bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasible glass‐melting process assisted by microwaves
Authors: Reinosa Julián Jiménez , García‐Baños Beatriz , Catalá‐Civera José Manuel , López‐Buendía Ángel M. , Guaita Luis , Fernández Jose F.
Published: December 2018

The advantages of microwave (MW) energy processing have been verified in the sintering of a ceramic frit at a pre‐industrial scale. The challenge of achieving high temperature using MW energy at such dimensions was overcome and a mix of natural raw materials was heated until its fluxing point. Changes in dielectric properties of the raw materials mix were also measured in situ with the increase in temperature, being in accordance to thermal processes of a conventional heating process. The properties of the resulting ceramic frit were compared with the same frit obtained by the conventional sintering method. Both frits showed similar thermal behavior regarding DTA‐TGA, heating microscopy and XRD (only glassy phase was present). A Raman study confirms the existence of the mentioned glass phase. The application of the frits as glazes were performed and their properties were studied. As a result, glazes with similar properties were obtained which confirms that the MW energy processed frit is suitable for its application as a ceramic glaze.
Hospital pharmacy technicians practice and perceptions in France and Quebec, Canada
Authors: Roland Christel , Guérin Aurélie , Vaconsin Pascal , Bussières Jean-François
Published: December 2018

Objectives

To describe practice and perceptions of hospital pharmacy technicians (HPTs) in France and in Quebec, Canada. The secondary objective was to compare both work settings to identify differences.

Methods

Cross-sectional online survey in December 2016 and February 2017. The survey was comprised of four sections: demographic, factors contributing to career choice and satisfaction, perceptions regarding training, skills and recognition and interest in new opportunities. The proportion of responses from respondents in France and Quebec was compared with a chi-squared test.

Key findings

There were 101 respondents from France and 224 from Quebec. In comparison with Quebec respondents, French respondents came from large hospitals (France: 87%, 84/97 versus Quebec: 50%, 112/223, P < 0.001). Few HPTs supported pharmacists’ clinical activities (France: 4%, 4/97 versus Quebec: 29%, 65/222, P < 0.001). A majority of HPTs indicated that working in the healthcare field contributed to their job satisfaction (France: 94%, 87/93 versus Quebec: 90%, 188/209). Respondents found their training sufficient (France: 54%, 49/90 versus Quebec: 78%, 159/205, P < 0.001). However, few identified having access to sufficient continuing education (France: 40%, 36/90 versus Quebec: 29%, 59/205). Not many thought that their job was well recognized in their centre (France: 13%, 12/90 versus Quebec: 13%, 26/203). However, they felt it had a direct impact on the quality of care, especially in Quebec (France: 86%, 77/90 versus Quebec: 98%, 199/203, P < 0.001). The majority was interested in supporting the pharmacists’ clinical activities (France: 91%, 78/86 versus Quebec: 82%, 163/199).

Conclusions

Overall, HTP from France and Quebec shared a satisfaction about their profession. They showed an interest in increased recognition and responsibilities (e.g. training, pharmacist support).
The digitally replicated denture technique: A case report
Authors: Clark Wendy A. , Duqum Ibrahim , Kowalski B. J.
Published: December 2018

Objective

Conventional complete denture protocols require several patient appointments with multiple laboratory procedures. There are multiple workflows incorporating digital technology that can expedite the process, whereas increasing predictability. The proposed digitally replicated denture technique (DRDT) demonstrates a predictable workflow for fabricating complete dentures for patients with existing dentures.

Clinical Procedure

A patient's existing maxillary and mandibular complete dentures were scanned with an intraoral scanner. The generated STL was then printed using a desktop 3D printer. This served as a custom tray and record base to decrease patient chair time and associated laboratory procedures.

Conclusion

The DRDT workflow incorporates digital technology into a complete denture protocol to minimize laboratory steps and chair time when fabricating complete dentures for patients with existing prostheses.

Clinical Significance

The use of a digitally replicated denture using rapid prototyping can streamline the process of complete denture fabrication for patients with existing dentures.
Spawning energetics and otolith microchemistry provide insights into the stock structure of bonga shad Ethmalosa fimbriata
Authors: Döring Julian , Wagner Carola , Tiedemann Maik , Brehmer Patrice , Ekau Werner
Published: December 2018

The gross energy content of spawning batches and the microchemistry of sagittal otoliths in individual female bonga shad Ethmalosa fimbriata were compared between contrasting sampling sites at the Senegalese southern coast and inside the hypersaline Sine Saloum Estuary. Results show that females spawning in the estuary's middle reaches invested almost three times more energy into reproduction (115 ± 65 J g−1 body mass) than their neritic counterparts (39 ± 34 J g−1 body mass). Also, female otolith levels of Ba:Ca, Sr:Ca and Zn:Ca either differed significantly between study sites or could be linked to heterogeneous environmental variables. A quadratic discriminant function analysis provided evidence of segregated spawning populations of E. fimbriata in southern Senegalese waters.
Relevance of Polypharmacy for Clinical Outcome in Patients Receiving Vitamin K Antagonists
Authors: Eggebrecht Lisa , Nagler Markus , Göbel Sebastian , Lamparter Heidrun , Keller Karsten , Wagner Bianca , Panova‐Noeva Marina , ten Cate Vincent , Bickel Christoph , Lauterbach Michael , Espinola‐Klein Christine , Hardt Roland , Münzel Thomas , Prochaska Jürgen H. , Wild Philipp S.
Published: December 2018

BACKGROUND

Although polypharmacy is associated with a negative clinical outcome in various settings and commonly observed in patients receiving oral anticoagulation therapy, evidence on the relevance for the clinical outcome of anticoagulated patients is currently limited. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of polypharmacy on the clinical outcomes among patients taking phenprocoumon.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Regular medical care.

PARTICIPANTS

Information on 2011 individuals receiving vitamin K antagonists was available for analysis from the prospective multicenter thrombEVAL study.

MEASUREMENTS

Data were obtained from clinical visits, computer‐assisted interviews, and laboratory measurements. Information on clinical outcome was obtained during a 3‐year follow‐up period and subsequently validated via medical records.

RESULTS

The prevalence of polypharmacy (five drugs or more) was 84.1% (n = 1691). Quality of anticoagulation therapy assessed by time in therapeutic range was lower in individuals on five to eight drugs and nine drugs or more (70.7% and 64.7%, respectively) compared with subjects without polypharmacy (73.4%). In addition, a significantly higher variability of international normalized ratio measurements was found in the presence of polypharmacy. The cumulative incidence of bleeding, hospitalization, and all‐cause mortality, but not for thromboembolic events, increased across groups of medication. In adjusted Cox regression analysis, polypharmacy is an independent risk factor for bleeding (hazard ratio [HR]≥ 9 drugs vs 1‐4 drugs = 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04‐2.52; p = .033); hospitalization (HR≥ 9 drugs vs 1‐4 drugs = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.26‐2.03; p < .001; and all‐cause mortality (HR≥ 9 drugs vs 1‐4 drugs = 2.16; 95% CI = 1.43‐3.27; p < .001) in a dose‐dependent relationship. Per additional drug, bleeding risk was increased by 4%.

CONCLUSIONS

Polypharmacy influences the quality of anticoagulation therapy and translates into an elevated risk of adverse events in anticoagulated patients. This suggests that additional medication intake in such patients should be critically reviewed by physicians, and it highlights the importance of initiating investigations aimed at reducing multiple medication intake. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:463–470, 2019.
Effect of educational environments on nursing faculty members’ perceptions regarding oral care
Authors: Haresaku Satoru , Kubota Keiko , Miyoshi Maki , Iino Hidechika , Monji Mayumi , Aoki Hisae , Hidaka Tsuyako , Sato Yuka , Mori Yuta , Yamada Miyuki , Yoshikawa Chizuko , Naito Toru
Published: December 2018

Aim

To investigate nursing faculty members’ perceptions of oral care and to identify the effects of an educational environment on their perceptions.

Methods

A cross‐sectional questionnaire regarding oral care was conducted at eight nursing schools in Japan. A total of 156 (71.6%) faculty members participated in this study. Their perceptions of oral care practice were compared by using a statistical analysis according to the length of work experience, teaching field, school, and facility setting (defined as whether the school had an affiliated hospital with a dental department).

Results

Almost all of the faculty members were nurses and most were female. Almost all perceived that oral care was effective in the prevention of aspiration pneumonia and frailty. There were significant differences by teaching field in the nurses’ perceptions regarding with whom they should collaborate to conduct oral care and there were significant differences by school in the nurses’ perceptions regarding who should provide oral care, where it should be provided, and what kinds of knowledge are important for practice. Perceptions of low involvement in oral care were significantly associated with the schools having an affiliated university hospital with a dental department.

Conclusion

There were different perceptions regarding oral care among nursing faculty members and their perceptions might have been affected by their educational environment. Therefore, it is suggested that oral care education should be standardized and nursing faculty members should standardize the curriculum regarding oral care for nursing students.
Fiscal Requirements for Dynamic and Real Determinacies in Economies with Private Provision of Liquidity: A Monetarist Assessment
Authors: GOMIS‐PORQUERAS PEDRO
Published: December 2018

We study the impact of fiscal policies on the inherent links between inflation, unemployment, and asset prices in an environment where firms provide liquidity and the central bank follows a constant money growth rate rule. Firms, other than hiring workers, also supply private assets that are not only useful as a store of value but also as collateral. When firms are not taxed and public debt is scarce, the economy is non‐Ricardian so that real indeterminacies can be observed. Moreover, labor market characteristics do not affect the demand for government liabilities. However, when agents face public and private asset scarcity, labor market conditions then impact asset prices and inflation. We further show that irrespective of the type of asset scarcity agents face, when firms are taxed non‐ad valorem, not only the level of tax revenues but also its composition matter for real allocations. Moreover, we show that labor market conditions directly affect the dynamics of all government liabilities and inflation.
Melatonin release by exocytosis in the rat parotid gland
Authors: Isola Michela , Ekström Jörgen , Isola Raffaella , Loy Francesco
Published: December 2018

Several beneficial effects on oral health are ascribed to melatonin. Due to its lipophilic nature, non‐protein‐bound circulating melatonin is usually thought to enter the saliva by passive diffusion through salivary acinar gland cells. Recently, however, using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), melatonin was found in acinar secretory granules of human salivary glands. To test the hypothesis that granular located melatonin is actively discharged into the saliva by exocytosis, i.e. contrary to the general belief, the β‐adrenergic receptor agonist isoprenaline, which causes the degranulation of acinar parotid serous cells, was administered to anaesthetised rats. Sixty minutes after an intravenous bolus injection of isoprenaline (5 mg kg−1), the right parotid gland was removed; pre‐administration, the left control gland had been removed. Samples were processed to demonstrate melatonin reactivity using the immunogold staining method. Morphometric assessment was made using TEM. Gold particles labelling melatonin appeared to be preferentially associated with secretory granules, occurring in their matrix and at membrane level but, notably, it was also associated with vesicles, mitochondria and nuclei. Twenty‐six per cent of the total granular population (per 100 μm2 per cell area) displayed melatonin labelling in the matrix; three‐quarters of this fraction disappeared (P < 0.01) in response to isoprenaline, and melatonin reactivity appeared in dilated lumina. Thus, evidence is provided of an alternative route for melatonin to reach the gland lumen and the oral cavity by active release through exocytosis, a process which is under the influence of parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous activity and is the final event along the so‐called regulated secretory pathway. During its stay in granules, anti‐oxidant melatonin may protect their protein/peptide constituents from damage.
Significant therapeutic response to cysteamine cream in a melasma patient resistant to Kligman's formula
Authors: Kasraee Behrooz , Mansouri Parvin , Farshi Susan
Published: December 2018

L‐Cysteamine is a biological antioxidant produced during the coenzyme A metabolism cycle and is naturally present in all mammalian cells. The efficacy of topical cysteamine for the treatment of melasma has been recently shown in two double‐blind, randomized, and placebo‐controlled clinical trials. Herein, we report a 44‐year‐old patient with melasma resistant to Kligman's formula (Pigmanorm cream), who was successfully treated with topical cysteamine as a new depigmenting agent. Skin colorimetric measurements, MASI score determination, and standard photographies after 2 and 4 months of once daily application of cysteamine cream showed a marked improvement of the hyperpigmented lesions. Telangiectasia and perilesional hypopigmentation improved rapidly after the discontinuation of Kligman's formula and starting the treatment with topical cysteamine. After 4 months, the therapeutic results were maintained through a biweekly application regimen of cysteamine cream. The use of cysteamine cream was well tolerated and did not induce any side effects during the 3‐year follow‐up of the patient. Cysteamine is a natural molecule with an excellent safety profile and known antimutagenic, antimelanoma, and anticarcinogenic effects. Considering the high efficacy of cysteamine cream, it is possible that it could replace mutagenic and carcinogenic depigmenting agents such as hydroquinone in near future.
Incidence and risk factors of preterm premature rupture of membranes in singleton pregnancies at Siriraj Hospital
Authors: Sae‐Lin Phatsorn , Wanitpongpan Prapat
Published: December 2018

Aim

To obtain the incidence of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) at Siriraj Hospital during 2012–2016 and to identify its possible risk factors in singleton pregnancies.

Methods

This study was a retrospective case–control study. The institutional ethical committee has approved the study. The medical records of eligible cases were reviewed. To assess the risk factors of PPROM, the data of the cases with PPROM in 2016 were compared with the data of pregnant women who did not have PPROM and delivered at term. Fifteen variables of interest were studied.

Results

During the 5‐year period, there were 43 727 deliveries at Siriraj Hospital and 1280 (2.93%) cases had PPROM. In 2016, 252 pregnant women were diagnosed PPROM and data of 199 cases were compared with the data of 199 control cases. Mean latency period was 2 days and mean gestational age at birth was 34.7 weeks in PPROM group. Logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes mellitus, poor weight gain and history of previous preterm birth were the factors that significantly associated with PPROM, with adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.22 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.47–7.05), 2.58 (95% CI 1.63–4.07) and 8.81 (95% CI 2.81–28.69), respectively (P < 0.05), while multiparity decreased the risk of PPROM (adjusted OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.23–0.57) (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The incidence of PPROM during 5‐year period was 2.93%. Diabetes mellitus, poor maternal weight gain and history of previous preterm birth significantly increased risk of PPROM while multigravida reduced the risk.
Biological links in periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis: Discovery via text‐mining PubMed abstracts
Authors: Acharya Aneesha , Li Simin , Liu Xiangqiong , Pelekos George , Ziebolz Dirk , Mattheos Nikos
Published: December 2018

Background and Objective

Primary research concerning molecular pathways that link rheumatoid arthritis with periodontitis is limited. Biomedical literature data mining can offer insights into putative linkage mechanisms toward hypothesis development, based on information discovery. The aim of this study was to explore potential Periodontitis‐Rheumatoid Arthritis biological links by analysing “overlapping” genes reported in biomedical abstracts.

Material and Methods

PubMed abstracts for terms: (a) “Periodontitis” or “Periodontal Diseases” (PD), (b) “Rheumatoid arthritis” (RA), and (c) their combination with “AND” (RA+PD), were each text‐mined to extract genes using “Human Genome Nomenclature Committee” (HGNC) symbols. A gene‐set common to RA and PD abstracts was determined (RA∩PD). Gene ontology (GO) profiles of RA∩PD and RA+PD were compared using “GoProfiler.” Minimum order protein‐protein interaction (PPI) and gene‐miRNA networks of “differential genes” between RA∩PD and RA+PD were constructed with “networkAnalyst.”

Results

Among 1676 genes documented in RA (10 5241 abstracts), and 893 genes in PD (80 982 abstracts), 535 genes were common (RA∩PD), from which 35 genes were also documented in RA+PD (415 abstracts). 41 GO‐terms significantly different between RA∩PD and RA+PD GO profiles represented 38 biological processes including; nitric oxide metabolism, immunoglobulin production, hormonal regulation, catabolic process down‐regulation, and leukocyte proliferation. The 500 differential genes’ PPI and gene‐miRNA networks showed REL, TRAF2, AQP1 genes, and miRNAs 335‐5p, 17‐5p, 93‐5p with genes HMOX1 and SP1 as hub nodes.

Conclusions

Text‐mining biomedical abstracts revealed potentially shared but un‐investigated links between PD and RA, meriting further research.
Comparison of polyhexanide, cold atmospheric plasma and saline in the treatment of canine bite wounds
Authors: Nolff M. C. , Winter S. , Reese S. , Meyer‐Lindenberg A.
Published: December 2018

Objectives

To compare the efficacy of polyhexanide, cold argon plasma and saline in reducing bacterial bio‐burden in dog bite wounds.

Materials and Methods

Prospective blinded randomised clinical trial. Dogs were randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups by lottery and bacterial cultures obtained before and after treatment were compared. Bite wounds were surgically debrided and treated with polyhexanide, cold argon plasma or saline lavage. All wounds were cultured three times: directly after debridement, directly after prelavage with 2 mL/cm2 (saline in the saline and cold argon plasma group, or polyhexanide) and following the definitive lavage. Data were analysed using a generalised linear model for ordinal data.

Results

A total of 85 dogs were enrolled in this study (polyhexanide n=29, cold argon plasma n=28, saline n=28). Positive bacterial culture results after debridement were obtained in 53/85 (62.3%) wounds. Polyhexanide and saline lavage significantly reduced the bio‐burden, while cold argon plasma treatment did not. This effect was evident after prelavage when polyhexanide performed significantly better than saline and cold argon plasma as well as after final treatment. No significant differences were detected after prelavage or main treatment between saline and cold argon plasma.

Clinical Significance

Polyhexanide lavage achieved the best immediate and ultimate decontamination of bite wounds.
Evaluation of a high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin I assay compared to a first‐generation cardiac troponin I assay in Doberman Pinschers with and without dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Klüser Lena , Maier Elizabeth T. , Wess Gerhard
Published: December 2018

Background

Echocardiography and 24‐hour ECG are the gold standard tests to diagnose dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Doberman Pinschers (DP), but myocardial damage might be detected earlier using a high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs‐cTnI) assay.

Objective

To evaluate and compare an hs‐cTnI assay (Advia Centaur TnI‐Ultra assay) with a conventional cTnI assay in DP with different stages of DCM and in healthy DP.

Animals

Three hundred forty‐five examinations from 162 DP with and 179 DP without DCM.

Methods

Prospective longitudinal study. Dogs were allocated into 6 groups based on echocardiographic and 24‐hour ECG criteria: (1) healthy group (179 dogs), (2) last‐normal group (29 dogs), which included dogs that were considered to be healthy at the time of their examination but were assigned to the last‐normal group retrospectively when DCM was diagnosed at their next examination within 1.5 years, (3) only arrhythmias (45 dogs, 119 examinations), (4) only echocardiographic changes (24 dogs, 61 examinations), (5) echocardiographic changes with ventricular premature complexes (41 dogs, 100 examinations), and (6) decompensated (23 dogs, 36 examinations). Hs‐cTnI and conventional cTnI concentration measurements were performed and compared.

Results

A cutoff value of hs‐cTnI concentration >0.113 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 81.2% and a specificity of 73.2% to identify the presence of DCM. The conventional cTnI assay showed a similar test performance, but the hs‐cTnI assay identified more dogs (21/29 dogs, 72%) in the last‐normal group compared to the conventional cTnI test (18/29 dogs, 62%).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The hs‐cTnI is an additional test with good potential to identify early DCM.
The effect of inhaled heliox on peak flow rates in normal and brachycephalic dogs
Authors: Benavides Kathryn , Rozanski Elizabeth , Anastasio John D. , Bedenice Daniela
Published: December 2018

Background

Heliox, a mixture of helium and oxygen, alleviates airway obstruction in people and improves air flow, and its use has been proposed in dogs. Brachycephalic dogs have naturally occurring airway obstruction where heliox might be a useful therapeutic option.

Objective

The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the impact of breathing heliox on peak inspiratory and expiratory flows (PIF/PEF) in healthy dogs and (2) determine if brachycephalic dogs and mesocephalic dogs have similar responses to inhaled heliox.

Animals

Eleven healthy dogs: 5 mesocephalic and 6 brachycephalic dogs.

Methods

A prospective study. Tidal breathing flow‐volume loops were recorded when dogs were breathing room air (nitrogen‐oxygen) and heliox. Peak inspiratory and expiratory flow rates were recorded and the subjective shape of loops assessed. Peak inspiratory and expiratory flows pre‐ and post‐heliox were compared using a Mann‐Whitney Rank sum test with a P‐value of <.05 considered significant.

Results

In inhaled heliox, PIF and PEF were evaluated by tidal breathing flow‐volume loops. In mesocephalic dogs, PIF increased from a median of 820 mL/s (range, 494‐1010 mL/s) to 1386 mL/s; P = .02; and for PEF from 688 mL/s to 1793 mL/s (P = .04), whereas in brachycephalic dogs, the median PIF increased from 282 mL/s to 694 mL/s; P = .01 and the median PEF increased from 212 mL/s to 517 mL/sec; P = .03. Brachycephalic dogs showed normalization of loop shapes.

Conclusions and clinical importance

Heliox improves flow rate and appears to improve flow patterns in brachycephalic dogs.
Scaling up Spatial Development: A Closer Look at Children's Scaling Ability and Its Relation to Number Knowledge
Authors: Jirout Jamie J. , Holmes Corinne A. , Ramsook Kizzann Ashana , Newcombe Nora S.
Published: December 2018

Spatial skills are consistently linked to mathematical reasoning, and are sensitive to intervention. One important spatial skill is spatial scaling. We evaluated whether (1) a playful scaling game might promote learning by providing feedback during play, and (2) spatial scaling is related to number‐line estimation (NLE) based on the mutual reliance on relative magnitude reasoning. Forty‐eight children, ages 5.5–8.3, completed a playful scaling game and a NLE task. Results show that children improve from the first to second half of the task, especially for more difficult trials and for the lowest performing children. In addition, scaling and NLE relate when controlling for age and vocabulary. Similar improvement on the task and relations to NLE were observed in a conceptual replication (N = 52). These results provide support for further study of improving spatial scaling in children, with the possibility to test whether scaling could support related mathematical skills as well.
CalY is a major virulence factor and a biofilm matrix protein
Authors: Candela Thomas , Fagerlund Annette , Buisson Christophe , Gilois Nathalie , Kolstø Anne‐Brit , Økstad Ole Andreas , Aymerich Stéphane , Nielsen‐Leroux Christina , Lereclus Didier , Gohar Michel
Published: December 2018

The extracellular biofilm matrix often contains a network of amyloid fibers which, in the human opportunistic pathogen Bacillus cereus, includes the two homologous proteins TasA and CalY. We show here, in the closely related entomopathogenic species Bacillus thuringiensis, that CalY also displays a second function. In the early stationary phase of planktonic cultures, CalY was located at the bacterial cell‐surface, as shown by immunodetection. Deletion of calY revealed that this protein plays a major role in adhesion to HeLa epithelial cells, to the insect Galleria mellonella hemocytes and in the bacterial virulence against larvae of this insect, suggesting that CalY is a cell‐surface adhesin. In mid‐stationary phase and in biofilms, the location of CalY shifted from the cell surface to the extracellular medium, where it was found as fibers. The transcription study and the deletion of sipW suggested that CalY change of location is due to a delayed activity of the SipW signal peptidase. Using purified CalY, we found that the protein polymerization occurred only in the presence of cell‐surface components. CalY is, therefore, a bifunctional protein, which switches from a cell‐surface adhesin activity in early stationary phase, to the production of fibers in mid‐stationary phase and in biofilms.
Psychological stress effects on myelin degradation in the cuprizone‐induced model of demyelination
Authors: Meknatkhah Sogol , Sharif Dashti Pouya , Mousavi Monireh‐Sadat , Zeynali Amirbahador , Ahmadian Shahin , Karima Saeed , Saboury Ali Akbar , Riazi Gholam Hossein
Published: December 2018

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is known as the most common demyelinating disease worldwide in which previous studies have shown that stress is a risk factor for the disease's onset and progression. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to investigate the consequences of stress in MS pathology. In this study, after 5 days of exposure to psychological and physical stress as a repetitive distress modality, rats were treated with cuprizone. The demyelination degree was compared in animal groups using Luxol fast blue staining, immunohistochemical staining for myelin basic protein and transmission electron microscopy. Outcomes revealed that animals exposed to stress prior to cuprizone ingestion, elicit more intense demyelination. Continuous psychological distress has more severe effects on myelin sheath destruction in the preclinical stage.
Compassion in nursing: Solution or stereotype?
Authors: Tierney Stephanie , Bivins Roberta , Seers Kate
Published: December 2018

Compassion in healthcare has received significant attention recently, on an international scale, with concern raised about its absence during clinical interactions. As a concept, compassionate care has been linked to nursing. We examined historical discourse on this topic, to understand and situate current debates on compassionate care as a hallmark of high‐quality services. Documents we looked at illustrated how responsibility for delivering compassionate care cannot be consigned to individual nurses. Health professionals must have the right environmental circumstances to be able to provide and engage in compassionate interactions with patients and their relatives. Hence, although compassionate care has been presented as a straightforward solution when crisis faces health services, this discourse, especially in policy documents, has often failed to acknowledge the system‐level issues associated with its provision. This has resulted in simplistic presentations of ‘compassion’ as inexpensive and the responsibility of individual nurses, a misleading proposal that risks devaluing the energy and resources required to deliver compassionate care. It also overlooks the need for organisations, not just individuals, to be charged with upholding its provision.
The Selaginella rhizophore has a unique transcriptional identity compared with root and shoot meristems
Authors: Mello Alison , Efroni Idan , Rahni Ramin , Birnbaum Kenneth D.
Published: December 2018

The genus Selaginella resides in an early branch of the land plant lineage that possesses a vasculature and roots. The majority of the Selaginella root system is shoot borne and emerges through a distinctive structure known as the rhizophore, the organ identity of which has been a long‐debated question.

The rhizophore of Selaginella moellendorffii – a model for the lycophytes – shows plasticity to develop into a root or shoot up until 8 d after angle meristem emergence, after which it is committed to root fate. We subsequently use morphology and plasticity to define the stage of rhizophore identity.

Transcriptomic analysis of the rhizophore during its plastic stage reveals that, despite some resemblance to the root meristem, rhizophore gene expression patterns are largely distinct from both shoot and root meristems.

Based on this transcriptomic analysis and on historical anatomical work, we conclude that the rhizophore is a distinct organ with unique features.
An auxin signaling gene BnaA3.IAA7 contributes to improved plant architecture and yield heterosis in rapeseed
Authors: Li Haitao , Li Juanjuan , Song Jurong , Zhao Bo , Guo Chaocheng , Wang Bo , Zhang Qinghua , Wang Jing , King Graham J. , Liu Kede
Published: December 2018

Plant architecture is the key factor affecting overall yield in many crops. The genetic basis underlying plant architecture in rapeseed (Brassica napus), a key global oil crop, is elusive. We characterized an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)‐mutagenized rapeseed mutant, sca, which had multiple phenotypic alterations, including crinkled leaves, semi‐dwarf stature, narrow branch angles and upward‐standing siliques.

We identified the underlying gene, which encodes an Aux/IAA protein (BnaA3.IAA7). A G‐to‐A mutation changed the glycine at the 84th position to glutamic acid (G84E), disrupting the conserved degron motif GWPPV and reducing the affinity between BnaA3.IAA7 and TIR1 (TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1) in an auxin dosage‐dependent manner. This change repressed the degradation of BnaA3.IAA7 and therefore repressed auxin signaling at low levels of auxin that reduced the length of internodes. The G84E mutation reduced branch angles by enhancing the gravitropic response.

The heterozygote +/sca closely resembled a proposed ideal plant architecture, displaying strong yield heterosis through single‐locus overdominance by improving multiple component traits.

Our findings demonstrate that a weak gain‐of‐function mutation in BnaA3.IAA7 contributes to yield heterosis by improving plant architecture and would be valuable for breeding superior rapeseed hybrid cultivars and such a mutation may increase the yield in other Brassica crops.
Tipping the scales: The causes and consequences of administrative spending
Authors: Darnley Megan , Rutherford Amanda , Rabovsky Thomas
Published: December 2018

The public administration literature once devoted great effort to identify the determinants of administrative intensity in organizations. While this literature has received some renewed attention, there remain questions about what aspects of organizational environments generate growth in administrative intensity, particularly as related to political oversight and external accountability mechanisms. This article aims to expand current theory on the determinants of administrative personnel and costs using data on four‐year public universities in the United States from 1998 to 2011, as this setting has received considerable criticism for perceived administrative bloat. Findings suggest that which political party is in control substantially influences both administrative costs and total personnel. These administrative levels, in turn, have a curvilinear relationship with student outcomes.
Homoeostatic maintenance of nonstructural carbohydrates during the 2015–2016 El Niño drought across a tropical forest precipitation gradient
Authors: Dickman Lee Turin , McDowell Nate G. , Grossiord Charlotte , Collins Adam D. , Wolfe Brett T. , Detto Matteo , Wright S. Joseph , Medina‐Vega José A. , Goodsman Devin , Rogers Alistair , Serbin Shawn P. , Wu Jin , Ely Kim S. , Michaletz Sean T. , Xu Chonggang , Kueppers Lara , Chambers Jeffrey Q.
Published: December 2018

Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) are essential for maintenance of plant metabolism and may be sensitive to short‐ and long‐term climatic variation. NSC variation in moist tropical forests has rarely been studied, so regulation of NSCs in these systems is poorly understood. We measured foliar and branch NSC content in 23 tree species at three sites located across a large precipitation gradient in Panama during the 2015–2016 El Niño to examine how short‐ and long‐term climatic variation impact carbohydrate dynamics. There was no significant difference in total NSCs as the drought progressed (leaf P = 0.32, branch P = 0.30) nor across the rainfall gradient (leaf P = 0.91, branch P = 0.96). Foliar soluble sugars decreased while starch increased over the duration of the dry period, suggesting greater partitioning of NSCs to storage than metabolism or transport as drought progressed. There was a large variation across species at all sites, but total foliar NSCs were positively correlated with leaf mass per area, whereas branch sugars were positively related to leaf temperature and negatively correlated with daily photosynthesis and wood density. The NSC homoeostasis across a wide range of conditions suggests that NSCs are an allocation priority in moist tropical forests.
Does Electoral Proximity Enhance National Pride? Evidence from Monthly Surveys in a Multi‐ethnic Society – Latvia
Authors: Nakai Ryo
Published: December 2018

This research focuses on how elections affect national pride, one of the core components of an individual's sense of nationalism. Recent studies have found that elections can be crucial moments in enhancing nationalistic sentiment. I conducted an in‐depth survey of research polling in Latvia, where the ethnic majority–minority structure is clear and issues of nationalism have long been salient. It therefore offers an interesting case for observing whose national pride can be changed over the short term during the electoral season. Survey research conducted repeatedly both before and after the general election produced the following findings: 1) an electoral enhancement effect on national pride exists, regardless of ethnic majority or minority status; 2) the pride of those who support the party of the incumbent prime minister is enhanced as elections get closer, but that of radical right party supporters is not. These results shed light on yet another aspect of the connection between elections and nationalism.
An Empirical Assessment of the Swedish Bullionist Controversy*
Authors: Herger Nils
Published: December 2018

In the 18th century, a fierce political debate broke out in Sweden about the causes of an extraordinary depreciation of the currency. More specifically, the deteriorating value of the Swedish currency was blamed arbitrarily on monetary causes (e.g., the overissuing of banknotes) and on non‐monetary causes (such as balance‐of‐payments deficits). This paper provides a comprehensive empirical assessment of this so‐called “Swedish Bullionist Controversy”. The results of vector autoregressions suggest that increasing amounts of paper money did give rise to inflation and a depreciation of the exchange rate. Conversely, non‐monetary factors were probably less important for these developments.
Affective Intentionality and Affective Injustice: Merleau‐Ponty and Fanon on the Body Schema as a Theory of Affect
Authors: Whitney Shiloh
Published: December 2018

I argue that there is an affective injustice in gendered and racialized oppression. To account for this, we must deny the opposition of affect and intentionality often assumed in the philosophy of emotion and the affective turn: while affect and intentionality are not opposed in principle, affective intentionality may be refused uptake in oppressive practices. In section 1, I read Merleau‐Ponty’s theory of the body schema as a theory of affect that accommodates my account of affective injustice and aligns with accounts of affect transmission and circulation in feminist philosophies of the affective turn. This is crucial for understanding Fanon’s contribution to the theory of the body schema, in which it is susceptible to historical‐racial “affective disorders.” In sections 2–4, I distinguish three types of affective injustice: affective marginalization, exploitation, and violence. In section 2 I develop an intersectional feminist account of this distinction drawing on Lorde and Lugones and raise questions about the limits of framing the issue of affective injustice in terms of intentionality as opposed to a more psychoanalytic conceptual vocabulary that accommodates the displacement of affective force. In sections 3 and 4, I explore these affective injustices through an analysis of Fanonian concepts, showing how the theory of the body schema can accommodate not only affective intentionality but also the oppressive disjunction of affect and intentionality, as well as forms of affective injustice that exceed the oppressive disabling of sense‐making and involve the exploitative and violent displacement of affective force.
Aristotle on theArchaiof Practical Thought
Authors: Elliott Jay R.
Published: December 2018

Scholars have long debated how exactly Aristotle thinks that agents acquire the distinctivearchai(“principles” or “starting‐points”) that govern their practical reasoning. The debate has traditionally been dominated by anti‐intellectualists, who hold that for Aristotle all agents acquire theirarchaisolely through a process of habituation in the nonrational soul. Their traditional opponents, the intellectualists, focus their argument on the case of the virtuous person, arguing that in Aristotle’s view virtuous agents acquire theirarchaithrough a process of reasoning. I intervene in this debate in two main ways: first, I press a heretofore underappreciated objection against anti‐intellectualism, that it is inconsistent with Aristotle’s account ofakrasia; and second, I urge that all sides in the debate would benefit from more sustained attention to Aristotle’s nonvirtuous character types. In the final section, I suggest that proper consideration of the full breadth of Aristotle’s account of character points in the direction of a new approach that I call “character pluralism,” according to which Aristotle’s moral psychology does not involve a single conception of psychic structure or moral development that is equally applicable to all character types.
A dissection model for mapping complex traits
Authors: Sang Mengmeng , Shi Hexin , Wei Kun , Ye Meixia , Jiang Libo , Sun Lidan , Wu Rongling
Published: December 2018

Many quantitative traits are composites of other traits that contribute differentially to genetic variation. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of these composite traits can benefit by incorporating the mechanistic process of how their formation is mediated by the underlying components. We propose a dissection model by which to map these interconnected components traits under a joint likelihood setting. The model can test how a composite trait is determined by pleiotropic QTLs for its component traits or jointly by different sets of QTLs each responsible for a different component. The model can visualize the pattern of time‐varying genetic effects for individual components and their impacts on composite traits. The dissection model was used to map two composite traits, stemwood volume growth decomposed into its stem height, stem diameter and stem form components for Euramerican poplar adult trees, and total lateral root length constituted by its average lateral root length and lateral root number components for Euphrates poplar seedlings. We found the pattern of how QTLs for different components contribute to phenotypic variation in composite traits. The detailed understanding of the genetic machineries of composite traits will not only help in the design of molecular breeding in plants and animals, but also shed light on the evolutionary processes of quantitative traits under natural selection.
Platelet storage properties are associated with donor age: in vitro quality of platelets from young donors and older donors with and without Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Bontekoe Ido J. , van der Meer Pieter F. , Verhoeven Arthur J. , de Korte Dirk
Published: December 2018

Background and Objectives

Previously it has been shown that platelet (PLT) storage performance is consistent by donor. Differences involved metabolic activity, which might be caused by mitochondrial (dys)function, associated with age and age‐related diseases like Type 2 diabetes (T2D). We aimed to test PLTs from young donors in comparison with PLTs from older donors with or without diagnosis for T2D.

Materials and methods

Fifteen whole blood donors <30 year were selected, and single‐donor platelet concentrates (sPC) were prepared from buffy coats (BC) and plasma. Also, 2 × 11 sPC were prepared from matched donors >45 years with and without T2D. The sPC were stored for 8 days and analysed at regular intervals for in vitro quality.

Results

Donors were 24 ± 3, 60 ± 7 (without T2D) and 59 ± 8 (with T2D) years old. All sPC groups had comparable volume and PLT content. On Day 8, sPC from young donors showed higher pH37°C than sPC from older donors (6.84 ± 0.15 vs. 6.40 ± 0.48, P < 0.01), due to lower lactate production. Also, CD62P expression (22.9 ± 7.4 vs. 48.8 ± 24.0%, P < 0.01) and HSR reflected better in vitro quality. PLT storage properties of sPC obtained from T2D donors (pH = 6.51 ± 0.35) were not different from sPC of matched donors (pH = 6.40 ± 0.48). No differences in mitochondrial membrane potential were detected between the groups.

Conclusion

Platelets from young donors exhibited the best storage conditions. On average, PLTs from older donors showed poorer in vitro quality but, considering the sub‐optimal storage conditions, the implications for the daily blood bank routine is probably small. No association with T2D was found.
Considering the preferences for nitrogen forms by invasive plants: a case study from a hydroponic culture experiment
Authors: Chen W‐B , Chen B‐M
Published: December 2018

Although preference for NH4+, NO3− or a combination of the two often differs among species, we know little about the responses of invasive plants to different inorganic N forms. Furthermore, many studies have suggested that an increase in N availability may facilitate further invasions. However, most of these studies predicted the positive feedback without considering the preference for N forms of invasive plants. Therefore, we cultivated four common invasive species (Mikania micrantha, Ipomoea cairica, Wedelia trilobata and Bidens pilosa) in South China with hydroponic media containing different forms of N (i.e. NO3−, NH4NO3 and NH4+) at equimolar concentrations. Our results showed that the N forms significantly affected the growth, biomass allocation and physiological traits of the plants. All four invasive plants supplied with NO3− alone had better performance and greater allocation to root biomass than did plants that were supplied with NH4+ alone. Moreover, the photosynthetic rate, pigment content and photosystem II activity of plants supplied with NO3− or NH4NO3 were significantly higher than those of plants supplied with NH4+alone. The results suggested that all four invasive plants preferred NO3− rather than NH4+, and changes in NO3− played an important role in furthering the invasions of these plants than did changes in NH4+. Our results implied that decreasing NO3− may be a useful tool for controlling and managing invasive plants preferring NO3−. In addition, this study highlighted the importance of considering plant N form preference to better understand plant invasions.
Toward a solution for cardiac failure in the newborn
Authors: Platt Jeffrey L. , West Lori J. , Chinnock Richard E. , Cascalho Marilia
Published: December 2018

The newborn infant with severe cardiac failure owed to congenital structural heart disease or cardiomyopathy poses a daunting therapeutic challenge. The ideal solution for both might be cardiac transplantation if availability of hearts was not limiting and if tolerance could be induced, obviating toxicity of immunosuppressive therapy. If one could safely and effectively exploit neonatal tolerance for successful xenotransplantation of the heart, the challenge of severe cardiac failure in the newborn infant might be met. We discuss the need, the potential for applying neonatal tolerance in the setting of xenotransplantation and the possibility that other approaches to this problem might emerge.
Multiplicative and min processing of experimental passive sonar data from thinned arrays
Authors: Chavali Vaibhav , Wage Kathleen E. , Buck John R.
Published: December 2018

Sparse arrays reduce the number of sensors required to achieve a specific angular resolution by using sensor spacing greater than the half-wavelength. These undersampled sparse arrays require processing algorithms to eliminate aliasing ambiguities. Thinned arrays are sparse arrays whose sensor positions lie on an underlying equally spaced grid. Using data from a shallow water passive sonar experiment, this paper investigates two thinned array geometries (coprime and nested) along with two processing algorithms (multiplicative and min). Coprime and nested arrays consist of two interleaved Uniform Line Arrays (ULAs) where one or both of the ULAs are undersampled. Multiplicative and min processors combine the outputs of the conventionally-beamformed subarrays to estimate the spatial spectrum. While these nonlinear processors can suppress aliasing, they are often plagued by high sidelobes and cross term interference. This paper presents sparse array designs for a shallow waveguide that require 33% fewer sensors than a fully-sampled ULA and provide significant sidelobe attenuation. Experimental data analysis reveals that cross term interference dominates the spectral estimates for the coprime and nested multiplicative processors and the coprime min processor. The nested min processor outperforms its sparse counterparts due to its ability to contend with coherent multipath in the environment.