bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Vivo Measurement of Receptor Density and Affinity: Comparison of the Routine Sequential Method with a Nonsequential Method in Studies of Dopamine D2 Receptors with [11C]Raclopride
Authors: Doudet Doris J. , Jivan Salma , Holden James E.
Published: December 2015

Positron emission tomography with the dopamine D2/3 receptor ligand raclopride was used to compare sequential (studies on 1 day) and nonsequential (different days) approaches to in vivo measurement of the density and affinity of receptors. The choice of temporal sequence of radiotracer injection over a range of specific activities might result in bias because of diverse factors. A strong concordance is reported between the outcomes of the sequential and nonsequential methods. This suggests that the characteristics of the dopamine D2/3 receptors are relatively stable within physiologic boundaries and can be reproducibly and reliably measured in stable conditions.
Apoptosis Occurs in the Penumbra Zone during Short-Duration Focal Ischemia in the Rat
Authors: Kametsu Yutaka , Osuga Sachiko , Hakim Antoine M.
Published: December 2015

To investigate the appearance of apoptosis in short-duration focal ischemia, the authors induced left middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in male rats by insertion of an intraluminal suture. The total number of apoptotic cells was determined by hematoxylin–eosin staining and TUNEL labeling and confirmed by gel electrophoresis. The data indicate that the total number of apoptotic cells increased with ischemia duration ( P = 0.0006), with most apoptotic cells located in the striatum of the ischemic hemisphere. As the duration of ischemia lengthened, necrosis became more prevalent and apoptosis receded to the periphery of the infarct. Using iodo[14C]-antipyrine to correlate the distribution of apoptosis to regional CBF (rCBF), the authors found that rCBF in the ischemic dorsolateral striatum was compatible with penumbra flow and significantly lower than the ventromedial striatum and frontoparietal cortex. This difference disappeared after 45 minutes of reperfusion. The authors conclude that focal ischemia of short duration results in changes compatible with apoptosis in regions of low rCBF, and this can occur without necrosis. This model is relevant to transient ischemic attack in the human and may suggest that, in addition to being a harbinger of stroke, transient ischemic attacks may cause histopathologic changes not yet clinically detectable.
Transient Cerebral Ischemia Activates Processing of xbp1 Messenger RNA Indicative of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Authors: Paschen Wulf , Aufenberg Christoph , Hotop Svenja , Mengesdorf Thorsten
Published: December 2015

Cells respond to conditions associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction with activation of the unfolded protein response, characterized by a shutdown of translation and induction of the expression of genes coding for ER stress proteins. The genetic response is based on IRE1-induced processing of xbp1 messenger RNA (mRNA), resulting in synthesis of new XBP1proc protein that functions as a potent transcription factor for ER stress genes. xbp1 processing in models of transient global and focal cerebral ischemia was studied. A marked increase in processed xbp1 mRNA levels during reperfusion was observed, most pronounced (about 35-fold) after 1-h occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. The rise in processed xbp1 mRNA was not paralleled by a similar increase in XBP1proc protein levels because transient ischemia induces severe suppression of translation. As a result, mRNA levels of genes coding for ER stress proteins were only slightly increased, whereas mRNA levels of heat-shock protein 70 rose about 550-fold. Under conditions associated with ER dysfunction, cells require activation of the entire ER stress-induced signal transduction pathway, to cope with this severe form of stress. After transient cerebral ischemia, however, the block of translation may prevent synthesis of new XBP1proc protein and thus hinder recovery from ischemia-induced ER dysfunction.
Bcl-xL Maintains Mitochondrial Function in Murine Astrocytes Deprived of Glucose
Authors: Ouyang Yi-Bing , Giffard Rona G.
Published: December 2015

Bcl-xL is a protein that blocks both apoptotic and necrotic cell death. The authors have previously shown that it is effective in maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential during glucose deprivation in cultured astrocytes. To further investigate the mechanism involved, the authors studied mitochondrial function and cytochrome c release. Oxygen consumption was monitored to assess oxidative respiration. State III respiration decreased significantly as early as 3 h after removal of glucose. At this time mitochondria hyperpolarize but cytochrome c is not yet released. Damage to the electron transport chain is not responsible for this change because uncoupled respiration was unchanged at this time point. At 5 h of glucose deprivation, when mitochondrial depolarization was observed, state IV respiration increased significantly, cytochrome c began to be released, and mitochondrial morphology changed from elongated to punctate. When Bcl-xL was overexpressed normal state III respiration and mitochondrial morphology were maintained and cytochrome c release was inhibited in the face of glucose deprivation stress.
The Effect of Indomethacin on Intracranial Pressure, Cerebral Perfusion and Extracellular Lactate and Glutamate Concentrations in Patients with Fulminant Hepatic Failure
Authors: Tofteng Flemming , Larsen Fin Stolze
Published: December 2015

Uncontrolled increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) continues to be one of the most significant causes of early death in patients with acute liver failure (ALF). In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of indomethacin on ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure in twelve patients with ALF and brain edema (9 females/3 males, median age 49,5 (range 21 to 64) yrs.). Also changes in cerebral perfusion determined by transcranial Doppler technique (Vmean) and jugular bulb oxygen saturation (SvjO2) were measured, as well as brain content of lactate and glutamate by microdialysis technique. Finally, we determined the cerebral blood flow autoregulation before and after indomethacin injection. We found that indomethacin reduced ICP from 30 (7 to 53) to 12 (4 to 33) mmHg ( P < 0.05). The cerebral perfusion pressure increased from 48 (0 to 119) to 65 (42 to 129) mmHg ( P < 0.05), while Vmean and SvjO2 on average remained unchanged at 68 (34 to 126) cm/s and 67 (28 to 82) %, respectively. The lactate and glutamate in the brain tissue were not altered (2.1 (1.8 to 7.8) mmol/l and 34 (2 to 268) μmol/l, respectively) after injection of indomethacin. Cerebral blood flow autoregulation was impaired in all patients before injection of indomethacin, but was not restored after administration of indomethacin. We conclude that a bolus injection of indomethacin reduces ICP and increases cerebral perfusion pressure without compromising cerebral perfusion or oxidative metabolism in patients with ALF. This finding indicates that indomethacin may be valuable as rescue treatment of uncontrolled intracranial hypertension in fulminant hepatic failure.
Hybrid Neurofibroma/Schwannoma of the Supraorbital Nerve: Clinicopathologic Correlation of a Rare Tumor
Authors: Taubenslag Kenneth J. , Nickols Hilary H. , Chelnis James G. , Mawn Louise A.
Published: December 2015

Benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors such as schwannoma and neurofibroma have long been considered distinct entities. Recently, hybrid tumors demonstrating combined morphological features of neurofibroma and schwannoma have been described, primarily in dermal locations. Only 1 case of hybrid peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the orbit has been reported in the literature. Hybrid morphology is important to recognize because of its association with the neurofibromatoses, including schwannomatosis; however, the paucity of literature on orbital hybrid peripheral nerve sheath tumor poses a diagnostic challenge. This article describes a case of hybrid neruofibroma/schwannoma of the orbit arising from the supraorbital nerve with clinicopathologic correlation.
Physical and chemical controls on habitats for life in the deep subsurface beneath continents and ice
Authors: Parnell John , McMahon Sean
Published: December 2015

The distribution of life in the continental subsurface is likely controlled by a range of physical and chemical factors. The fundamental requirements are for space to live, carbon for biomass and energy for metabolic activity. These are inter-related, such that adequate permeability is required to maintain a supply of nutrients, and facies interfaces invite colonization by juxtaposing porous habitats with nutrient-rich mudrocks. Viable communities extend to several kilometres depth, diminishing downwards with decreasing porosity. Carbon is contributed by recycling of organic matter originally fixed by photosynthesis, and chemoautotrophy using crustal carbon dioxide and methane. In the shallow crust, the recycled component predominates, as processed kerogen or hydrocarbons, but abiotic carbon sources may be significant in deeper, metamorphosed crust. Hydrogen to fuel chemosynthesis is available from radiolysis, mechanical deformation and mineral alteration. Activity in the subcontinental deep biosphere can be traced through the geological record back to the Precambrian. Before the colonization of the Earth's surface by land plants, a geologically recent event, subsurface life probably dominated the planet's biomass. In regions of thick ice sheets the base of the ice sheet, where liquid water is stable and a sediment layer is created by glacial erosion, can be regarded as a deep biosphere habitat. This environment may be rich in dissolved organic carbon and nutrients accumulated from dissolving ice, and from weathering of the bedrock and the sediment layer.
Antarctic Cenozoic climate history from sedimentary records: ANDRILL and beyond
Authors: McKay R. M. , Barrett P. J. , Levy R. S. , Naish T. R. , Golledge N. R. , Pyne A.
Published: December 2015

Mounting evidence from models and geological data implies that the Antarctic Ice Sheet may behave in an unstable manner and retreat rapidly in response to a warming climate, which is a key factor motivating efforts to improve estimates of Antarctic ice volume contributions to future sea-level rise. Here, we review Antarctic cooling history since peak temperatures of the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (approx. 50 Ma) to provide a framework for future initiatives to recover sediment cores from subglacial lakes and sedimentary basins in Antarctica's continental interior. While the existing inventory of cores has yielded important insights into the biotic and climatic evolution of Antarctica, strata have numerous and often lengthy time breaks, providing a framework of ‘snapshots’ through time. Further cores, and more work on existing cores, are needed to reconcile Antarctic records with the more continuous ‘far-field’ records documenting the evolution of global ice volume and deep-sea temperature. To achieve this, we argue for an integrated portfolio of drilling and coring missions that encompasses existing methodologies using ship- and sea-ice-/ice-shelf-based drilling platforms as well as recently developed seafloor-based drilling and subglacial access systems. We conclude by reviewing key technological issues that will need to be overcome.
Probe technologies for clean sampling and measurement of subglacial lakes
Authors: Mowlem Matt , Saw Kevin , Brown Robin , Waugh Edward , Cardwell Christopher L. , Wyatt James , Magiopoulos Iordanis , Keen Peter , Campbell Jon , Rundle Nicholas , Gkritzalis-Papadopoulos Athanasios
Published: December 2015

It is 4 years since the subglacial lake community published its plans for accessing, sampling, measuring and studying the pristine, and hitherto enigmatic and very different, Antarctic subglacial lakes, Vostok, Whillans and Ellsworth. This paper summarizes the contrasting probe technologies designed for each of these subglacial environments and briefly updates how these designs changed or were used differently when compared to previously published plans. A detailed update on the final engineering design and technical aspects of the probe for Subglacial Lake Ellsworth is presented. This probe is designed for clean access, is negatively buoyant (350 kg), 5.2 m long, 200 mm in diameter, approximately cylindrical and consists of five major units: (i) an upper power and communications unit attached to an optical and electrical conducting tether, (ii)–(iv) three water and particle samplers, and (v) a sensors, imaging and instrumentation pack tipped with a miniature sediment corer. To date, only in Subglacial Lake Whillans have instruments been successfully deployed. Probe technologies for Subglacial Lake Vostok (2014/15) and Lake Ellsworth (2012/13) were not deployed for technical reasons, in the case of Lake Ellsworth because hot-water drilling was unable to access the lake during the field season window. Lessons learned and opportunities for probe technologies in future subglacial access missions are discussed.
Manufacturing an active X-ray mirror prototype in thin glass
Authors: Spiga D. , Barbera M. , Collura A. , Basso S. , Candia R. , Civitani M. , Di Bella M. S. , Di Cicca G. , Lo Cicero U. , Lullo G. , Pelliciari C. , Riva M. , Salmaso B. , Sciortino L. , Varisco S.
Published: December 2015

Adjustable mirrors equipped with piezo actuators are commonly used at synchrotron and free-electron laser (FEL) beamlines, in order to optimize their focusing properties and sometimes to shape the intensity distribution of the focal spot with the desired profile. Unlike them, X-ray mirrors for astronomy are much thinner in order to enable nesting and reduce the areal mass, and the application of piezo actuators acting normally to the surface appears much more difficult. There remains the possibility to correct the deformations using thin patches that exert a tangential strain on the rear side of the mirror: some research groups are already at work on this approach. The technique reported here relies on actively integrating thin glass foils with commercial piezoceramic patches, fed by voltages driven by the feedback provided by X-rays, while the tension signals are carried by electrodes on the back of the mirror, obtained by photolithography. Finally, the shape detection and the consequent voltage signal to be provided to the piezoelectric array will be determined by X-ray illumination in an intra-focal setup at the XACT facility. In this work, the manufacturing steps for obtaining a first active mirror prototype are described.
Filamentation effect in a gas attenuator for high-repetition-rate X-ray FELs
Authors: Feng Yiping , Krzywinski Jacek , Schafer Donald W. , Ortiz Eliazar , Rowen Michael , Raubenheimer Tor O.
Published: December 2015

A sustained filamentation or density depression phenomenon in an argon gas attenuator servicing a high-repetition femtosecond X-ray free-electron laser has been studied using a finite-difference method applied to the thermal diffusion equation for an ideal gas. A steady-state solution was obtained by assuming continuous-wave input of an equivalent time-averaged beam power and that the pressure of the entire gas volume has reached equilibrium. Both radial and axial temperature/density gradients were found and describable as filamentation or density depression previously reported for a femtosecond optical laser of similar attributes. The effect exhibits complex dependence on the input power, the desired attenuation, and the geometries of the beam and the attenuator. Time-dependent simulations were carried out to further elucidate the evolution of the temperature/density gradients in between pulses, from which the actual attenuation received by any given pulse can be properly calculated.
X-ray collimation by the parabolic cylinder mirror in SPring-8/BL29XUL
Authors: Takei Dai , Kohmura Yoshiki , Senba Yasunori , Ohashi Haruhiko , Tamasaku Kenji , Ishikawa Tetsuya
Published: December 2015

A combination of plane and threefold-shape X-ray mirrors was installed in SPring-8 BL29XUL. The second mirror has parabolic cylinder surfaces that collimate X-rays in the vertical direction. A performance test was conducted, yielding highly collimated 8 keV photon beams with an effective angular divergence of 0.4 µrad, below only 5% of that of the original beams. The double-mirror system preserved 70% of the total incident flux and nearly tripled the flux density at 988 m from the light source. The values of the observations were almost similar to those of our ray-tracing simulation. Based on the results a discussion of future prospects of the mirror system is included.
Detective quantum efficiency for photon-counting hybrid pixel detectors in the tender X-ray domain: application to Medipix3RX
Authors: Rinkel Jean , Magalhães Debora , Wagner Franz , Meneau Florian , Cesar Vicentin Flavio
Published: December 2015

Synchrotron-radiation-based X-ray imaging techniques using tender X-rays are facing a growing demand, in particular to probe theKabsorption edges of low-Zelements. Here, a mathematical model has been developed for estimating the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) at zero spatial frequency in the tender X-ray energy range for photon-counting detectors by taking into account the influence of electronic noise. The experiments were carried out with a Medipix3RX ASIC bump-bonded to a 300 µm silicon sensor at the Soft X-ray Spectroscopy beamline (D04A-SXS) of the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS, Campinas, Brazil). The results show that Medipix3RX can be used to develop new imaging modalities in the tender X-ray range for energies down to 2 keV. The efficiency and optimal DQE depend on the energy and flux of the photons. The optimal DQE values were found in the 7.9–8.6 keV photon energy range. The DQE deterioration for higher energies due to the lower absorption efficiency of the sensor and for lower energies due to the electronic noise has been quantified. The DQE for 3 keV photons and 1 × 104 photons pixel−1s−1is similar to that obtained with 19 keV photons. Based on our model, the use of Medipix3RX could be extended down to 2 keV which is crucial for coming applications in imaging techniques at modern synchrotron sources.
Excitation and propagation of X-ray fluorescence through thin devices with hollowed ordered structures: comparison of experimental and theoretical spectra
Authors: Mazuritskiy M. I. , Dabagov S. B. , Marcelli A. , Lerer A. M. , Dziedzic-Kocurek K.
Published: December 2015

The lack of models describing the propagation of X-rays in waveguides and the interference mechanism between incident and reflected radiation waves hamper the understanding and the control of wave propagation phenomena occurring in many real systems. Here, experimental spectra collected at the exit of microchannel plates (MCPs) under the total X-ray reflection condition are presented. The results are discussed in the framework of a theoretical model in which the wave propagation is enhanced by the presence of a transition layer at the surface. The angular distributions of the propagating radiation at the exit of these MCPs with microchannels of ∼3 µm diameter will also be presented and discussed. These spectra show contributions associated with the reflection of the primary monochromatic beam and with the fluorescence radiation originating from the excitation of atoms composing the surface of the microchannel. The soft X-ray fluorescence spectra collected at the exit of microcapillaries were analyzed in the framework of a wave approximation while diffraction contributions observed at the exit of these hollow X-ray waveguides have been calculated using the Fraunhofer diffraction model for waves in the far-field domain. Data collected at the SiL-edge show that in glassy MCPs the fluorescence radiation can be detected only when the energy of the primary monochromatic radiation is above the absorption edge for grazing angles higher than half of the critical angle of the total reflection phenomenon. Experimental data and simulations of the propagating radiation represent a clear experimental confirmation of the channeling phenomenon of the excited fluorescence radiation inside a medium and point out that a high transmission can be obtained in waveguide optics for parameters relevant to X-ray imaging.
A new EXAFS method for the local structure analysis of low-Z elements
Authors: Isomura Noritake , Kamada Masao , Nonaka Takamasa , Nakamura Eiken , Takano Takumi , Sugiyama Harue , Kimoto Yasuji
Published: December 2015

A unique analytical method is proposed for local structure analysisviaextended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The measurement of electron energy distribution curves at various excitation photon energies using an electron energy analyzer is applied to determine a specific elemental Auger spectrum. To demonstrate the method, the NK-edge EXAFS spectra for a silicon nitride film were obtainedviasimultaneous measurement of the NKLLAuger and background spectra using dual-energy windows. The background spectrum was then used to remove the photoelectrons and secondary electron mixing in the energy distribution curves. The spectrum obtained following this subtraction procedure represents the `true' NK-edge EXAFS spectrum without the other absorptions that are observed in total electron yield NK-edge EXAFS spectra. The first nearest-neighbor distance (N—Si) derived from the extracted NK-edge EXAFS oscillation was in good agreement with the value derived from SiK-edge analysis. This result confirmed that the present method, referred to as differential electron yield (DEY)-EXAFS, is valid for deriving local surface structure information for low-Zelements.
An examination of Health Promoting Schools in Ireland
Authors: Moynihan Sharon , Jourdan Didier , Mannix McNamara Patricia
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a national survey that examined the extent of implementation of Health Promoting Schools (HPS) in Ireland.

Design/methodology/approach

– A quantitative research design was adopted. A questionnaire was administered to all post-primary schools in the country (n=704). Data were analysed with the support of the software packages, SPSS and MaxQDA.

Findings

– A response rate of 56 per cent (n=394) was achieved. Over half of these schools (56 per cent) self-identified as health promoting. Schools reported success in the areas of environment and curriculum and learning, however, partnerships and policy and planning required more attention. Some models of good practice emerged from the data but these were in the minority. Many schools, when asked to describe health promotion in their school, placed emphasis on physical health (diet and exercise) and curriculum predominately rather than the broader whole school conceptualisation. Only 35 per cent of HPS schools had a team supporting HPS developments. Only 36 per cent identified the existence of a school policy to support HPS. This suggests that further coherence for sustained and comprehensive implementation of HPS is necessary.

Research limitations/implications

– The research was conducted with school staff, in the first instance who self-reported their school’s level of HPS engagement.

Originality/value

– This paper offers the first national baseline data available in relation to engagement in HPS in Ireland. It provides a valuable starting point from which further research with schools in this field can be conducted.
“Get busy talking or get busy dying”
Authors: Peake Greg
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to high-light the very well-known potential downside of technology found in many sales environments and to provide a fail-safe remedy to telephone Call Reluctance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The typical, illogical thinking that underpins the reasons that sales people offer for their Call Reluctance are discussed in detail. A time tested platform built upon sound logic and decades of successful implementation is provided. The approach appeals equally to managers and sales personal because it is simple, doable and highly motivational.

Findings

– The results demonstrate the powerful effect that accurate thinking and an easily implemented management approach has for sales organizations and individuals when embracing the unparalleled value of telephone communication.

Originality/value

– The work is based upon the authors 40 plus years of applying the thinking and platform presented in the paper. In addition, for the past 15 years, the author has enthusiastically witnessed the incredibly positive impact of his approach to over 400 companies worldwide. He does not claim absolute originality of the content, as like most successful sales people, he is indebted to many, many sales people he has had the pleasure to know and learn from.
JDSU uses personality typology during management Empowerment Camps
Authors: Segovia Michael
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to gauge the success of optical product maker JDSU’s effort to engage Human Resources as a strategic partner in building an international company culture using training in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to bring diverse teams together with a common management language for discussing interpersonal and team dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study relied on interviews with managers, employees, and designers of JDSU’s Empowerment Camp on their experience of improvement in management and communication in the organization.

Findings

– With a common language for discussing communication, management, and interpersonal interaction centered around insights derived from management’s training in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator through the Empowerment Camp, members of the organization encountered a more unified and effective management approach across JDSU’s diverse web of international offices.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first to explore a company’s effort to engage Human Resources as a strategic partner in building an international company culture.
Recruitment of a keystone tree species must concurrently manage flooding and browsing
Authors: Horner Gillis J. , Cunningham Shaun C. , Thomson James R. , Baker Patrick J. , Mac Nally Ralph
Published: December 2015

Multiple pressures (land‐use change, water extraction and climate change) interact to influence biodiversity and ecosystem processes, but direct evidence for interactions among multiple pressures is limited. Floodplain forests are an acute example of how interacting pressures (river regulation, water extraction, decreasing rainfall and mammal browsing) interact to degrade native ecosystems.

We conducted a 2‐year field experiment to determine how flooding, browsing and sediment salinity interacted to determine in situ seedling survival and growth of the keystone floodplain tree species (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.). On semi‐arid floodplains of southern Australia, 1‐year‐old seedlings were planted on the banks of six ephemeral creeks, three of which were flooded with management flows before planting while the others remained dry. Four plots were established at each creek, two open to browsing and two fenced to exclude mammal herbivores.

Flooding had a strong positive effect on seedling survival and height, but browsing had strong negative effects. Sediment salinity (a covariate rather than a designed effect) had a weak negative effect on seedling survival and height.

The positive effects of flooding were largely offset by the negative interaction with browsing and, to a lesser extent, sediment salinity.

Although flooding has been restored to some degraded floodplain forests subjected to river regulation and a drying climate, the long‐term success of such actions is likely to be undermined by persistent browsing.

Synthesis and applications. Management actions that focus on single pressures (e.g. infrequent flooding) and processes (e.g. mature tree survival) while ignoring other pressures are unlikely to sustain populations of keystone species, suggesting that complementary strategies (managed flooding with herbivore control) are necessary to sustain recruitment and, therefore, ensure the future health of these essential ecosystems.
Sixty‐year legacy of human impacts on a high Arctic ecosystem
Authors: Becker Michael S. , Pollard Wayne H.
Published: December 2015

The high Arctic is the world's fasting warming biome, allowing access to sections of previously inaccessible land for resource extraction. Starting in 2011, exploration of one of the Earth's largest undeveloped coal seams was initiated in a relatively pristine, polar desert environment in the Canadian high Arctic. Due to the relative lack of historic anthropogenic disturbance, significant gaps in knowledge exist on how the landscape will be impacted by development.

At an abandoned airstrip located near the area of current exploration, we used a disturbance case–control approach to evaluate the long‐term ecological consequences of high Arctic infrastructure disturbance to vegetation and sensitive, ice‐rich permafrost. We quantified: (i) long‐term effects on vegetation diversity, soil nutrients and abiotic ground conditions and (ii) the alteration of the ground surface topography and legacy of subsurface thermal changes.

We found that in over 60 years since abandonment, the disturbed landscape has not recovered to initial conditions but instead reflects a disturbance‐initiated succession towards a different stable‐state community.

Microtopography greatly influenced recovery patterns in the landscape. The terrain overlaying buried ice (ice‐wedge polygon troughs) was the most sensitive to disturbance and had a different species composition, decreased plot‐level species richness, significant increases in vegetation cover and a drastically reduced seasonal fluctuation in subsurface temperatures. In contrast, disturbed polygon tops showed resiliency in vegetation recovery, but still had remarkable increases in depth of seasonal soil thaw (active layer).

Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate that disturbance effects differ depending on microtopographic features, leading to an increased patchiness of the landscape as found elsewhere in the Arctic. Managers who wish to lessen their impact on high Arctic environments should avoid areas of sensitive, ice‐rich permafrost, constrain the geographic scale of near‐surface ground disturbance, limit vegetation removal where possible and reseed disturbed areas with native species.
Tradable water saving certificates to improve urban water use efficiency: an ex‐ante evaluation in a French case study
Authors: Rinaudo Jean‐Daniel , Calatrava Javier , De Byans Marine Vernier
Published: December 2015

This paper proposes a system of tradable Water Saving Certificates to improve the efficiency of water allocation between Drinking Water Utilities at river basin level. A market institutional set‐up, inspired from recent policy developments in the energy sector, is proposed. An original analytical price‐endogenous model is developed to simulate trade intensity, equilibrium price and efficiency gains in this urban water market. The economic model is implemented in a French case study using mathematical programming. It is used for conducting an ex‐ante evaluation of trade possibilities and efficiency gains, considering different spatial restrictions aimed at controlling environmental externalities. Our modelling exercise provides evidence of the benefits of the proposed Water Saving Certificate scheme.
Analytic Modeling of Rainwater Harvesting in the Brazilian Semiarid Northeast
Authors: Doss‐Gollin James , de Souza Filho Francisco de Assis , da Silva Francisco Osny Enéas
Published: December 2015

During the past two decades, government efforts to provide water access to rural communities in Brazil's semiarid Northeast region have focused on building systems to capture and store rainwater, most importantly through the One Million Cisterns Program (P1MC). This article presents an analytic model based on daily precipitation data to evaluate the sustainability of rainwater capture. Application of this model to analysis of the P1MC reveals the heterogeneous climate in this region causes large spatial variability in the effectiveness of this program. In addition, the size of the area of capture, the run‐off coefficient of the roofs, and the amount of first‐flush diversion also have important effects. This analysis demonstrates while rainwater capture can offer sufficient water for drinking, as a stand‐alone solution it cannot meet P1MC objectives of guaranteeing sustainable and universal access to water for drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene in all regions and years.
RPANDA: an R package for macroevolutionary analyses on phylogenetic trees
Authors: Morlon Hélène , Lewitus Eric , Condamine Fabien L. , Manceau Marc , Clavel Julien , Drury Jonathan
Published: December 2015

A number of approaches for studying macroevolution using phylogenetic trees have been developed in the last few years. Here, we present RPANDA, an R package that implements model‐free and model‐based phylogenetic comparative methods for macroevolutionary analyses.

The model‐free approaches implemented in RPANDA are recently developed approaches stemming from graph theory that allow summarizing the information contained in phylogenetic trees, computing distances between trees, and clustering them accordingly. They also allow identifying distinct branching patterns within single trees.

RPANDA also implements likelihood‐based models for fitting various diversification models to phylogenetic trees. It includes birth–death models with i) constant, ii) time‐dependent and iii) environmental‐dependent speciation and extinction rates. It also includes models with equilibrium diversity derived from the coalescent process, as well as a likelihood‐based inference framework to fit the individual‐based model of Speciation by Genetic Differentiation, which is an extension of Hubbell's neutral theory of biodiversity.

RPANDA can be used to (i) characterize trees by plotting their spectral density profiles (ii) compare trees and cluster them according to their similarities, (iii) identify and plot distinct branching patterns within trees, (iv) compare the fit of alternative diversification models to phylogenetic trees, (v) estimate rates of speciation and extinction, (vi) estimate and plot how these rates have varied with time and environmental variables and (vii) deduce and plot estimates of species richness through geological time.

RPANDA provides investigators with a set of tools for exploring patterns in phylogenetic trees and fitting various models to these trees, thereby contributing to the ongoing development of phylogenetics in the life sciences.
Risk evaluation for needle‐nerve contact related to electrical nerve stimulation in a porcine model
Authors: Vassiliou T. , Müller H.‐H. , Limberg S. , De Andres J. , Steinfeldt T. , Wiesmann T.
Published: December 2015

Background

For performing peripheral nerve blocks, the risk for needle‐nerve contact (NNC) as an adverse event for low and high current thresholds has not yet been clearly defined when nerve stimulator guided techniques were applied. This experimental study aimed to investigate the risk of NNCs when applying stimulation currents between 0.1 and 2 mA (in increments of 0.1 mA).

Methods

Brachial plexus nerves were exposed surgically in five anesthetized pigs. An insulated needle connected to a nerve stimulator was placed at 10 mm distance to the targeted nerves. Current intensity was adjusted according to randomization (0.1–2.0 mA, increments of 0.1 mA). The needle tip was advanced toward the nerve until a motor response was elicited. The frequencies of NNCs for each of the adjusted current intensities were noted. Risks of NNCs were calculated according to the analysis of 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

Results

We executed 2000 needle placements with stimulation currents ranging from 0.1 to 2.0 mA. The risks for NNC at low current intensities were 0.85 (95% CI, 0.77–0.91) for 0.3 mA and 0.5 (95% CI, 0.4–0.6) for 0.5 mA, respectively. For high current intensities, risks of 0.13 (95% CI, 0.07–0.21) for 0.9 mA and 0.01 (95% CI, 0–0.05) for 1.1 mA were calculated.

Conclusions

In this experimental animal study, a relevant reduction in the risk of NNCs could be observed when high current intensities (0.9–1.1 mA) were applied compared to low current intensities (0.3–0.5 mA).
A single‐ versus double‐layered closure technique for full‐thickness lower eyelid defects: a comparative study
Authors: Verhoekx Jennifer S. N. , Soebhag Renoe K. , Weijtens Olga , van den Bosch Willem A. , Paridaens Dion
Published: December 2015

Purpose

To compare a simplified, single‐layered closure technique with a double‐layered closure technique in lower eyelid reconstruction following full‐thickness pentagonal block excision.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, non‐randomized, interventional case–control study. Clinical data of consecutive patients treated with primary closure of a full‐thickness lower eyelid defect between 2011 and 2014 were analysed. In group A, the defect was closed in one layer, using non‐absorbable polypropylene sutures. In group B, the defect was closed in two layers, using absorbable polyglactin acid sutures. In both techniques, we rarely used a grey line suture to adjust the eyelid margin. We assessed notching, wound dehiscence and other complications, as reported at 2 months after surgery.

Results

We included 188 eyelids from 186 patients. In group A, we included 82 eyelids and in group B 106 eyelids. We noted no difference in notching (p = 0.96) whilst wound dehiscence had not occurred in either group. Subcutaneous granuloma formation had been noted in 0 cases in group A, versus 4 in group B (p = 0.08). Mild redness of the scar was seen in 2 cases in group A, versus 5 in group B (p = 0.41). A grey line suture was placed in 6 cases in group A (7.3%), versus 4 cases in group B (3.8%; p = 0.28).

Conclusion

Both single‐ and double‐layered closure techniques are safe and effective methods for primary closure of full‐thickness lower eyelid defects. In both techniques, a grey line suture was rarely required to adjust the eyelid margin.
Immediate dental implant placement into infected vs. non‐infected sockets: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhao Dan , Wu Yaqin , Xu Chun , Zhang Fuqiang
Published: December 2015

Objective

This meta‐analysis was aimed at assessing whether immediate dental implant placement into infected vs. non‐infected sites produced different effects on implant failure risk and marginal bone loss.

Material and methods

Relevant studies were identified by searching articles in PubMed, Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Library through February 2015 and by reviewing the reference lists of the retrieved articles. When an intervention led to dichotomous outcomes, the outcomes were expressed as risk ratios, whereas continuous outcomes were expressed as mean differences in millimeters; each had a 95% confidence interval. Study‐specific estimates were combined using fixed‐effects models.

Results

A total of 1743 articles were identified following the search process. Seven studies were finally included in the meta‐analysis, which comprised a total of 1586 implants and 25 failures. Compared to the immediate insertion of a dental implant into a non‐infected site, the insertion of an implant into an infected site showed 116% increase in the risk of implant failure, which had borderline statistical significance (risk ratio = 2.16, 95% confidence interval: 0.97, 4.80, P = 0.058; heterogeneity: I2 = 0.0%, Pheterogeneity = 0.997). With regard to marginal bone loss, we observed no statistically significant difference between insertions into infected vs. non‐infected sites (mean difference = −0.04, 95% confidence interval: −0.09, 0.02, P = 0.173, heterogeneity: I2 = 0.0%, Pheterogeneity = 0.765).

Conclusion

This meta‐analysis suggests that immediately placing a dental implant into an infected site may increase the risk of implant failure. Given the presence of uncontrolled confounders in the studies that were assessed, the results should be interpreted with caution.
Single cross‐sectional area of pectoralis muscle by computed tomography – correlation with bioelectrical impedance based skeletal muscle mass in healthy subjects
Authors: Kim Young Saing , Kim Eun Young , Kang Shin Myung , Ahn Hee Kyung , Kim Hyung Sik
Published: December 2015

Purpose

Skeletal muscle depletion is an important prognostic factor in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); a recent study demonstrated significant correlations between pectoralis muscle area on an axial CT image and COPD‐related traits. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between pectoralis muscle areas on CT scans and total body skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in healthy subjects.

Methods

For 434 subjects that underwent a low‐dose chest CT and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) during health screening from January to June of 2014, cross‐sectional area of pectoralis muscles were measured in CT scans. Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to assess the relationship between cross‐sectional CT areas of pectoralis muscles and BIA‐assessed SMMs.

Results

Mean age was 50 ± 10 years (78·8% were male). The mean cross‐sectional area of pectoralis muscles was 24·1 cm2 ± 6·8. A moderate correlation was observed between pectoralis muscle area and BIA‐based SMM (r = 0·665, P<0.001). Multivariable analysis showed CT determined pectoralis muscle area was significantly associated with BIA‐assessed SMM after adjusting for gender, weight, height and age (β = 0·14 ± 0·02, P<0·001).

Conclusion

Cross‐sectional area of the pectoralis muscles on single axial CT images shows moderate correlation with total body SMM determined by BIA in healthy subjects.
A preclinical dental trauma teaching module
Authors: Marriot‐Smith Charlotte , Marino Victor , Heithersay Geoffrey Sinclair
Published: December 2015

A dental trauma exercise using the anterior segment of a sheep mandible as a model has been incorporated into the undergraduate dental programme at the University of Adelaide since 2011. Students are required to replant a simulated tooth avulsion, reposition a laterally luxated tooth injury and then apply a flexible splint consisting of 40 lb fishing nylon attached with a resin‐modified glass ionomer cement, GC Fuji Ortho LC. The exercise concludes with the simple removal of the splint with a spoon excavator. The acrylic mounted formalin‐fixed sheep mandible is reusable, which has obvious economic and practical advantages.
Learning Outcomes — From Policy Discourse to Practice
Authors: Stanley Julian
Published: December 2015

This article argues that the concept of learning outcomes has been defined in Europe so that it can pervade and unify a wide range of policies relating to education and, in particular, to vocational education and training. It seeks to explain why learning outcomes are multi‐dimensional and to clarify how policy, theoretical and operational dimensions can be distinguished and related to one another. In the light of this, it will propose a theoretical model that helps to clarify what the progressive implementation of an outcomes approach looks like and which one can be used to compare the progress of different countries. Furthermore, the article argues that, when it comes to implementation, there are problems in identifying the use and the impact of learning outcomes. There is a diversity of practice in their design and application as ‘tools’ in the construction of curricula and the influence of these curricula upon teaching and learning is by no means straightforward. There has been remarkable progress in the establishment and referencing of national qualifications frameworks and the use of tools such as level descriptors in Europe, but this cannot be taken as evidence that ‘learning outcomes’ approaches are well established or that they have the intended impact.
Learning, the Future, and Complexity. An Essay on the Emergence of Futures Literacy
Authors: Miller Riel
Published: December 2015

Futures Literacy is the capacity to design and implement processes that make use of anticipation, generally with the purpose of trying to understand and act in a complex emergent context. This article examines the potential of Futures Literacy to contribute to the realisation of a better balance between learning that is shaped by the supposition that what needs to be learned is knowable in advance, what I will label ‘push’ education, and ‘pull’ learning, that starts from the discovery of not knowing something, initiating the search for hypotheses, experiments, and evidence that eventually lead to understanding. Insufficient Futures Literacy impedes the expansion our anticipatory activities beyond preparation and planning, with the result that at both the individual and institutional levels it is difficult to find the motivation and capability to undertake and organise learning that goes beyond ‘push’ education, or what people ‘need’ to know now in order to get: a ‘good job’, be ‘good citizens’, etc., in the future. As a result humanity may be less able to embrace complexity or pursue a diversification approach to resilience.
The Pedagogy and Pleasures of Teaching a 21st‐Century Skill
Authors: Breslow Lori
Published: December 2015

Since at least the 1990s, voices both inside and outside the academy have vigorously debated whether the university has the responsibility to educate students in ‘transferable skills’ in addition to disciplinary content. Lists of these skills often include critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and innovation, and, almost always, communication, this article's focus. I briefly review the debate on whether such skills should be a prominent part of the university curriculum, and specifically address one argument advanced by the critics—that these skills cannot be taught. I describe my experience teaching communication relying on research‐based practices and reflect on what it means to teach transferable skills in the digital age, as pedagogy changes and the university extends its reach. The article concludes with a recommendation to expand the teaching and learning of transferable skills and suggests how this can be accomplished.
Neocortical 40 Hz oscillations during carbachol‐induced rapid eye movement sleep and cataplexy
Authors: Torterolo Pablo , Castro‐Zaballa Santiago , Cavelli Matías , Chase Michael H. , Falconi Atilio
Published: December 2015

Higher cognitive functions require the integration and coordination of large populations of neurons in cortical and subcortical regions. Oscillations in the gamma band (30–45 Hz) of the electroencephalogram (EEG) have been involved in these cognitive functions. In previous studies, we analysed the extent of functional connectivity between cortical areas employing the ‘mean squared coherence' analysis of the EEG gamma band. We demonstrated that gamma coherence is maximal during alert wakefulness and is almost absent during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The nucleus pontis oralis (NPO) is critical for REM sleep generation. The NPO is considered to exert executive control over the initiation and maintenance of REM sleep. In the cat, depending on the previous state of the animal, a single microinjection of carbachol (a cholinergic agonist) into the NPO can produce either REM sleep [REM sleep induced by carbachol (REMc)] or a waking state with muscle atonia, i.e. cataplexy [cataplexy induced by carbachol (CA)]. In the present study, in cats that were implanted with electrodes in different cortical areas to record polysomnographic activity, we compared the degree of gamma (30–45 Hz) coherence during REMc, CA and naturally‐occurring behavioural states. Gamma coherence was maximal during CA and alert wakefulness. In contrast, gamma coherence was almost absent during REMc as in naturally‐occurring REM sleep. We conclude that, in spite of the presence of somatic muscle paralysis, there are remarkable differences in cortical activity between REMc and CA, which confirm that EEG gamma (≈40 Hz) coherence is a trait that differentiates wakefulness from REM sleep.