bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automated segmentation and quantification of actin stress fibres undergoing experimentally induced changes
Authors: ROGGE H. , ARTELT N. , ENDLICH N. , ENDLICH K.
Published: August 2017

The actin cytoskeleton is a main component of cells and it is crucially involved in many physiological processes, e.g. cell motility. Changes in the actin organization can be effected by diseases or vice versa. Due to the nonuniform pattern, it is difficult to quantify reasonable features of the actin cytoskeleton for a significantly high cell number. Here, we present an approach capable to fully segment and analyse the actin cytoskeleton of 2D fluorescence microscopic images with a special focus on stress fibres. The extracted feature data include length, width, orientation and intensity distributions of all traced stress fibres. Our approach combines morphological image processing techniques and a trace algorithm in an iterative manner, classifying the segmentation result with respect to the width of the stress fibres and in nonfibre‐like actin. This approach enables us to capture experimentally induced processes like the condensation or the collapse of the actin cytoskeleton. We successfully applied the algorithm to F‐actin images of cells that were treated with the actin polymerization inhibitor latrunculin A. Furthermore, we verified the robustness of our algorithm by a sensitivity analysis of the parameters, and we benchmarked our algorithm against established methods. In summary, we present a new approach to segment actin stress fibres over time to monitor condensation or collapse processes.
Body Piercing: Motivations and Implications for Health
Authors: Van Hoover Cheri , Rademayer Carol‐Ann , Farley Cindy L.
Published: August 2017

Body piercing has evolved from a behavior once considered extreme to an accepted choice among the general population. Earlobe piercing is so common that it is now considered a normative behavior. The motivations for choosing body piercing have changed and are associated with piercing site and number of piercings chosen by the individual. Meanings ascribed to body piercing were traditionally related to enhanced sexual desirability and experience, but now range from the innocuous, such as a fashion statement, to the risk laden, such as nonsuicidal self‐injury. Professional piercers are the primary providers of piercing services, and people will first turn to their professional piercer for advice when complications of the site arise, thus delaying entry into needed health care. Health care providers are often perceived as uninformed, dismissive, and biased against individuals, who are pierced particularly those with multiple piercings and piercings in intimate areas of the body. Common complications of piercing include infection, bleeding, and problems relating to tissue trauma and scarring, and are reported by nearly 50% of individuals who are pierced. Metal allergies can develop as a result of piercing, making the type of jewelry used for body adornment an important consideration. Additionally, management of the piercing site becomes critical under certain conditions, such as during pregnancy and birth, lactation, or surgery. This article provides information supporting midwives and other health care providers to offer anticipatory guidance and health care services in a nonjudgmental and supportive manner to individuals choosing body piercing.
Climate Change Effects on Respiratory Health: Implications for Nursing
Authors: George Maureen , Bruzzese Jean‐Marie , Matura Lea Ann
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Greenhouse gases are driving climate change. This article explores the adverse health effects of climate change on a particularly vulnerable population: children and adults with respiratory conditions.

Approach

This review provides a general overview of the effects of increasing temperatures, extreme weather, desertification, and flooding on asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, and respiratory infections. We offer suggestions for future research to better understand climate change hazards, policies to support prevention and mitigation efforts targeting climate change, and clinical actions to reduce individual risk.

Findings and Conclusions

Climate change produces a number of changes to the natural and built environments that may potentially increase respiratory disease prevalence, morbidity, and mortality. Nurses might consider focusing their research efforts on reducing the effects of greenhouse gases and in directing policy to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change. Nurses can also continue to direct educational and clinical actions to reduce risks for all populations, but most importantly, for our most vulnerable groups.

Clinical Relevance

While advancements have been made in understanding the impact of climate change on respiratory health, nurses can play an important role in reducing the deleterious effects of climate change. This will require a multipronged approach of research, policy, and clinical action.
Head‐to‐head comparison of prasugrel versus ticagrelor in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Sakurai Ryota , Burazor Ivana , Bonneau Heidi N. , Kaneda Hideaki
Published: August 2017

Objectives

We sought to compare the efficacy and safety of prasugrel and ticagrelor in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background

Evidence from randomized head‐to‐head comparison between prasugrel and ticagrelor is rare regarding clinical endpoints.

Methods

PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were queried with the terms “prasugrel,” “ticagrelor,” and “randomized.” Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or the same terms were also surveyed using clinicaltrials.gov, escardio.org, pcronline.org, and tctmd.com. The clinical endpoints were death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and stent thrombosis (ST) for efficacy, and any bleeding for safety.

Results

A total number of 2068 patients in 12 RCTs, whose longest follow‐up period was 6 months, was included in this study. The risks of death (odds ratio [OR]: 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46‐1.62, P = 0.647), MI (OR: 1.61, 95%CI: 0.71‐3.62, P = 0.252), stroke (OR: 1.45, 95%CI: 0.25‐8.36, P = 0.680), and ST (OR: 0.76, 95%CI: 0.20‐2.81, P = 0.677) were similar between prasugrel and ticagrelor, respectively. While the incidence of bleeding according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium definitions was also comparable (OR: 0.83, 95%CI: 0.45‐1.52, P = 0.539), that according to the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction criteria was lower in prasugrel than ticagrelor (OR: 0.49, 95%CI: 0.24‐0.97, P = 0.042).

Conclusions

Although the efficacy was similar between prasugrel and ticagrelor, prasugrel may be associated with a lower risk of bleeding compared with ticagrelor during short‐ to mid‐term follow‐up period after PCI. Further studies are warranted in a larger patient population during longer‐term follow up to validate these findings.
Clinical phenotype of South–East Asian temporomandibular disorder patients with upper airway resistance syndrome
Authors: Tay D. K. L. , Pang K. P.
Published: August 2017

Clinical and radiographic characteristics of a subset of South East Asian temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients with comorbid upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) were documented in a multi‐center prospective series of 86 patients (26 men and 60 women / mean age 35.7 years). All had excessive daytime sleepiness, high arousal index and Apnoea‐Hypopnoea Index (AHI) <5. The mean body mass index was 20·1, mean arousal index 16·2, mean respiratory disturbance index 19·6, mean AHI 3·9 while the mean Epworth Sleepiness Scale was 14·8. Many had functional somatic complaints; 66·3% headaches, 41·9% neck aches, 53·5% masticatory muscle myalgia, 68·6% temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthralgia while 90·7% reported sleep bruxism (SB). Unlike patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), hypertension was uncommon (4·7%) while depression was prevalent at 68·6% with short REM latency of <90 min and an increased REM composition >25% documented in 79·6% and 57·6% of these depressed patients, respectively. 65·1% displayed a posteriorly displaced condyle at maximum intercuspation with or without TMJ clicking. Most exhibited a forward head posture (FHP) characterised by loss of normal cervical lordosis (80·2%), C0–C1 narrowing (38·4%) or an elevated hyoid position (50%), and 91·9% had nasal congestion. We postulate the TMD‐UARS phenotype may have originally developed as an adaptive response to ‘awake’ disordered breathing during growth. Patients with persistent TMD and/or reporting SB should be screened for UARS and chronic nasal obstruction, especially when they also present with FHP. The lateral cephalogram is a useful tool in the differentiation of UARS from other OSA phenotypes.
Aquinas's Opposition to Killing the Innocent and its Distinctiveness within the Christian just War Tradition
Authors: Weiss Daniel H.
Published: August 2017

This essay argues that Aquinas's position regarding the killing of innocent people differs significantly from other representatives of the Christian just war tradition. While his predecessors, notably Augustine, as well as his successors, from Cajetan and Vitoria onward, affirm the legitimacy of causing the death of innocents in a just war in cases of necessity, Aquinas holds that causing the death of innocents in a foreseeable manner, whether intentionally or indirectly, is never justified. Even an otherwise legitimate act of just war cannot legitimate causing the death of innocent people, as this can never advance the common good. This stance also contrasts sharply with much modern and contemporary double effect theorizing in relation to jus in bello. In this regard, Aquinas's position, shaped decisively by his biblical and theological commitments, may point the way towards an ethical orientation beyond the typical divisions of “pacifism” and “just war.”
How Many Congregations Are There? Updating a Survey‐Based Estimate
Authors: Brauer Simon G.
Published: August 2017

Researchers have attempted to estimate the number of congregations in the United States using counts provided by denominations, existing media (newspapers, phone books, websites, etc.), and calculations using congregational surveys. Hadaway and Marler (2005) took the third approach, basing their estimate on the 1998 National Congregations Study (NCS), a representative sample of U.S. congregations, and select official denominational statistics. Since publishing their estimate of 331,000 congregations in 1998, two subsequent waves of the NCS have been conducted. Using the same approach, I estimate the number of congregations in 1998, 2006, and 2012. I conclude that congregations probably became more numerous, likely due to growth among nondenominational Protestants and the extraordinarily low death rate of congregations. But I also consider alternative interpretations of the data.
Afterword: On the Study of Religion in Public Institutions
Authors: Cadge Wendy , Griera Mar , Lucken Kristen , Michalowski Ines
Published: August 2017

Each of the essays presented enters the conversation about religion in public institutions through a different analytic doorway. The essays presented here enlarge and challenge various aspects of our initial analytic framework and enable us to see our blind spots and propose next steps. Reflecting on the contributions, we outline three additional issues to consider: the centrality of religion to the organizational identity or to organizational goal achievement, the effect of a specific aspect of the institution's organizational structure on religion, and the relevance of larger cross‐national differences for explaining differences in the same institution across national borders. Finally, we call for additional cross‐national case studies that will enable continued development of the comparative framework we propose.
Relationship Between β‐cell Response and Insulin Sensitivity in Horses based on the Oral Sugar Test and the Euglycemic Hyperinsulinemic Clamp
Authors: Lindåse S. , Nostell K. , Söder J. , Bröjer J.
Published: August 2017

Background

A hyperbolic relationship between β‐cell response and insulin sensitivity (IS) has been described in several species including rodents, dogs, and humans. This relationship has not been elucidated in the horse.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To determine whether the hyperbolic relationship between β‐cell response and IS exists in horses by using indices of β‐cell response from the oral sugar test (OST) and IS measurements from the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (EHC). A second aim was to compare how well IS estimates from the OST and EHC correlate.

Animals

Forty‐nine horses with different degrees of insulin regulation (normal‐to‐severe insulin dysregulation).

Methods

Cross‐sectional study. Horses were examined with an OST and an EHC.

Results

Decreased IS was associated with increased β‐cell response in the horses. Nine of 12 comparisons between indices of β‐cell response and IS measures fulfilled the criteria for a hyperbolic relationship. Indices of IS calculated from the OST correlated highly with the insulin‐dependent glucose disposal rate (M) and the insulin‐dependent glucose disposal rate per unit of insulin (M/I) determined from the EHC (r = 0.81–0.87).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

A hyperbolic relationship between β‐cell response and IS exists in horses, which suggest that horses with insulin dysregulation respond not only with postprandial hyperinsulinemia but are also insulin resistant. The OST is primarily a test for β‐cell response rather than a test for IS, but calculated indices of IS from the OST may be useful to estimate IS in horses, especially when the horse is insulin resistant.
Race and Determinations of Discrimination: Vigilance, Cynicism, Skepticism, and Attitudes about Legal Mobilization in Employment Civil Rights
Authors: McElhattan David , Beth Nielsen Laura , Weinberg Jill D.
Published: August 2017

What factors affect whether ordinary citizens believe that workplace decisions involving African-American employees rise to the level of discrimination? When do observers believe targets of possible race discrimination should consider mobilizing the law? We use a factorial design vignette study administered to a nationally representative sample of 2,087 ordinary people to address these questions. The “vigilance hypothesis” predicts that minorities will be more likely to perceive discrimination than whites. Our analysis partially confirms this: African Americans perceive anti-Black discrimination at higher rates than do whites and Latinos, while Latinos do not show a significant difference from whites. Where respondents believe discrimination occurred, we analyze what influences whether respondents might recommend legal mobilization. The “cynicism hypothesis” suggests that people of color may be less likely to favor using law. We find, however, that African-American and Latino respondents express more confidence in civil litigation, compared to whites. Further, African Americans express the strongest support for legal mobilization (recommending that a “friend” contact an attorney), while whites and Latinos do not differ in mobilization recommendations.
The Effect of Paramilitary Protest Policing on Protestors' Trust in the Police: The Case of the “Occupy Israel” Movement
Authors: Perry Gali , Jonathan-Zamir Tal , Weisburd David
Published: August 2017

The use of paramilitary methods in civil policing tasks has become common in Western police agencies. Despite propositions that such methods should undermine the relationship between the police and the public, the effect of paramilitary policing on public trust in the police has not been empirically tested. In the present study, we examine this question in the context of protest policing, which has become a major concern for Western police agencies. Using a survey of 470 protesters who participated in “Occupy” protest events in Israel in 2012, we find that the perceived use of paramilitary methods has an independent and negative effect on trust, stronger than that of police effectiveness and the “neutrality” component of procedural justice. In-depth interviews suggest that the significance of paramilitarism may be the result of a sense of alienation and criminalization it elicits among protesters who generally perceive themselves as law-abiding citizens.
Crossing Borders and Criminalizing Identity: The Disintegrated Subjects of Administrative Sanctions
Authors: Reiter Keramet , Coutin Susan Bibler
Published: August 2017

This paper draws on in-depth, qualitative interviews that examine individual experiences in two different legal contexts: deportation regimes and supermax prisons. Through putting these contexts and experiences into dialogue, we identify common legal processes of punishment experiences across both contexts. Specifically, the U.S. legal system re-labels immigrants (as deportable noncitizens) and supermax prisoners (as dangerous gang offenders). This re-labeling begins a process of othering, which ends in categorical exclusions for both immigrants and supermax prisoners. As individuals experience this categorical exclusion, they cross multiple borders and boundaries—often against their will—moving from prison to detention center to other countries beyond the U.S. border, and from isolation to prison to “free” society. In both cases, the state action that subjects experience as punishment is civil and, therefore, nominally not punitive. Ultimately, excluded individuals find themselves in a space of legal nonexistence. By examining these common processes and experiences, we argue that a new kind of subject is revealed: a disintegrating subject (as opposed to a juridical or disciplinary subject) whose exclusion reinforces the power of the state.
Handle with Care: Rethinking the Rights versus Culture Dichotomy in Cancer Disclosure in India
Authors: Van Hollen Cecilia Coale
Published: August 2017

Medical practitioners, bioethicists, psychologists, and anthropologists have debated whether it is ethical to disclose or withhold information from patients about cancer diagnoses. This debate is framed as pitting universal individual human rights against cultural pluralism. The rights‐based argument asserts that people have a right to information about their own health to make the best decisions about their treatment. The cultural variation argument suggests that in some cultural contexts there is a perception that information about one's cancer diagnosis may cause more harm than good due to the psychological trauma this may cause. Based on ethnographic research with cancer patients in India, I argue that both sides of this debate overemphasize the importance of the content of the information that may be disclosed or withheld and underestimate the central ways in which the act of disclosing or withholding information is evaluated as a symbol of care of paramount concern to patients.
Subtle lower esophageal sphincter relaxation abnormalities in patients with unexplained esophageal dysphagia
Authors: Herregods T. V. K. , van Hoeij F. B. , Bredenoord A. J. , Smout A. J. P. M.
Published: August 2017

Background

Esophageal dysphagia is a relatively common symptom. We aimed to evaluate whether subtle, presently not acknowledged forms of dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) could explain dysphagia in a subset of patients with normal findings at high‐resolution manometry (HRM) according to the Chicago classification v3.0.

Methods

We used HRM to compare LES relaxation characteristics in 97 patients with unexplained dysphagia with those in 44 healthy subjects. In addition, normative values for time to LES relaxation and completeness of LES relaxation were calculated. Patients with delayed or incomplete LES relaxation were compared with patients with normal relaxation.

Key Results

Dysphagia patients had a higher nadir LES pressure (P=.001) and a longer time to LES relaxation (P=.012) than healthy subjects. Based on the findings in healthy subjects, normal values of LES relaxation were defined as: ≥50% of swallows with normal LES relaxation time (<5 seconds) and ≤20% of swallows with incomplete LES relaxation (not reaching a value below 10 mm Hg). Dysphagia patients had significantly more often >50% swallows with delayed and/or incomplete LES relaxation than healthy controls (25% vs 4.5%; P=.004). Dysphagia patients with >50% delayed and/or incomplete LES relaxation had a significantly higher LES resting pressure (P<.001) and a significantly higher intrabolus pressure (P<.001) than dysphagia patients who did not fulfill the criteria.

Conclusions and Inferences

Subtle LES relaxation abnormalities, such as a delayed relaxation of the LES and/or incomplete LES relaxation, could be a cause of dysphagia in approximately one quarter of the patients with otherwise unexplained esophageal dysphagia.
Cooperative considerations for a mobile resource that transcends property boundaries
Authors: Alrashidi Mohammed E. , Hearne John W. , McArthur Lynne , Zorzan Claudio
Published: August 2017

There are environmental advantages to the commercial harvesting of kangaroo over domestic stock. Kangaroo, however, are able to jump fences and move among properties with ease. Consequently, questions of ownership and the equitable distribution of profits arise. We model a cooperative where two neighboring ranches experience rainfall equally but asynchronously each year. A kangaroo population roams freely among the properties to graze. Through harvesting, the population can be regarded as constant. In a cooperative, the location at which harvesting occurs is irrelevant but significant differences in the consumption of resources will affect the profit sharing arrangements between the property owners. Results indicate that the resources consumed on each property with the same total primary production may differ depending on the timing of rainfall. On average, however, the population consumption on each property is independent of the intra‐annual differences in rainfall distribution and hence primary production.

Recommendations for Resource Managers

The mobile nature of kangaroos should not be an impediment to their sustainable utilization for commercial purposes.

Spatial differences in the timing of the first rainfall in a season will affect the time a roving kangaroo population spends at each location. Hence in a cooperative these differences will affect the contribution of each ranch to the total secondary production of the cooperative.

Over the long term if there is no mean difference in the start of the rainfall season between two ranches then the annual fluctuations in this difference will not affect the contribution of each ranch to the cooperative enterprise.

For the purpose of distributing profits, a cooperative should focus attention on any differences in the longer‐term primary production of each property.
Clinical Outcome and Prognosis of Young Patients with Mycosis Fungoides
Authors: Virmani Pooja , Levin Laura , Myskowski Patricia L. , Flores Eileen , Marchetti Michael A. , Lucas Anna Skripnik , Pulitzer Melissa , Horwitz Steven , Trippett Tanya , Moskowitz Alison , Querfeld Christiane
Published: August 2017

Background/Objectives

Mycosis fungoides (MF) in young patients is rare and may have atypical presentations. There are limited data in these patients. The objective was to determine the clinical outcome and prognosis of young patients with MF.

Methods

A search of our institutional cancer registry database was conducted for patients diagnosed with MF at younger than 30 years of age.

Results

Our study included 74 patients (median age at diagnosis 25.5 yrs). Sixty‐five (88%) presented with early stage disease and variants of MF (n = 44 [59%]), leading to a median delay in diagnosis of 2.5 years. Hypopigmented MF (n = 27 [36.5%]) was the most common variant, affecting predominantly African American (44.4% vs 19%; p = 0.02) and younger (20 vs 26 yrs; p < 0.001) patients. All patients with hypopigmented MF presented with early stage disease and were less likely to develop progressive disease (PD) than those with other variants (11% vs 34%; p = 0.03). Nineteen patients (26%) developed PD during a median follow‐up of 3.5 years, which was associated with advanced‐stage disease (89% vs 17%; p < 0.001), older age (>20 yrs) (31% vs 13%; p = 0.08), African American race (52.6% vs 20%; p = 0.009), and poikilodermatous presentation (p < 0.01). Overall survival was good (97.2% at 5 yrs, 95.9% at 10 yrs) despite the delay in diagnosis and atypical presentation.

Conclusions

Progressive disease is associated with older age, African American race, the poikilodermatous variant, and advanced‐stage disease. The hypopigmented variant is a common presentation in young patients and has an indolent disease course. Our study confirms an overall favorable prognosis in young patients with MF.
Flagellate Dermatitis in a Child Most Likely Secondary to Doxorubicin
Authors: Lim Darosa , Aussedat Marine , Maillet‐Lebel Nicole , Marcoux Danielle
Published: August 2017

Flagellate dermatitis, a cutaneous eruption in which the patient appears to have been whipped, has been described with antineoplastic agents and shiitake mushroom ingestion. A 15‐year‐old girl with metastatic Ewing sarcoma developed pruritic erythematous linear lesions on her trunk that became hyperpigmented over time during her first cycle of chemotherapy with doxorubicin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and ganitumab. Flagellate dermatitis was diagnosed based on clinical and histologic findings. Flagellate dermatitis (FD) is a rare cutaneous eruption named for its appearance, in which the patient appears to have been whipped. It has been associated with chemotherapeutic agents such as bleomycin . We report FD in a child that occurred during chemotherapy treatment that included doxorubicin.
Birthweight and serum uric acid in American adolescents
Authors: Rhone Erika T. , Carmody J. Bryan
Published: August 2017

Elevated serum uric acid is associated with hypertension and chronic kidney disease. We evaluated the relationship between birthweight and uric acid in a nationally representative sample of 5390 US adolescents aged 12–15 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2012. There was an inverse association between birthweight and uric acid after adjustment for sex, age, race, obesity, and dietary sodium intake. Each 1 kg increase in birthweight was associated with decreased uric acid by 0.11 mg/dL (95% CI: −0.16 to −0.06; model R2 = 0.32). This relationship was stronger in adolescents with elevated blood pressure (β = –0.25; 95% CI: −0.44 to −0.06; R2 = 0.50) but persisted in adolescents with normal blood pressure (β = –0.10; 95% CI: −0.15 to −0.05; R2 = 0.31). In conclusion, lower birthweight is associated with higher uric acid in US adolescents. These findings may support the hypothesis that reduced nephron number is associated with elevated uric acid.
Comparative proteomic analysis of different developmental stages of swamp buffalo testicular seminiferous tubules
Authors: Zhang P‐F , Huang Y‐L , Fu Q , Chen F‐M , Lu Y‐Q , Liang X‐W , Zhang M
Published: August 2017

Contents

With ageing, many protein components change markedly during mammalian spermatogenesis. Most of these proteins have yet to be characterized and verified. Here, we have employed two‐dimensional electrophoresis coupled to tandem mass spectrometry to explore the different proteins from pre‐pubertal, pubertal and post‐pubertal swamp buffalo testicular seminiferous tubules. The results showed that 25 protein spots were differentially expressed among developmental stages, and 13 of them were successfully identified by mass spectrometry. Of which four proteins were up‐regulated and three proteins were down‐regulated with age, and the remaining six proteins were fluctuated among developmental stages. Bioinformatics analysis indicates that these proteins were probably related to cellular developmental process (53.8%), cell differentiation (53.8%), spermatogenesis (15.4%), apoptotic process and cell death (30.8%). Expression profiles of calumenin (CALU) and galectin‐1 (LGALS1) were further verified via Western blotting. In summary, the results help to develop an understanding of molecular mechanisms associated with buffalo spermatogenesis.
Effect of housing system on reproductive behaviour and on some endocrinological and seminal parameters of donkey stallions
Authors: Rota A , Sgorbini M , Panzani D , Bonelli F , Baragli P , Ille N , Gatta D , Sighieri C , Casini L , Maggiorelli MM , Aurich C , Camillo F
Published: August 2017

Contents

Reproductive management of male donkeys employed for artificial breeding has been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of housing system, with the animals grouped together in a paddock or kept in individual boxes, on sexual behaviour, cortisol and testosterone concentration and seminal characteristics of adult male donkeys. The study included four Amiata donkey jacks (stallions) from which ejaculates, saliva and blood were collected during two distinct 3 weeks periods, one in the group and one in the box housing system. Time needed for semen collection was shorter when donkeys were kept in paddocks compared to when they were kept in single boxes (14:57 ± 07:27 and 20:52 ± 09:31 min, p < .05). Native semen characteristics were not influenced by housing system, while cooled preservation in an Equitainer® showed that sperm motility parameters were significantly higher during the paddock period compared to the box period. Salivary cortisol was influenced by housing system, both before and 60 min after ejaculation, being statistically higher when donkeys were housed in paddocks. On the contrary, overall and basal testosterone concentrations were significantly higher when animals were kept in boxes. In conclusion, in the present study, good quality semen could be successfully collected from donkeys irrespective of the housing system despite some differences in hormone concentrations.
Biochemical analysis of uterine fluid for identification of indicators for subclinical endometritis in the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Authors: Gahlot SC , Kumar S , Kumaresan A , Vairamuthu S , Saraf KK , Sreela L , Baithalu RK , Lathwal SS , Mohanty TK
Published: August 2017

Contents

Alterations in biochemical constituents of uterine fluid have been suggested for diagnosis of subclinical uterine infection in the bovine. This study was undertaken to investigate whether uterine fluid biomolecules could act as tool for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in the buffalo. Uterine fluid samples from normal (n = 22) and subclinical endometritis (n = 18; diagnosed based on uterine cytology)‐affected buffaloes were subjected to biochemical analysis. Among the different biochemical constituents estimated, urea, urea N, cholesterol, total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in uterine fluid obtained from subclinical endometritis‐affected buffaloes. The extent of difference between normal and subclinical endometritis‐affected buffaloes was highest in ALP (69%) followed by cholesterol (55%), bilirubin (48%), urea (30%) and urea N (30%) concentrations. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that the likelihood ratio (LR) was 3.63 for urea, indicating that buffaloes having less than the threshold concentration (47.5 mg/dl) of urea in their uterine fluid were at 3.6 times more risk to be affected with SE. The LRs for urea N, cholesterol, ALP and bilirubin were 2.33, 2.54, 2.12 and 1.65, respectively. It was concluded that ALP, urea, urea N and cholesterol concentrations in uterine fluid may serve as an aid for diagnosing subclinical endometritis in the buffalo.
Using Internet Search Data to Measure Changes in Social Perceptions: A Methodology and an Application*
Authors: Reyes Tomas , Majluf Nicolás , Ibáñez Ricardo
Published: August 2017

Objectives

Social perceptions in areas such as family life, economy, education, health, and energy can be uncertain and difficult to measure. This article proposes a well‐defined methodology to measure social perceptions by observing individuals’ Google searches for online content with the support of three free tools: Google Trends, Keyword Planner, and Related Searches.

Methods

The proposed methodology is a step‐by‐step process that identifies representative keywords for prevailing social perceptions, and then aggregates them into specialized descriptive indexes, which are designed to highlight changes in search trends over time.

Results

To exemplify the process, the methodology is applied to measure changes in economic and social perceptions in Chile during 2004–2014. Results show that, over these years, Chileans moved from a pro‐business view to a largely anti‐business perspective based on issues such as lucre, inequality, and abuses.

Conclusions

The methodology works well, as we are able to identify in two complementary ways the moment at which Chilean citizens moved from one perspective to another. The application of this methodology to Mexico, Peru, and Colombia also provided satisfactory results.
GEN_MAT: A MATLAB‐based map generalization algorithm toolbox
Authors: Wang Yiheng , Tian Jing , Yu Mengting , Ren Chang , Wu Xiaohuan
Published: August 2017

Assistive tools are important for improving teaching and learning quality in courses that involve practical work. This article presents an overview of GEN_MAT, the first MATLAB‐based map generalization algorithm toolbox. The toolbox provides 42 map generalization algorithms for aggregation, selective omission, simplification, smoothing, collapse, agglomeration, merging, dissolving, displacement, and typification. A beta test of the application of GEN_MAT in teaching and learning was conducted. Evaluations showed that GEN_MAT has positive effects on teaching and learning. Comparing tool‐based and non‐tool‐based courses indicated that the experimental group performed better than the control group, and the two groups exhibited significant discrepancy (p < 0.05) in confidence, awareness, skills and attitudes or behaviors.
Absence of JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) viremia in early post‐transplant JCPyV nephropathy: A case report
Authors: Janphram Chitimaporn , Worawichawong Suchin , Disthabanchong Sinee , Sumethkul Vasant , Rotjanapan Porpon
Published: August 2017

JC polyomavirus (JCPyV)‐associated nephropathy (JCPyVAN) occurs in <3% of PVAN cases after renal transplantation. We report the first confirmed case to our knowledge of JCPyVAN diagnosed by kidney biopsy in the early 6 months post transplant in Thailand. In this case report, recovery of renal allograft function was not observed after reduction of immunosuppressive agents and administration of intravenous immunoglobulin and cidofovir. Despite persistent JCPyV viruria, no significant further decline in allograft function was documented at 15 months post transplant.
Correlation of 6‐min walk test with left ventricular function and quality of life in heart failure due to Chagas disease
Authors: Chambela Mayara C. , Mediano Mauro F. F. , Ferreira Roberto R. , Japiassú André M. , Waghabi Mariana C. , da Silva Gilberto M. S. , Saraiva Roberto M.
Published: August 2017

Objectives

To evaluate the correlation of the total distance walked during the six‐minute walk test (6MWT) with left ventricular function and quality of life in patients with Chagas Disease (ChD) complicated by heart failure.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional study of adult patients with ChD and heart failure diagnosed based on Framingham criteria. 6MWT was performed following international guidelines. New York Heart Association functional class, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) serum levels, echocardiographic parameters and quality of life (SF‐36 and MLHFQ questionnaires) were determined and their correlation with the distance covered at the 6MWT was tested.

Results

Forty adult patients (19 male; 60 ± 12 years old) with ChD and heart failure were included in this study. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 35 ± 12%. Only two patients (5%) ceased walking before 6 min had elapsed. There were no cardiac events during the test. The average distance covered was 337 ± 105 metres. The distance covered presented a negative correlation with BNP (r = −0.37; P = 0.02), MLHFQ quality‐of‐life score (r = −0.54; P = 0.002), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (r = −0.42; P = 0.02) and the degree of diastolic dysfunction (r = −0.36; P = 0.03) and mitral regurgitation (r = −0.53; P = 0.0006) and positive correlation with several domains of the SF‐36 questionnaire.

Conclusions

The distance walked during the 6MWT correlates with BNP, quality of life and parameters of left ventricular diastolic function in ChD patients with heart failure. We propose this test to be adopted in endemic areas with limited resources to aid in the identification of patients who need referral for tertiary centres for further evaluation and treatment.
PALE CRESS binds to plastid RNAs and facilitates the biogenesis of the 50S ribosomal subunit
Authors: Meurer Jörg , Schmid Lisa‐Marie , Stoppel Rhea , Leister Dario , Brachmann Andreas , Manavski Nikolay
Published: August 2017

The plant‐specific PALE CRESS (PAC) protein has previously been shown to be essential for photoautotrophic growth. Here we further investigated the molecular function of the PAC protein. PAC localizes to plastid nucleoids and forms large proteinaceous and RNA‐containing megadalton complexes. It co‐immunoprecipitates with a specific subset of chloroplast RNAs including psbK–psbI, ndhF, ndhD, and 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), as demonstrated by RNA immunoprecipitation in combination with high throughput RNA sequencing (RIP‐seq) analyses. Furthermore, it co‐migrates with premature 50S ribosomal particles and specifically binds to 23S rRNA in vitro. This coincides with severely reduced levels of 23S rRNA in pac leading to translational deficiencies and related alterations of plastid transcript patterns and abundance similar to plants treated with the translation inhibitor lincomycin. Thus, we conclude that deficiency in plastid ribosomes accounts for the pac phenotype. Moreover, the absence or reduction of PAC levels in the corresponding mutants induces structural changes of the 23S rRNA, as demonstrated by in vivo RNA structure probing. Our results indicate that PAC binds to the 23S rRNA to promote the biogenesis of the 50S subunit.
Place‐framing against automobility in Montreal
Authors: Van Neste Sophie L. , Martin Deborah G.
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we examine the dynamic processes of place‐framing through struggles against automobility in Montreal, bringing place discourses in dialogue with mobilities scholarship. We explicitly consider the dynamics of place‐frames' development and emergence from the myriad of different meanings of activists engaged in a mobilisation, in interaction with the hegemonic transportation discourse. We analyse the mobilisation for car traffic‐calming in Montreal through three dynamic moments of place‐framing: naming and blaming (voicing a certain experience of place), claiming solutions in space and practising the desired place. Each moment consists of a discursive struggle through which selective meanings are being given to place in relation to mobility. In Montreal, these moments were crucially associated with new network connections: (1) a coalition around the association of car traffic with vulnerability, (2) the targeting of local regulators for traffic‐calmed places when dismissed by auto‐oriented space regulators and (3) performing a community of practice for walking and cycling in neighbourhoods, with tensions between the utopian local way of life and regional flows. This study demonstrates the relational linkages of mobility and place. Place‐frames are not immutably linked to existing landscapes and experiences, but are shaped through nodal and network articulations that emphasise communities of practice in (imagined and desired) place(s) of everyday movement.
Intellectual returnees as drivers of indigenous innovation: Evidence from the Chinese photovoltaic industry
Authors: Luo Siping , Lovely Mary E. , Popp David
Published: August 2017

We offer new evidence on indigenous innovation and intellectual returnees by estimating the relationship between patenting activity by Chinese photovoltaic firms and the presence of corporate leaders with international experience. Our research approach combines data from three sources: the industrial census, international and domestic patent records, and leadership biographical information. Using non‐linear methods, we find robust evidence that returnees positively influence patenting activity and promote neighbouring firm innovation. Our analysis suggests that market liberalisation and industry policy influence patent application counts. Controlling for R&D expenditures, we find that firms with returnees in leadership roles do more patenting.
Evaluation of gastric and bladder tonometry as indicators of tissue perfusion in induced hypotension in dogs
Authors: Morgaz Juan , Espigares‐Rodríguez Lidia , Muñoz‐Rascón Pilar , Navarrete Rocío , Fernández‐Sarmiento Jose Andrés , Granados Machuca María del Mar
Published: August 2017

Objective

To evaluate the use of gastric (PgCO2) and bladder (PbCO2) tonometry for assessing tissue hypoperfusion in dogs during sevoflurane‐induced hypotension, and to compare these measurements with delivery of oxygen, arterial oxygen content, and plasma lactate concentration.

Design

Prospective experimental trial.

Setting

University veterinary teaching hospital.

Animals

Fourteen adult Beagle dogs.

Interventions

Anesthetic induction was performed by mask with sevoflurane and oxygen. Heart rate, direct arterial pressures, respiratory rate, and end‐tidal carbon dioxide were recorded; arterial blood samples were taken to measure blood gases, and venous samples were sampled to measure plasma lactate. A tonometric catheter was introduced into the stomach to measure PgCO2. Samples of saline from the balloon of a Foley catheter placed in the bladder were collected every 10 minutes and used to measure PbCO2 by gas analysis. Tonometry measurements, plasma lactate, and oxygen delivery and consumption were compared at 3 time points: at baseline, during hypotension, and during treatment periods. A hypotensive period (mean arterial pressure (MAP) < 60 mm Hg) of 15 minutes was induced by an overdose of sevoflurane, whereas during the treatment period, a constant‐rate infusion of dopamine (10 μg/kg/min) was administered intravenously for 40 minutes.

Measurements and Main Results

Values for PgCO2 and PbCO2 increased significantly during the hypotensive period, and correlations were found between these values and the delivery of oxygen. Gastric tonometry values had stronger correlations compared with bladder tonometry values.

Conclusions

Gastric and bladder tonometry can be used to detect hypoperfusion. Further studies are warranted to determine the potential use of gastric and bladder tonometry in assessing dogs in clinical situations.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the Diversification and Growth of the Gulf Cooperation Council Economies
Authors: Miniaoui Hela , Schilirò Daniele
Published: August 2017

The Arab States of the Gulf region have vast reserves of petroleum. The reduction in oil prices since the summer of 2014, and their volatility pose strong challenges to the six economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In the present contribution, we argue that, in the long-run, diversified economies perform better than mono-sector economies. Also, innovation and entrepreneurship are key drivers for the diversification and growth of GCC economies. More specifically, in this article we analyze the innovation performance of the GCC economies and we consider their innovation strategies. In addition, we provide an overview of entrepreneurship in the GCC countries to grasp its current state, aiming at identifying the conditions to foster entrepreneurship in order to develop the non-oil private sector. Finally, we discuss the policies that would be required to boost innovation and stimulate entrepreneurship in the Arab States of the Gulf with the aim of diversifying their economies and enhancing their growth.
An Interdisciplinary View of Interfaces: Perspectives Regarding Emergent Phase Formation
Authors: Brinkman Kyle S.
Published: August 2017

A perspective on emergent phase formation is presented using an interdisciplinary approach gained by working at the “interface” between diverse application areas, including solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and ionic membrane systems, solid state lithium batteries, and ceramics for nuclear waste immobilization. The grain boundary interfacial characteristics of model single-phase materials in these application areas, including (i) CeO2, (ii) Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO), and (iii) hollandite of the form BaxCsyGa2x+yTi8-2x-yO16, as well as the potential for emergent phase formation in composite systems, are discussed. The potential physical properties resulting from emergent phase structure and distribution are discussed, including an overview of existing three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques recently used for characterization. Finally, an approach for thermodynamic characterization of emergent phases based on melt solution calorimetry is outlined, which may be used to predict the energy landscape including phase formation and stability of complex multiphase systems.
Correcting Turbocharger Performance Measurements for Heat Transfer and Friction
Authors: Schinnerl Mario , Ehrhard Jan , Bogner Mathias , Seume Joerg
Published: August 2017

The measured performance maps of turbochargers (TCs), which are commonly used for the matching process with a combustion engine, are influenced by heat transfer and friction phenomena. Internal heat transfer from the hot turbine side to the colder compressor side leads to an apparently lower compressor efficiency at low to midspeeds and is not comparable to the compressor efficiency measured under adiabatic conditions. The product of the isentropic turbine efficiency and the mechanical efficiency is typically applied to characterize the turbine efficiency and results from the power balance of the turbocharger. This so-called thermomechanical turbine efficiency is strongly correlated with the compressor efficiency obtained from measured data. Based on a previously developed one-dimensional (1D) heat transfer model, nondimensional analysis was carried out and a generally valid heat transfer model for the compressor side of different TCs was developed. From measurements and ramp-up simulations of turbocharger friction power, an analytical friction power model was developed to correct the thermomechanical turbine efficiency from friction impact. The developed heat transfer and friction model demonstrates the capability to properly predict the adiabatic (aerodynamic) compressor and turbine performance from measurement data obtained at a steady-flow hot gas test bench.
The Effect of Cutting Rates on the Liking of Live Sports Broadcasts
Authors: Ludwig Mark , Bertling Christoph
Published: August 2017

Though visual features such as slow motion, camera angle, or the cutting rate are considered to have great importance for professional media presentation of sports broadcasts and their influence on viewers, there has as yet been little research on the effects of fundamental visual parameters on viewer perception in the field of sport communication. In its primary step, this study researches the effect cutting rates have on the liking of live soccer broadcasts. To this end, an experiment (between-subjects design) with three groups (N = 92) was conducted. All participants received an identical excerpt of a soccer match; however, the number of cuts was systematically altered. A MANCOVA revealed significant effects—for example, a lower cutting rate leads the consumer to perceive less aesthetic appeal and the influences of effects are moderated by fandom. Implications are discussed.