bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low risk of late intracranial complications in mild traumatic brain injury patients using oral anticoagulation after an initial normal brain computed tomography scan: education instead of hospitalization
Authors: Schoonman G. G. , Bakker D. P. , Jellema K.
Published: March 2014

Background and purpose

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common neurological disorder. Whether oral anticoagulation (OAC) use is a risk factor for secondary deterioration in mTBI patients after a normal computed tomography (CT) scan is unclear. Therefore data were retrospectively collected on patients with mTBI who used OAC to determine the incidence of secondary clinical deterioration after an initial normal head CT scan.

Methods

This was a retrospective single‐centre patient record study. All patients with an mTBI who presented at the emergency department between January 2007 and October 2011 were selected. Inclusion criteria were mTBI and at least 1 week of OAC use resulting in an international normalized radio > 1.1. CT scans were re‐evaluated for this study.

Results

A total of 211 mTBI patients using OAC and with an initial CT scan without abnormalities were included in the analysis. In five patients a secondary deterioration was found. One patient developed a subdural hematoma after 15 h of clinical observation. The other four patients became symptomatic between 2 and 28 days after trauma.

Conclusions

A low risk of secondary deterioration within 24 h in mTBI patients taking OAC with a normal first head CT scan was found. Our study does not support the recommendation of the current guidelines that these patients should be clinically observed for at least 24 h. The fact that in our series the majority of secondary deteriorations occurred between 2 and 28 days after trauma underscores the importance of patient instructions upon discharge from the hospital.
ERK/MAPK regulates ERRγ expression, transcriptional activity and receptor‐mediated tamoxifen resistance in ER+ breast cancer
Authors: Heckler Mary M. , Thakor Hemang , Schafer Cara C. , Riggins Rebecca B.
Published: March 2014

Selective estrogen receptor modulators such as tamoxifen (TAM) significantly improve breast cancer‐specific survival for women with estrogen receptor‐positive (ER+) disease. However, resistance to TAM remains a major clinical problem. The resistant phenotype is usually not driven by loss or mutation of the estrogen receptor; instead, changes in multiple proliferative and/or survival pathways over‐ride the inhibitory effects of TAM. Estrogen‐related receptor γ (ERRγ) is an orphan member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that promotes TAM resistance in ER+ breast cancer cells. This study sought to clarify the mechanism(s) by which this orphan nuclear receptor is regulated, and hence affects TAM resistance. mRNA and protein expression/phosphorylation were monitored by RT‐PCR and western blotting, respectively. Site‐directed mutagenesis was used to disrupt consensus extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) target sites. Cell proliferation and cell‐cycle progression were measured by flow cytometric methods. ERRγ transcriptional activity was assessed by dual‐luciferase promoter–reporter assays. We show that ERRγ protein levels are affected by the activation state of ERK/mitogen‐activated protein kinase, and mutation of consensus ERK target sites impairs ERRγ‐driven transcriptional activity and TAM resistance. These findings shed new light on the functional significance of ERRγ in ER+ breast cancer, and are the first to demonstrate a role for kinase regulation of this orphan nuclear receptor.
Failure assessment of the shaft of a pumped storage unit
Authors: Negru R. , Muntean S. , Pasca N. , Marsavina L.
Published: March 2014

The paper is focused on failure assessment of the shaft of a pumped storage unit. The shaft failure occurred during normal operation of the hydropower unit after 35 years of service. Three different methods are applied in order to assess its lifetime. Firstly, a finite element analysis was performed in order to obtain the static stress distribution and to apply a strain‐based crack initiation for the shaft under torsion load. The number of cycles for crack propagation was obtained using the Paris law for mode III. More precisely, the lifetime assessment of the shaft is obtained based on a low‐cycle fatigue analysis for estimating the number of cycles for crack initiation and then followed by that for fatigue crack propagation. Secondly, an analytical estimation based on failure assessment diagram is carried out for circumferential crack in order to determine the safe/unsafe region, where the shaft can operate with a crack. The failure assessment diagram for mode III loading was plotted in order to obtain the critical circumferential crack using the stress intensity factor solution and three analytical solutions for plastic zone. Thirdly, the theory of critical distance is employed for estimating the shaft life under torsional loading. A good agreement is obtained between the estimated results and experimental data for the shaft life and the crack length.
Interactive biotic and abiotic regulators of soil carbon cycling: evidence from controlled climate experiments on peatland and boreal soils
Authors: Briones María Jesús I. , McNamara Niall P. , Poskitt Jan , Crow Susan E. , Ostle Nicholas J.
Published: March 2014

Partially decomposed plant and animal remains have been accumulating in organic soils (i.e. >40% C content) for millennia, making them the largest terrestrial carbon store. There is growing concern that, in a warming world, soil biotic processing will accelerate and release greenhouse gases that further exacerbate climate change. However, the magnitude of this response remains uncertain as the constraints are abiotic, biotic and interactive. Here, we examined the influence of resource quality and biological activity on the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration under different soil moisture regimes. Organic soils were sampled from 13 boreal and peatland ecosystems located in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Finland and Sweden, representing a natural resource quality range of C, N and P. They were incubated at four temperatures (4, 10, 15 and 20 °C) at either 60% or 100% water holding capacity (WHC). Our results showed that chemical and biological properties play an important role in determining soil respiration responses to temperature and moisture changes. High soil C : P and C : N ratios were symptomatic of slow C turnover and long‐term C accumulation. In boreal soils, low bacterial to fungal ratios were related to greater temperature sensitivity of respiration, which was amplified in drier conditions. This contrasted with peatland soils which were dominated by bacterial communities and enchytraeid grazing, resulting in a more rapid C turnover under warmer and wetter conditions. The unexpected acceleration of C mineralization under high moisture contents was possibly linked to the primarily role of fermented organic matter, instead of oxygen, in mediating microbial decomposition. We conclude that to improve C model simulations of soil respiration, a better resolution of the interactions occurring between climate, resource quality and the decomposer community will be required.
Changes in forest biomass and linkage to climate and forest disturbances over Northeastern China
Authors: Zhang Yuzhen , Liang Shunlin
Published: March 2014

The forests of northeastern China store nearly half of the country's total biomass carbon stocks. In this study, we investigated the changes in forest biomass by using satellite observations and found that a significant increase in forest biomass took place between 2001 and 2010. To determine the possible reasons for this change, several statistical methods were used to analyze the correlations between forest biomass dynamics and forest disturbances (i.e. fires, insect damage, logging, and afforestation and reforestation), climatic factors, and forest development. Results showed that forest development was the most important contributor to the increasing trend of forest biomass from 2001 to 2010, and climate controls were the secondary important factor. Among the four types of forest disturbance considered in this study, forest recovery from fires, and afforestation and reforestation during the past few decades played an important role in short‐term biomass dynamics. This study provided observational evidence and valuable information for the relationships between forest biomass and climate as well as forest disturbances.
Livestock and food security: vulnerability to population growth and climate change
Authors: Godber Olivia F. , Wall Richard
Published: April 2014

Livestock production is an important contributor to sustainable food security for many nations, particularly in low‐income areas and marginal habitats that are unsuitable for crop production. Animal products account for approximately one‐third of global human protein consumption. Here, a range of indicators, derived from FAOSTAT and World Bank statistics, are used to model the relative vulnerability of nations at the global scale to predicted climate and population changes, which are likely to impact on their use of grazing livestock for food. Vulnerability analysis has been widely used in global change science to predict impacts on food security and famine. It is a tool that is useful to inform policy decision making and direct the targeting of interventions. The model developed shows that nations within sub‐Saharan Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, and some Asian nations are likely to be the most vulnerable. Livestock‐based food security is already compromised in many areas on these continents and suffers constraints from current climate in addition to the lack of economic and technical support allowing mitigation of predicted climate change impacts. Governance is shown to be a highly influential factor and, paradoxically, it is suggested that current self‐sufficiency may increase future potential vulnerability because trade networks are poorly developed. This may be relieved through freer trade of food products, which is also associated with improved governance. Policy decisions, support and interventions will need to be targeted at the most vulnerable nations, but given the strong influence of governance, to be effective, any implementation will require considerable care in the management of underlying structural reform.
Biochar amendment of soil improves resilience to climate change
Authors: Koide Roger T. , Nguyen Binh T. , Skinner R. Howard , Dell Curtis J. , Peoples Matthew S. , Adler Paul R. , Drohan Patrick J.
Published: March 2014

Because of climate change, insufficient soil moisture may increasingly limit crop productivity in certain regions of the world. This may be particularly consequential for biofuel crops, many of which will likely be grown in drought‐prone soils to avoid competition with food crops. Biochar is the byproduct of a biofuel production method called pyrolysis. If pyrolysis becomes more common as some scientists predict, biochar will become more widely available. We asked, therefore, whether the addition of biochar to soils could significantly increase the availability of water to a crop. Biochar made from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) shoots was added at the rate of 1% of dry weight to four soils of varying texture, and available water contents were calculated as the difference between field capacity and permanent wilting point water contents. Biochar addition significantly increased the available water contents of the soils by both increasing the amount of water held at field capacity and allowing plants to draw the soil to a lower water content before wilting. Among the four soils tested, biochar amendment resulted in an additional 0.8–2.7 d of transpiration, which could increase productivity in drought‐prone regions or reduce the frequency of irrigation. Biochar amendment of soils may thus be a viable means of mitigating some of the predicted decrease in water availability accompanying climate change that could limit the future productivity of biofuel crops.
Performance and blood parameters when lambs and meat‐goat kids were finished on pasture with and without whole cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum) supplementation
Authors: Turner K. E. , Belesky D. P. , Zajac A. M. , Dowd M. K.
Published: March 2014

We evaluated forage production patterns, weight gains and blood parameters when lambs (Ovis aries) and meat‐goat (Caprus hircus) kids were finished on a mixed sward of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) with (SUP) and without (UNSUP) supplemental whole cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum; WCS) in a replicated study. Botanical composition and energy/protein ratios of the sward varied with year and with time during the growing season. Swards had greater amounts of red clover relatively early and more cocksfoot later in the season. Suffolk (SX) lambs had the heaviest body weights, Katahdin (KA) lambs were intermediate, and meat‐goat (GX) kids were the lightest at the end of each year. Overall body weight gain followed a trend of SX > KA > GX, and WCS supplementation increased weight gain for all animals by 18%. Only in 2008 did SUP animals have higher blood urea nitrogen levels, which may indicate less efficient use of dietary nitrogen when grazing grass–legume pastures managed for high nutritive value compared with UNSUP animals. Gossypol in WCS did not affect blood packed cell volume between SUP and UNSUP lambs and meat‐goat kids. Suffolk lambs, Katahdin lambs and cross‐bred Boer meat‐goat kids finished on pasture with and without WCS supplementation produced desirable body weights for most ethnic markets in the USA.
Focused Groundwater Controlled Feedbacks into the Hyporheic Zone During Baseflow Recession
Authors: Malzone Jonathan M. , Lowry Christopher S.
Published: March 2014

Groundwater surface water interaction in the hyporheic zone remains an important challenge for water resources management and ecosystem restoration. In heterogeneous stratified glacial sediments, reach‐scale environments contain an uneven distribution of focused groundwater flow occurring simultaneously with diffusely discharging groundwater. This results in a variation of stream‐aquifer interactions, where focused flow systems are able to temporally dominate exchange processes. The research presented here investigates the direct and indirect influences focused groundwater discharge exerts on the hyporheic zone during baseflow recession. Field results demonstrate that as diffuse sources of groundwater deplete during baseflow recession, focused groundwater discharge remains constant. During baseflow recession the hyporheic zone is unable to expand, while the high nitrate concentration from focused discharge changes the chemistry of the stream. The final result is a higher concentration of nitrate in the hyporheic zone as this altered surface water infiltrates into the subsurface. This indirect coupling of focused groundwater discharge and the hyporheic zone is unaccounted for in hyporheic studies at this time. Results indicate important implications for the potential reduction of agricultural degradation of water quality.
Self-Selection and Economic Assimilation of Immigrants: The Case of Iranian Immigrants Arriving to Three Countries during 1979–1985
Authors: Haberfeld Yitchak , Lundh Christer
Published: March 2014

The study is designed to evaluate the impact of the interaction between patterns of immigrants’ self-selection and the context of reception at destinations on economic assimilation of Iranian immigrants who came to three countries during 1979–1985. For that purpose, we studied immigrants at the age of 22 or higher upon arrival by utilizing the 5 percent 1990 and 2000 Public Use Microdata files (PUMS) of the United States census, the 20 percent demographic samples of the 1983 and 1995 Israeli censuses of population, and the 1990 and 2000 Swedish registers. The results indicate that the “most qualified” immigrants – both on observed and unobserved variables – who left Iran right after the Islamic revolution, arrived in the US Their positive self-selection led them to reach complete earnings assimilation with natives there. Iranian immigrants who arrived in Israel and Sweden did not achieve full earnings assimilation with natives. Of these two groups, a smaller immigrant-to-native gap in average earnings was found in Sweden, but in the same time Iranian immigrants in Israel were more positively self-selected and showed better assimilation than their counterparts in Sweden. Market structure played a certain role in immigrants’ earnings assimilation mainly in Sweden.
Ageing and Dementia in a Longitudinal Study of a Cohort withDownSyndrome
Authors: Carr Janet , Collins Suzanne
Published: March 2014

Background

A population sample of people withDown syndrome has been studied from infancy and has now been followed up again at age 47 years.

Methods

Intelligence and language skills were tested and daily living skills assessed. Memory/cognitive deterioration was examined using two test instruments.

Results

Scores on verbal tests of intelligence changed little. Those on a non‐verbal test, on self‐help skills and on both memory tests showed some decline, even when the scores of those already suffering from dementia were discounted.

Conclusions

At age 47, scores on most tests of even the majority of the cohort (i.e. those not definitely diagnosed with dementia) showed some decline. While this includes the scores of people who may subsequently develop dementia, it may also reflect the normal ageing process in this population.
Severity of polymorphic light eruption in pre‐ and post‐menopausal women: a comparative study
Authors: Reddy H. , Carmichael A.J. , Wahie S.
Published: March 2014

Background

Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is approximately four times more common in women than in men and often begins in young adult life. It is hypothesized that patients with PLE have an inherent resistance to UVL‐induced immunosuppression, which is a physiological phenomenon in normal healthy individuals. Consequently, in PLE there is a delayed‐type hypersensitivity reaction to a UVL‐modified skin antigen, which results in an inflammatory reaction and a variable rash. The female hormone, 17β‐oestradiol, has been shown to inhibit UVL‐induced physiological suppression of contact hypersensitivity responses. This has been postulated to account for the female preponderance of PLE. If 17β‐oestradiol plays a significant part in the disease, one might hypothesize that the severity of PLE might reduce in women after menopause.

Objectives

To compare the severity of PLE in pre‐menopausal women with that in post‐menopausal women.

Methods

Eighteen pre‐menopausal and 18 post‐menopausal women with PLE had their Polymorphic Light Eruption Severity Index (PLESI) scored by a single investigator.

Results

Pre‐menopausal women (mean age 40 years; range 25–50) had a mean PLESI of 54.8 (range 0–86, SD 20.2). Post‐menopausal women (mean age 63 years; range 53–78) had a mean PLESI of 36.8 (range 0–74, SD 18.2). A significant difference in mean PLESI values between pre‐ and post‐menopausal women was noted (18.0; 95% CI 4.9–31.0; P = 0.008). At the time of the study, three subjects in the pre‐menopausal group and one subject in the post‐menopausal group were on oestrogen preparations. Even after excluding the four patients on oral oestrogens, there remained a statistically significant difference in the mean PLESI scores between the pre‐menopausal and post‐menopausal groups (55.10 vs. 36.64; difference of 18.46, 95% CI: 4.0–32.91; P = 0.014).

Conclusions

The severity of PLE was significantly less in post‐menopausal women as compared with pre‐menopausal women.
Doctors' compliance with national guidelines and clinical pathway on the treatment of tuberculosis inpatients in Hubei, China
Authors: Zheng Xiaofei , Zhong Fangying , Zhang Xinping
Published: April 2014

Rationale, aims and objectives

The Ministry of Health in China has enacted a revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) guidelines and clinical pathway (CP) on new smear‐positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) inpatients to improve the quality of TB care and asked doctors' compliance to them on the treatment of TB inpatients. However, it remains unknown whether doctors adhere to them well. So this study focuses on evaluating the doctors' compliance with them in one representative TB hospital for medical quality improvement.

Methods

A hospital‐based retrospective study involving all medical records of newly diagnosed smear‐positive pulmonary TB inpatients from July 2011 to July 2013. Analysis indicators including adequate drug regimens rate, adequate drug dosages rate and adequate length of hospital stay rate were chosen to assess doctors' compliance with NTP guidelines and CP on the treatment of new smear‐positive pulmonary TB inpatients. The optimal value of these indicators is 100%.

Results

Of the 334 inpatients selected, the rate of adequate drug regimens prescribed is 26.95% (90/334), and the rate of adequate drug dosages is 0% (0/90). For the dosage of single drug, the rates of adequate dosage of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol are 24.44% (22/90), 85.56% (77/90), 70% (63/90) and 13.33% (12/90). Moreover, 75.56% (68/90) of isoniazid was prescribed too high and 83.34% (75/90) of ethambutol was prescribed too low. The rate of adequate length of hospital stay provided is 28.44% (95/334).

Conclusion

Doctors' compliance with NTP guidelines and CP on new smear‐positive pulmonary TB inpatients is depressed and needs improvement.
Comparison of two bioelectrical impedance devices and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry to evaluate body composition in heart failure
Authors: Alves F. D. , Souza G. C. , Biolo A. , Clausell N.
Published: March 2014

Background

The utilisation of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in heart failure can be affected by many factors and its applicability remains controversial. The present study aimed to verify the adequacy of single‐frequency BIA (SF‐BIA) and multifrequency BIA (MF‐BIA) compared to dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for evaluating body composition in outpatients with heart failure.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, 55 patients with stable heart failure and left ventricle ejection fraction ≤45% were evaluated for fat mass percentage, fat mass and fat‐free mass by DEXA and compared with the results obtained by SF‐BIA (single frequency of 50 kHz) and MF‐BIA (frequencies of 20 and 100 kHz).

Results

MF‐BIA and DEXA gave similar mean values for fat mass percentage, fat mass and fat‐free mass, whereas values from SF‐BIA were significantly different from DEXA. Both SF‐BIA and MF‐BIA measures of body composition correlated strongly with DEXA (r > 0.8; P < 0.001), except for fat mass assessed by SF‐BIA, which showed a moderate correlation (r = 0.760; P < 0.001). MF‐BIA also showed a better agreement with DEXA by Bland–Altman analysis in all measurements. However, both types of equipment showed wide limits of agreement and a significant relationship between variance and bias (Pitmans's test P > 0.05), except MF‐BIA for fat‐free mass.

Conclusions

Compared with DEXA, MF‐BIA showed better accuracy than SF‐BIA, although both types of equipment showed wide limits of agreement. The BIA technique should be used with caution, and regression equations might be useful for correcting the observed variations, mainly in extreme values of body composition.
High Life Cycle Efficacy Explains Fast Energy Payback for Improved Off‐Grid Lighting Systems
Authors: Alstone Peter , Lai Patricia , Mills Evan , Jacobson Arne
Published: March 2014

The energy intensity of fuel‐based lighting is substantial given the paltry levels of lighting service, poor economic outcomes, and exposure to public health risks for users throughout the developing world. There is a great opportunity to reduce fossil energy consumption (and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions) while improving public health and economic outcomes for the poor by encouraging upgrading from fuel‐based to rechargeable light‐emitting diode (LED) lighting. However, switching to efficient lighting requires up‐front investments of energy for manufacturing. This study explores life cycle energy performance in the market for modern off‐grid lighting (OGL) products in Sub‐Saharan Africa and introduces a new metric, life cycle efficacy, which facilitates comparisons and analysis of life cycle energy performance (light output per unit of embodied plus use‐phase energy consumption) for lighting technology systems. Combining field insights on technology adoption dynamics with embodied energy estimates for a range of products available in 2012 shows that OGL energy “debts” are “paid back” in 20 to 50 days (substantially faster than kilowatt‐scale grid‐connected solar electricity systems) with energy return on investment ratios from 10 to 40. This stems from greatly improved life cycle efficacy for off‐grid LED lighting (∼20 lumens/watt [lm/W]), compared to fuel‐based lighting (∼0.04 lumens/W). Life cycle benefits—not only energy, but also economic and health benefits—depend strongly on product service lifetime (related to quality) and fuel displacement fraction (related to performance). OGL life cycle efficacy increases from longer lifetime and/or improved LED source efficacy lead to better quality and less‐expensive lighting available in the developing world with lower energy use than the fuel‐based incumbent technology.
Effects of Inoculum Density and Wounding on Stem Infection of Three Eastern US Forest Species by Phytophthora ramorum
Authors: Tooley Paul W. , Browning Marsha , Leighty Robert M.
Published: March 2014

Seedlings of three Eastern US forest species Quercus rubra (northern red oak), Quercus prinus (chestnut oak) and Acer rubrum (red maple) were inoculated by applying Phytophthora ramorum sporangia to stems at different inoculum densities with and without wounding. Disease occurred in all treatments involving wounds, and no disease was observed in unwounded treatments. Younger seedlings (2–3 years old) did not differ significantly from older seedlings (5–6 years old) in disease incidence, but older seedlings sustained smaller lesions compared with younger seedlings. For both old and young seedlings, disease on wounded stems was observed down to the lowest sporangia concentration utilized (500 sporangia/ml for old seedlings and 100 sporangia/ml for young seedlings). The results show that in the presence of wounding, even very low sporangia concentrations can result in disease, and further suggest that wounding caused by insects and other factors may play an important role in P. ramorum epidemiology in forest environments.
Comparative pharmacokinetics of intravenous fentanyl and buprenorphine in healthy greyhound dogs
Authors: KuKanich B. , Allen P.
Published: March 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics of two highly protein‐bound, lipophilic opioid drugs. Fentanyl (10 μg/kg) and buprenorphine (20 μg/kg) were administered intravenously (IV) to six healthy greyhound dogs (three males and three females). The doses were based on clinically administered doses for dogs. Plasma drug concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, and noncompartmental pharmacokinetics were estimated with computer software. The volume of distribution (area) was larger for fentanyl (7.42 L/kg) compared to buprenorphine (3.54 L/kg). The plasma clearance of fentanyl (38.6 mL·min/kg) was faster than buprenorphine (10.3 mL·min/kg). The terminal half‐life of fentanyl (2.22 h) was shorter than buprenorphine (3.96 h). Despite similar physicochemical properties including octanol–water partition coefficient and pKa, the pharmacokinetics of fentanyl and buprenorphine were not similar. Both fentanyl (84%) and buprenorphine (95–98%) are considered highly protein bound, but the differences in protein binding may contribute to the lack of similarity of pharmacokinetics in healthy dogs.
A proposed framework for establishing and evaluating hypotheses about the behaviour of extinct organisms
Authors: Hone D. W. E. , Faulkes C. G.
Published: April 2014

Reconstructing the possible behaviours of long extinct species, and especially those with no close living relatives, are naturally fraught with difficulty: data are often limited and hard to interpret. However, the field of palaeoethology has not been helped by a poor understanding of the range and plasticity of the behaviour of extant organisms, coupled with a tendency to generalize and over‐interpret the limited information available. Here we attempt to construct a framework for the establishment of viable hypotheses about the behaviour of extinct organisms and the generation of support for, or testing of, these hypotheses. We advocate that it is preferable to under‐interpret available data, than to suggest problematic hypotheses that may become accepted as correct.
The moral reasoning abilities of men and women with intellectual disabilities who have a history of criminal offending behaviour
Authors: McDermott Emily , Langdon Peter E.
Published: March 2014

Purpose

This study had the following two aims (1) to examine the moral reasoning abilities of four groups of people: (i) men and women with intellectual disabilities (IDs) who had a documented history of criminal offending and (ii) men and women with IDs with no known history of criminal offending, and (2) to examine the relationship between emotional and behavioural problems and moral reasoning. It was predicted that (1) there would be no significant difference between the moral reasoning of men and women with IDs, (2) men and women with IDs who are not offenders will have ‘developmentally immature’ moral reasoning in comparison to offenders, and (3) moral reasoning will significantly predict emotional and behavioural problems.

Methods

Sixty‐eight people with IDs were invited to take part in this study and spread across four groups: (1) men with IDs who had committed criminal offences, (2) women with IDs who had committed criminal offences, (3) men with IDs who had no known history of criminal offending, and (4) women with IDs who had no known history of criminal offending. Participants were asked to complete measures of intelligence, moral reasoning, and emotional/behavioural problems.

Results

As predicted, men and women did not have different moral reasoning, but offenders did have ‘developmentally more mature’ moral reasoning than non‐offenders. Women had higher levels of physical and verbal aggression, while offenders, generally, had higher levels of psychopathology. Women with a history of criminal offending had higher levels of sexually inappropriate behaviour compared to men and women in the community. Moral reasoning significantly predicted emotional and behavioural problems.

Conclusions

Further work in this area is needed, and interventions that aim to address a moral developmental ‘delay’ may be beneficial in reducing recidivism among this population.
“Maybe he's on the toy train”: empathising and systemising in an encounter with David Macaulay's Black and White
Authors: Hardstaff Sarah
Published: March 2014

This study explores the responses of Abby, a young person with autism, to David Macaulay's 1990 picturebook Black and White. Although both picturebook researchers and autism practitioners focus on the importance of encouraging empathetic responses to fictional characters, I build on Louise Collins' argument that Macaulay's work offers an opportunity to develop a different kind of " moral literacy" (2002, p.31). Different ways of practising and understanding perspective‐taking in relation to fiction are considered in light of Abby's responses to Black and White and to fiction more generally. This study, in considering its own weaknesses, also offers a critique of the typical approaches to picturebook research whereby taking the perspective of fictional characters is sometimes seen as indicative of reading competence.
Adipocytokine expression associated with miRNA regulation and diagnosis of NASH in obese patients with NAFLD
Authors: Estep J. Michael , Goodman Zachary , Sharma Haveesh , Younossi Elana , Elarainy Hazem , Baranova Ancha , Younossi Zobair
Published: March 2014

Background & Aims

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is strongly associated with visceral adiposity. The secretion of adipocytokines from white adipose tissue (WAT) promoting necroinflammation, and/or fibrosis may play important roles in the pathogenesis of non‐alcoholic steatohepatits (NASH). In a previous study, reduced expression of a number of miRNA species in WAT concomitant with histological diagnosis of NASH was successfully demonstrated. In this study, we measure the expression of several predicted miRNA regulatory targets relevant to NAFLD and NASH including mTOR, FAS, IL20, SEMA4C, ADAMTS6 and IL13RA. We then examine hepatic receptor expression by immunohistochemical staining and qPCR.

Methods

White adipose tissue was collected from 24 obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery with biopsy‐proven NAFLD. Extracted total RNAs from the adipose tissue were reverse transcribed and profiled for gene expression by qPCR for specific individual mRNA targets defined after identification by any two of three of the major prediction services: miRanda, TarBase or PicTar. All liver biopsies were read by a singly hepatopathologist. The same liver tissue was used to stain for hepatic receptor expression for FASLG and IL20. Additionally, the same tissue was used for qPCR for FASLG and IL20.

Results

Increases in the expression of IL13RA, mTOR, IL20, SEMA4C and FAS were detected and negatively correlated with putative regulatory miRNA. Hepatic receptor expression for FAS and IL20 was noted to correlate with markers of inflammation and severity of NAFLD.

Conclusion

These data are consistent with the hypothesis that specific adipocytokines secreted by WAT will impact hepatic tissue and participate in the pathogenesis of NASH.
THE DIFFUSION OF PRIVATIZATION IN EUROPE: POLITICAL AFFINITY OR ECONOMIC COMPETITION?
Authors: SCHMITT CARINA
Published: March 2014

Privatization has spread around the globe. While a number of studies find empirical evidence for the diffusion of privatization, it remains unclear what the relevant linkages between states are. This article analyses whether it is economic competition or political affinity that influences the diffusion of privatizing public utilities. The sample includes telecommunications, postal, and railway providers as the main network‐based utilities operating at the national level in 15 European countries from 1980 until 2007. The results of the spatial regressions clearly show that governments follow each other for economic reasons. Trading partners strategically interact when privatizing their national public‐utility providers to form strategic cross‐border company alliances and to avoid competitive disadvantages in the global market. This applies particularly to economies that are highly integrated in the international market. Surprisingly, political and ideological similarities do not seem to matter for the diffusion of privatization.
A barleyPHDfinger transcription factor that confers male sterility by affecting tapetal development
Authors: Fernández Gómez José , Wilson Zoe A.
Published: March 2014

Controlling pollen development is of major commercial importance in generating hybrid crops and selective breeding, but characterized genes for male sterility in crops are rare, with no current examples in barley. However, translation of knowledge from model species is now providing opportunities to understand and manipulate such processes in economically important crops. We have used information from regulatory networks inArabidopsisto identify and functionally characterize a barley PHD transcription factorMALE STERTILITY1(MS1), which expresses in the anther tapetum and plays a critical role during pollen development. Comparative analysis ofArabidopsis, rice andBrachypodiumgenomes was used to identify conserved regions inMS1for primer design to amplify the barleyMS1gene; RACE‐PCR was subsequently used to generate the full‐length sequence. This gene shows anther‐specific tapetal expression, between late tetrad stage and early microspore release.HvMS1silencing and overexpression in barley resulted in male sterility. Additionally,HvMS1 cDNA, controlled by the nativeArabidopsis MS1promoter, successfully complemented the homozygousms1 Arabidopsismutant. These results confirm the conservation ofMS1function in higher plants and in particular in temperate cereals. This has provided the first example of a characterized male sterility gene in barley, which presents a valuable tool for the future control of male fertility in barley for hybrid development.
Epidermal coumaroyl anthocyanins protect sweet basil against excess light stress: multiple consequences of light attenuation
Authors: Tattini Massimiliano , Landi Marco , Brunetti Cecilia , Giordano Cristiana , Remorini Damiano , Gould Kevin S. , Guidi Lucia
Published: March 2014

The putative photoprotective role of foliar anthocyanins continues to attract heated debate. Strikingly different experimental set‐ups coupled with a poor knowledge of anthocyanin identity have likely contributed to such disparate opinions. Here, the photosynthetic responses to 30 or 100% solar irradiance were compared in two cultivars of basil, the green‐leafed Tigullio (TG) and the purple‐leafed Red Rubin (RR). Coumaroyl anthocyanins inRRleaf epidermis significantly mitigated the effects of high light stress. In full sunlight,RRleaves displayed several shade‐plant traits; they transferred less energy than didTGto photosystem II (PSII), and non‐photochemical quenching was lower. The higher xanthophyll cycle activity inTGwas insufficient to prevent inactivation ofPSIIin full sunlight. However,TGwas the more efficient in the shade;RRwas far less able to accommodate a large change in irradiance. Investment of carbon to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis was more inRRthan inTGin the shade, and was either greatly enhanced inTGor varied little inRRbecause of high sunlight. The metabolic cost of photoprotection was lower whereas light‐induced increase in biomass production was higher inRRthan inTG, thus making purple basil the more light tolerant. Purple basil appears indeed to display the conservative resource‐use strategy usually observed in highly stress tolerant species. We conclude that the presence of epidermal coumaroyl anthocyanins confers protective benefits under high light, but it is associated with a reduced plasticity to accommodate changing light fluxes as compared with green leaves.
The Dark Side of the Loon. Explaining the Temptations of Obscurantism
Authors: Buekens Filip , Boudry Maarten
Published: March 2014

After contrasting obscurantism with bullshit, we explore some ways in which obscurantism is typically justified by investigating a notorious test‐case: defences of Lacanian psychoanalysis. Obscurantism abuses the reader's natural sense of curiosity and interpretive charity with the promise of deep and profound insights about a designated subject matter that is often vague or elusive. When the attempt to understand what the speaker means requires excessive hermeneutic efforts, interpreters are reluctant to halt their quest for meaning. We diagnose this as a case of psychological loss aversion, in particular, the aversion to acknowledging that there was no hidden meaning after all, or that whatever meaning found was projected onto the text by the reader herself.
Detection of lipoarabinomannan in urine for identification of active tuberculosis among HIV‐positive adults in Ethiopian health centres
Authors: Balcha Taye T. , Winqvist Niclas , Sturegård Erik , Skogmar Sten , Reepalu Anton , Jemal Zelalem H. , Tibesso Gudeta , Schön Thomas , Björkman Per
Published: March 2014

Objective

To assess the diagnostic performance of urine lipoarabinomannan (LAM) detection for TB screening in HIV‐positive adults in Ethiopia.

Methods

Testing for LAM was performed using the Determine TB‐LAM lateral flow assay on urine samples from participants in a prospective cohort with baseline bacteriological categorisation for active TB in sputum. Characteristics of TB patients with regard to LAM status were determined. Participants were followed for 6 months to evaluate survival, retention in care and incident TB.

Results

Positive LAM results were found in 78/757 participants. Among 128 subjects with definite (confirmed by culture and/or Xpert MTB/RIF) TB, 33 were LAM‐positive (25.8%); the respective figure for clinically diagnosed cases was 2/20 (10%). Five of the remaining 43 LAM‐positive individuals had died during the 6‐month follow‐up period, whereas 38 remained in care without clinical signs of TB. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 25.8%, 92.9%, 42.3% and 86.0%, respectively. Among TB patients, LAM positivity was associated with higher WHO clinical stage, lower body mass index (BMI), CD4 cell and haemoglobin levels, and with increased mortality. A combination algorithm of urine LAM testing and sputum smear microscopy detected 49 (38.2%) of definite TB cases; among those with CD4 count ≤100 cells/mm3, this proportion was 66.7%.

Conclusions

The performance of urine LAM testing for TB detection was poor in this population. However, this was improved among subjects with CD4 count ≤100 cells/mm3. In combination with sputum microscopy urine, LAM could be considered for targeted TB screening in this subgroup.
A robust, simple, high‐throughput technique for time‐resolved plant volatile analysis in field experiments
Authors: Kallenbach Mario , Oh Youngjoo , Eilers Elisabeth J. , Veit Daniel , Baldwin Ian T. , Schuman Meredith C.
Published: March 2014

Plant volatiles (PVs) mediate interactions between plants and arthropods, microbes and other plants, and are involved in responses to abiotic stress. PV emissions are therefore influenced by many environmental factors, including herbivore damage, microbial invasion, and cues from neighboring plants, and also light regime, temperature, humidity and nutrient availability. Thus, an understanding of the physiological and ecological functions of PVs must be based on measurements reflecting PV emissions under natural conditions. However, PVs are usually sampled in the artificial environments of laboratories or climate chambers. Sampling of PVs in natural environments is difficult, being limited by the need to transport, maintain and provide power to instruments, or use expensive sorbent devices in replicate. Ideally, PVs should be measured in natural settings with high replication, spatio‐temporal resolution and sensitivity, and modest costs. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a sorbent commonly used for PV sampling, is available as silicone tubing for as little as 0.60 € m−1 (versus 100–550 € each for standard PDMS sorbent devices). Small pieces of silicone tubing (STs) of various lengths from millimeters to centimeters may be added to any experimental setting and used for headspace sampling, with little manipulation of the organism or headspace. STs have sufficiently fast absorption kinetics and large capacity to sample plant headspaces over a timescale of minutes to hours, and thus can produce biologically meaningful ‘snapshots’ of PV blends. When combined with thermal desorption coupled to GC–MS (a 40‐year‐old widely available technology), use of STs yields reproducible, sensitive, spatio‐temporally resolved quantitative data from headspace samples taken in natural environments.
Knockdown of the Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplast protein disulfide isomerase 6 results in reduced levels of photoinhibition and increased D1 synthesis in high light
Authors: Wittenberg Gal , Levitan Alexander , Klein Tamir , Dangoor Inbal , Keren Nir , Danon Avihai
Published: March 2014

A chloroplast protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) was previously proposed to regulate translation of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast psbA mRNA, encoding the D1 protein, in response to light. Here we show that AtPDI6, one of 13 Arabidopsis thaliana PDI genes, also plays a role in the chloroplast. We found that AtPDI6 is targeted and localized to the chloroplast. Interestingly, AtPDI6 knockdown plants displayed higher resistance to photoinhibition than wild‐type plants when exposed to a tenfold increase in light intensity. The AtPDI6 knockdown plants also displayed a higher rate of D1 synthesis under a similar light intensity. The increased resistance to photoinhibition may not be rationalized by changes in antenna or non‐photochemical quenching. Thus, the increased D1 synthesis rate, which may result in a larger proportion of active D1 under light stress, may led to the decrease in photoinhibition. These results suggest that, although the D1 synthesis rates observed in wild‐type plants under high light intensities are elevated, repair can potentially occur faster. The findings implicate AtPDI6 as an attenuator of D1 synthesis, modulating photoinhibition in a light‐regulated manner.
Partitioned edge‐function‐scaled region‐based active contour (p‐ESRAC): Automated liver segmentation in multiphase contrast‐enhanced MRI
Authors: Oh Jihun , Martin Diego R. , Hu Xiaoping
Published: March 2014

Purpose:

In multiphase contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE‐MRI), liver segmentation is an important preprocessing step for the computer‐aided evaluation of liver disease. However, because of the liverˈs irregular shape, proximity to surrounding organs, and large intensity variation, and peripheral contrast enhancement in the kidney, liver segmentation has been very challenging. This paper presents a novel hybrid active contour model and overall procedures that are specific to liver segmentation.

Methods:

The authors introduced an edge‐function‐scaled (weighted) region‐based active contour model (ESRAC) and utilization of registered, multiphase sequences to address leakage‐to‐kidney and oversegmentation problems. The model incorporated weighted regional information with a compactly supported edge map, computed from a combination of images obtained during arterial and delayed phases, and it was coupled with a geodesic edge term. To cope with signal‐inhomogeneity on MRI, all of the axial slices were partitioned into eight sectors with an angular span of 45°, centered on the inferior vena cava, each in the superior and inferior regions and the regional information regarding ESRAC was computed for each partition, henceforth the so‐called partitioned ESRAC (p‐ESRAC). Initialization of the active contour was performed by thresholding with a range of [200, +∞) and simple morphological operation during the delayed phase. At the end, to fill the holes in the segmented images caused by high gradients around the vasculature, noise, or outstanding texture features, iterative morphological operations were performed until convergence. The authors compared the segmentation accuracy of p‐ESRAC to that with geodesic active contour, region‐based active contour, geodesic active region, and localized region‐based active contour using quantitative and visual assessments.

Results:

In three‐dimensional experimental studies conducted on 30 subjects (14 normal or benign cases and 16 malignant cases), compared with other active contours, p‐ESRAC achieved the highest dice similarity coefficients of 93.9 ± 1.6% (normal) and 91.6 ± 2.2% (malignant), respectively. In addition, p‐ESRAC resulted in the lowest false positive rates of 4.5 ± 3.2% (normal) and 7.9 ± 3.0% (malignant), demonstrating it to be the most effective in reducing oversegmentation. The partition scheme improved segmentation accuracy by 5.4 ± 9.2% (normal) and 22.2 ± 27.6% (malignant) of the true segmentation that was missed by ESRAC. Visual assessment confirmed that p‐ESRAC prevented leakage of the segmentation results of the liver into the kidney.

Conclusions:

A novel active‐contour model was developed, allowing for accurate liver segmentation on multiphase CE‐MRI, with conditions that include signal inhomogeneity and weak boundary conditions. Such a technique could be useful for applications that involve computer‐aided diagnosis of liver disease.