bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Demographic variance in heterogeneous populations: matrix models and sensitivity analysis
Authors: Caswell Hal , Vindenes Yngvild
Published: April 2018

The demographic consequences of stochasticity in processes such as survival and reproduction are modulated by the heterogeneity within the population. Therefore, to study effects of stochasticity on population growth and extinction risk, it is critical to use structured population models in which the most important sources of heterogeneity (e.g. age, size, developmental stage) are incorporated as i‐state variables.

Demographic stochasticity in heterogeneous populations has often been studied using one of two approaches: multitype branching processes and diffusion approximations. Here, we link these approaches, through the demographic stochasticity in age‐ or stage‐structured matrix population models. We derive the demographic variance, σ2d, which measures the per capita contribution to the variance in population growth increment, and we show how it can be decomposed into contributions from transition probabilities and fertility across ages or stages. Furthermore, using matrix calculus we derive the sensitivity of σ2d to age‐ or stage‐specific mortality and fertility. We apply the methods to an extensive set of data from age‐classified human populations (long‐term time‐series for Sweden, Japan and the Netherlands; two hunter–gatherer populations, and the high‐fertility Hutterites), and to a size‐classified population of the herbaceous plant Calathea ovandensis. For the human populations our analysis reveals substantial temporal changes in the demographic variance as well as its main components across age.

These new methods provide a powerful approach for calculating the demographic variance for any structured model, and for analyzing its main components and sensitivities. This will make possible new analyses of demographic variance across different kinds of heterogeneity in different life cycles, which will in turn improve our understanding of mechanisms underpinning extinction risk and other important biological outcomes.
Child's play – an unforeseen complication of surgical emphysema
Authors: Graham C. , Chung M. , Feinberg L. , O'Neill F. , Balmer C.
Published: April 2018

Surgical emphysema is as an iatrogenic complication whereby air is dispersed within the tissues following an invasive procedure. It is relatively uncommon, however, it has been recognised that dental extractions and the use of air turbine drills can result in this complication. Here, we discuss a case report of a 35‐year‐old male re‐attending with extensive surgical emphysema following a seemingly uncomplicated dental extraction, caused by playing with his baby. This case was unusual because no dental air turbine drill was used during the dental extraction, and due to the innocuous patient activity that caused the emphysema. Consideration of the aetiology, prevention and recognition of surgical emphysema are discussed.
Atrial fibrillation symptom profiles associated with healthcare utilization: A latent class regression analysis
Authors: Streur Megan M. , Ratcliffe Sarah J. , Callans David J. , Shoemaker M. Benjamin , Riegel Barbara J.
Published: April 2018

Background

Symptoms drive healthcare use among adults with atrial fibrillation, but limited data are available regarding which symptoms are most problematic and which patients are most at‐risk. The purpose of this study was to: (1) identify clusters of patients with similar symptom profiles, (2) characterize the individuals within each cluster, and (3) determine whether specific symptom profiles are associated with healthcare utilization.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional secondary data analysis of 1,501 adults from the Vanderbilt Atrial Fibrillation Registry. Participants were recruited from Vanderbilt cardiology clinics, emergency department, and in‐patient services. Subjects included in our analysis had clinically verified atrial fibrillation and a completed symptom survey. Symptom and healthcare utilization data were collected with the University of Toronto Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale. Latent class regression analysis was used to identify symptom clusters, with clinical and demographic variables included as covariates. We used Poisson regression to examine the association between latent class membership and healthcare utilization.

Results

Participants were predominantly male (67%) with a mean age of 58.4 years (±11.9). Four latent classes were evident, including an Asymptomatic cluster (N = 487, 38%), Highly Symptomatic cluster (N = 142, 11%), With Activity cluster (N = 326, 25%), and Mild Diffuse cluster (N = 336, 26%). Highly Symptomatic membership was associated with the greatest rate of emergency department visits and hospitalizations (incident rate ratio 2.4, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Clinically meaningful atrial fibrillation symptom profiles were identified that were associated with increased rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
Why Subjectivists About Welfare Needn't Idealize
Authors: Lin Eden
Published: April 2018

It is commonly thought that subjectivists about welfare must claim that the favorable attitudes whose satisfaction is relevant to your well‐being are those that you would have in idealized conditions (e.g. ones in which you are fully informed and rational). I argue that this is false. I introduce a non‐idealizing subjectivist view, Same World Subjectivism, that accommodates the two main rationales for idealizing: those given by Peter Railton and David Sobel. I also explain why a recent argument from Dale Dorsey fails to show that subjectivists must idealize. Because Same World Subjectivism is a plausible non‐idealizing view, subjectivists about welfare needn't idealize.
QTL epistatic analysis for yield components with single‐segment substitution lines in rice
Authors: Wang Xiaoling , Jin Lingling , Zhu Haitao , Wang Shaokui , Zhang Guiquan , Liu Guifu
Published: April 2018

Epistasis is an important genetic component in determining the phenotype of complex quantitative trait. In this article, 12 single‐locus heterozygotes and 66 double‐locus heterozygotes were developed and then were applied to assay QTL epistasis for four yield‐associated traits under two planting densities. Of 264 (66 × 4) tested interactions, 130 (49.2%) were significant at the p < .05 level. QTL with the same effect directions had higher probabilities of interactions. The negative epistasis at least included one positive effect QTL but the positive epistasis one negative QTL. The detected epistasis was sensitive to planting density. Epistasis also exhibited pleiotropic effects.
Mapping of a novel, major late blight resistance locus in the diploid (1EBN) Mexican Solanum pinnatisectum Dunal on chromosome VII
Authors: Nachtigall Marion , König Janine , Thieme Ramona
Published: April 2018

Late blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary (Pi) is the most important foliar disease of potato worldwide. An intraspecific hybrid between individuals of a resistant and a susceptible S. pinnatisectum accession was backcrossed to the susceptible parent to generate a segregating population for late blight resistance consisting of 84 plants. In detached‐leaflet assays, reaction to late blight segregated in a 1r:1s manner in BC1 progeny indicating the presence of a single dominant resistance gene. A genetic map was constructed based on 1,583 DArT/SSR markers which were allocated to 12 linkage groups, covering 1,793.5 cM with an average marker distance of 1.1 cM. The late blight resistance locus derived from S. pinnatisectum was mapped on chromosome VII. In comparison with the previously reported resistance genes Rpi1 and Rpi2, the new target resistance locus most likely is located on the opposite arm of chromosome VII. Results of this study will serve as a basis for future fine mapping of the late blight resistance locus and the development of locus‐specific markers for marker‐assisted selection.
Climate resilient crops for improving global food security and safety
Authors: Dhankher Om Parkash , Foyer Christine H.
Published: April 2018

Food security and the protection of the environment are urgent issues for global society, particularly with the uncertainties of climate change. Changing climate is predicted to have a wide range of negative impacts on plant physiology metabolism, soil fertility and carbon sequestration, microbial activity and diversity that will limit plant growth and productivity, and ultimately food production. Ensuring global food security and food safety will require an intensive research effort across the food chain, starting with crop production and the nutritional quality of the food products. Much uncertainty remains concerning the resilience of plants, soils, and associated microbes to climate change. Intensive efforts are currently underway to improve crop yields with lower input requirements and enhance the sustainability of yield through improved biotic and abiotic stress tolerance traits. In addition, significant efforts are focused on gaining a better understanding of the root/soil interface and associated microbiomes, as well as enhancing soil properties.
Morpho‐anatomical and physiological differences between sun and shade leaves in Abies alba Mill. (Pinaceae, Coniferales): a combined approach
Authors: Dörken Veit Martin , Lepetit Bernard
Published: April 2018

Morphology, anatomy and physiology of sun and shade leaves of Abies alba were investigated and major differences were identified, such as sun leaves being larger, containing a hypodermis and palisade parenchyma as well as possessing more stomata, while shade leaves exhibit a distinct leaf dimorphism. The large size of sun leaves and their arrangement crowded on the upper side of a plagiotropic shoot leads to self‐shading which is explainable as protection from high solar radiation and to reduce the transpiration via the lamina. Sun leaves furthermore contain a higher xanthophyll cycle pigment amount and Non‐Photochemical Quenching (NPQ) capacity, a lower amount of chlorophyll b and a total lower chlorophyll amount per leaf, as well as an increased electron transport rate and an increased photosynthesis light saturation intensity. However, sun leaves switch on their NPQ capacity at rather low light intensities, as exemplified by several parameters newly measured for conifers. Our holistic approach extends previous findings about sun and shade leaves in conifers and demonstrates that both leaf types of A. alba show structural and physiological remarkable similarities to their respective counterparts in angiosperms, but also possess unique characteristics allowing them to cope efficiently with their environmental constraints.
Circadian rhythms are associated with variation in photosystem II function and photoprotective mechanisms
Authors: Yarkhunova Yulia , Guadagno Carmela R. , Rubin Matthew J. , Davis Seth J. , Ewers Brent E. , Weinig Cynthia
Published: April 2018

The circadian clock regulates many aspects of leaf gas supply and biochemical demand for CO2, and is hypothesized to improve plant performance. Yet the extent to which the clock may regulate the efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) and photoprotective mechanisms such as heat dissipation is less explored. Based on measurements of chlorophyll a fluorescence, we estimated the maximum efficiency of PSII in light (Fv′/Fm′) and heat dissipation by nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ). We further dissected total NPQ into its main components, qE (pH‐dependent quenching), qT (state‐transition quenching), and qI (quenching related to photoinhibition), in clock mutant genotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana, the cognate wild‐type genotypes, and a panel of recombinant inbred lines expressing quantitative variation in clock period. Compared with mutants with altered clock function, we observed that wild‐type genotypes with clock period lengths of approximately 24 hr had both higher levels of Fv′/Fm′, indicative of improved PSII function, and reduced NPQ, suggestive of lower stress on PSII light harvesting complexes. In the recombinant inbred lines, genetic variances were significant for Fv′/Fm′ and all 3 components of NPQ, with qE explaining the greatest proportion of NPQ. Bivariate tests of association and structural equation models of hierarchical trait relationships showed that quantitative clock variation was empirically associated with Fv′/Fm′ and NPQ, with qE mediating the relationship with gas exchange. The results demonstrate significant segregating variation for all photoprotective components, and suggest the adaptive significance of the clock may partly derive from its regulation of the light reactions of photosynthesis and of photoprotective mechanisms.
FBXW7 regulates a mitochondrial transcription program by modulating MITF
Authors: Abbate Franco , Badal Brateil , Mendelson Karen , Aydin Iraz T. , Serasinghe Madhavika N. , Iqbal Ramiz , Mohammed Jarvier N. , Solovyov Alexander , Greenbaum Benjamin D. , Chipuk Jerry E. , Celebi Julide T.
Published: April 2018

FBXW7 is well characterized as a tumor suppressor in many human cancers including melanoma; however, the mechanisms of tumor‐suppressive function have not been fully elucidated. We leveraged two distinct RNA sequencing datasets: human melanoma cell lines (n = 10) with control versus silenced FBXW7 and a cohort of human melanoma tumor samples (n = 51) to define the transcriptomic fingerprint regulated by FBXW7. Here, we report that loss of FBXW7 enhances a mitochondrial gene transcriptional program that is dependent on MITF in human melanoma and confers poor patient outcomes. MITF is a lineage‐specific master regulator of melanocytes and together with PGC‐1alpha is a marker for melanoma subtypes with dependence for mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. We found that inactivation of FBXW7 elevates MITF protein levels in melanoma cells. In vitro studies examining loss of FBXW7 and MITF alone or in combination showed that FBXW7 is an upstream regulator for the MITF/PGC‐1 signaling.
Neurodevelopmental outcomes in young children born to HIV‐positive mothers in rural Yunnan, China
Authors: Wu Jie , Li Jing , Li Yan , Loo Kek Khee , Yang Haixia , Wang Qiong , Duan Rufei , Xiao Xia , Song Xiaoxiao , Yang Siwei , Sun Lin
Published: April 2018

Background

Children born to HIV‐infected mothers are at risk for neurodevelopmental delay. Little is known about the neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants and toddlers born to HIV‐positive mothers but who were not themselves infected by HIV, especially in poor rural areas. This study was conducted to compare developmental outcomes between young children who were HIV exposed but uninfected (HEU), and their HIV unexposed and uninfected (HUU) peers in rural Yunnan, China.

Methods

A total of 250 HEU children aged 6–36 months and 250 HUU children matched for age, gender and residency were recruited from rural Yunnan, China. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were measured using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development–Third Edition (Bayley III). Multivariate analysis was performed to adjust for potential confounding effects of caregiver demographic data, maternal health status, birth outcome and children's health status.

Results

HIV exposed but uninfected children had significantly lower composite scores in Bayley III assessment than HUU children (in the cognitive domain: 90.34 vs 92.75, P<0.05; in the adaptive behavior domain: 77.04 vs 80.80, P< 0.05). On stepwise logistic regression analysis, HIV exposure (OR, 1.45; 95%CI: 1.04–1.98) and child malnutrition (OR, 1.67; 95%CI: 1.09–2.23) were risk factors for below‐average cognition development. Mother's low education and child anemia were significant risk factors for below‐average motor and adaptive behavior development.

Conclusion

Perinatal HIV infection may have a negative impact on neurodevelopment in young children. Other factors such as mother's education and child nutrition status may play important roles in child neurodevelopment, especially in resource‐poor areas. Further studies are needed to examine the long‐term effect of perinatal HIV infection on later childhood neurodevelopment.
Comparison of outcomes after HLA‐matched unrelated and αβ T‐cell‐depleted haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for children with high‐risk acute leukemia
Authors: Erbey Fatih , Akçay Arzu , Atay Didem , Ovalı Ercüment , Öztürk Gülyüz
Published: April 2018

T‐cell‐depleted HAPLO HSCT is an option to treat children with high‐risk acute leukemia lacking an HLA‐identical donor. We reviewed the outcome of children with acute leukemia after HAPLO (n = 21) and HLA‐MUD (n = 32) transplantation. The proportion of patients with ≥CR2 was significantly higher in HAPLO transplantation than MUD transplantation. Patients with MUD transplantation were significantly higher ABO incompatible than patients with HAPLO transplantation. There was no difference between the 2 groups in terms of engraftment, aGvHD and cGvHD, VOD, hemorrhagic cystitis, infections, and relapse. The 5‐year OS of MUD transplantation and HAPLO transplantation groups was found 65.8% and 71.1%, respectively (log‐rank 0.51). The 5‐year RFS was 80.7% for MUD transplantation group and 86.9% for HAPLO transplantation group (log‐rank 0.48). There was no statistically significant difference between 2 groups according to TRM (25% MUD transplantation vs 16.3% HAPLO transplantation, log‐rank 0.48). These data suggest that survival for patients with high‐risk acute leukemia after HAPLO transplantation with ex vivo ɑβ+ T‐cell depletion is comparable with MUD transplantation.
Perioperative anticoagulation practices for pediatric liver transplantation
Authors: Voulgarelis Stylianos , Vitola Bernadette , Lerret Stacee M. , Hong Johnny C. , Scott John P.
Published: April 2018

Despite continued advancements in perioperative care for pediatric liver transplant (LT), graft‐threatening vascular occlusion events including hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) remain a source of significant morbidity and mortality. Perioperative anticoagulation is commonly used for the prevention of HAT and PVT, but evidence‐based guidelines are lacking. The goals of this survey were to determine the frequency of use of an anticoagulation protocol and to describe variation in anticoagulation practices among pediatric LT centers. The study consisted of an online survey distributed to members of SPLIT. The survey focused on institutional anticoagulation practices employed to reduce the incidence of graft and life‐threatening vascular occlusion events. Responses were received from 31 of 39 SPLIT centers. All respondents report using anticoagulation after pediatric LT, and approximately 90% have institutional anticoagulation protocols. Subgroup analysis of high volume pediatric LT centers revealed similar variability in anticoagulation patterns. All participating SPLIT centers reported the use of post‐transplant anticoagulation and nearly all use a protocol. However, there is marked variability in the type and dose of anticoagulation as well as the timing of initiation and duration of therapy across centers.
Ribavirin therapy of hepatitis E infection may cause hyporegenerative anemia in pediatric renal transplant patients
Authors: Klämbt Verena , Panning Marcus , Seidl Maximilian , Häffner Karsten , Pohl Martin
Published: April 2018

HEV infection can lead to chronic hepatitis in immunosuppressed patients; extrahepatic manifestations are rarely seen. Here, we report a 13‐year‐old renal transplant patient with chronic hepatitis E and renal involvement. Ribavirin therapy led to temporary virus clearance and amelioration of kidney function. However, ribavirin therapy caused severe hyporegenerative anemia, which has so far only been reported in patients treated with a combination of ribavirin and interferon alpha.
Photooxidation of Octahydro Tetramethyl Naphthalenylethanone in Perfumes and Aftershaves
Authors: Schrack Sonja , Hohl Christopher , Schwack Wolfgang
Published: April 2018

For consumer safety reasons, cosmetics that are exposed to light are evaluated with respect to phototoxicity and/or photoallergy (photosensitization). For perfumes/aftershaves, however, these tests are not performed with the cosmetic product but only with single fragrance compounds, which may influence the outcome. In the presence of a sensitizer, photoinduced oxidation of unsaturated fragrances might result in the formation of unwanted products. Therefore, using real samples, we studied the photodegradation of the common fragrance octahydro tetramethyl naphthalenylethanone (OTNE) under in vitro irradiation, during indoor storage, and after application on skin. OTNE and its photoproducts were determined by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to diode array detection (DAD). Whereas OTNE itself was photostable, irradiation in the presence of a sensitizer and of aftershave/perfume samples resulted in a strong degradation. Photooxygenation was identified as the major degradation reaction for all three trials. OTNE photooxidation products were characterized by LC‐high resolution mass spectrometry (LC‐HRMS) and by high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography (HPTLC) after derivatization with titanium ethoxide and nitrobenzyl pyridine. Both HPTLC and HRMS data indicate that OTNE hydroperoxides are formed during irradiation.
Push, Pull, and Supply Chain Risk‐Averse Attitude
Authors: Yang Lei , Cai Gangshu (George) , Chen Jian
Published: April 2018

The literature has shown that supply chain performance is affected by the allocation of inventory risk. Traditionally, a pull supply chain generates a higher optimal order quantity and hence higher supply chain profit than a push supply chain when firms are risk neutral. Extended from the classic push and pull newsvendor models, this study investigates the impact of firms’ risk‐averse attitudes on supply chain performance. Based on firms’ conditional value‐at‐risk ( CVaR), our analysis indicates that push can lead to a higher optimal order quantity than pull when the supplier is sufficiently more risk averse than the retailer. Meanwhile, pull contracts cannot always survive push challenge like in risk‐neutral supply chains. We demonstrate that three‐part tariff revenue sharing and buy‐back contracts can coordinate both the push and the pull supply chains to achieve the Pareto optimality maximizing combined supply chain CVaR.
Emergence of the benefits and costs of grouping for visual search
Authors: Wu Rachel , McGee Brianna , Rubenstein Madelyn , Pruitt Zoe , Cheung Olivia S. , Aslin Richard N.
Published: April 2018

The present study investigated how grouping related items leads to the emergence of benefits (facilitation when related items are search targets) and costs (interference when related items are distractors) in visual search. Participants integrated different views (related items) of a novel Lego object via (a) assembling the object, (b) disassembling the object, or (c) sitting quietly without explicit instructions. An omnibus ANOVA revealed that neural responses (N2pc ERP) for attentional selection increased between pretest to posttest regardless of the training condition when a specific target view appeared (benefit) and when a nontarget view from the same object as the target view appeared (cost). Bonferroni‐corrected planned comparisons revealed that assembling the object (but not disassembling the object or no training) had a significant impact from pretest to posttest, although the ANOVA did not reveal any interaction effects, suggesting that the effects might not differ across training conditions. This study is one of the first to demonstrate the emergence of the costs and benefits of grouping novel targets on visual search efficiency.
Research progress on the role of melatonin and its receptors in animal reproduction: A comprehensive review
Authors: Talpur HS , Chandio IB , Brohi RD , Worku T , Rehman Z , Bhattarai D , Ullah F , JiaJia L , Yang L
Published: April 2018

Contents

Melatonin and its receptors play a crucial role in the regulation of the animal reproductive process, primarily in follicular development. However, the role that melatonin performs in regulating hormones related with reproduction remains unclear. Melatonin and its receptors are present both in female and male animals’ organs, such as ovaries, heart, brain and liver. Melatonin regulates ovarian actions and is a key mediator of reproductive actions. Melatonin has numerous effects on animal reproduction, such as protection of gametes and embryos, response to clock genes, immune‐neuroendocrine, reconciliation of seasonal variations in immune function, and silence or blockage of genes. The growth ratio of reproductive illnesses in animals has raised a remarkable concern for the government, animal caretakers and farm managers. In order to resolve this challenging issue, it is very necessary to conduct state‐of‐the‐art research on melatonin and its receptors because melatonin has considerable physiognomies. This review article presents a current contemporary research conducted by numerous researchers from the entire world on the role of melatonin and its receptors in animal reproduction, from the year 1985 to the year 2017. Furthermore, this review shows scientific research challenges related to melatonin receptors and their explanations based on the findings of 172 numerous research articles, and also represents significant proficiencies of melatonin in order to show enthusiastic study direction for animal reproduction researchers.
Association of interservice interval with conception rate in Japanese Black cattle
Authors: Irikura N , Uematsu M , Kitahara G , Osawa T , Sasaki Y
Published: April 2018

Contents

This study aimed to clarify the association of interservice interval (ISI) with conception rate (CR) and to evaluate factors affecting ISI in Japanese Black cattle. Data used in this study covered 32,639 artificial insemination (AI) records on 972 farms. The mean ± SEM of ISI and CR was 57.0 ± 0.3 days and 44.6 ± 0.3%, respectively. The relative frequency of ISI differed significantly between parity groups (p < .05). For parity 0, the proportion of ISI at an 18‐ to 24‐day interval was 43.6%, whereas the proportions in the other parity groups ranged from 27.2% to 29.1%. The CR was associated significantly with ISI, parity and AI number (p < .05), but not with season. Cows reinseminated at an 18‐ to 24‐day interval had the highest CR (46.8%; p < .05). Cows reinseminated at a 39‐ to 45‐day interval had a similar CR to those reinseminated at 25‐ 38‐day and 46‐ to 59‐day intervals. Cows reinseminated at 11–17, 60–66 and 67 days or longer intervals had the lowest CR (p < .05). Thus, cows returning to oestrus in a normal cycle tended to have a higher probability of conceiving compared with those that returned to oestrus after a normal cycle for any degree of parity and at any number of AI.
The Value of Performance Weights and Discussion in Aggregated Expert Judgments
Authors: Hanea Anca M. , McBride Marissa F. , Burgman Mark A. , Wintle Bonnie C.
Published: April 2018

In risky situations characterized by imminent decisions, scarce resources, and insufficient data, policymakers rely on experts to estimate model parameters and their associated uncertainties. Different elicitation and aggregation methods can vary substantially in their efficacy and robustness. While it is generally agreed that biases in expert judgments can be mitigated using structured elicitations involving groups rather than individuals, there is still some disagreement about how to best elicit and aggregate judgments. This mostly concerns the merits of using performance‐based weighting schemes to combine judgments of different individuals (rather than assigning equal weights to individual experts), and the way that interaction between experts should be handled. This article aims to contribute to, and complement, the ongoing discussion on these topics.
Income Taxation and the Diversity of Consumer Goods: A Political Economy Approach*
Authors: Bourlès Renaud , Dorsch Michael T. , Maarek Paul
Published: April 2018

After‐tax income inequality has risen since the mid‐1990s, as increases in market income inequality have not been offset by greater fiscal redistribution. We argue that the substantial increase in the diversity of consumer goods has mitigated mounting political pressures for redistribution. Within a probabilistic voting framework, we demonstrate that if the share of diversified goods in the consumption bundle increases sufficiently with income, then an increase in goods diversity can reduce the political equilibrium tax rate. Focusing on OECD countries, we find empirical support for both the model's micro‐political foundations and the implied relation between goods diversity and fiscal policy outcomes.
Bidding for Firms with Unknown Characteristics
Authors: Becker Johannes , Schneider Andrea
Published: April 2018

When a region successfully attracts a firm by offering subsidies, the firm often commits itself to performance targets in terms of employment. In this paper, we interpret these firm‐specific targets as a consequence of incomplete information. We analyze a model of two regions that compete for a firm, assuming that the firm's productivity is ex ante unknown. We show that performance targets often induce overemployment in high‐productivity firms, and that tax credits are often superior to lump‐sum payments. Moreover, when regions differ in wage rates, the low‐wage region wins the bid and has a higher surplus than under complete information. Finally, we show that, under incomplete information, bidding might not lead to efficient firm location.
Attachment security, values, and prosocial attitudes
Authors: Monteoliva Adelaida , García‐Martínez J. Miguel A. , Sánchez Santa‐Bárbara Emilio , Calvo‐Salguero Antonia
Published: April 2018

The objective of this study was to determine whether individuals with different attachment styles held different prosocial values and attitudes given their different models of self and of others. A sample of 717 university students completed the ECR‐S (Experiences in Close Relationships‐Spanish) and the PVQ (Portrait Values Questionnaire), and evaluated different prosocial attitudes. The results showed that secure individuals reported higher scores on self‐transcendence and in the value self‐directions of the dimension openness to change, whereas insecure individuals had higher scores on conservation and self‐enhancement. No differences were found in the attitudes of individuals with different attachment styles. These findings show a link between the dimensions of the universal values theory, and the models of self and of others.
Tying trafficking to fusion and fission at the mighty mitochondria
Authors: Farmer Trey , Naslavsky Naava , Caplan Steve
Published: April 2018

The mitochondrion is a unique organelle that serves as the main site of ATP generation needed for energy in the cell. However, mitochondria also play essential roles in cell death through apoptosis and necrosis, as well as a variety of crucial functions related to stress regulation, autophagy, lipid synthesis and calcium storage. There is a growing appreciation that mitochondrial function is regulated by the dynamics of its membrane fusion and fission; longer, fused mitochondria are optimal for ATP generation, whereas fission of mitochondria facilitates mitophagy and cell division. Despite the significance of mitochondrial homeostasis for such crucial cellular events, the intricate regulation of mitochondrial fusion and fission is only partially understood. Until very recently, only a single mitochondrial fission protein had been identified. Moreover, only now have researchers turned to address the upstream machinery that regulates mitochondrial fusion and fission proteins. Herein, we review the known GTPases involved in mitochondrial fusion and fission, but also highlight recent studies that address the mechanisms by which these GTPases are regulated. In particular, we draw attention to a substantial new body of literature linking endocytic regulatory proteins, such as the retromer VPS35 cargo selection complex subunit, to mitochondrial homeostasis. These recent studies suggest that relationships and cross‐regulation between endocytic and mitochondrial pathways may be more widespread than previously assumed.
Rare blood donor needed
Authors: Gammon Richard R. , Alvarez Harold , Benitez Nancy
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

Here, we describe a 14‐year‐old male with leukocyte adhesion deficiency type 2 who was transferred to a university hospital with anemia (hemoglobin 6 g/dL) and multiple singular abscesses refractory to antimicrobials.

CASE REPORT

As leukocyte adhesion deficiency type 2 is associated with Bombay phenotype, the patient's red blood cells (RBCs) were tested with commercial anti‐H lectin Ulex europaeus. An allogeneic adsorption with phenotype‐matched cells was performed. RBCs negative for H antigen (Oh) were tested with patient's plasma. The American Rare Donor Program was contacted to find granulocyte donors. The patient was Bombay phenotype (Oh). All major clinically significant alloantibodies were excluded testing Oh cells and allogeneic adsorbed plasma. Two Bombay RBC units and five doses of granulocytes were requested from the blood center. Two frozen Bombay RBC units were obtained through another blood center. The American Rare Donor Program found one eligible granulocyte donor who lived 4 hours by car from the collection center. Because of this concern and other major logistic challenges, the blood center considered other options. These methods included gravity sedimentation and a cell separation system to isolate the RBCs from granulocytes. Unfortunately, neither one could be implemented. Auspiciously, the patient's condition improved and granulocytes were no longer needed.

CONCLUSION

To avoid the challenge of finding compatible granulocyte donors for patients with rare blood types and clinically significant antibodies, our blood center considered validating and implementing gravity separation to remove the incompatible RBCs from granulocyte collections.
Impact of systemic antimicrobial therapy on mucosal staphylococci in a population of dogs in Northwest England
Authors: Schmidt Vanessa M. , Pinchbeck Gina , Nuttall Tim , Shaw Steve , McIntyre K. Marie , McEwan Neil , Dawson Susan , Williams Nicola J.
Published: April 2018

Background

Antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria are increasingly isolated from veterinary patients.

Objectives

To determine risk factors for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among canine mucosal staphylococci following routine antimicrobial treatment with cefalexin (CFX), clavulanate‐amoxicillin (AC), cefovecin (CVN), clindamycin (CD) or a fluoroquinolone (FQ).

Animals

Mucosal swab samples (n = 463) were collected from 127 dogs pre‐treatment, immediately, and at one‐ and three‐months post‐treatment.

Methods

Staphylococci were identified phenotypically and biochemically as coagulase negative (CoNS) or coagulase positive (CoPS); CoPS were speciated by nuc gene PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using disc diffusion and mecA gene carriage by PCR. Multilevel, multivariable models examined associations between risk factors and presence/absence of CoPS, meticillin resistance (MR), multidrug‐resistance (MDR) and fluoroquinolone resistance (FQR).

Results

The percentage of samples with CoNS increased and with CoPS (including S. pseudintermedius) decreased immediately post‐treatment with CFX, CVN and CD (P ≤ 0.001) and one month post‐treatment with CD (P = 0.003). By three months post‐treatment, there was no significant difference compared to pre‐treatment samples. Immediately post‐treatment with FQs there was significantly increased risk of isolating MRS (P = 0.002), MDR (P = 0.002) or FQR (P = 0.013) staphylococci and of MDR following CFX treatment (P = 0.019).

The percentage of samples with AMR staphylococci declined from immediately to three months post‐treatment and there was no significant difference between resistance prevalence at one or three months post‐treatment for most AMR traits and treatment groups. Exceptions include increased MDR following FQ (P = 0.048) or CFX (P = 0.021), at one and three months post‐treatment, respectively.

Conclusions and clinical importance

Systemic antimicrobials impact on mucosal staphylococci. Immediately after therapy, the mucosa may be a reservoir for AMR staphylococci that are a source of mobile genetic elements carrying AMR genes.
Nifurpirinol: A more potent and reliable substrate compared to metronidazole for nitroreductase‐mediated cell ablations
Authors: Bergemann David , Massoz Laura , Bourdouxhe Jordane , Carril Pardo Claudio A. , Voz Marianne L. , Peers Bernard , Manfroid Isabelle
Published: April 2018

The zebrafish is a popular animal model with well‐known regenerative capabilities. To study regeneration in this fish, the nitroreductase/metronidazole‐mediated system is widely used for targeted ablation of various cell types. Nevertheless, we highlight here some variability in ablation efficiencies with the metronidazole prodrug that led us to search for a more efficient and reliable compound. Herein, we present nifurpirinol, another nitroaromatic antibiotic, as a more potent prodrug compared to metronidazole to trigger cell‐ablation in nitroreductase expressing transgenic models. We show that nifurpirinol induces robust and reliable ablations at concentrations 2,000 fold lower than metronidazole and three times below its own toxic concentration. We confirmed the efficiency of nifurpirinol in triggering massive ablation of three different cell types: the pancreatic beta cells, osteoblasts, and dopaminergic neurons. Our results identify nifurpirinol as a very potent prodrug for the nitroreductase‐mediated ablation system and suggest that its use could be extended to many other cell types, especially if difficult to ablate, or when combined pharmacological treatments are desired.
Examination of the Perceptions on the View of Preschool Teachers About School Counselor
Authors: Öztabak Muhammet Ü.
Published: April 2018

The responsibility of the development and the achievement of the child seems to be put on the shoulders of the preschool teacher. However, education is a teamwork in which not only teacher but also school administrator, family, school counselor (psychological counselor) and other supporting units should take active duty and work in cooperation. The school counselor plays an important role in following and supporting the child's bio-psycho-social development in this process. For all that, it is noteworthy that there is no effective cooperation between preschool teacher and school counselor. This study aims to investigate the perceptions of preschool teachers about school counselors. The data on school counselors’ perceptions was collected by metaphor analysis method. Content analysis was used to classify the data. The study group of the research consisted of 221 preschool teachers working in European side of Istanbul during the academic year of 2016-2017. As a means of collecting data, teachers were asked to complete the sentence "School counselor is like .............. because ..........". Also the "personal information form" was used to obtain demographic information. Conceptual categories were created by analyzing the reasons why teachers prefered and used their spesific expressions to complete the survey. It was determined that the school counselor perceived positive expressions such as advisor, helper, guiding, problem solver, supporting.
Wavelet pressure reactivity index: a validation study
Authors: Liu Xiuyun , Czosnyka Marek , Donnelly Joseph , Cardim Danilo , Cabeleira Manuel , Hutchinson Peter J. , Hu Xiao , Smielewski Peter , Brady Ken
Published: April 2018

Key points

The brain is vulnerable to damage from too little or too much blood flow. A physiological mechanism termed cerebral autoregulation (CA) exists to maintain stable blood flow even if cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) is changing.

A robust method for assessing CA is not yet available. There are still some problems with the traditional measure, the pressure reactivity index (PRx).

We introduce a new method, the wavelet transform method (wPRx), to assess CA using data from two sets of controlled hypotension experiments in piglets: one set had artificially manipulated arterial blood pressure (ABP) oscillations; the other group were spontaneous ABP waves.

A significant linear relationship was found between wPRx and PRx in both groups, with wPRx providing a more stable result for the spontaneous waves.

Although both methods showed similar accuracy in distinguishing intact and impaired CA, it seems that wPRx tends to perform better than PRx, although not significantly so.

We present a novel method to monitor cerebral autoregulation (CA) using the wavelet transform (WT). The new method is validated against the pressure reactivity index (PRx) in two piglet experiments with controlled hypotension. The first experiment (n = 12) had controlled haemorrhage with artificial stationary arterial blood pressure (ABP) and intracranial pressure (ICP) oscillations induced by sinusoidal slow changes in positive end‐expiratory pressure (‘PEEP group’). The second experiment (n = 17) had venous balloon inflation during spontaneous, non‐stationary ABP and ICP oscillations (‘non‐PEEP group’). The wavelet transform phase shift (WTP) between ABP and ICP was calculated in the frequency range 0.0067–0.05 Hz. Wavelet semblance, the cosine of WTP, was used to make the values comparable to PRx, and the new index was termed wavelet pressure reactivity index (wPRx). The traditional PRx, the running correlation coefficient between ABP and ICP, was calculated. The result showed a significant linear relationship between wPRx and PRx in the PEEP group (R = 0.88) and non‐PEEP group (R = 0.56). In the non‐PEEP group, wPRx showed better performance than PRx in distinguishing cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) above and below the lower limit of autoregulation (LLA). When CPP was decreased below LLA, wPRx increased from 0.43 ± 0.28 to 0.69 ± 0.12 (P = 0.003) while PRx increased from 0.07 ± 0.21 to 0.27 ± 0.37 (P = 0.04). Moreover, wPRx provided a more stable result than PRx (SD of PRx was 0.40 ± 0.07, and SD of wPRx was 0.28 ± 0.11, P = 0.001). Assessment of CA using wavelet‐derived phase shift between ABP and ICP is feasible.
Síndrome de acueducto vestibular dilatado: a propósito de un caso
Authors: Marin Gallego Gina Lorena , Barragan Delgado Sebastian , Hernández González Santiago
Published: April 2018

El acueducto vestibular dilatado es el hallazgo más encontrado en imágenes radiológicas de pacientes con hipoacusia neurosensorial (1,2). La frecuencia del síndrome de acueducto vestibular dilatado continúa siendo subestimada, situación que ha llevado a subdiagnosticar pacientes con esta condición. El propósito del reporte de caso y su discusión es aclarar los aspectos más importantes del diagnóstico clínico, audiológico e imagenológico de esta patología, así como considerarla parte del diagnóstico diferencial de pacientes en estudio de hipoacusia
Better-ear glimpsing with symmetrically-placed interferers in bilateral cochlear implant users
Authors: Hu Hongmei , Dietz Mathias , Williges Ben , Ewert Stephan D.
Published: April 2018

For a frontal target in spatially symmetrically placed interferers, normal hearing (NH) listeners can use “better-ear glimpsing” to select time-frequency segments with favorable signal-to-noise ratio in either ear. With an ideal monaural better-ear mask (IMBM) processing, some studies showed that NH listeners can reach similar performance as in the natural binaural listening condition, although interaural phase differences at low frequencies can further improve performance. In principle, bilateral cochlear implant (BiCI) listeners could use the same better-ear glimpsing, albeit without exploiting interaural phase differences. Speech reception thresholds of NH and BiCI listeners were measured in three interferers (speech-shaped stationary noise, nonsense speech, or single talker) either co-located with the target, symmetrically placed at ±60°, or independently presented to each ear, with and without IMBM processing. Furthermore, a bilateral noise vocoder based on the BiCI electrodogram was used in the same NH listeners. Headphone presentation and direct stimulation with head-related transfer functions for spatialization were used in NH and BiCI listeners, respectively. Compared to NH listeners, both NH listeners with vocoder and BiCI listeners showed strongly reduced binaural benefit from spatial separation. However, both groups greatly benefited from IMBM processing as part of the stimulation strategy.
Underwater sound pressure and particle motion (acceleration, velocity, and displacement) from recreational swimmers, divers, surfers, and kayakers
Authors: Erbe Christine , Parsons Miles , Duncan Alec J. , Lucke Klaus , Gavrilov Alexander , Allen Kim
Published: April 2018

Naturally constrained environments like bays and lakes are frequently used for water sports activities. While the sound of motorized vessels is rather well understood, non-motorized activities have received less investigation. Ten water sports activities (swimming backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle; snorkelling with fins; kicking a boogie board with fins; paddling with alternating or simultaneous arms while lying on a surfboard; scuba-diving; kayaking and jumping into the water) were recorded in a controlled yet even more constrained environment: an Olympic-sized pool. Activities that occurred at the surface involved repeatedly piercing the surface and hence creating the bubble clouds which were the strongest sound generators. Received levels were 110–131 dB re 1μPa (10–16,000 Hz) for all of the activities at the closest point of approach (1 m). All activities produced a characteristic spectro-temporal pattern in all the quantities measured (sound pressure, particle displacement, velocity, and acceleration) by which they could be identified. Applicability of the results to security monitoring of pools, performance assessments of professional or competitive swimmers, and studies of the distances at which humans may be detectable by marine animals in the sea will be discussed.
Compressional and shear in situ measurements in the Lower Laguna Madre
Authors: Dubin Justin T. , Ballard Megan S. , Lee Kevin M. , McNeese Andrew R. , Sagers Jason D. , Venegas Gabriel R. , Rahman Abdullah F. , Wilson Preston S.
Published: April 2018

This presentation describes the apparatus, procedure, and results from a field experiment conducted in July 2017 in the seagrass beds of the Lower Laguna Madre. The Laguna Madre is a shallow hypersaline lagoon on the western coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The relatively flat bathymetry is covered by a thick meadow of Thalassia testudinum. Acoustic piezoelectric transducer probes measured compressional wave speed and attenuation in the seagrass canopy as well as geoacoustic properties (compressional and shear wave speed and attenuation) of the underlying sediment. Geoacoustic parameters were measured at depths between 5 cm and 20 cm in 5 cm increments. Compressional wave measurements were made over a frequency range of 20 kHz to 100 kHz, and shear wave measurements were made at 500 Hz and 1 kHz. The compressional wave data from this experiment indicates dispersion within the seagrass canopy and sediment. This dispersion is likely due to the high presence of gas bubbles in both the seagrass and supporting sediment. Shear wave velocity monotonically increases with depth at both frequencies. The measured wave speeds and attenuations are compared to results from sediment-acoustic models. Challenges in data collection and processing are explored. [Work sponsored by ARL:UT IR&D and ONR.]