bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aging in hair follicle stem cells and niche microenvironment
Authors: Ji Jiang , Ho Bryan Siu‐Yin , Qian Ge , Xie Xiao‐Ming , Bigliardi Paul Lorenz , Bigliardi‐Qi Mei
Published: June 2017

Hair graying and hair loss are prominent and common characteristics of the elderly population. In some individuals these processes can significantly impact their quality of life, leading to depression, anxiety and other serious mental health problems. Accordingly, there has been much interest in understanding the complex physiological changes within the hair follicle in the aging individual. It is now known that hair follicles represent a prototypical stem cell niche, where both micro‐ and macroenvironmental influences are integrated alongside stem cell–stem cell and stem cell–stem niche interactions to determine hair growth or hair follicle senescence. Recent studies have identified imbalanced stem cell differentiation and altered stem cell activity as important factors during hair loss, indicating new avenues for the development of therapeutic agents to stimulate hair growth. Here, we pull together the latest findings on the hair follicle stem cell niche and the multifactorial interactions underlying the various forms of hair loss.
Novel serum metabolomics‐based approach by gas chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry for detection of human skin cancers: Candidate biomarkers
Authors: Fukumoto Takeshi , Nishiumi Shin , Fujiwara Susumu , Yoshida Masaru , Nishigori Chikako
Published: June 2017

Skin cancer incidence rates are continuing to rise; however, if detected at an early stage, they can be cured with minimally invasive treatment. Therefore, the identification of novel and robust biomarkers for the early detection of skin cancer is required to improve the quality of life of the patient after treatment. In the present study, we aimed to identify novel biomarkers of skin cancers. We carried out serum metabolomics using gas chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry for two types of skin cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. The changes in the expression of metabolites compared with healthy volunteers were analyzed by principal component analysis. Among all 118 metabolites, 27 in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and 33 in patients with melanoma showed significant changes in comparison with healthy volunteers. Principal component analysis showed that both skin cancer groups could be distinguished from the healthy volunteers group. We further investigated the specific metabolites most useful for these distinctions. In the squamous cell carcinoma group, these metabolites were glycerol, 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid, sebacic acid, fucose and suberic acid. In the melanoma group, these metabolites were glutamic acid, sebacic acid, suberic acid, 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid and phenylalanine. The present study identified several metabolites that were distinct for certain skin cancer types, which could potentially be used as diagnostic biomarkers leading to novel clinical management strategies.
First isolation of Rickettsia monacensis from a patient in South Korea
Authors: Kim Yeon‐Sook , Choi Yeon‐Joo , Lee Kyung‐Min , Ahn Kyu‐Joong , Kim Heung‐Chul , Klein Terry , Jiang Ju , Richards Allen , Park Kyung‐Hee , Jang Won‐Jong
Published: June 2017

A Rickettsia sp. was isolated from the blood of a patient with an acute febrile illness using the shell vial technique; the isolate was named CN45Kr and was identified by molecular assay as Rickettsia monacensis, which was first recognized as a pathogen in Spain. Sequencing analysis showed that the gltA sequence of the isolate was identical to that of Rickettsia sp. IRS3. The ompA‐5mp fragment sequence showed 100% identity to those of R. monacensis and Rickettsia sp. In56 and ompA‐3pA In56 and 100% identity to that of Rickettsia sp. IRS3. The ompB sequence was found to have 99.9% similarity to that of R. monacensis IrR/Munich. This study confirms the pathogenicity of this agent and provides additional information about its geographic distribution.
Associations between expressive and receptive language and internalizing and externalizing behaviours in a community‐based prospective study of slow‐to‐talk toddlers
Authors: Conway Laura J. , Levickis Penny A. , Mensah Fiona , McKean Cristina , Smith Kylie , Reilly Sheena
Published: June 2017

Background

Evidence suggests that language and social, emotional and behavioural (SEB) difficulties are associated in children and adolescents. When these associations emerge and whether they differ by language or SEB difficulty profile is unclear. This knowledge is crucial to guide prevention and intervention programmes for children with language and SEB difficulties.

Aims

To determine whether receptive and expressive language skills are associated with internalizing and externalizing behaviours in slow‐to‐talk toddlers.

Methods & Procedures

In a community‐based prospective study of 200 slow‐to‐talk children, language was measured at 24 and 36 months using Preschool Language Scale 4th Edition and at 48 months using Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals—Preschool 2nd Edition. Internalizing and externalizing behaviours were measured by parent report at each age. Longitudinal data were analysed using repeated‐measures regression, with up to three observations per child. Robust standard errors were used to account for non‐independence of measures within participants. The shape of the associations were examined by fitting quadratic and cubic terms. The effects of confounders on the associations were examined.

Outcomes & Results

Receptive language had a negative linear association with internalizing behaviours after adjusting for confounders (β= –0.16, 95% [CI = –0.26, –0.07],p= .001); and a negative curved association with externalizing behaviours after adjusting for biological confounders (βquadratic= 0.08 [0.01, 0.15],p= .03,βcubic= –0.04 [–0.07, –0.02],p= .001), attenuating after adjusting for environmental confounders (βquadratic= 0.06 [–0.01, 0.13],p= .09,βcubic= –0.03 [–0.06, –0.003],p= .03). The curvature suggests that the negative association with externalizing behaviours only existed for children with either very low or very high receptive language scores. After controlling for confounders, there was no evidence that expressive language scores were associated with internalizing (β= –0.08, 95% [CI = –0.17, 0.01],p= .10) or externalizing behaviours (β= 0.03, 95% [CI = –0.09, 0.18],p= .61). Tests of interaction revealed no evidence of a differential association by age.

Conclusions & Implications

In 24–48‐month‐old slow‐to‐talk children, lower receptive language scores were associated with higher internalizing behaviours. The magnitude of the association was small. For children with very poor receptive language scores, lower receptive language skills were associated with higher externalizing behaviours. Young children with low receptive language abilities may be at risk of internalizing difficulties; those with very low receptive language skills may be at particular risk of externalizing difficulties. This has clinical implications for interventions for young children with receptive language difficulties.
Soluble CEACAM1 and CEACAM6 are differently expressed in blood serum of pregnant women during normal pregnancy
Authors: Mach Pawel , Gellhaus Alexandra , Prager Sebastian , Moore Tom , Wennemuth Gunther , Kimmig Rainer , Köninger Angela , Singer Bernhard B.
Published: June 2017

Problem

CEACAM1 and CEACAM6 belong to the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family and may play an immune‐modulatory role during pregnancy. The aim of the study was to determine the blood serum levels of soluble CEACAM1 and CEACAM6 over the course of pregnancy and postpartum.

Method of study

CEACAM1 and CEACAM6 levels were determined with customized in‐house Sandwich‐enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems. The study population (n=125) was divided into four groups according to the pregnancy trimester and postpartum. Additionally, samples of non‐pregnant women (n=14) were analyzed.

Results

Serum levels of CEACAM1 in healthy pregnant women were much lower than in non‐pregnant women, a difference not seen for CEACAM6. Comparison between the trimesters and postpartum revealed a significant difference in CEACAM1 serum levels. The highest CEACAM1 levels were detected in third trimester. These levels were statistically significantly different from the CEACAM1 levels in first trimester and second trimester. The lowest levels were observed in the second trimester. Postpartum CEACAM1 serum concentrations were slightly lower than in the third trimester, but higher than in the first trimester and significantly higher compared to levels in the second trimester.

Conclusion

Decreased concentration of CEACAM1 during the pregnancy suggests its regulatory role in the immune tolerance during the course of pregnancy.
Inhibition of left ventricular stimulation due to left ventricular lead failure and the left ventricular T‐wave protection algorithm in patient with cardiac resynchronization therapy and pacemaker dependency
Authors: Ząbek Andrzej , Małecka Barbara , Dębski Maciej , Boczar Krzysztof , Lelakowski Jacek
Published: June 2017

The electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is often a perplexing problem. The difficulty in the device evaluation increases in the presence of unfamiliar timing cycles and a lead dysfunction. Authors describe a special function of a Biotronik CRT devices called the left ventricle T‐wave protection (LVTP), and demonstrate its behavior in a patient with left ventricular (LV) lead failure. This report shows that sometimes it might be difficult to understand the loss of resynchronization in 12‐lead ECG when LVTP feature is on, and a malfunction of left ventricular lead sensing occurs.
Association of risk genotypes of ARMS2/LOC387715 A69S and CFH Y402H with age‐related macular degeneration with and without reticular pseudodrusen: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Jabbarpoor Bonyadi Mohammad Hossein , Yaseri Mehdi , Nikkhah Homayoun , Bonyadi Mortaza , Soheilian Masoud
Published: June 2017

To pool the results of published data regarding association of ARMS2/LOC387715 A69S, CFH Y402H and CFH I62V genotypes with age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) with and without reticular pseudodrusen (RPD). The results of this pooled data used to estimate the contribution of each of these genes in the pathogenesis of RPD. Heterogeneity of studies was evaluated using Cochran Q‐test and I2 index. To modify the heterogeneity in the variables, we used the random effects model. Meta‐analysis was performed using STATA. Odds ratio (OR) of genotypes in each study was calculated. Six studies of AMD with RPD and AMD without RPD cases included in this analysis. Analysis of pooled data showed that risk genotypes frequency of ARMS2 A69S was significantly different between AMD with RPD and AMD without RPD [OR = 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26–2.63 for GT versus GG ARMS2 A69S; OR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.50–3.84 for TT versus GG ARMS2 A69S]. Further analysis also showed that the risk genotype frequency of CFH Y402H was not significantly different between these two groups (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.69–1.50 for CT versus TT CFH Y402H; OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.74–1.60 for CC versus TT CFH Y402H). Comparison of above‐mentioned ORs revealed statistically higher values for GT and TT genotypes of ARMS2 A69S compared with CFH Y402H genotypes (p = 0.011, p = 0.014, respectively).Our analysis showed stronger contribution of ARMS2 in AMD with RPD group versus AMD without RPD group, in comparison with CFH genotypes.
One‐year effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab therapy for inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective multicentre cohort study
Authors: Amiot A. , Serrero M. , Peyrin‐Biroulet L. , Filippi J. , Pariente B. , Roblin X. , Buisson A. , Stefanescu C. , Trang‐Poisson C. , Altwegg R. , Marteau P. , Vaysse T. , Bourrier A. , Nancey S. , Laharie D. , Allez M. , Savoye G. , Moreau J. , Vuitton L. , Viennot S. , Aubourg A. , Pelletier A.‐L. , Bouguen G. , Abitbol V. , Gagniere C. , Bouhnik Y. ,   the OBSERV‐IBD study group and the GETAID
Published: June 2017

Background

We recently showed that vedolizumab is effective in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) with prior anti‐TNF failure in a multicentre compassionate early‐access programme before marketing authorisation was granted to vedolizumab.

Aims

To assess effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab at week 54 in patients UC and CD.

Methods

Between June and December 2014, 173 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 121 with ulcerative colitis (UC) were treated with vedolizumab induction therapy. Among those 294 patients, 272 completed the induction period and were evaluated at the week 14 visit (161 patients with CD and 111 with UC). Disease activity was assessed using the Harvey‐Bradshaw Index for CD and the partial Mayo Clinic score for UC. The primary outcome was steroid‐free clinical remission at week 54.

Results

At week 54, steroid‐free clinical remission rates at week 54 were 27.2% and 40.5% in patients with CD and UC respectively. In addition, the sustained steroid‐free clinical remission (from week 14 to week 54) rates were 8.1% and 19.0% respectively. No deaths were observed. Severe adverse events occurred in 17 (7.2%) patients, including six (2.5%) leading to vedolizumab discontinuation.

Conclusion

Vedolizumab is able to maintain steroid‐free clinical remission in up to one‐third of patients with UC and CD at week 54 with a reasonable safety profile. A significant number of patients experienced loss of response during the first year of treatment, particularly in patients with CD.
Influence of opioids on immune function in patients with cancer pain: from bench to bedside
Authors: Boland Jason W , Pockley A Graham
Published: June 2017

In patients with cancer, opioids are principally used for the management of acute surgical and chronic cancer‐related pain. However, opioids have many non‐analgesic effects, including direct and indirect effects on cancer cells and on anti‐tumour immunity (NK cells, macrophages and T‐cells). Direct effects on immune cells are manifested via opioid and non‐opioid toll‐like receptors, whereas indirect effects are manifested via the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Opioids can also decrease/alter immune cell infiltration into the tumour micro‐environment. Animal models have shown that this is not a class effect, in that morphine and fentanyl suppress NK cell cytotoxicity; buprenorphine does not affect NK cell cytotoxicity, whereas tramadol increases NK cell cytotoxicity, reducing metastasis. In healthy individuals, morphine suppresses and fentanyl enhances NK cell cytotoxicity. In patients undergoing surgery, fentanyl decreased and tramadol increased NK cell cytotoxicity; clinical outcomes were not determined. Meta‐analyses of opioid‐sparing surgical studies report an association between improved recurrence‐free and/or overall survival with regional/neuraxial anaesthesia compared with systemic opioids. In patients receiving opioids for non‐surgical cancer‐related pain, morphine has variable effects on immunity; clinical outcomes were not assessed. Although there is a potential association between systemic opioid administration and shorter survival in cancer patients with a prognosis of months to years, studies have not been designed to primarily assess survival, as a consequence of which causality cannot be apportioned. Pain is immunosuppressive, so analgesia is important. Opioids for cancer‐related pain will continue to be recommended until definitive data on the effects of opioids on clinical outcomes in specific patient groups becomes available.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Emerging Areas of Opioid Pharmacology. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.14/issuetoc
Reply to White et al.: Providing Perspective on Ocean Conservation Targets
Authors: O'Leary Bethan C. , Winther‐Janson Marit , Bainbridge John M. , Aitken Jemma , Hawkins Julie P. , Roberts Callum M.
Published: June 2017

In O'Leary et al. (2016), we undertook a quantitative synthesis (rather than a true statistical meta‐analysis) of research to consider how much of the sea should be protected to achieve various conservation and management goals. We aimed to provide perspective on the appropriateness of global marine protected area coverage targets, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14/Convention on Biological Diversity goals to protect >10% of the sea by 2020. White et al. (2017) question the methodology of our approach, and we offer the following response.
Skilled Immigration, Innovation, and the Wages of Native‐Born Americans
Authors: Islam Asadul , Islam Faridul , Nguyen Chau
Published: June 2017

The paper examines the effects of skilled immigration on wages that can be credited to immigrants’ contribution to innovation. Using both individual and state‐level datasets from the United States, we find a significant and positive effect of immigration on wages that is attributable to skilled immigrants’ contribution to innovation. Our results confirm previous findings that immigrants contribute substantially to the host economy's innovation, which is a major driver of technological progress and productivity growth. When we augment the analysis to an immigration–innovation–wages nexus, the results suggest that as the share of skilled immigrants in a particular skill group increases, the wages of both natives and immigrants in that group also get a positive boost. We also identify evidence in favor of a positive spillover effect of skilled immigrants on a state's wage level of all workers, including those who do not directly contribute to innovation.
Local Multipliers, Mobility, and Agglomeration Economies
Authors: Kazekami Sachiko
Published: June 2017

This paper demonstrates that when one new job is generated by attracting a new business in the tradable sector in a local economy, a significant number of additional jobs are created in the nontradable sector when labor mobility is high. However, these multipliers disappear when labor mobility is low. This paper confirms that regions with higher labor inflow have larger multipliers. Furthermore, the spillover effect of agglomeration economies in the tradable sector is significantly positive on the nontradable sector.
Kinetic modeling and thermodynamic properties of soybean cultivar (BRS257) during hydration process
Authors: Borges Cristiane Wing Chong , Jorge Luiz Mario de Matos , Jorge Regina Maria Matos
Published: June 2017

The hydration kinetics of transgenic soybean cultivar BRS257 was studied at temperatures 30, 40, 50, and 60 °C for 480 min. Peleg and Omoto–Jorge models and its generalized equations were used in this work to describe the kinetics of water absorption. At all temperatures, the models represented the main trends of the hydration process with deviations of less than 3%. However, the Peleg model presents the best fit to the experimental data (R2 = 0.99; P < 3.0%; RMSE = 0.97; SE = 1.07). The moisture transfer is affected by temperature, with higher absorption rates at higher temperatures and the Peleg's constant K1 decreased, while K2 was almost constant. The activation energy (Ea) = −34.797 kJ/mol and average enthalpy (ΔH) = −37.442 kJ/mol, entropy (ΔS) = −1.917E–01 kJ/mol/K, Gibbs free energy (ΔG) = 2.347E+01 kJ/mol were estimated from the adjusted parameters and Arrhenius equation. The values obtained show that hydration is not a spontaneous phenomenon. The grain density (0.97 ± 0.08 g/cm3) presented almost constant values during the experiments.

Practical applications

The practical application of this work aims to evaluate the hydration process of the transgenic cultivar BRS257, for different conditions of time and temperature. This cultivar presents an important characteristic compared to other cultivars, because it does not require severe thermal treatment conditions to inactivate the Lipoxygenases enzymes, responsible for an adstringent taste. This work allowed to know thermodynamic properties of the hydration process. Furthermore the appropriate model is useful for future process optimization, aiming to decrease the time and the energy required.
Clinical outcome and its predictors in hemodialysis patients with critical limb ischemia undergoing endovascular therapy
Authors: Kataoka Shohei , Yamaguchi Junichi , Nakao Masashi , Jujo Kentaro , Hagiwara Nobuhisa
Published: June 2017

Objectives

This study aimed to examine prognosis and causes of death in hemodialysis (HD) patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) after endovascular therapy (EVT).

Background

EVT is becoming a first‐line treatment in patients with CLI. Nonetheless, only a few studies have examined prognosis and its predictors in HD patients with CLI undergoing EVT, who are known to be at high‐risk. Moreover, causes of death in this population are not clarified to date.

Methods

We examined 175 consecutive patients who underwent EVT for CLI between March 2009 and March 2014.

Results

Among these, 126 patients were dependent on HD and their 2‐year all‐cause death and 2‐year major amputation rates were 28% and 14%, respectively. Cox proportional hazards analyses revealed that lower body mass index (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.82‐0.98, P = 0.03) and prior stroke (HR = 2.34, 95%CI = 1.10‐4.85, P = 0.03) were independent predictors of all‐cause death, and lower serum albumin (HR = 0.44, 95%CI = 0.22‐0.92, P = 0.03) along with currently smoking (HR = 4.73, 95%CI = 1.43‐14.1, P = 0.01) were independent predictors of major amputation in HD patients. The leading cause of death in this population was infections, most of which were lower extremity infections.

Conclusions

The incidences of all‐cause death and major amputation seemed acceptable in HD patients undergoing EVT for CLI. In this high‐risk subset, management of infection might be a potential therapeutic target.
Bivalirudin versus heparin and provisional GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients treated for ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarctions: Comparison of outcomes in a “real‐world” setting
Authors: Fach Andreas , Backhaus Tina , Schmucker Johannes , Zabrocki Robert , Garstka Daniela , Stehmeier Janina , Fiehn Eduard , Hambrecht Rainer , Wienbergen Harm
Published: June 2017

Introduction

The beneficial effects of bivalirudin during primary PCIs are controversially discussed, data on unselected patients are rare. It was the aim of the study to compare bivalirudin versus heparin and provisional glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs) in a “real‐world” study.

Methods

From 05/2013 until 11/2014, the STEMI‐patients in the Bremen STEMI registry were treated with periinterventional bivalirudin; before and after this period the standard anticoagulative treatment was heparin and provisional GPIs.

Results

In 714 patients bivalirudin was used for PCI, this cohort was compared to 683 patients with heparin and provisional GPIs. In patients with bivalirudin a significantly lower rate of hospital bleedings was observed compared to patients with heparin (4.6% vs 8.1%, P < 0.01, multivariate HR 0.57, 95%CI 0.35‐0.93), in an exclusive analysis of severe bleedings a trend toward less bleedings was found in patients with bivalirudin (2.0% vs 3.5%, P = 0.07, multivariate HR 0.66, 95%CI 0.30‐1.42). The rate of stent thromboses reinfarctions and mortality was not different between the bivalirudin and the heparin group. During 1‐year follow‐up bivalirudin was associated with a lower rate of bleedings and no significant differences in stent thromboses, reinfarctions, and mortality. Bivalirudin was not associated with an excess of bleedings or stent thromboses in subgroups that are regularly underrepresented in randomized trials (older patients, women, cardiogenic shock).

Conclusions

In this “real‐world” cohort of patients with STEMI bivalirudin compared to heparin and GPIs was associated with less bleedings and no significant differences in stent thromboses, reinfarctions, and mortality during hospital and long‐term course.
Two new species in the Chaetoceros socialis complex (Bacillariophyta): C. sporotruncatus and C. dichatoensis, and characterization of its relatives, C. radicans and C. cinctus
Authors: Gaonkar Chetan C. , Kooistra Wiebe H. C. F. , Lange Carina B. , Montresor Marina , Sarno Diana
Published: June 2017

The diatom genus Chaetoceros is one of the most abundant and diverse phytoplankton in marine and brackish waters worldwide. Within this genus, Chaetoceros socialis has been cited as one of the most common species. However, recent studies from different geographic areas have shown the presence of pseudo‐cryptic diversity within the C. socialis complex. Members of this complex are characterized by curved chains (primary colonies) aggregating into globular clusters, where one of the four setae of each cell curves toward the center of the cluster and the other three orient outwards. New light and electron microscopy observations as well as molecular data on marine planktonic diatoms from the coastal waters off Chile revealed the presence of two new species, Chaetoceros sporotruncatus sp. nov. and C. dichatoensis. sp. nov. belonging to the C. socialis complex. The two new species are similar to other members of the complex (i.e., C. socialis and C. gelidus) in the primary and secondary structure of the colony, the orientation pattern of the setae, and the valve ultrastructure. The only morphological characters that can be used to differentiate the species of this complex are aspects related to resting spore morphology. The two newly described species are closely related to each other and form a sister clade to C. gelidus in molecular phylogenies. We also provide a phylogenetic status along with the morphological characterization of C. radicans and C. cintus, which are genetically related to the C. socialis complex.
Nurse‐patient communication within the context of non‐sedated mechanical ventilation: A hermeneutic‐phenomenological study
Authors: Holm A , Dreyer P
Published: June 2017

Aims and objectives

To explore non‐sedated mechanically ventilated patients' communication with nurses in the intensive care unit.

Background

Mechanically ventilated patients are temporarily voiceless, making interpersonal communication complex. Both nurses and patients find communication challenging and may experience negative emotions when communication fails. In Nordic countries, sedation protocols have changed to light/non‐sedation, resulting in more patients being conscious and more clinical practitioners experiencing communication difficulties.

Design

The study was qualitative with a phenomenological‐hermeneutic approach. Data were collected at two intensive care units in Denmark from January to April 2015.

Methods

Data collection consisted of interviews with patients, focus group interviews with nurses and field observations concerning nurse–patient communication. Data were analysed as one collective body of data using Ricoeur's theory of interpretation.

Findings

The main theme showed that communication is a movement between the two opposite feelings of comprehension and frustration. Sub‐themes showed (1) the dynamics of power change when the patient is voiceless; (2) consciousness and voicelessness make caring difficult; and (3) the process of interpreting and structuring communication is situational.

Conclusion

These findings are important in nursing care and provide perspectives on the shift from communication towards comprehension and, thus, away from frustration. A non‐sedation protocol is a major change in clinical practice in relation to communication. It requires a new way of thinking where communication becomes an integrated part of care, and the nurse has to be constantly alert and adjust his or her communication strategies to the patient's changing needs and communication ability.

Relevance to clinical practice

Some nursing interventions may optimize communication: (1) systematic assessment of patients' communication; (2) education of nurses in Augmentative and Alternative Communication; (3) using communication tools when possible; and (4) securing time, continuity, empathy and patience in nursing care.
Macroeconomic Forecasting using Low‐frequency Filters
Authors: Valle e Azevedo João , Pereira Ana
Published: June 2017

We consider univariate low‐frequency filters applicable in real‐time as a macroeconomic forecasting method. This amounts to targeting only low frequency fluctuations of the time series of interest. We show through simulations that such approach is warranted and, using US data, we confirm empirically that consistent gains in forecast accuracy can be obtained in comparison with a variety of other methods. There is an inherent arbitrariness in the choice of the cut‐off defining low and high frequencies, which calls for a careful characterization of the implied optimal (for forecasting) degree of smoothing of the key macroeconomic indicators we analyse. We document interesting patterns that emerge: for most variables the optimal choice amounts to disregarding fluctuations well below the standard business cycle cut‐off of 32 quarters while generally increasing with the forecast horizon; for inflation and variables related to housing this cut‐off lies around 32 quarters for all horizons, which is below the optimal level for federal government spending.
Testing hypotheses of element loss and instability in the apparatus composition of complex conodonts: articulated skeletons ofHindeodus
Authors: Zhang Muhui , Jiang Haishui , Purnell Mark A. , Lai Xulong
Published: June 2017

Knowledge of the conodont skeleton, in terms of the morphology of the elements and the positions they occupy, provides the foundation for understanding of homology, taxonomy and evolutionary relationships in conodonts. This knowledge also underpins analyses of conodont functional morphology and feeding. Direct evidence of skeletal anatomy and apparatus architecture comes from natural assemblages: fossils that preserve together the articulated remains of the conodont apparatus, either collapsed onto a bedding plane or as clusters of elements in which juxtaposed and overlapping elements have been fused together by diagenetic minerals. Here we describe six clusters of the biostratigraphically important conodontHindeodus parvusfrom the Lower Triassic Shangsi section, Sichuan Province, South China. Five of these clusters represent the partial remains of articulated skeletons, providing direct evidence of the number and arrangement of elements in the apparatus. Combined with data from previously published natural assemblages this provides a test of the hypothesis that Triassic conodonts had a reduced dentition.Hindeodus parvuspossessed a complete raptorial array of two M and nine S elements (unpaired S0; symmetrically paired S1, S2, S3, S4); the paired P1locations were occupied by carminiscaphate elements, but the apparatus lacked P2elements. This is consistent with broader evidence for a particularly high degree of integration and constraint operating on the S–M array of morphologically complex conodonts, leading to conserved architecture of the array over a period of more than 250 million years. The loss of elements from the P domain implies a change in food processing ability and, given the predominance of data from P elements in conodont taxonomy and biostratigraphy, the hypothesis of element loss from the P domain has significant implications for the broader understanding of conodont diversity and evolutionary patterns.
Beyond Theism and Atheism: Axiarchism and Ananthropocentric Purposivism
Authors: Mulgan Tim
Published: June 2017

Two familiar worldviews dominate Western philosophy: materialist atheism and Abrahamic theism. One exciting development in recent philosophy of religion is the exploration of alternatives to both theism and atheism. This paper explores two alternatives: axiarchism and ananthropocentrism. Drawing on the long tradition of Platonism, axiarchists such as John Leslie, Derek Parfit and Nicholas Rescher posit adirectlink between goodness and existence. The goodness of a possible worldiswhat makes it actual. Ananthropocentric Purposivism (AP) holds that the universe has a purpose and that humans are irrelevant to that purpose. If there is a God, then God cares about what matters, but we do not matter to God.
Can the hidden hand of the market be an effective and legitimate regulator? The case of animal welfare under a labeling for consumer choice policy approach
Authors: Parker Christine , Carey Rachel , De Costa Josephine , Scrinis Gyorgy
Published: June 2017

In Australia, labeling for consumer choice, rather than higher government regulation, has become an important strand of the policy approach to addressing food animal welfare. This paper illustrates the usefulness of “regulatory network analysis” to uncover the potentials and limitations of market‐based governance to address contentious yet significant issues like animal welfare. We analyzed the content of newspaper articles from major Australian newspapers and official policy documents between 1990 and 2014 to show how the regulatory network influenced the framing of the regulatory problem, and the capacity and legitimacy of different regulatory actors at three “flashpoints” of decisionmaking about layer hen welfare in egg production. We suggest that the government policy of offering consumers the choice to buy cage free in the market allowed large‐scale industry to continue the egg laying business as usual with incremental innovation and adjustment. These incremental improvements only apply to the 20 percent or so of hens producing “free‐range” eggs. We conclude with a discussion of when and how labeling for consumer choice might create markets and public discourses that make possible more effective and legitimate regulation of issues such as layer hen welfare.
Arousal transmission and attenuation in mother–daughter dyads during adolescence
Authors: Lougheed Jessica P. , Hollenstein Tom
Published: June 2017

Load sharing is the process through which the emotional burdens associated with challenging situations are distributed among members within close relationships. One indicator of load sharing is efficient emotion regulation, and load sharing is related to high physical and relationship closeness between partners. The purpose of the current study was to examine load sharing in mother–daughter dyads across different emotion contexts during adolescence. We examined load sharing via mothers' and daughters' electrodermal activity, which indicates sympathetic nervous system arousal. Sixty‐six adolescent girls (Mage = 15.15 years) and their mothers participated in two 4‐min discussions, about negative and positive emotional experiences. Mothers and daughters self‐reported relationship closeness, and physical closeness was experimentally manipulated by randomly assigning mothers to either touch or not touch their daughter's hand during the discussions. Evidence of load sharing was observed for both mothers and daughters in terms of lower arousal levels and greater arousal transmission (i.e., picking up on partners' arousal) at greater physical and relationship closeness, although the specific pattern of results differed for mothers and daughters and across emotion contexts. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that load sharing is an important interpersonal dynamic in mother–daughter dyads during adolescence.
Risk Factors associated with defaulting from visceral leishmaniasis treatment: analysis under routine programme conditions in Bihar, India
Authors: Kansal S. , Chakravarty J. , Kumar A. , Malaviya P. , Boelaert M. , Hasker E. , Ostyn B. , Sundar S.
Published: June 2017

Objective

To assess the rate of default from treatment in the visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination programme and to identify risk factors and its underlying causes.

Methods

Case–control study conducted between December 2009 and June 2012 in three primary health centres (PHCs) of Muzaffarpur district, India. Patients who defaulted from treatment from the PHCs were considered as ‘cases’ and those who completed their treatment as ‘controls’. Two controls were included in the study for each case. Respondents' opinion and satisfaction with the services provided at the PHCs were also elicited. Logistic regression was performed to assess the contribution of sociodemographic variables on patient status, and a discriminant analysis was used (after decomposing the original data) to identify factors that can predict the patient status as defaulter or not, based on factor scores of the components as predictor variables.

Results

During the study period, 16.3% (89/544) of patients defaulted; 87 cases and 188 controls were interviewed through a semistructured questionnaire. Women tended to be more at risk for default (OR, 1.6, 95% CI (0.9 ‐2.9). Treatment received was miltefosine in 55.6% and sodium stibogluconate (SSG) in 44.4%. Most (86%) defaulters completed their treatment at other healthcare facilities; 70% of them preferred non‐governmental institutions. Most cited reasons for default were seeking a second opinion for VL treatment and preferring to be treated in specialised VL centres. Discriminant analysis showed only one significant predictor: dissatisfaction with the medical care received in PHCs.

Conclusion

Efforts are needed to enhance the quality of VL care at PHC level, which will be beneficial in increasing treatment completion rates.
The Relation between Initial Returns and Audits by the Big Four Accounting Firms
Authors: Lee Jen-Sin , Li Yue , Hu Xin , Lu Qi-An
Published: June 2017

This paper mainly explores the relation between initial returns and audits by the big four accounting firms (the Big Four) in China. The sample period is from January 2007 to December 2012 (the new accounting standards in China is implemented after January 2007 for integrating with the international standards), and selected 1,069 IPO firms listed in the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange in this paper.Many previous studies have proposed the Informational Hypothesis, which states that the initial returns of IPOs being audited by the Big Four are lower than those IPOs being audited by other accounting firms. Oppositely, this paper proposes the Snap-up Hypothesis due to consider the IPOs in mainland China are characterized by “three lows,”: the low reliability of audits being performed by non-Big Four, low proportion of IPOs audits being performed by the Big Four, and low balling ratio. These “three lows” features indicate that the Snap-up Hypothesis applies in the IPOs market of mainland China. In other words, the initial returns of the IPOs being audited by the Big Four are higher than those IPOs being audited by other accounting firms due to the Big Four have the superior reputations.This paper further collects the trading volumes and the turnover ratio on the first day, and selects the Big Four audited IPOs by snap-up tide. As above mentioned, because the snap-up tide and raised stock prices on the first-day listing, investors may purchase the shares when offering and sell them on the first-day listing to obtain considerable profits.
Competitive Balance and Consumer Demand in the English Football League
Authors: Martinez Misael , Willner Jonathan
Published: June 2017

Competitive balance in sports leagues is often used to justify revenue sharing agreements. The justification is that competitive balance leads to higher attendance and higher attendance generates more revenues. By sharing revenue, small market teams can afford to pay for high quality talent, assuring more equal distribution of that talent. Unlike US professional leagues, English football operates under a system of relegation and promotion so that at the end of each season the worst performing teams are "relegated" and the top performing teams in the next level down are "promoted". This may serve as an alternative to revenue sharing to maintain competitive balance.Using data from the top English football league (currently the Premiership) from 1888-89 through the 2014-15 season we calculate multiple measures of league competitive balance for each year using both 3-1-0 and 2-1-0 point systems. We then use these measures with available macroeconomic control variables to examine the relationship between competitive balance and match attendance.We find that, counter to related work in US sports leagues, competitive balance in English football is negatively associated with attendance. This is particularly true in the case of the Premiership era, wherein only five teams have won the championship and in the past 10 seasons, the top 4 places of the championship has been dominated by 7 clubs, yet attendance has steadily increased. This result raises questions about the utility of revenue sharing in increasing attendance in English football.
Calcium signalling in medial intercalated cell dendrites and spines
Authors: Strobel Cornelia , Sullivan Robert K. P. , Stratton Peter , Sah Pankaj
Published: June 2017

Key points

Dendritic and spine calcium imaging in combination with electrophysiology in acute slices revealed that in medial intercalated cells of the amygdala:

Action potentials back‐propagate into the dendritic tree, but due to the presence of voltage‐dependent potassium channels, probably Kv4.2 channels, attenuate over distance.

A mixed population of AMPA receptors with rectifying and linear I–V relations are present at individual spines of a single neuron.

Decay kinetics and pharmacology suggest tri‐heteromeric NMDA receptors at basolateral–intercalated cell synapses. NMDA receptors are the main contributors to spine calcium entry in response to synaptic stimulation.

Calcium signals in response to low‐ and high‐frequency stimulation, and in combination with spontaneous action potentials are locally restricted to the vicinity of active spines.

Together, these data show that calcium signalling in these GABAergic neurons is tightly controlled and acts as a local signal.

The amygdala plays a central role in fear conditioning and extinction. The medial intercalated (mITC) neurons are GABAergic cell clusters interspaced between the basolateral (BLA) and central amygdala (CeA). These neurons are thought to play a key role in fear and extinction, controlling the output of the CeA by feed‐forward inhibition. BLA to mITC cell inputs are thought to undergo synaptic plasticity, a mechanism underlying learning, which is mediated by NMDA receptor‐dependent mechanisms that require changes in cytosolic calcium. Here, we studied the electrical and calcium signalling properties of mITC neurons in GAD67‐eGFP mice using whole‐cell patch clamp recordings and two‐photon calcium imaging. We show that action potentials back‐propagate (bAP) into dendrites, and evoke calcium transients in both the shaft and the dendritic spine. However, bAP‐mediated calcium rises in the dendrites attenuate with distance due to shunting by voltage‐gated potassium channels. Glutamatergic inputs make dual component synapses on spines. At these synapses, postsynaptic AMPA receptors can have linear or rectifying I–V relationships, indicating that some synapses express GluA2‐lacking AMPA receptors. Synaptic NMDA receptors had intermediate decay kinetics, and were only partly blocked by GuN2B selective blockers, indicating these receptors are GluN1/GluN2A/GluN2B trimers. Low‐ or high‐frequency synaptic stimulation raised spine calcium, mediated by calcium influx via NMDA receptors, was locally restricted and did not invade neighbouring spines. Our results show that in mITC neurons, postsynaptic calcium is tightly controlled, and acts as a local signal.
Study of Assisted Compression Ignition in a Direct Injected Natural Gas Engine
Authors: Gogolev Ivan M. , Wallace James S.
Published: June 2017

Natural gas direct injection (DI) and glow plug ignition assist technologies were implemented in a single-cylinder, compression-ignition optical research engine. Initial experiments studied the effects of injector and glow plug shield geometry on ignition quality. Injector and shield geometric effects were found to be significant, with only two of 20 tested geometric combinations resulting in reproducible ignition. Of the two successful combinations, the combination with 0 deg injector angle and 60 deg shield angle was found to result in shorter ignition delay and was selected for further testing. Further experiments explored the effects of the overall equivalence ratio (controlled by injection duration) and intake pressure on ignition delay and combustion performance. Ignition delay was measured to be in the range of 1.6–2.0 ms. Equivalence ratio was found to have little to no effect on the ignition delay. Higher intake pressure was shown to increase ignition delay due to the effect of swirl momentum on fuel jet development, air entrainment, and jet deflection away from optimal contact with the glow plug ignition source. Analysis of combustion was carried out by examination of the rate of heat release (ROHR) profiles. ROHR profiles were consistent with two distinct modes of combustion: premixed mode at all test conditions, and a mixing-controlled mode that only appeared at higher equivalence ratios following premixed combustion.
Heat Conduction and Thermo-Elastic Stress Field Disturbed by a Thermal-Medium Crack Propagating in Orthotropic Materials Characterized by Real or Complex Eigenvalues
Authors: Zhou Yue-Ting , Kim Tae-Won
Published: June 2017

A dynamic, partially permeable crack model for orthotropic materials is established with the crack full of thermal medium. Besides external thermal and elastic loadings, the heat flux generated by the crack interior full of a medium also contributes to the crack boundary conditions, which is dependent on the crack opening displacement. Thus, the heat conduction is dependent on elastic field. First, the heat conduction equation is solved exactly in terms of unknown heat flux of the crack interior. Then, the elastic field is presented for real or complex eigenvalue cases on the basis of the operator theory. Finally, the thermal and elastic fields are presented analytically, and the heat flux of the crack interior is determined explicitly. Numerical results are offered to show the influences of the thermal conductivity coefficient, normal and shear loadings and crack velocity on the distributions of the heat flux, temperature difference across the crack surfaces, and thermal stress intensity factor. Figures illustrate that increasing the crack velocity leads to a more thermally impermeable crack and produces a bigger temperature difference across the crack surfaces.
Effects of rhythm and phrase-final lengthening on word-spotting in Korean
Authors: Jeon Hae-Sung , Arvaniti Amalia
Published: June 2017

A word-spotting experiment was conducted to investigate whether rhythmic consistency and phrase-final lengthening facilitate performance in Korean. Listeners had to spot disyllabic and trisyllabic words in nonsense strings organized in phrases with either the same or variable syllable count; phrase-final lengthening was absent, or occurring either in all phrases or only in the phrase immediately preceding the target. The results show that, for disyllabic targets, inconsistent syllable count and lengthening before the target led to fewer errors. For trisyllabic targets, accuracy was at ceiling, but final lengthening in all phrases reduced reaction times. The results imply that both rhythmic consistency (i.e., regular syllable count) and phrase-final lengthening play a role in word-spotting and, by extension, in speech processing in Korean, as in other languages. However, the results also reflect the language specific role of prosodic cues. First, the cues here were used primarily with disyllabic targets, which were cognitively more demanding to process partly due to their high phonological neighborhood density. Second, the facilitating effect of rhythmic consistency was weak, possibly because strict consistency is not present in spoken Korean. Overall, rhythmic consistency facilitated spotting when targets mapped onto phrases, confirming the importance of phrasal organization in Korean speech processing.