs were evaluated by 16 swallow metrics and compared across age groups.

Results

Development of a standardized VFSS protocol resulted in successful collection of swallow data in healthy dogs. No significant differences in swallow metrics were observed among age groups. Substantial variability was observed in healthy dogs when evaluated under these physiologic conditions. Features typically attributed to pathologic states, such as gastric reflux, were seen in healthy dogs.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Development of a VFSS protocol that reflects natural feeding practices may allow emulation of physiology resulting in clinical signs of dysphagia. Age did not result in significant changes in swallow metrics, but additional studies are needed, particularly in light of substantial normal variation.
The role of plant functional traits in shrub distribution around alpine frost hollows
Authors: Lim Felix K.S. , Pollock Laura J. , Vesk Peter A.
Published: February 2017

Introduction/Aims

Functional traits aid understanding of species distribution and community composition along environmental gradients. However, studies that detail trait measurements along fine‐scale environmental gradients are lacking for many vulnerable ecosystems. In this paper, we quantify how plant traits might explain the composition of shrubs in one such vulnerable system – frost hollows.

Location

Bogong High Plains, Victoria, Australia.

Methods

We measured species composition and a suite of traits (shrub height, stem specific density, leaf area and SLA, xylem vessel area and density, and leaf bud traits) for shrub species in three, 10 m × 10 m quadrats located across transition from hilltops down into frost hollows. We used ordinal regression to model vegetation transitions by relating the changes in shrub species occurrence along frost hollow gradients to each trait, and across multiple traits. We also assessed intraspecific trait variations along gradients.

Results

Several traits explained the position of species along a gradient of cold air accumulation (slopes leading into frost hollows). The most important traits were maximum shrub height, leaf area and xylem traits, which were clearly related to species location on the slopes in single trait models. More complex relationships were revealed with multi‐trait models, which indicated that shorter species, those with smaller leaves and larger buds for their leaf size, and those with lower vessel density were more likely to be found toward the bottom of the slope. Within species, taller individuals and those with denser stems were also more common up‐slope.

Conclusion

Our results suggest a shift in ecological strategies in frost hollows: the advantages of being taller and having large leaves may be diminished in these stressful environments. Shrubs that are shorter and have smaller leaves may also be better at avoiding the risk of frost damage. Our study shows how the fine‐scale turnover of shrub species composition around frost hollows relates to plant functional traits, and captures the allocation trade‐offs between coping with environmental stress and being competitive within these plant communities.
Liver transplantation for severe alcoholic hepatitis–The CON view
Authors: Fung James Y. Y.
Published: February 2017

In patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) who have failed medical therapy, liver transplantation (LT) remains a controversial therapeutic option. This is exemplified by the fact that most of these patients will not have had a period of abstinence prior to consideration for transplantation. Both abstinence before transplantation and the duration of abstinence are important predictors of post‐transplant relapse. Furthermore, relapse after transplantation has been associated with accelerated graft injury and increase mortality. Recent pilot studies have demonstrated a benefit in short‐term survival with early transplantation in highly selected small number of patients compared to matched controls. The results of these studies raises the possibility of extending graft allocation to these subjects. Despite stringent assessment and a multi‐tiered approach to selecting out patients for transplantation, the relapse rate was not insignificant at 12%. As the long‐term outcome remains unclear, further relapses with time can still occur. These studies also highlight the fact that the overwhelming majority of subjects with severe AH who are non‐responsive to medical therapy are not suitable for LT. Indeed, further large‐scale multicentre prospective studies with long‐term follow‐up are required to confirm the preliminary findings.
Recently differentiated epimastigotes from Trypanosoma cruzi are infective to the mammalian host
Authors: Kessler Rafael Luis , Contreras Víctor Tulio , Marliére Newmar Pinto , Aparecida Guarneri Alessandra , Villamizar Silva Luz Helena , Mazzarotto Giovanny Augusto Camacho Antevere , Batista Michel , Soccol Vanete Thomaz , Krieger Marco Aurelio , Probst Christian Macagnan
Published: February 2017

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, has a complex life cycle in which four distinct developmental forms alternate between the insect vector and the mammalian host. It is assumed that replicating epimastigotes present in the insect gut are not infective to mammalian host, a paradigm corroborated by the widely acknowledged fact that only this stage is susceptible to the complement system. In the present work, we establish a T. cruzi in vitro and in vivo epimastigogenesis model to analyze the biological aspects of recently differentiated epimastigotes (rdEpi). We show that both trypomastigote stages of T. cruzi (cell‐derived and metacyclic) are able to transform into epimastigotes (processes termed primary and secondary epimastigogenesis, respectively) and that rdEpi have striking properties in comparison to long‐term cultured epimastigotes: resistance to complement‐mediated lysis and both in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (mouse) infectivity. Proteomics analysis of all T. cruzi stages reveled a cluster of proteins that were up‐regulated only in rdEpi (including ABC transporters and ERO1), suggesting a role for them in rdEpi virulence. The present work introduces a new experimental model for the study of host‐parasite interactions, showing that rdEpi can be infective to the mammalian host.
Pathogenicity of Conidiobolus coronatus and Fusarium solani in mouse models
Authors: Li Yadi , Fang Xiangang , Zhou Xiaoqian , Geng Suying , Wang Yuxin , Yang Xiumin
Published: February 2017

To study the pathogenicity of Conidiobolus coronatus (C. coronatus) and Fusarium solani (F. solani) in animal models. Immunocompromised mice were treated with cyclophosphamide and prednisolone via intraperitoneal injection before and after inoculation. According to pathogenic characteristics of different fungi, C. coronatus was used to infect mice via intravenous inoculation, intraperitoneal inoculation, gastrointestinal infusion and intradermal inoculation methods. And F. solani was used to infect mice by inoculation via the abraded or normal skin. In the group of immunocompromised mice, C. coronatus was isolated from the lung tissues of one mouse on day 7 and another on day 10 respectively. The corresponding histopathology revealed infiltration of local inflammatory cells in the lung tissue. Pathogenic lesions were observed in all normal and immunocompromised mice infected with F. solani via abraded skin. The lesions in the immunocompromised mice were more severe and persisted longer than those in the normal mice. Moreover, hyphae were mostly observed in the histopathological examination and fungal culture from the immunocompromised mouse. The pathogenicity of C. coronatus was relatively weak as it did not induce local infections and did not disseminate the disease in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice. Therefore, F. solani is a type of opportunistic pathogenic fungus, and abraded skin is one of the causative routes of infection.
What is a nurse? The Francis report and the historic voice of nursing
Authors: Bradshaw Ann
Published: February 2017

Following the Francis report into shockingly deficient standards of care at an English hospital, this paper examines UK nurse education and revisits the premises on which the professional narrative of nursing was built. The UK government's response to the report is to introduce the “associate nurse” role, to be nationally trained to do fundamental care in place of the registered nurse, and a nursing apprenticeship scheme—on‐the‐job training for a nursing degree. UK nursing bodies do not address the report's recommendations in regard to registered nurse education; rather, they advocate a further perpetuation of the current system. This shows deep uncertainty about what the “true” nurse is. To those familiar with the Nightingale model that characterised nursing in England and elsewhere for a century before the introduction of Project 2000 in 1986, there is an intriguing historical echo in the Francis report. One might wonder whether Francis is really recommending a return to a virtue‐based, practice‐driven, nationally standardised version of nursing education developed by Nightingale and evidenced in nursing syllabuses in England and Wales 1860–1977. This paper supports this position, and shows from a review of historical and contemporary evidence that this Nightingale model has current relevance.
Post‐fire environments are favourable for plant functioning of seeder and resprouter Mediterranean shrubs, even under drought
Authors: Parra Antonio , Moreno José M.
Published: February 2017

Understanding how drought affects seeder and resprouter plants during post‐fire regeneration is important for the anticipation of Mediterranean vegetation vulnerability in a context of increasing drought and fire caused by climate change.

A Mediterranean shrubland was subjected to various drought treatments (including 45% rainfall reduction, 7 months drought yr−1), before and after experimental burning, by means of a rainout–shelter system with an irrigation facility. Predawn shoot water potential (Ψpd), relative growth rate (RGR), specific leaf area (SLA) and bulk leaf carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) were monitored in the main woody species during the first 3 yr after fire.

Cistus ladanifer seedlings showed higher Ψpd, RGR and SLA, and lower δ13C, than unburned plants during the first two post‐fire years. Seedlings under drought maintained relatively high Ψpd, but suffered a decrease in Ψpd and RGR, and an increase in δ13C, relative to control treatments. Erica arborea, E. scoparia and Phillyrea angustifolia resprouts had higher Ψpd and RGR than unburned plants during the first post‐fire year. Resprouters were largely unaffected by drought.

Overall, despite marked differences between the two functional groups, post‐fire environments were favourable for plant functioning of both seeder and resprouter shrubs, even under the most severe drought conditions implemented.
WHEN BUREAUCRACY MATTERS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE: EXPLORING THE BENEFITS OF ADMINISTRATIVE INTENSITY IN BIG AND COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS
Authors: ANDREWS RHYS , BOYNE GEORGE , MOSTAFA AHMED MOHAMMED SAYED
Published: February 2017

Administrative intensity is arguably a major determinant of public service performance. Although a large administrative function might constitute a bureaucratic burden, it could also enable organizations to better coordinate key activities. In particular, administrative intensity may strengthen or weaken the performance effects of other key organizational characteristics, such as size and task complexity. To explore these ideas, we analyse the separate and combined effects of administrative intensity, organization size and task complexity on the research and educational performance of UK universities between 2005 and 2011. The statistical results suggest that administrative intensity has a performance pay‐off for big and complex organizations.
Meta‐governance and network formation in collaborative spaces of uncertainty: The case of Swedish refugee integration policy
Authors: Qvist Martin
Published: February 2017

This article examines the relationship between a meta‐governing role of government and processes of network formation, based on a study of a governance initiative for improvement of refugee ‘activation’ services in Sweden. Meta‐governance is centred on supporting the development of self‐regulatory capacity within discretionary spaces of action and has, so far, primarily been associated with a specific type of interdependency‐driven networks. This article focuses on an alternative scenario, where uncertainty under such governance arrangements, rather than interdependence, becomes the driver of network formation. The relevance of this ‘uncertainty approach’ is demonstrated in the Swedish case, where meta‐governance resulted in networks that were formed on the basis of identification rather than organizational complementarity, and contributed to increasing homogenization rather than local adaption of activation services. The result suggests that theories of meta‐governance should include a more diversified understanding of network responses.
Genomic prediction for yields, processing and nutritional quality traits in cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosumL.)
Authors: Habyarimana Ephrem , Parisi Bruno , Mandolino Giuseppe
Published: February 2017

Current potato breeding approaches are hampered by several factors including costly seed tubers, tetrasomic inheritance and inbreeding depression. Genomic selection (GS) demonstrated interesting results regardless of the ploidy level, and can be harnessed to circumvent these problems. In this work, three GS models were evaluated using 50,107 informative SilicoDArT markers and 11 traits in two values for cultivation and use (VCU) potato trials. Two key breeding problems modelled included predicting the performance of (i) new and unphenotyped clones (cross‐validation) and (ii) a VCU using another as training set (TS). GS models performed comparably. Cross‐validation accuracy was high for D35, D45, DMW and BVAL, in ascending order. Prediction accuracies of the VCUs were highly correlated, but the best prediction was obtained for the smaller VCU using the bigger as TS. Cross‐validation and VCU prediction accuracies were higher when bigger TSs were used. The findings herein indicate that GS can be attractively integrated in potato breeding, particularly in early clonal generations to predict and select for traits with low heritability which would otherwise require more testing years, environments and resources.
Molecular genetic characterization and association mapping in spelt wheat
Authors: Würschum Tobias , Leiser Willmar L. , Longin C. Friedrich H.
Published: February 2017

Spelt wheat is an old crop that has recently been re‐established, accompanied by a continuing increase in acreage to satisfy current consumer trends for novel and interesting products. Here, we employed a diversity panel of 123 old and new spelt accessions to molecularly characterize them and to investigate the genetic architecture underlying eight agronomic, morphological and disease resistance traits. We show that there is no major population structure and no grouping according to the age of the accessions, in line with the short breeding history and the intensive use of old cultivars in the re‐establishment of spelt. Nevertheless, allele frequency differences between old and new accessions indicate a potential effect of breeding and selection on some genomic regions. Linkage disequilibrium was found to stretch approximately 5–10 cM. Genomewide association mapping identified putativeQTLfor all eight traits, but indicates different genetic architectures. Taken together, our results may assist future breeding of this ancient crop, towards sustainable product chains and a further diversification of our food basket.
Verrucae Planae Within Previous Xenograft Sites of Burn Wounds
Authors: Chen Olivia , Pearlstein Michelle Vernali , Morrell Dean S. , Corley Sarah B.
Published: February 2017

Burn injuries are known to compromise host immune defenses through disruption of mucocutaneous barriers and suppression of cell‐mediated immune responses, which may render patients with burn injuries susceptible to viral infections in the days to years after an initial insult. We report a case of verrucae planae developing as a secondary condition confined to former xenograft sites in a child, appearing more than 3.5 years after initial second‐degree burn injuries. Only a few reports have previously described the development of verrucae in former burn sites, with most reporting latency to onset of verrucae appearance of months rather than years. Current hypotheses suggest that the postburn immune response shifts from an early proinflammatory to a late antiinflammatory response characterized by altered cytokine profiles and diminished cellular cytotoxicity mediated by cytotoxic T‐lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and epidermal antigen‐presenting cells, which together likely contribute to an enduring postburn regional immunosuppression that allows for the seeding and proliferation of viral agents.
American cutaneous leishmaniasis: In situ immune response of patients with recent and late lesions
Authors: Gomes A. H. S. , Martines R. B. , Kanamura C. T. , Barbo M. L. P. , Iglezias S. D. , Lauletta Lindoso J. A. , Pereira‐Chioccola V. L.
Published: February 2017

TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐10, IL‐17, CD68 and CD57 were evaluated in biopsies of patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis living in Sorocaba, Brazil. The analyses were performed considering the time of lesions from 23 patients with recent lesions (Group I) and 19 patients with late lesions (Group II). All patients were infected with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Immunostaining cells for CD68, CD57, TNF‐ α, IFN‐γ, IL‐10 and IL‐17 were performed by immunohistochemistry. Except for CD68 and IL‐17, the distribution of in situ for CD57, IL‐10, TNF‐α and IFN‐γ showed that patients with recent lesions expressed higher levels than those with late lesions. The comparison of cytokine expression/group showed that IL‐10 was significantly higher than IL‐17 and IFN‐γ (similar data were shown in IL‐17 compared with TNF‐α), suggesting an immunological balance between inflammatory‐anti‐inflammatory agents. This balance was similar for two groups of patients. In conclusion, these data suggested that (i) patients from Group I had recent lesions (in the beginning of chronic phase) compared to those from Group II and (ii) the modulation of inflammatory response in patients with recent American cutaneous leishmaniasis was correlated with IL‐10 expression in skin lesions preventing the development of mucosal forms. The parasite treatment also prevented the evolution of severe forms.
The effect of ovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells on Haemonchus contortus larval morbidity in vitro
Authors: Shepherd E. A. , Garza J. J. , Greiner S. P. , Bowdridge S. A.
Published: February 2017

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), derived from parasite‐resistant St. Croix (STC) hair sheep and parasite‐susceptible Suffolk (SUF) sheep, on Haemonchus contortus L3 stage larval death in vitro, with or without autologous serum. Larval morbidity was quantified by measuring larval ATP concentration following incubation with PBMC. Larvae exposed to either STC‐ or SUF‐derived PBMC had lower ATP than live larvae (0.12 μmol/L ATP and 0.16 μmol/L ATP vs 0.27 μmol/L ATP, respectively) (P<.001) and greater ATP of dead larvae (0.03 μmol/L ATP) (P<.001). Breed differences were observed with addition of autologous serum. Larvae exposed to SUF‐derived PBMC with autologous serum were not significantly different from live larval ATP. STC‐derived serum did not significantly reduce larval ATP compared to PBMC alone (0.11 μmol/L ATP), but was significantly reduced compared to live larvae (0.22 μmol/L ATP) and SUF‐derived PBMC with autologous serum (0.23 μmol/L ATP) (P<.001). These data indicate that a cellular response alone is capable of significantly reducing larval ATP in a breed‐independent manner. However, addition of serum to SUF‐PBMC failed to reduce larval ATP, indicating breed‐dependent humoral response to H. contortus.
Consequences matter: Self‐induced tones are used as feedback to optimize tone‐eliciting actions
Authors: Neszmélyi Bence , Horváth János
Published: February 2017

Experimental paradigms investigating the processing of self‐induced stimuli are often based on the implicit assumption that motor processes are invariable regardless of their consequences: It is presumed that actions with different sets of predictable sensory consequences do not differ in their physical characteristics or in their brain signal reflections. The present experiment explored this assumption in the context of action‐related auditory attenuation by comparing actions (pinches) with and without auditory consequences. The results show that motor processes are not invariable: Pinches eliciting a tone were softer than pinches without auditory effects. This indicates that self‐induced auditory stimuli are not perceived as irrelevant side effects: The tones are used as feedback to optimize the tone‐eliciting actions. The comparison of ERPs related to actions with different physical parameters (strong and soft pinches) revealed a significant ERP difference in the time range of the action‐related N1 attenuation (strong pinches resulted in more negative amplitudes), suggesting that a motor correction bias may contribute to this auditory ERP attenuation effect, which is usually attributed to action‐related predictive processes.
Toward an Analytical Framework for the Study of Race and Police Violence
Authors: Rivera Mario A. , Ward James D.
Published: February 2017

Treatments of race and police violence in the fields of public administration and policy have drawn eclectically from many disciplinary sources in historical, political, and managerial analysis. From an institutional perspective, emphasis has been on how organizational practices, rules, norms, and values, along with role socialization, shape germane behavior. Of particular interest to the authors is the phenomenon of race‐related police violence in its systemic but also attitudinal and behavioral manifestations in the policing role. How does an academic or practitioner researcher specify evaluative perspectives applicable to this policy and administrative challenge? There is a prior need for defined analytical and ethical positions drawing closely from public administration and policy sources. This article suggests ways to develop such grounded frameworks, built on these distinctive traditions but also going beyond them, so as to allow for an integrative approach to evaluative analysis and action on this grave and contentious issue.
Transnational delegation in global environmental governance: When do non‐state actors govern?
Authors: Green Jessica F.
Published: February 2017

Non‐state actors – including firms, non‐governmental organizations, and networks – are now a permanent fixture in environmental politics. However, we know surprisingly little about when states choose to delegate to non‐state actors through multilateral treaties. This paper provides an historical picture, tracing patterns of delegation to non‐state agents in a random sample of multilateral environmental agreements from 1902 to 2002. I introduce a new unit of analysis – the policy function – to understand what non‐state actors actually do as agents. I find that analyses of delegation are sensitive to the unit of analysis; patterns of delegation at the treaty level are very different from those at the level of individual policy functions. While overall the decision to delegate to non‐state actors – what I term transnational delegation – is rare, it has grown over time. Complex treaties, those with secretariats, and those focused on the management of nature are more apt to delegate to non‐state actors. Non‐state agents fill a small, but growing role in multilateral environmental treaties.
Growth and convergence in South–South integration areas: An empirical analysis
Authors: Sperlich Stefan , Sperlich Yvonne
Published: February 2017

Until recently, it has been argued in economic theory that regional integration and trade agreements among developing countries may achieve negative growth effects. This study tests empirically the effects of such South–South agreements on growth and convergence. All three world regions in question are considered: South America, Southeast Asia, and Sub‐Saharan Africa. A comprehensive panel data analysis is conducted that distinguishes between the problems of testing for stronger growth and accelerated convergence, respectively. The data indicate that the considered South–South agreements promote both.
The dark corner of the heart – understanding and embracing suffering as portrayed by adults
Authors: Hemberg Jessica
Published: February 2017

Background

Suffering profoundly touches the human being's inner existence. The different faces of suffering may yet be unknown, and therefore, it is important to further explore suffering in order to reach a new and deeper understanding of it and its alleviation.

The aim and research questions

The aim of this study was to expand the understanding of suffering. The research questions are what is suffering as described by the human beings themselves and what initiates a movement in suffering towards its alleviation?

Research design, participants and research context

The study uses a hermeneutical approach and hermeneutical reading. The material consists of interviews with adults who had lived through suffering and regained health.

Ethical considerations

The data storage, study participation and handling of data for research purposes were approved by the participants when they provided their informed consent.

Findings

Suffering is portrayed as a deep darkness. The suffering human being is filled with hopelessness and meaninglessness and feels homeless in life. There is often a hidden inner longing in the midst of suffering that may be uncovered.

Conclusion

Embracing the dark corner of the heart, the suffering, provides the keys for initiating a movement towards its alleviation and implications for how to encounter a suffering human being, for example within different caring contexts.
Nutritional Issues with Incremental Dialysis: The Role of Low‐Protein Diets
Authors: Locatelli Francesco , Del Vecchio Lucia , Aicardi Valeria
Published: February 2017

A gentle start of dialysis is a welcome possibility for both patients and physicians. Incident dialysis patients often maintain residual kidney function (RKF) for a considerable period of time; the start of dialysis is often driven mainly by uremic symptoms. Recently, the combination of a low‐protein diet, along with a less‐frequent dialysis schedule, has regained interest as an alternative option in selected and motivated patients. In addition, there is renewed interest in a low‐protein diet in patients with moderate to advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dietary regimens have additional objectives now: obtaining better control of phosphate and potassium levels; preventing or reducing metabolic acidosis, protein catabolism, and malnutrition; and reducing uremic symptoms. In the eighties and early nineties, data from uncontrolled studies showed that combining a very low‐protein diet with once weekly hemodialysis was a feasible approach. However, these diets were very demanding with poor patient compliance and had a high risk of smoldering malnutrition. However, recent experience has shown that the new protein‐free foods have better palatability and nutritional properties; this has increased adherence to dietary prescriptions. Dietary regimens are now tailored to the patient's needs and habits. A multidisciplinary approach is considered crucial for updating medical needs and dietary prescriptions, ensuring adherence to the combined program, and avoiding the development of malnutrition and inadequate dialysis. Monitoring RKF is another key factor for the success of the program due to the importance of optimal timing of the transition to twice‐weekly regimens and, eventually, thrice‐weekly hemodialysis.
Immigration, Ethnic Diversity, and Political Outcomes: Evidence from Denmark
Authors: Harmon Nikolaj A.
Published: February 2017

I study the impact of immigration and increasing ethnic diversity on political outcomes in immigrant‐receiving countries, focusing on immigration and election outcomes in Danish municipalities between 1981 and 2001. A novel instrumental variable strategy based on historical housing stock data addresses issues of endogenous location choices of immigrants and a rich set of control variables is employed to isolate ethnic diversity effects from those of other immigrant characteristics. Increases in local ethnic diversity lead to rightward shifts in election outcomes by shifting electoral support away from traditional “big government” left‐wing parties and towards anti‐immigrant nationalist parties. This holds for both local and national elections.
Applicability of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis
Authors: Broholm R. , Pingel J. , Simonsen L. , Bülow J. , Johannsen F.
Published: February 2017

Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is used to visualize the microvascularization in various tissues. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether CEUS could be used to visualize the microvascular volume (MV) in the plantar fascia, and to compare the method to clinical symptoms and B‐mode ultrasound (US) in patients with plantar fasciitis (PF). Twenty patients with unilateral PF were included and were divided by US in insertional thickening (10), midsubstance thickening (5), and no US changes (5). The MV was measured simultaneously in both heels. Four areas in the plantar fascia and plantar fat pad were measured independently by two observers. Inter‐ and intra‐observer correlation analyses were performed. The asymptomatic heels showed a constantly low MV, and for the whole group of patients, a significantly higher MV was found in the symptomatic plantar fascia and plantar fat pad. Inter‐observer correlation as well as intra‐observer agreement was excellent. The MV in the plantar fascia and plantar fat pad can be measured reliably using CEUS, suggesting that it is a reproducible method to examine patients with plantar fasciitis.
Detection of a novel HLA‐C*03 variant, HLA‐C*03:227, in a Taiwanese individual
Authors: Yang K. L. , Lin P. Y.
Published: February 2017

One nucleotide substitution at residue 19 of HLA‐C*03:03:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA‐C*03:227.
Full‐length sequences of 3 HLA‐B*56 alleles, B*56:01:01:01, B*56:03 and B*56:04, confirmed by cloning and sequencing
Authors: Li Z. , Zou H.‐Y.
Published: February 2017

Full‐length sequences of HLA‐B*56:01:01:01, B*56:03 and B*56:04, confirmed by cloning and sequencing in Chinese donors.