bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of blood flow restriction duration on muscle activation and microvascular oxygenation during low‐volume isometric exercise
Authors: Cayot Trent E. , Lauver Jakob D. , Silette Christopher R. , Scheuermann Barry W.
Published: January 2015

The purpose of the investigation was to observe how varying occlusion durations affected neuromuscular activation and microvascular oxygenation during low‐volume isometric knee extension exercise. Healthy, recreationally active males performed isometric knee extension at a variety of submaximal intensities under different blood flow restriction (BFR) occlusion durations. The occlusion pressure (130% SBP) was applied either 5 min prior to exercise (PO), immediately prior to exercise (IO) or not during exercise (CON). Surface electromyography (sEMG) and near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to record the neuromuscular activation and microvascular oxygenation of the knee extensors during exercise. No difference in sEMG was observed in the vastus lateralis or vastus medialis during any exercise condition or any submaximal intensity. PO elicited greater microvascular deoxygenation (deoxy‐[Hb + Mb]) compared to CON (P≤0·05) at all submaximal intensities and also compared to IO at 20% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). IO resulted in a greater deoxy‐[Hb + Mb] response during low‐intensity exercise (20% and 40% MVC) compared to CON (P≤0·05). These findings suggest that applying BFR 5 min before exercise can enhance the exercise‐induced metabolic stress (i.e. deoxy‐[Hb + Mb]), measured via NIRS, during low‐intensity exercise (20% MVC) compared to applying BFR immediately prior to exercise. Furthermore, the increased metabolic stress observed during IO is attenuated during high‐intensity (60% MVC, 80% MVC) exercise when compared to CON conditions. Knowledge of the changes in exercise‐induced metabolic stress between the various occlusion durations may assist in developing efficient BFR exercise programmes.
SEQUENTIAL JUDGMENT EFFECTS IN THE WORKPLACE: EVIDENCE FROM THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Authors: Gift Paul
Published: January 2015

This study investigates the impact of past performance evaluations on future decisions involving judgment. I analyze the decisions of highly skilled and highly monitored referees regarding offensive fouls and violations in the National Basketball Association. After testing for equilibrium adjustments in player behavior, findings support a hypothesis of increased referee scrutiny on one team following a potentially questionable call on the opposing team. Results are inconclusive for subsequent changes in scrutiny toward the original violating team. The analysis provides a nonexperimental test of sequential bias on elite employees working under strict performance standards, and suggests a likely role for sequential judgment effects in other areas of economic activity. (JEL D03, L83, J44, M59)
RELIGIOUS HOMOPHILY IN A SECULAR COUNTRY: EVIDENCE FROM A VOTING GAME IN FRANCE
Authors: Adida Claire L. , Laitin David D. , Valfort Marie‐Anne
Published: January 2015

Homophily—the tendency individuals have to associate with similar‐others—is a powerful determinant of social networks. Yet research to date does not allow us to determine which dimension, e.g., ethnic, religious, gender, age, or class similarity, drives association. Tests demonstrating homophily are flawed by restricting the range of dimensions in the choice set. We introduce an experimental game in which we exogenously expose subjects to diverse partners to determine which dimension dominates. We find that in a socio‐demographically diverse district of Paris, despite expectations of secularization, religious similarity significantly predicts homophily. Moreover, we provide tentative evidence that religious homophily is taste‐based. (JELC91, D03, D72, J71, Z12)
Oil shocks, policy uncertainty and stock returns in China
Authors: Kang Wensheng , Ratti Ronald A.
Published: January 2015

This paper examines the interdependence of China's policy uncertainty, the global oil market and stock market returns in China. A structural VAR model is estimated that shows that a positive shock to economic policy uncertainty in China has a delayed negative effect on global oil production, real oil prices and real stock market returns. Shocks to oil market‐specific demand significantly raise China's economic policy uncertainty and reduce the real stock market returns. As measured by a spillover index, the interdependence between these variables has been rising since 2003 as China's influence in the oil market has increased. An equivalent spillover index calculated for the US is smaller and has been largely flat over time.
Role of IL‐10 and TGF‐β in melanoma
Authors: Wiguna Arlina P. , Walden Peter
Published: January 2015

IL‐10 and TGF‐β are immunosuppressive cytokines expressed in tumors including melanoma and, therefore, deemed major cause for failing antitumor immune responses. Re‐evaluating their role, we compared their expression by quantitative RT‐PCR in melanoma and skin of healthy individuals, tested their induction in dendritic cells and T cells co‐cultured with tumor cells, and their effects on the immune cells. Both cytokines as well as their receptors were expressed in melanoma at significantly lower levels than in healthy skin. Consequently, the expressions of IL‐10‐responsive SOCS‐3 and TGF‐β‐responsive Smad‐7 were low in tumors but high in healthy skin. T cells co‐cultured with tumor cells developed an anergic state without increased IL‐10 or TGF‐β expression. In vitro tumor‐induced immature dendritic cells produced high IL‐10 levels and less efficiently induced T‐cell proliferation. Nonetheless, they could be induced to mature, and blocking IL‐10 did not alter the capacity of the resulting mature dendritic cells to stimulate T cells. Mature dendritic cells co‐cultured with tumor cells produced increased IL‐10 but decreased TGF‐β and more efficiently induced T‐cell proliferation. The lack of correlation of IL‐10 and TGF‐β with immune deficits in situ and in vitro suggests re‐evaluating their roles in cancer.
Making sense of change: patients’ views of diabetes and GP‐led integrated diabetes care
Authors: Burridge Letitia H. , Foster Michele M. , Donald Maria , Zhang Jianzhen , Russell Anthony W. , Jackson Claire L.
Published: January 2015

Background

Health system reform is directed towards better management of diabetes. However, change can be difficult, and patients’ perspectives are a key aspect of implementing change.

Objective

This study investigated patients’ perceptions and experiences of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), self‐care and engagement with GP‐led integrated diabetes care.

Design

Qualitative interviews were conducted with purposively selected patients with T2DM following their initial medical appointment in the new model of care. Normalization process theory was used to orientate the thematic analysis, to explain the work of implementing change.

Setting

Two specialist GP‐based complex diabetes services in primary care in Brisbane, Australia.

Participants

Intervention group patients (n = 30) in a randomized controlled trial to evaluate a model of GP‐led integrated care for complex T2DM.

Main outcome measures

Participants’ experiences and perceptions of diabetes management and a GP‐led model of care.

Results

Three themes were identified: sensibility of change, ‘diabetic life’ and diabetes care alliance. The imperative of change made sense, but some participants experienced dissonance between this rational view and their lived reality. Diabetes invaded life, revealing incongruities between participants’ values and living with diabetes. They appreciated a flexible and personalized approach to care.

Discussion

Participants responded to advice in ways that seemed rational within the complexities of their life context. Their diabetes partnerships with health professionals coupled providers’ biomedical expertise with patients’ contextual expertise.

Conclusions

Learning to manage relationships with various health professionals adds to patients’ diabetes‐related work. Providers need to adopt a flexible, interactive approach and foster trust, to enable better diabetes care.
The role of eating frequency on relative weight in urban school‐age children
Authors: Evans E. W. , Jacques P. F. , Dallal G. E. , Sacheck J. , Must A.
Published: January 2015

Background

The role of eating frequency on relative weight in childhood is not well understood.

Objective

To clarify this relationship by assessing the cross‐sectional and prospective relationships of weekday eating frequency with BMI z‐score (BMIz) and change in BMIz in a sample of schoolchildren.

Methods

Eating frequency, the average number of reported daily eating occasions, was assessed using two weekday 24‐h diet recalls. BMIz was measured at baseline, 6 months and 1 year in 155 urban schoolchildren, ages 9–15 years. Multiple linear regression models were used.

Results

Cross‐sectional analyses at baseline suggest that BMIz was 0.23 units lower for each additional reported eating occasion (regression coefficient = −0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.44, −0.07). From baseline to 6 months, BMIz increased by 0.03 units for each additional reported eating occasion (regression coefficient = 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.05). This relationship was no longer statistically significant at 1 year (regression coefficient = 0.01; 95% CI: −0.01, 0.03).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that the relationship of eating frequency with BMIz differs from that of change in BMIz. This difference may be due to methodological deficiencies of cross‐sectional studies, challenges of dietary assessment or differences in eating patterns among normal and overweight youth. Controlled trials are needed to further clarify this relationship.
Correlative Studies on Sintering of Ni/BaTiO3 Multilayers Using X‐ray Computed Nanotomography and FIB‐SEM Nanotomograhy
Authors: Yan Zilin , Guillon Olivier , Martin Christophe L. , Wang Steve , Lee Chul‐Seung , Charlot Frederic , Bouvard Didier
Published: January 2015

Synchrotron X‐ray computed nanotomography (nCT) and Focused Ion Beam–Scanning Electron Microscope nanotomography (FIB‐nT) were used to characterize baked‐out and sintered nickel (Ni) electrode–Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors. The three‐dimensional microstructures obtained by two different tomography techniques were quantified and correlated. X‐ray nCT is sufficient to reveal the pore characteristics, whereas the FIB‐nT enables the particles in the initial packings to be identified. In the dielectric ceramic layers, pores preferentially orient horizontally in the layer and the regions near the Ni/BT interface are denser than the inner regions. This anisotropy is possibly caused by compressive stress induced during the heating stage.
Population characteristics, habitat and diet of a recently discovered stingray Dasyatis marianae: implications for conservation
Authors: Costa T. L. A. , Thayer J. A. , Mendes L. F.
Published: January 2015

This study examined population density, habitat and diet of Dasyatis marianae, a recently discovered species, in the reef complex of Maracajaú in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. The highest concentration of D. marianae occurred in seagrass beds. Habitat use differed significantly between sex and age classes, with females and juveniles using areas other than reefs. Females utilized primarily seagrass beds and juveniles occurred mainly along the sandy bottom near the beach, highlighting the importance of protecting these areas. Dasyatis marianae diet was characterized primarily by crustaceans (91·9% index of relative importance, IRI), including shrimp, crabs and lobsters. The availability of prey in different habitat types influences occupation by D. marianae, but the prey selectivity of D. marianae, among other factors, may affect this relationship. Intense shrimp and lobster fishing in the region probably has an effect on preferred prey resources of this ray. Information on feeding habits of this species contributes to a better understanding of trophic dynamics and food webs, which is critical if ecosystem principles are to be integrated into fisheries management.
School Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions of Role as Opinion Leader, and Professional Practice Regarding Human Papillomavirus Vaccine for Youth
Authors: Rosen Brittany L. , Goodson Patricia , Thompson Bruce , Wilson Kelly L.
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND

Because human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine rates remain low, we evaluated US school nurses' knowledge, attitudes, perceptions of their role as opinion leaders, and professional practice regarding HPV vaccine, and assessed whether knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of being an opinion leader influenced their professional practice regarding the HPV vaccine.

METHODS

We used a cross‐sectional design by recruiting members from the National Association of School Nurses. All participants (N = 505) were e‐mailed a survey designed for this study. Structural equation modeling (SEM) tested direct and indirect effects.

RESULTS

Overall, school nurses had knowledge about HPV and the vaccine, and positive attitudes toward the vaccine. They had less‐than‐enthusiastic perceptions of their role as opinion leaders regarding the vaccine and implemented few activities related to providing vaccine information. The model revealed a good fit (χ2 = 20.238 [df = 8, p < .01]), with knowledge directly related to attitudes, attitudes directly related to perceptions and practice, and perceptions directly affecting practice. In our model, perceptions functioned as a partial mediator.

CONCLUSIONS

To enhance school nurses' practice regarding the HPV vaccine, focus should be on increasing positive attitudes toward the vaccine and strengthening perceptions of their role as opinion leaders.
Impact of nitrate enrichment on wetland and dryland seed germination and early seedling development
Authors: Boudell Jere A. , Stromberg Juliet C.
Published: January 2015

Questions

Atmospheric and agricultural inputs of nitrogen have increased significantly. Because riparian zones act as buffers for nutrient transfer and treated municipal effluent and untreated agricultural run‐off are released into streams, and because desert riparian ecosystems contain a wide range of functional groups with respect to water relations, we asked if wetland and dryland species respond differently to increasing levels of soil nitrate. Specifically, we asked if seed germination rate, total percentage germination and seedling development varied by species and functional group in response to increasing nitrate levels.

Location

Southwestern US.

Methods

We subjected seeds of common wetland and dryland species to distilled water (control), 0.025 M (low), 0.05 M (intermediate) and 0.075 M (high) KNO3 treatments for 30 days. We determined seed germination rates, total percentage germination and seedling development for each species. Generalized linear mixed models tested for differences between treatments.

Results

Seeds of wetland species germinated rapidly and in high percentages, and developed into seedlings regardless of nitrate treatments. Dryland species had unique responses to nitrate treatments, with some species exhibiting high germination rates in control treatments and others showing strong germination responses at low to intermediate nitrate levels. A larger number of dryland germinants developed into seedlings under control to low nitrate treatments.

Conclusions

Riparian plant community dynamics arising from germination responses could change under increased nitrogen inputs, as some species are seemingly unaffected and others significantly impacted. Based on our limited species pool and treatment conditions, the functional group ‘wetland species’ produces a consistent germination and early seedling response regardless of nitrate concentration, while ‘dryland species’ responses are variable and species‐specific. Species known to be nitrophiles can be inhibited by high nitrogen concentration as germinants, highlighting the importance of investigating plant community response to changing conditions at a variety of life stages.
Cosmic‐ray exposure ages of pallasites
Authors: Herzog G. F. , Cook D. L. , Cosarinsky M. , Huber L. , Leya I. , Park J.
Published: January 2015

We analyzed cosmogenic nuclides in metal and/or silicate (primarily olivine) separated from the main‐group pallasites Admire, Ahumada, Albin, Brahin, Brenham, Esquel, Finmarken, Glorieta Mountain, Huckitta, Imilac, Krasnojarsk, Marjalahti, Molong, Seymchan, South Bend, Springwater, and Thiel Mountains and from Eagle Station. The metal separates contained an olivine fraction which although small, <1 wt% in most cases, nonetheless contributes significantly to the budgets of some nuclides (e.g., up to 35% for 21Ne and 26Al). A correction for olivine is therefore essential and was made using model calculations and/or empirical relations for the production rates of cosmogenic nuclides in iron meteoroids and/or measured elemental concentrations. Cosmic‐ray exposure (CRE) ages for the metal phases of the main‐group pallasites range from 7 to 180 Ma, but many of the ages cluster around a central peak near 100 Ma. These CRE ages suggest that the parent body of the main‐group pallasites underwent a major break‐up that produced most of the meteorites analyzed. The CRE age distribution for the pallasites overlaps only a small fraction of the distribution for the IIIAB iron meteorites. Most pallasites and IIIAB irons originated in different collisions, probably on different parent bodies; a few IIIABs and pallasites may have come out of the same collision but a firm conclusion requires further study. CRE ages calculated from noble gas and radionuclide data of the metal fraction are higher on average than the 21Ne exposure ages obtained for the olivine samples. As the metal and olivine fractions were taken in most cases from different specimens, the depth‐dependency of the production rate ratio 10Be/21Ne in metal, not accounted for in our calculations, may explain the difference.
Flood adaptive traits and processes: an overview
Authors: Voesenek Laurentius A. C. J. , Bailey‐Serres Julia
Published: January 2015

Unanticipated flooding challenges plant growth and fitness in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Here we describe mechanisms of developmental plasticity and metabolic modulation that underpin adaptive traits and acclimation responses to waterlogging of root systems and submergence of aerial tissues. This includes insights into processes that enhance ventilation of submerged organs. At the intersection between metabolism and growth, submergence survival strategies have evolved involving an ethylene‐driven and gibberellin‐enhanced module that regulates growth of submerged organs. Opposing regulation of this pathway is facilitated by a subgroup of ethylene‐response transcription factors (ERFs), which include members that require low O2 or low nitric oxide (NO) conditions for their stabilization. These transcription factors control genes encoding enzymes required for anaerobic metabolism as well as proteins that fine‐tune their function in transcription and turnover. Other mechanisms that control metabolism and growth at seed, seedling and mature stages under flooding conditions are reviewed, as well as findings demonstrating that true endurance of submergence includes an ability to restore growth following the deluge. Finally, we highlight molecular insights obtained from natural variation of domesticated and wild species that occupy different hydrological niches, emphasizing the value of understanding natural flooding survival strategies in efforts to stabilize crop yields in flood‐prone environments.

Contents

Summary
57

I.
Introduction
58

II.
Root acclimations that promote root aeration
60

III.
Regulating reaeration by active emergence in Rumex palustris and Oryza sativa
62

IV.
Limiting O2 starvation with gas films and underwater photosynthesis
64

V.
Key metabolic acclimations to flooding and low‐O2 stress and their control
65

VI.
Managing quiescence in growth during submergence
67

VII.
After the deluge
68

VIII.
Perspective
69

Acknowledgements
69

References
69
Phytohormones as integrators of environmental signals in the regulation of mycorrhizal symbioses
Authors: Pozo María J. , López‐Ráez Juan A. , Azcón‐Aguilar Concepción , García‐Garrido José M.
Published: January 2015

For survival, plants have to efficiently adjust their phenotype to environmental challenges, finely coordinating their responses to balance growth and defence. Such phenotypic plasticity can be modulated by their associated microbiota. The widespread mycorrhizal symbioses modify plant responses to external stimuli, generally improving the resilience of the symbiotic system to environmental stresses. Phytohormones, central regulators of plant development and immunity, are instrumental in orchestrating plant responses to the fluctuating environment, but also in the regulation of mycorrhizal symbioses. Exciting advances in the molecular regulation of phytohormone signalling are providing mechanistic insights into how plants coordinate their responses to environmental cues and mycorrhizal functioning. Here, we summarize how these mechanisms permit the fine‐tuning of the symbiosis according to the ever‐changing environment.

Contents

Summary
1431

I.
Introduction
1431

II.
Hormonal balance regulates plant growth and defence
1432

III.
Phytohormones control the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis
1433

IV.
Environmental conditions have an impact on the partner's interactions
1434

V.
Mycorrhizal symbiosis alters hormone homeostasis in the host and its response to environmental challenges
1435

VI.
Conclusions and outlook
1435

Acknowledgements
1435

References
1435
Competition with and without priority control: linking rivalry to attention through winner‐take‐all networks with memory
Authors: Marx Svenja , Gruenhage Gina , Walper Daniel , Rutishauser Ueli , Einhäuser Wolfgang
Published: January 2015

Competition is ubiquitous in perception. For example, items in the visual field compete for processing resources, and attention controls their priority (biased competition). The inevitable ambiguity in the interpretation of sensory signals yields another form of competition: distinct perceptual interpretations compete for access to awareness. Rivalry, where two equally likely percepts compete for dominance, explicates the latter form of competition. Building upon the similarity between attention and rivalry, we propose to model rivalry by a generic competitive circuit that is widely used in the attention literature—a winner‐take‐all (WTA) network. Specifically, we show that a network of two coupled WTA circuits replicates three common hallmarks of rivalry: the distribution of dominance durations, their dependence on input strength (“Levelt's propositions”), and the effects of stimulus removal (blanking). This model introduces a form of memory by forming discrete states and explains experimental data better than competitive models of rivalry without memory. This result supports the crucial role of memory in rivalry specifically and in competitive processes in general. Our approach unifies the seemingly distinct phenomena of rivalry, memory, and attention in a single model with competition as the common underlying principle.
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN VOLUNTARY ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES: A FUZZY SET QUALITATIVE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Authors: VAN DER HEIJDEN JEROEN
Published: January 2015

Voluntary Environmental Programmes (VEPs) have become increasingly popular in addressing environmental risks. While VEPs have attracted much scholarly attention, little is known about how they achieve their outcomes. This article seeks to better understand whether and how the roles of governments in VEPs affect their outcomes in terms of (1) attracting participants, and (2) their contribution to a desired collective end. Using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), this article addresses a series of 31 VEPs in the building sectors of Australia, the Netherlands, and the United States. Of particular interest is a better understanding of what configurations of five specific governmental roles in VEPs are sufficient to attract participants and contribute to a desired collective end. Three ideal type roles for governments in VEPs, that are positively related to the two outcomes under scrutiny, are uncovered, and the article concludes with lessons on how governments may be best involved in VEPs.
Emergent Research in Social Vision: An Integrated Approach to the Determinants and Consequences of Social Categorization
Authors: Johnson Kerri L. , Lick David J. , Carpinella Colleen M.
Published: January 2015

Social categorization research has historically focused either on understanding how observers utilize visual cues in the face and body to make judgments of others or on understanding the downstream consequences that occur following social categorizations, but rarely both. Recently, however, research has evidenced a marked shift toward an integrated approach. Here, we provide a snapshot of social vision's contributions to the study of social categorization with a goal of illuminating the new and exciting directions afforded by an integrative approach. From this perspective, social categorizations are characterized not only as being informed by visual cues but also as being malleable, probabilistic, and contextualized. Moreover, the process of categorization itself can affect evaluative outcomes directly, independent of categorization. By exploring empirical evidence for this integrated approach to the determinants and consequences of social categorization, we show how the emerging field of social vision has revealed new insights into the nature of social categorization and by extension its implications for evaluations.
The Problem of Behaviour Change: From Social Norms to an Ingroup Focus
Authors: Reynolds Katherine J. , Subašić Emina , Tindall Karen
Published: January 2015

Social norms are of increasing interest to public policy experts and those conducting behaviour change interventions (e.g. safe driving, recycling). While there is agreement that social norms play a central role in explaining behaviour, such consensus is lacking when it comes to explaining the process through which this occurs. Economics, social marketing and political science focus on individual self‐interest and goal satisfaction and social (dis)approval. In contrast social psychology also incorporates collective interests through its analysis of social identity and ingroup processes. To fully understand behaviour change, it is argued that greater engagement is needed with the links between shifts in social identity, and ingroup norms. As definitions of who “we” are shift, so too does what “we” do. Implications for behaviour change interventions are discussed.
On Being Mindful: What Do People Think They're Doing?
Authors: Parkin Steven S. , Jarman Matthew S. , Vallacher Robin R.
Published: January 2015

Thoughts are typically dismissed as sources of distraction that hinder a mindful awareness of ongoing experience. Although this may be said of some thoughts, we focus on the undervalued role that regulatory thoughts play in the development and maintenance of mindful action. To do so, we explore the function of thoughts from the perspective of action identification theory. The application of action identification principles to mindfulness yields a new understanding of how the mind coordinates mindful action, with implications for mindfulness instruction, practice, and future research.
The endothermic ATP hydrolysis and crossbridge attachment steps drive the increase of force with temperature in isometric and shortening muscle
Authors: Offer Gerald , Ranatunga K. W.
Published: January 2015

Key points

Muscle performance increases with temperature in a wide variety of animals but has been studied most fully in frogs and mammals.

While it has been previously proposed that the tension‐generating step in the muscle crossbridge cycle is temperature‐sensitive, this does not explain why tension increases after a rapid temperature rise much more slowly than after a length step.

We have developed a model of an unbranched crossbridge cycle that simulates the effects of temperature on the tension and force–velocity relationship of frog muscle and the tension rise after a rapid temperature rise.

We conclude that the increased tension produced by raising temperature is principally due to enhancement of the two steps before the tension‐generating step.

By integrating the interpretation of several key physiological experiments, this simplifies our understanding of the crossbridge cycle and the effect of temperature on human muscle performance.

The isometric tetanic tension of skeletal muscle increases with temperature because attached crossbridge states bearing a relatively low force convert to those bearing a higher force. It was previously proposed that the tension‐generating step(s) in the crossbridge cycle was highly endothermic and was therefore itself directly targeted by changes in temperature. However, this did not explain why a rapid rise in temperature (a temperature jump) caused a much slower rate of rise of tension than a rapid length step. This led to suggestions that the step targeted by a temperature rise is not the tension‐generating step but is an extra step in the attached pathway of the crossbridge cycle, perhaps located on a parallel pathway. This enigma has been a major obstacle to a full understanding of the operation of the crossbridge cycle. We have now used a previously developed mechano‐kinetic model of the crossbridge cycle in frog muscle to simulate the temperature dependence of isometric tension and shortening velocity. We allowed all five steps in the cycle to be temperature‐sensitive. Models with different starting combinations of enthalpy changes and activation enthalpies for the five steps were refined by downhill simplex runs and scored by their ability to fit experimental data on the temperature dependence of isometric tension and the relationship between force and shortening velocity in frog muscle. We conclude that the first tension‐generating step may be weakly endothermic and that the rise of tension with temperature is largely driven by the preceding two strongly endothermic steps of ATP hydrolysis and attachment of M.ADP.Pi to actin. The refined model gave a reasonable fit to the available experimental data and after a temperature jump the overall rate of tension rise was much slower than after a length step as observed experimentally. The findings aid our understanding of the crossbridge cycle by showing that it may not be necessary to include an additional temperature‐sensitive step.
Robogami: A Fully Integrated Low-Profile Robotic Origami
Authors: Firouzeh Amir , Paik Jamie
Published: January 2015

Intelligent robotic systems that can react to unprogrammed tasks and unforeseen environmental changes require augmented “softness.” Robogami, a low-profile origami robot, addresses intrinsic (material-wise) and extrinsic (mechanism-wise) softness with its multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) body driven by soft actuators. The unique hardware of the Robogami and its submillimeter thick construction enable diverse transformations as those achievable by the paper origami. The presented Robogami shows the first fully integrated version that has all the essential components including its controller within a thin sheet. Construction of this robot is possible via precise, repeatable, and low cost planar fabrication methods often reserved for microscale fabrications. In this research, we aim at expanding the capabilities of Robogamis by embedding bidirectional actuation, sensing, and control circuit. To assess the performance of the proposed sensors and actuators, we report on the performance of these components in a single module and in the four-legged crawler robot.
Surface and Shape Deposition Manufacturing for the Fabrication of a Curved Surface Gripper
Authors: Suresh Srinivasan A. , Christensen David L. , Hawkes Elliot W. , Cutkosky Mark
Published: January 2015

Biological systems such as the gecko are complex, involving a wide variety of materials and length scales. Bio-inspired robotic systems seek to emulate this complexity, leading to manufacturing challenges. A new design for a membrane-based gripper for curved surfaces requires the inclusion of microscale features, macroscale structural elements, electrically patterned thin films, and both soft and hard materials. Surface and shape deposition manufacturing (S2DM) is introduced as a process that can create parts with multiple materials, as well as integrated thin films and microtextures. It combines SDM techniques, laser cutting and patterning, and a new texturing technique, surface microsculpting. The process allows for precise registration of sequential additive/subtractive manufacturing steps. S2DM is demonstrated with the manufacture of a gripper that picks up common objects using a gecko-inspired adhesive. The process can be extended to other integrated robotic components that benefit from the integration of textures, thin films, and multiple materials.
Shape Deposition Manufacturing of a Soft, Atraumatic, and Deployable Surgical Grasper
Authors: Gafford Joshua , Ding Ye , Harris Andrew , McKenna Terrence , Polygerinos Panagiotis , Holland Dónal , Walsh Conor , Moser Arthur
Published: January 2015

This paper details the design, analysis, fabrication, and validation of a deployable, atraumatic grasper intended for retraction and manipulation tasks in manual and robotic minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures. Fabricated using a combination of shape deposition manufacturing (SDM) and 3D printing, the device (which acts as a deployable end-effector for robotic platforms) has the potential to reduce the risk of intraoperative hemorrhage by providing a soft, compliant interface between delicate tissue structures and the metal laparoscopic forceps and graspers that are currently used to manipulate and retract these structures on an ad hoc basis. This paper introduces a general analytical framework for designing SDM fingers where the desire is to predict the shape and the transmission ratio, and this framework was used to design a multijointed grasper that relies on geometric trapping to manipulate tissue, rather than friction or pinching, to provide a safe, stable, adaptive, and conformable means for manipulation. Passive structural compliance, coupled with active grip force monitoring enabled by embedded pressure sensors, helps to reduce the cognitive load on the surgeon. Initial manipulation tasks in a simulated environment have demonstrated that the device can be deployed though a 15 mm trocar and develop a stable grasp using Intuitive Surgical's daVinci robotic platform to deftly manipulate a tissue analog.
A Distance Geometry Approach to the Singularity Analysis of 3R Robots
Authors: Thomas Federico
Published: January 2015

This paper shows how the computation of the singularity locus of a 3R robot can be reduced to the analysis of the relative position of two coplanar ellipses. Since the relative position of two conics is a projective invariant and the basic projective geometric invariants are determinants, it is not surprising that, using distance geometry, the computation of the singularity locus of a 3R robot can be fully expressed in terms of determinants. Geometric invariants have the benefit of simplifying symbolic manipulations. This paper shows how their use leads to a simpler characterization, compared to previous approaches, of the cusps and nodes in the singularity loci of 3R robots.
Extra Modes of Operation and Self-Motions in Manipulators Designed for Schoenflies Motion
Authors: Coste Michel , Mady Demdah Kartoue
Published: January 2015

We study 4-universal-prismatic-universal (UPU) parallel manipulators performing Schoenflies motion and show that they can have extra modes of operation with three degrees of freedom (3DOF), depending on the geometric parameters of the manipulators. We show that the transition between the different modes occurs along self-motion of the manipulator in the Schoenflies mode.
An On-Site Thermoelectric Cooling Device for Cryotherapy and Control of Skin Blood Flow
Authors: Mejia Natalia , Dedow Karl , Nguy Lindsey , Sullivan Patrick , Khoshnevis Sepideh , Diller Kenneth R.
Published: January 2015

Cryotherapy involves the surface application of low temperatures to enhance the healing of soft tissue injuries. Typical devices embody a remote source of chilled water that is pumped through a circulation bladder placed on the treatment site. In contrast, the present device uses thermoelectric refrigeration modules to bring the cooling source directly to the tissue to be treated, thereby achieving significant improvements in control of therapeutic temperature while having a reduced size and weight. A prototype system was applied to test an oscillating cooling and heating protocol for efficacy in regulating skin blood perfusion in the treatment area. Data on 12 human subjects indicate that thermoelectric coolers (TECs) delivered significant and sustainable changes in perfusion for both heating (increase by (±SE) 173.0 ± 66.0%, P < 0.005) and cooling (decrease by (±SE) 57.7 ± 4.2%, P < 0.0005), thus supporting the feasibility of a TEC-based device for cryotherapy with local temperature regulation.
Barriers and Enablers to Physical Activity Among Older Australians Who Want to Increase Their Physical Activity Levels
Authors: Macniven Rona , Pye Victoria , Merom Dafna , Milat Andrew , Monger Claire , Bauman Adrian , van der Ploeg Hidde
Published: January 2015

Background:

Physical activity interventions targeting older adults are optimized if barriers and enablers are better understood. This study identified barriers and enablers of physical activity and examined whether these were associated with meeting physical activity recommendations.

Methods:

2225 adults aged 65 years and above who perceived themselves to be insufficiently active but would like to be more physically active self-reported their barriers and enablers to physical activity in the 2009 New South Wales Falls Prevention Survey. Binary logistic regression analyses examined associations between barriers and enablers and meeting the physical activity recommendation.

Results:

After adjusting for gender, age, BMI, and education, people who listed ill health (52%; OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.70) as a barrier or who listed people to exercise with (4%; OR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.88) as an enabler had significantly lower odds of meeting recommendations. Those citing too expensive (3%) as a barrier (OR = 2.07, 95% CI 1.11 to 3.87) or who listed nothing will help (29%; OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.77) and making time to be active (9%; OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.58) as enablers had significantly higher odds of meeting physical activity recommendations.

Conclusions:

These findings give insights into older adults’ perceptions of factors that influence their physical activity, which could assist physical activity program planning in this population.
2014: Signaling Breakthroughs of the Year
Authors: Berndt Jason D. , Wong Wei
Published: January 2015

The year’s highlights include molecular and functional insights into innate immunity, host-microbe interactions, and cell death and new techniques to study cell signaling.
Skin Infection Triggers Fat Responses
Authors: Ash Caroline
Published: January 2015

The subcutaneous fat layer thickens during infection and stimulates adipocytes to secrete a protective peptide.
Senescent Cells Promote Tissue Repair
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: January 2015

Release of the growth factor PDGF-AA from senescent cells at skin wounds aids in healing.
Estimates of price and income elasticity in Greece. Greek debt crisis transforming cigarettes into a luxury good: an econometric approach
Authors: Tarantilis Filippos , Athanasakis Kostas , Zavras Dimitris , Vozikis Athanassios , Kyriopoulos Ioannis
Published: January 2015

Objective

During the past decades, smoking prevalence in Greece was estimated to be near or over 40%. Following a sharp fall in cigarette consumption, as shown in current data, our objective is to assess smokers’ sensitivity to cigarette price and consumer income changes as well as to project health benefits of an additional tax increase.

Methods

Cigarette consumption was considered as the dependent variable, with Weighted Average Price as a proxy for cigarette price, gross domestic product as a proxy for consumers’ income and dummy variables reflecting smoking restrictions and antismoking campaigns. Values were computed to natural logarithms and regression was performed. Then, four scenarios of tax increase were distinguished in order to calculate potential health benefits.

Results

Short-run price elasticity is estimated at −0.441 and short-run income elasticity is estimated at 1.040. Antismoking campaigns were found to have a statistically significant impact on consumption. Results indicate that, depending on the level of tax increase, annual per capita consumption could fall by at least 209.83 cigarettes; tax revenue could rise by more than €0.74 billion, while smokers could be reduced by up to 530 568 and at least 465 smoking-related deaths could be averted.

Conclusions

Price elasticity estimates are similar to previous studies in Greece, while income elasticity estimates are far greater. With cigarettes regarded as a luxury good, a great opportunity is presented for decisionmakers to counter smoking. Increased taxation, along with focused antismoking campaigns, law reinforcement (to ensure compliance with smoking bans) and intensive control for smuggling could invoke a massive blow to the tobacco epidemic in Greece.
Long-term prognosis after acute kidney injury (AKI): what is the role of baseline kidney function and recovery? A systematic review
Authors: Sawhney Simon , Mitchell Mhairi , Marks Angharad , Fluck Nick , Black Corrinda
Published: January 2015

Objectives

To summarise the evidence from studies of acute kidney injury (AKI) with regard to the effect of pre-AKI renal function and post-AKI renal function recovery on long-term mortality and renal outcomes, and to assess whether these factors should be taken into account in future prognostic studies.

Design/Setting

A systematic review of observational studies listed in Medline and EMBASE from 1990 to October 2012.

Participants

All AKI studies in adults with data on baseline kidney function to identify AKI; with outcomes either stratified by pre-AKI and/or post-AKI kidney function, or described by the timing of the outcomes.

Outcomes

Long-term mortality and worsening chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Results

Of 7385 citations, few studies met inclusion criteria, reported baseline kidney function and stratified by pre-AKI or post-AKI function. For mortality outcomes, three studies compared patients by pre-AKI renal function and six by post-AKI function. For CKD outcomes, two studies compared patients by pre-AKI function and two by post-AKI function. The presence of CKD pre-AKI (compared with AKI alone) was associated with doubling of mortality and a fourfold to fivefold increase in CKD outcomes. Non-recovery of kidney function was associated with greater mortality and CKD outcomes in some studies, but findings were inconsistent varying with study design. Two studies also reported that risk of poor outcome reduced over time post-AKI. Meta-analysis was precluded by variations in definitions for AKI, CKD and recovery.

Conclusions

The long-term prognosis after AKI varies depending on cause and clinical setting, but it may also, in part, be explained by underlying pre-AKI and post-AKI renal function rather than the AKI episode itself. While carefully considered in clinical practice, few studies address these factors and with inconsistent study design. Future AKI studies should report pre-AKI and post-AKI function consistently as additional factors that may modify AKI prognosis.
Smoking, sex, risk factors and abdominal aortic aneurysms: a prospective study of 18 782 persons aged above 65 years in the Southern Community Cohort Study
Authors: Jahangir Eiman , Lipworth Loren , Edwards Todd L , Kabagambe Edmond K , Mumma Michael T , Mensah George A , Fazio Sergio , Blot William J , Sampson Uchechukwu K A
Published: January 2015

Background

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a leading cause of death in the USA. We evaluated the incidence and predictors of AAA in a prospectively followed cohort.

Methods

We calculated age-adjusted AAA incidence rates (IR) among 18 782 participants aged ≥65 years in the Southern Community Cohort Study who received Medicare coverage from 1999–2012, and assessed predictors of AAA using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, overall and stratified by sex, adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, socioeconomic, medical and other factors. HRs and 95% CIs were calculated for AAA in relation to factors ascertained at enrolment.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 4.94 years, 281 cases were identified. Annual IR was 153/100 000, 401, 354 and 174 among blacks, whites, men and women, respectively. AAA risk was lower among women (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.65) and blacks (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.69). Smoking was the strongest risk factor (former: HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.87; current: HR 5.55, 95% CI 3.67 to 8.40), and pronounced in women (former: HR 3.4, 95% CI 1.83 to 6.31; current: HR 9.17, 95% CI 4.95 to 17). A history of hypertension (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.01) and myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass surgery (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.63) was negatively associated, whereas a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2(HR 0.72; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.98) was protective. College education (HR 0.6, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.97) and black race (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.67) were protective among men.

Conclusions

Smoking is a major risk factor for incident AAA, with a strong and similar association between men and women. Further studies are needed to evaluate benefits of ultrasound screening for AAA among women smokers.
Tenesmus in a calf with hepatic encephalopathy
Authors: Wieland Matthias Josef , Langenmayer Martin Christoph , Matiasek Kaspar , Pfitzner Annette
Published: January 2015

A 7.6‐week‐old male Simmental calf was presented because of vehement tenesmus. Clinical neurological examination revealed sensomotoric dysfunction. Clinical pathology indicated a severe liver dystrophy and cholestasis. Laboratory parameters of cerebrospinal fluid were within the reference ranges. Investigation of concentration of blood ammonia showed an extensive elevation. On ultrasonographic examination, severe dilation of the bile ducts and gall bladder was detected. Hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed and the animal was euthanased due to the severity of the underlying liver dystrophy as determined by clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic examination. Pathological findings confirmed the diagnosis.
Extracting principal parameters of complex networks
Authors: Ma Yifang , Zheng Zhiming
Published: January 2015

The evolution of networks or dynamic systems is controlled by many parameters in high-dimensional space, and it is crucial to extract the reduced and dominant ones in low-dimensional space. Here we consider the network ensemble, introduce a matrix resolvent scale function and apply it to a spectral approach to get the similarity relations between each pair of networks. The concept of Diffusion Maps is used to get the principal parameters, and we point out that the reduced dimensional principal parameters are captured by the low order eigenvectors of the diffusion matrix of the network ensemble. We validate our results by using two classical network ensembles and one dynamical network sequence via a cooperative Achlioptas growth process where an abrupt transition of the structures has been captured by our method. Our method provides a potential access to the pursuit of invisible control parameters of complex systems.