bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increases in residential and energy development are associated with reductions in recruitment for a large ungulate
Authors: Johnson Heather E. , Sushinsky Jessica R. , Holland Andrew , Bergman Eric J. , Balzer Trevor , Garner James , Reed Sarah E.
Published: July 2016

Land‐use change due to anthropogenic development is pervasive across the globe and commonly associated with negative consequences for biodiversity. While land‐use change has been linked to shifts in the behavior and habitat‐use patterns of wildlife species, little is known about its influence on animal population dynamics, despite the relevance of such information for conservation. We conducted the first broad‐scale investigation correlating temporal patterns of land‐use change with the demographic rates of mule deer, an iconic species in the western United States experiencing wide‐scale population declines. We employed a unique combination of long‐term (1980–2010) data on residential and energy development across western Colorado, in conjunction with congruent data on deer recruitment, to quantify annual changes in land‐use and correlate those changes with annual indices of demographic performance. We also examined annual variation in weather conditions, which are well recognized to influence ungulate productivity, and provided a basis for comparing the relative strength of different covariates in their association with deer recruitment. Using linear mixed models, we found that increasing residential and energy development within deer habitat were correlated with declining recruitment rates, particularly within seasonal winter ranges. Residential housing had two times the magnitude of effect of any other factor we investigated, and energy development had an effect size similar to key weather variables known to be important to ungulate dynamics. This analysis is the first to correlate a demographic response in mule deer with residential and energy development at large spatial extents relevant to population performance, suggesting that further increases in these development types on deer ranges are not compatible with the goal of maintaining highly productive deer populations. Our results underscore the significance of expanding residential development on mule deer populations, a factor that has received little research attention in recent years, despite its rapidly increasing footprint across the landscape.
Association between gait abnormality and malnutrition in a community‐dwelling elderly population
Authors: Misu Shogo , Asai Tsuyoshi , Doi Takehiko , Sawa Ryuichi , Ueda Yuya , Saito Takashi , Nakamura Ryo , Murata Shunsuke , Sugimoto Taiki , Yamada Minoru , Ono Rei
Published: July 2016

Aim

Malnutrition is common in older adults, and contributes to the risk of falls and functional impairment. Gait performance also contributes to falls and functional impairment; however, the association between malnutrition and gait performance remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between malnutrition risk and gait performance.

Methods

The study participants included 204 community‐dwelling older adults with a mean age of 73.4 ± 4.3 years. Nutritional status was evaluated using the short version of the Mini‐Nutritional Assessment. A score of 11 points was used as the cut‐off, and the participants were categorized into two groups: ≤11, malnutrition‐risk group; and ≥12, well‐nourished group. Gait performance was assessed by gait speed and walking smoothness. Walking smoothness was quantified by harmonic ratios (HR), which were derived from vertical (VT), mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior trunk accelerations, recorded during over‐ground walking. Skeletal muscle mass index, handgrip strength and physical functions were also measured.

Results

HR in the ML direction was significantly lower in the malnutrition‐risk group than the well‐nourished group (P = 0.002); however, no differences between the two groups were observed in gait speed or HR in the VT and anteroposterior directions. The relationship between malnutrition and HR in the ML direction was independent of skeletal muscle mass index, handgrip strength, physical function, gait speed, and other confounders (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

In community‐dwelling older adults, malnutrition is related to decreased walking smoothness in the ML direction, suggesting that nutritional status affects lateral trunk control during walking. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1155–1160.
Current and emerging approaches for evaluating platelet disorders
Authors: Podda G. , Femia E. A. , Cattaneo M.
Published: July 2016

Platelets play a central role in physiological hemostasis and also in pathological thrombosis. It is well established that congenital or acquired abnormalities of platelet function are associated with a heightened risk of bleeding of variable severity and excessive hemorrhage after surgery or trauma. Several kinds of different platelet function tests have been developed over the years to identify or diagnose platelet function disorders. The use of these tests for the assessment of thrombotic risk or for monitoring the effects of drugs inhibiting platelet function is not well established. Light transmission aggregometry (LTA) is the gold standard for the study of patients with defects of platelet function. Its results are affected by several pre‐analytical and analytical variables. The Subcommittee on Platelet Physiology of the Scientific and Standardization Committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis published official guidelines for the standardization of the variables affecting LTA, which should be followed to harmonize the procedures across different laboratories worldwide. The lumi‐aggregometer, a modification of LTA that measures platelet secretion in parallel with aggregation, is preferable to LTA for diagnosing inherited defects of platelet function, because it is more sensitive to the most common disorders, which are characterized by abnormalities of platelet secretion. LTA (or lumi‐aggregometry) is useful as a first screening test of patients with the clinical suspicion of defects of platelet function, because it helps to provide an interim diagnostic hypothesis, which can then be confirmed or discounted using appropriate and specific tests.
Deconstructing the Way in which Value Is Created in the Context of Social Entrepreneurship
Authors: Hlady‐Rispal Martine , Servantie Vinciane
Published: July 2016

According to existing literature, the core of social entrepreneurship (SE) knowledge is evolving and, as such, it has made important contributions to theoretical definitions and essential characterizations. However, more theoretical issues need to be addressed before the SE field can be fully explained and understood. In particular, the authors observe in the literature that, within empirical or conceptual studies, almost all authors use the term ‘value’, but seemingly assume the dimensions of value rather than define or analyse its connotations and components. This paper uses the value construct and its multi‐faceted dimensions to deconstruct the way in which value is created in the SE context. The authors argue that an analysis based on value generation, value capture and value sharing provides important insights into the specificity of SE research and can facilitate future theorizing. Through the conceptual lens of this central concept of value emanating from value theory and business model literature, the authors abductively analyse and classify the studies, providing a practical resource. The authors discuss the phenomenon, presenting an integrative framework that facilitates a clearer understanding of the social value creation process and suggest future research areas as openings for theory development in relation to value creation, its main components and flows.
Antibacterial activity of liposome containing curry plant essential oil against Bacillus cereusin rice
Authors: Cui Haiying , Li Wei , Lin Lin
Published: July 2016

We herein evaluated the antibacterial effect of curry plant EO, a natural antibacterial agent, on B. cereus. The curry plant EO was encapsulated into liposomes to improve the chemical stability of EO and its active time. By a thin‐film dispersion method, soy lecithin, in combination with cholesterol, were used to prepare liposomes at various curry plant EO concentrations. The optimal formula for preparing liposome is a curry plant EO concentration of 5.0 mg/ml. The average particle size of liposomes containing curry plant EO was 196.6 nm with a PDI of 0.218 and the entrapment efficiency was 56.34%. The optimal liposomes containing curry plant EO gave a zeta potential of −31.1 mV. Besides, liposome‐encapsulated curry plant EO exhibited efficient antimicrobial activity for B. cereus in rice.

Practical applications

As a natural and safe antibacterial agent, curry plant EO shows an excellent antibacterial effect on B. cereus in rice. The concept in the present study may be useful in the future to deliver a variety of antimicrobials for the treatment of various infections caused by bacteria or other organisms. Hence, the antimicrobial agent has broad prospect in the field of food preservation.
Characterizing microcrack orientation distribution functions in osteonal bone samples
Authors: WOLFRAM U. , SCHWIEDRZIK J.J. , MIRZAALI M.J. , BÜRKI A. , VARGA P. , OLIVIER C. , PEYRIN F. , ZYSSET P.K.
Published: July 2016

Prefailure microdamage in bone tissue is considered to be the most detrimental factor in defining its strength and toughness with respect to age and disease. To understand the influence of microcracks on bone mechanics it is necessary to assess their morphology and three‐dimensional distribution. This requirement reaches beyond classic histology and stereology, and methods to obtain such information are currently missing. Therefore, the aim of the study was to develop a methodology that allows to characterize three‐dimensional microcrack distributions in bulk bone samples.

Four dumbbell‐shaped specimens of human cortical bone of a 77‐year‐old female donor were loaded beyond yield in either tension, compression or torsion (one control). Subsequently, synchrotron radiation micro‐computed tomography (SRμCT) was used to obtain phase‐contrast images of the damaged samples. A microcrack segmentation algorithm was developed and used to segment microcrack families for which microcrack orientation distribution functions were determined.

Distinct microcrack families were observed for each load case that resulted in distinct orientation distribution functions. Microcracks had median areas of approximately 4.7 m2, 33.3 m2 and 64.0 m2 for tension, compression and torsion. Verifying the segmentation algorithm against a manually segmented ground truth showed good results when comparing the microcrack orientation distribution functions. A size dependence was noted when investigating the orientation distribution functions with respect to the size of the volume of interest used for their determination. Furthermore, a scale separation between tensile, compressive and torsional microcracks was noticeable. Visual comparison to classic histology indicated that microcrack families were successfully distinguished.

We propose a methodology to analyse three‐dimensional microcrack distributions in overloaded cortical bone. Such information could improve our understanding of bone microdamage and its impact on bone failure in relation to tissue age and disease.
Dentists' and dental students' attitudes, knowledge, preparedness, and willingness related to treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS in China
Authors: Lee Cliff , Fan Yuehong , Starr Jacqueline R. , Dogon I. Leon
Published: July 2016

Objectives

This study aims to assess the attitudes, knowledge, preparedness, and willingness of dentists and dental students to treat people‐living‐with‐HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in China, and to determine the factors associated with willingness to treat.

Methods

We surveyed dentists and dental students in hospitals and dental schools in five regions in China with varying PLWHA prevalence. Survey questions covered demographics, as well as four categories regarding treating PLWHA: knowledge (scaled 0–1), attitude (scaled 1–4), preparedness (scaled 1–4), and willingness to treat (scaled 1–4). Composite scores for each category were calculated as weighted means. Confounder‐adjusted regression analysis was performed to determine the factor(s) correlated with willingness to treat.

Results

We collected 394 (84 percent) and 462 (90 percent) useable surveys from dentists and dental students respectively. Dentists' mean composite scores were 0.63 (poor knowledge), 2.1 (negative attitude), 2.8 (adequate preparedness), and 2.5 (neutral willingness). Students' mean composite scores were 0.64 (poor knowledge), 2.3 (negative attitude), 2.7 (adequate preparedness), and 2.6 (positive willingness). Forty‐five percent of dentists and 59 percent of dental students had scores indicating positive willingness to treat. Attitude was the only factor consistently correlated with willingness to treat. Dentists and dental students scored low in all categories except for preparedness.

Conclusion

It is imperative that knowledge of HIV/AIDS and attitudes toward PLWHA be further improved during dental training to increase the access to and effectiveness of dental care of PLWHA in China and to enhance their quality of life.
A review of the sustainability of recent watershed management programmes in Bangladesh
Authors: Debnath Ripan
Published: July 2016

Watershed management has evolved during the 1990s in Bangladesh. However, it has not yet achieved much exposure in the country, even though wetlands play a very significant role in its ecology, economy and stakeholder livelihoods. Several watershed management programmes have been initiated in the country with a co‐management and participatory approach, but in a piecemeal basis. Many wetland problems have arisen as a result. This study reviews watershed management programmes and undertakes a sustainability analysis of three recent initiatives, namely MACH, Nishorgo and Tanguar Haor projects, on the basis of the main watershed exchanges. This analysis indicates these projects are/were less environmentally, but more socially and economically, sustainable. Thus, this study suggests first incorporating the unaccounted environmental sustainability indicators. Moreover, the country's future management programme(s) should incorporate stakeholder livelihood improvements and social empowerment via education and training schemes, by ensuring social inclusiveness that makes the management initiatives locally sustainable.
The loss of vernalization requirement in narrow‐leafed lupin is associated with a deletion in the promoter and de‐repressed expression of a Flowering Locus T (FT) homologue
Authors: Nelson Matthew N. , Książkiewicz Michał , Rychel Sandra , Besharat Naghmeh , Taylor Candy M. , Wyrwa Katarzyna , Jost Ricarda , Erskine William , Cowling Wallace A. , Berger Jens D. , Batley Jacqueline , Weller James L. , Naganowska Barbara , Wolko Bogdan
Published: July 2016

Adaptation of Lupinus angustifolius (narrow‐leafed lupin) to cropping in southern Australian and northern Europe was transformed by a dominant mutation (Ku) that removed vernalization requirement for flowering. The Ku mutation is now widely used in lupin breeding to confer early flowering and maturity. We report here the identity of the Ku mutation.

We used a range of genetic, genomic and gene expression approaches to determine whether Flowering Locus T (FT) homologues are associated with the Ku locus.

One of four FT homologues present in the narrow‐leafed lupin genome, LanFTc1, perfectly co‐segregated with the Ku locus in a reference mapping population. Expression of LanFTc1 in the ku (late‐flowering) parent was strongly induced by vernalization, in contrast to the Ku (early‐flowering) parent, which showed constitutively high LanFTc1 expression. Co‐segregation of this expression phenotype with the LanFTc1 genotype indicated that the Ku mutation impairs cis‐regulation of LanFTc1. Sequencing of LanFTc1 revealed a 1.4‐kb deletion in the promoter region, which was perfectly predictive of vernalization response in 216 wild and domesticated accessions. Linkage disequilibrium rapidly decayed around LanFTc1, suggesting that this deletion caused the loss of vernalization response.

This is the first time a legume FTc subclade gene has been implicated in the vernalization response.
Preventing childhood obesity in Asia: an overview of intervention programmes
Authors: Uijtdewilligen L. , Waters C. N. , Müller‐Riemenschneider F. , Lim Y. W.
Published: July 2016

The rapid economic growth in Asia in the past few decades has contributed to the global increase in childhood obesity prevalence. Yet, little is known about obesity prevention efforts in this region. This systematic review provides an overview of child obesity prevention programmes in Asia. Searches were performed in six electronic databases. Out of 4,234 studies, 17 were included, among them 11 controlled trials (of which five were randomized). Only one study was published before 2007. Identified studies were predominantly conducted in China and Thailand and targeted primary school children in a school setting. Most studies implemented different programmes, frequently targeting behavioural modification through nutrition/health education lectures and/or physical activity sessions. Programme effects related to obesity outcome measures were mixed. Most substantial effects were found for outcomes such as improved health knowledge and/or favourable lifestyle practices. The relatively small number of relevant publications in Asia highlights the need for scientific evaluations of existing and future programmes. This will help ensure the implementation and dissemination of evidence‐based approaches that have been proven to be effective in the Asian context. Targeting preschool settings and applying a comprehensive multisectoral approach may increase the effectiveness and sustainability of childhood obesity prevention programmes.
Association of serum lipid indices and statin consumption with periodontal status
Authors: Sayar F , Fallah S , Akhondi N , Jamshidi S
Published: July 2016

Objectives

Periodontal and cardiovascular diseases share some common underlying mechanisms. Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study sought to assess the association of hyperlipidemia and statin consumption with periodontal status.

Materials and Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted on 150 participants including 50 individuals with normal lipid profile (group C), 50 hyperlipidemic patients without drug therapy (group N), and 50 hyperlipidemic patients on drug therapy for a minimum of 3 months (group S). Periodontal parameters including plaque index (PI), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), and pocket depth (PD) were measured for all teeth except for the third molars. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), HDL, LDL, and triglycerides (TGs) were measured.

Results

The mean values of CAL and PD were significantly higher in the two hyperlipidemic groups compared with the C group (P < 0.005). Also, CAL and PD had significant associations with serum levels of TGs, LDL, and TC (P < 0.0001); PI in the group S was significantly lower than that in the other groups (P < 0.005).

Conclusions

Hyperlipidemic patients showed higher values of periodontal parameters compared with the statin‐treated and control groups. Lower PI in the group S may indicate the anti‐inflammatory effect of statin.
Temperature controls on the basal emission rate of isoprene in a tropical tree Ficus septica: exploring molecular regulatory mechanisms
Authors: Mutanda Ishmael , Inafuku Masashi , Saitoh Seikoh , Iwasaki Hironori , Fukuta Masakazu , Watanabe Keiichi , Oku Hirosuke
Published: July 2016

Isoprene emission from plants is very sensitive to environmental temperature both at short‐term and long‐term scales. Our previous study demonstrated suppression of isoprene emission by cold temperatures in a high emitting tropical tree Ficus septica and revealed a strong correlation of emission to isoprene synthase (IspS) protein levels. When challenged with decreasing daily temperatures from 30 to 12 °C, F. septica completely stopped isoprene emission at 12 °C, only to recover on the second day after re‐exposure to 30 °C. Here, we explored this regulation of isoprene emission in response to environmental temperature by a comprehensive analysis of transcriptome data, gene expressions and metabolite pools of the 2‐C‐methyl‐D‐erythritol 4‐phosphate (MEP) pathway. MEP pathway genes and metabolites dynamics did not support substrate‐level limitations as major control over observed basal emission, but transcriptome data, network inferences and putative regulatory elements on IspS promoter suggested transcriptional regulation of IspS gene through circadian rhythm and phytohormone signalling processes. Expression levels of 29 genes involved in these pathways were examined by quantitative real‐time PCR. We propose that temperature controls over basal isoprene emission at a time‐scale of hours to few days are regulated by phytohormone‐mediated transcriptional modulation of IspS gene under synchronization by the circadian clock.
Phylotype and sequevar variability of Ralstonia solanacearum in Brazil, an ancient centre of diversity of the pathogen
Authors: Santiago T. R. , Lopes C. A. , Caetano‐Anollés G. , Mizubuti E. S. G.
Published: July 2016

The β‐proteobacterium Ralstonia solanacearum causes bacterial wilt of many plant species. Knowledge of phylotype and sequevar variability in populations of this microorganism is useful for implementing control measures, particularly host resistance. To this end, 301 isolates of R. solanacearum were collected from different geographic regions and hosts in Brazil. Their phylotype and sequevar characterization was used to determine the amount and distribution of phenetic and phylogenetic variability. Isolates were classified into phylotypes I (n = 48), clade 1; and phylotype II, clades 2–5. Phylotype II was divided into subclusters IIA (n = 112) and IIB (n = 141). Phylotype II was widely distributed, whereas phylotype I isolates were found in Central, Northern, and Northeastern regions of Brazil. There were 108 haplotypes identified among endoglucanase (egl) gene sequences from 301 isolates and 32 haplotypes among DNA repair (mutS) gene regions from 176 isolates. The egl and mutS sequence analyses identified eight known (1, 4, 7, 18, 27, 28, 41 and 50) and four new (54, 55, 56 and 57) sequevars. Phylotype IIB showed high diversity in sequevars and host range. Multiplex PCR, using primers specific to the Moko ecotype, characterized banana and long pepper isolates as sequevar 4 and 4/NPB, respectively. This constitutes the first report of the emergent ecotype IIB/4NPB in a new host, long pepper. The majority of sequevars were associated with geographic regions. This high variability of R. solanacearum in Brazil suggests use of host resistance to control bacterial wilt should be mainly focused by region.
What Kind of Theory is the Humean Theory of Motivation?
Authors: Arruda Caroline T.
Published: July 2016

I consider an underappreciated problem for proponents of the Humean theory of motivation (HTM). Namely, it is unclear whether is it to be understood as a largely psychological or largely metaphysical theory. I show that the psychological interpretation of HTM will need to be modified in order to be a tenable view and, as it will turn out, the modifications required render it virtually philosophically empty. I then argue that the largely metaphysical interpretation is the only a plausible interpretation of HTM's central claim that desires are necessary conditions for motivation. This interpretation also fits better with the important roles that HTM plays in both moral psychological and metaethical debates.
Effects of low‐density lipoproteins as additive on quality parameters and oxidative stress following cryopreservation of mithun (Bos frontalis) spermatozoa
Authors: Perumal P , Srivastava SK , Ghosh SK , Baruah KK , Bag S , Rajoria JS , Kumar K , Rajkhowa C , Pande M , Srivastava N
Published: July 2016

Contents

Artificial breeding of mithun poses several challenges including lack of standard protocol for cryopreservation of spermatozoa. This is further complicated by harmful effects of hen's egg yolk (EY) as additive in extender. Purified low‐density lipoproteins (LDL) extracted fromEYhave been shown as beneficial overEYextender for long‐term semen storage in several species. This investigation explored use ofLDLversusEYon semen quality and oxidative stress following freezing–thawing of spermatozoa. A total of 25 of 50 ejaculates based on biophysical parameters were selected for the experiment. After diluting with the Tris‐citrate‐glycerol (TCG) extender, each sample was split into three equal aliquots: Group I, control,EY; GroupIIand GroupIIIcontained 8% and 10% purifiedLDL, respectively. Frozen–thawed samples were evaluated for motility parameters (progressive, and in the bovine cervical mucus penetration test [BCMPT]), viability, sperm and nuclear abnormality, acrosome integrity, and enzymatic (leakage of intracellular contents) and biochemical (oxidative stress) profiles and in vitro fertility (IVF) assay. Study revealed a significant (p < .05) improvement in viability, sperm and nuclear abnormality, acrosome integrity, motility (progressive and in cervical mucus), cholesterol content, and reduction in the leakage of intracellular enzymes in GroupII. Moreover, intactness of acrosome and biochemical membranes was protected significantly (p < .05) in addition to significant (p < .05) improvement in binding per cent and binding index inIVFassay in extender containing 8%LDL. These results demonstrate that although cryopreservation of mithun's spermatozoa inEYwas comparable with other species, addition of 8%LDLholds a clear advantage overEYor 10%LDL.
Retracted: Reliable collection of Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius) sperm using a catheter
Authors: Aramli MS , Golshahi K , Banan A , Sotoudeh E
Published: July 2016

Contents

The traditional stripping procedure for collecting fish semen is associated with the risk of urine contamination, which may significantly affect semen quality and quantity. The use of a catheter as an alternative method for semen collection may overcome this problem. Therefore, this study compared Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius) semen parameters (i.e. sperm density, seminal plasma osmolality, motility parameters of spermatozoa analysed using computer‐assisted sperm analysis and fertility) between the traditional stripping method and the use of a catheter. All parameter values of the semen collected with a catheter were significantly higher (p < .05; density = 7.67 ± 1.02 × 109 ml−1 and osmolality = 279.28 ± 32.84 mOsm kg−1) than those collected with stripping method (density = 4.85 ± 0.47 × 109 ml−1 and osmolality = 216.42 ± 20.75 mOsm kg−1). Semen collected with a catheter was characterized by higher spermatozoa motility compared with sperm collected via stripping. Similarly, the fertilization ability of sperm collected with a catheter was significantly greater (p < .05) than sperm collected with the traditional stripping method. In conclusion, collection of sperm with a catheter was shown to effectively reduce urine contamination and is therefore recommended for the collection of Caspian brown trout sperm.
Comparisons of sleep apnoea rate and outcomes among patients with resistant and non‐resistant hypertension
Authors: Bhandari Simran K. , Shi Jiaxiao , Molnar Miklos Z. , Rasgon Scott A. , Derose Stephen F. , Kovesdy Csaba P. , Calhoun David A. , Kalantar‐Zadeh Kamyar , Jacobsen Steven J. , Sim John J.
Published: July 2016

Background and objective

We directly compared sleep apnoea (SA) rates and risk of cardiovascular and mortality outcomes among SA patients with resistant hypertension (RH) and non‐RH within a large diverse hypertension population.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2010 among hypertensive adults (age ≥ 18 years) was performed within an integrated health system. Rates of SA in RH and non‐RH were determined. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to calculate OR for SA. Cox proportional hazard modelling was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for cardiovascular and mortality outcomes between SA in RH versus SA in non‐RH adjusting for age, gender, race, BMI, chronic kidney disease and other comorbidities.

Results

SA was identified in 33 682 (7.2%) from 470 386 hypertensive individuals. SA in RH accounted for 5806 (9.6%) compared to SA in non‐RH 27 876 individuals (6.8%). Multivariable OR (95% CI) for SA was 1.16 (1.12, 1.19), 3.57 (3.47, 3.66) and 2.20 (2.15, 2.25) for RH versus non‐RH, BMI ≥ 30, and males, respectively. Compared to SA in non‐RH individuals, SA in RH had a multivariable adjusted HR (95% CI) of 1.24 (1.13, 1.36), 1.43 (1.28, 1.61), 0.98 (0.85, 1.12) and 1.04 (0.95, 1.14) for ischaemic heart event (IHE), congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke and mortality, respectively.

Conclusion

We observed a modest increase in likelihood for SA among RH compared to non‐RH patients. Risks for IHE and CHF were higher for SA in RH compared to SA in non‐RH patients; however, there were no differences in risk for stroke and mortality.
Correlation, Consumption, Confusion, or Constraints: Why Do Poor Children Perform so Poorly?
Authors: Caucutt Elizabeth M. , Lochner Lance , Park Youngmin
Published: July 2016

Early developing and persistent gaps in child achievement by family income combined with the importance of adolescent skill levels for schooling and lifetime earnings suggest that a key component of intergenerational mobility is determined before individuals enter school. After documenting important differences in early child investments by family income, we study four leading mechanisms thought to explain these gaps: intergenerational ability correlation, consumption value of investment, information frictions, and credit constraints. We evaluate whether these mechanisms are consistent with other stylized facts related to the marginal returns on investments and the effects of parental income on child investments and skills.
Predicting Banking Crises with Artificial Neural Networks: The Role of Nonlinearity and Heterogeneity
Authors: Ristolainen Kim
Published: July 2016

Studies of the early warning systems (EWSs) for banking crises usually rely on linear classifiers, estimated with international datasets. I construct an EWS based on an artificial neural network (ANN) model, and I also account for regional heterogeneity in order to improve the generalization ability of EWS models. All of the banking crises in my test set are then predictable at a 24‐month horizon, using information from earlier crises. For some countries, estimation with a regional dataset significantly improves the predictions. The ANN outperforms the usual logit regression, assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve.
Social Security Income and Health Care Spending: Evidence from the Social Security Notch
Authors: Tsai Yuping
Published: July 2016

In this paper, I exploit Social Security legislation changes to identify the causal effect of Social Security income on out‐of‐pocket medical expenditures of the elderly. Using the 1986–1994 Consumer Expenditure Survey and an instrumental variables strategy, the empirical results show that health care expenditures are responsive to changes in Social Security income for elderly individuals with less than a high‐school education. The estimated income elasticities are between 1.41 and 3.47, depending on the outcome measures, and are statistically significant at conventional levels. The findings are in contrast to existing studies that find a small income elasticity at the individual/household level.
Simulated animal trampling of a free‐draining stony soil stimulated denitrifier growth and increased nitrous oxide emissions
Authors: Treweek G. , Di H. J. , Cameron K. C. , Podolyan A.
Published: July 2016

Winter forage grazing systems in New Zealand cause compaction of soil by grazing animals, especially when the soil is wet. However, there is little information on the effects of animal trampling on denitrifiers in soil, despite their importance for N2O production. Here, we report a field study of the abundance of the denitrifying genes nirS, nirK, and nosZ and N2O emissions following the application of dairy cow urine in a free‐draining stony soil. Importantly, we found that simulated animal trampling altered some of the denitrifying microbial communities, thus leading to increased N2O emissions. Over the 111 day measurement period, the abundance of nitrite (NO2−)‐reducing nirS gene copy numbers increased significantly by 87% in the trampled soil with urine (P < 0.01) and increased by 40% in the trampled soil without urine (P < 0.05), but the nirS gene abundance did not change significantly in the nontrampled soil. The abundance of NO2− reducing nirK gene copy numbers was not affected by trampling, but increased significantly following urine application. The abundance of N2O‐reducing nosZ clade I and nosZ clade II gene copy numbers increased significantly in the trampled soil, but did not change significantly in the nontrampled soil. N2O emissions from the trampled soil were about twice that from the nontrampled soil without urine (1.20 and 0.62 kg N2O‐N per ha, respectively) and about eight times greater (6.24 kg N2O‐N per ha) than from nontrampled soil (0.80 kg N2O‐N per ha) when urine was applied. These results strongly suggest that animal trampling during winter forage grazing can have a major impact on denitrifying communities in soil, which in turn stimulate greater denitrification with increased N2O emissions.
Early nitrogen‐deprivation responses in Arabidopsis roots reveal distinct differences on transcriptome and (phospho‐) proteome levels between nitrate and ammonium nutrition
Authors: Menz Jochen , Li Zhi , Schulze Waltraud X. , Ludewig Uwe
Published: July 2016

Plant roots acquire nitrogen predominantly as ammonium and nitrate, which besides serving as nutrients, also have signaling roles. Re‐addition of nitrate to starved plants rapidly re‐programs the metabolism and gene expression, but the earliest responses to nitrogen deprivation are unknown. Here, the early transcriptional and (phospho)proteomic responses of roots to nitrate or ammonium deprivation were analyzed. The rapid transcriptional repression of known nitrate‐induced genes proceeded the tissueNO3−concentration drop, with the transcription factor genesLBD37/38andHRS1/HHO1among those with earliest significant change. Similar rapid transcriptional repression occurred inloss‐of‐functionmutants of the nitrate response factorNLP7and some transcripts were stabilized by nitrate. In contrast, an early transcriptional response to ammonium deprivation was almost completely absent. However, ammonium deprivation induced a rapid and transient perturbation of the proteome and a differential phosphorylation pattern in proteins involved in adjusting thepHand cation homeostasis, plasma membrane H+,NH4+, K+and water fluxes. Fewer differential phosphorylation patterns in transporters, kinases and other proteins occurred with nitrate deprivation. The deprivation responses were not just opposite to the re‐supply responses, but identifiedNO3−deprivation‐inducedmRNAdecay and signaling candidates potentially reporting the external nitrate status to the cell.
Development and analytic validation of an electron ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (EI‐GC/MS) method for the measurement of 3‐bromotyrosine in canine serum
Authors: Sattasathuchana Panpicha , Berghoff Nora , Grützner Niels , Thengchaisri Naris , Rangachari Venkat R. , Suchodolski Jan S. , Steiner Jörg M.
Published: July 2016

Background

The activation of eosinophils causes the release of eosinophil peroxidase and subsequent production of 3‐bromotyrosine (3‐BrY), a stable byproduct. In people, 3‐BrY is used as a biomarker for eosinophil activation. The method for measuring 3‐BrY concentrations in biologic samples from dogs has not previously been described.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to develop and analytically validate an electron ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (EI‐GC/MS) method for the measurement of 3‐BrY in canine serum samples.

Methods

Pooled canine serum samples were utilized to validate the assay. Serum samples from healthy control dogs (n = 41) were used to evaluate 3‐BrY concentrations and establish a reference interval.

Results

The analytic validation revealed that the limit of blank and limit of detection were 0.33 and 0.63 μmol/L, respectively. The coefficients of variation for precision and reproducibility for 3‐BrY were < 13.9% and < 11.0%, respectively. The means ± SD of observed‐to‐expected ratios for linearity and accuracy were 109.6 ± 17.2% and 98.7 ± 11.3%, respectively. The reference interval was determined as ≤ 1.12 μmol/L (median [range]: ≤ 0.63 μmol/L [≤ 0.63–1.13]).

Conclusions

The EI‐GC/MS assay described here for the measurement of 3‐BrY in canine serum samples was precise, reproducible, linear, and accurate. Further studies are underway to determine the diagnostic utilities in canine patients with eosinophilic diseases.
Development and characterization of a technique for percutaneous radiologic gastrojejunostomy tube placement in the dog
Authors: Mack Rebekah M. , Staiger Benjamin , Langlois Daniel K. , Mehler Stephen J. , Lam Nathaniel , Moore Trevor , Brown Andrew , Beal Matthew W.
Published: July 2016

Objective

To develop and describe a technique for percutaneous radiologic gastrojejunostomy tube placement in the dog.

Design

Prospective technique development study.

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Animals

Six healthy adult male Beagles.

Interventions

Following anesthetic induction, fluoroscopic and ultrasound guidance were used to identify an appropriate gastropexy site on the left lateral abdomen. Gastropexy was performed using gastrointestinal suture anchors. An over‐the‐wire catheter technique using fluoroscopic guidance was used to achieve jejunal access. An 18F/8F, 58 cm, dual‐lumen gastrojejunal feeding tube was placed via serial over‐the‐wire dilation of the body wall using an 18F peel‐away introducer kit. Tube location was determined radiographically immediately following placement and on days 2, 4, after emesis on day 4, and at time of gastrojejunal feeding tube removal (day 16–18).

Measurements and Main Results

Percutaneous radiologic gastrojejunostomy (PRGJ) tube placement was successful in all dogs. Median time to pyloric passage with the guide wire was 23.5 minutes (range, 9–93 minutes). Median total procedure time was 53 minutes (range, 49–113 minutes). Significant tube migration was not observed at any point during the study. One dog developed linear foreign body obstruction secondary to the tube on day 5 that was relieved by release of the jejunal component. Other complications were minor and included mild‐to‐moderate peristomal inflammation in all dogs and removal of the feeding tube on day 3 by 1 dog. Feedings were well tolerated in all dogs.

Conclusions

PRGJ tube placement in the dog is a safe and minimally invasive technique that allows for jejunal feeding without surgery or endoscopy. The high success rates, acceptable procedural times, and minimal complications are appealing for use in critically ill patients. Although additional evaluations are needed, PRGJ tube placement may be considered for dogs that require postpyloric feeding with or without gastric decompression.
Linear transformation of the encoding mechanism for light intensity underlies the paradoxical enhancement of cortical visual responses by sevoflurane
Authors: Arena Alessandro , Lamanna Jacopo , Gemma Marco , Ripamonti Maddalena , Ravasio Giuliano , Zimarino Vincenzo , De Vitis Assunta , Beretta Luigi , Malgaroli Antonio
Published: July 2016

Key points

The mechanisms of action of anaesthetics on the living brain are still poorly understood. In this respect, the analysis of the differential effects of anaesthetics on spontaneous and sensory‐evoked cortical activity might provide important and novel cues.

Here we show that the anaesthetic sevoflurane strongly silences the brain but potentiates in a dose‐ and frequency‐dependent manner the cortical visual response.

Such enhancement arises from a linear scaling by sevoflurane of the power‐law relation between light intensity and the cortical response.

The fingerprint of sevoflurane action suggests that circuit silencing can boost linearly synaptic responsiveness presumably by scaling the number of responding units and/or their correlation following a sensory stimulation.

General anaesthetics, which are expected to silence brain activity, often spare sensory responses. To evaluate differential effects of anaesthetics on spontaneous and sensory‐evoked cortical activity, we characterized their modulation by sevoflurane and propofol. Power spectra and the bust‐suppression ratio from EEG data were used to evaluate anaesthesia depth. ON and OFF cortical responses were elicited by light pulses of variable intensity, duration and frequency, during light and deep states of anaesthesia. Both anaesthetics reduced spontaneous cortical activity but sevoflurane greatly enhanced while propofol diminished the ON visual response. Interestingly, the large potentiation of the ON visual response by sevoflurane was found to represent a linear scaling of the encoding mechanism for light intensity. To the contrary, the OFF cortical visual response was depressed by both anaesthetics. The selective depression of the OFF component by sevoflurane could be converted into a robust potentiation by the pharmacological blockade of the ON pathway, suggesting that the temporal order of ON and OFF responses leads to a depression of the latter. This hypothesis agrees with the finding that the enhancement of the ON response was converted into a depression by increasing the frequency of light‐pulse stimulation from 0.1 to 1 Hz. Overall, our results support the view that inactivity‐dependent modulation of cortical circuits produces an increase in their responsiveness. Among the implications of our findings, the silencing of cortical circuits can boost linearly the cortical responsiveness but with negative impact on their frequency transfer and with a loss of the information content of the sensory signal.
An Inexpensive, Portable Machine to Facilitate Testing and Characterization of the Friction Stir Blind Riveting Process
Authors: Zachary Trimble A , Yammamoto Brennan , Li Jingjing
Published: July 2016

The expanding use of materials that are difficult to join with traditional techniques drives an urgent need, in a wide array of industries, to develop and characterize production capable joining processes. Friction stir blind riveting (FSBR) is such a process. However, full adoption of FSBR requires more complete characterization of the process. The relatively inexpensive, portable FSBR machine discussed here facilitates in situ X-ray imaging of the FSBR process, which will enhance the ability of researchers to understand and improve the FSBR process. Real-time, unobstructed, angular X-ray access drives the functional requirements and design considerations of the machine. The acute angular access provided by the machine necessitates tradeoffs in stiffness and Abbe errors. An error budget quantifies the effect of the various trade-offs on likely sensitive directions and relationships. Additionally, the machine motivates more test parameters important to machine designers (e.g., parallelism and runout) that have not yet been explored in the literature. Ultimately, a machine has been developed, which has a single rotational axis that translates parallel to the rotational axis, can be built for under $12,000, has a mass of less than 110 kg, measures 915 mm × 254 mm × 624 mm, has a rotational speed range of 400–8000 RPM, has a feed rate range of 0.1–200 mm/min, can be installed on most test benches, has total rivet runout of 0.1 mm, has plunge and rotational axis parallelism of less than 0.1 deg, and has a plunge axis repeatability of better than 2  μ m over a 10 mm range.
Experimental Investigation of Local and Average Heat Transfer Coefficients Under an Inline Impinging Jet Array, Including Jets With Low Impingement Distance and Inclined Angle
Authors: Li Weihong , Xu Minghe , Ren Jing , Jiang Hongde
Published: July 2016

Comprehensive impingement heat transfer coefficients data are presented with varied Reynolds number, hole spacing, jet-to-target distance, and hole inclination utilizing transient liquid crystal. The impingement configurations include: streamwise and spanwise jet-to-jet spacing (X/D, Y/D) are 4∼8 and jet-to-target plate distance (Z/D) is 0.75∼3, which composed a test matrix of 36 different geometries. The Reynolds numbers vary between 5,000 and 25,000. Additionally, hole inclination pointing to the upstream direction (θ: 0 deg∼40 deg) is also investigated to compare with normal impingement jets. Local and averaged heat transfer coefficients data are presented to illustrate that (1) surface Nusselt numbers increase with streamwise development for low impingement distance, while decrease for large impingement distance. The increase or decrease variations are also influenced by Reynolds number, streamwise and spanwise spacings. (2) Nusselt numbers of impingement jets with inclined angle are similar to those of normal impingement jets. Due to the increase or decrease variations corresponding to small or large impingement distance, a two-regime-based correlation, based on that of Florschuetz et al., is developed to predict row-averaged Nusselt number. The new correlation is capable to cover low Z/D∼0.75 and presents better prediction of row-averaged Nusselt number, which proves to be an effective impingement design tool.
A Hybrid Loop Approach Using the Sufficient Descent Condition for Accurate, Robust, and Efficient Reliability-Based Design Optimization
Authors: Keshtegar Behrooz , Hao Peng
Published: July 2016

For reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) problems, single loop approaches (SLA) are very efficient but prone to converge to inappropriate point for highly nonlinear constraint functions, and double loop approaches (DLA) are proven to be accurate but require more iterations to achieve stable results. In this paper, an adjusted advanced mean value (AAMV) method is firstly proposed to improve the robustness and efficiency of performance measure approach. The global convergence of the AAMV is guaranteed using sufficient descent condition for the reliability loop in RBDO. Then, a hybrid RBDO method is developed to improve the efficiency of DLA and accuracy of SLA, on the basis of sufficient descent condition and AAMV method, named as hybrid single and double loops (HSD) method. Three nonlinear concave and convex performance functions are used to illustrate the efficiency and robustness of the AAMV method; then the accuracy, robustness, and efficiency of the proposed HSD method are compared to current SLA and DLA through another three benchmark nonlinear RBDO examples. Results show that the AAMV is more robust and efficient than the existing reliability analysis methods. The HSD is more accurate than the SLA for highly nonlinear problems, and also exhibits a better performance than the DLA from the point of view of both robustness and efficiency.