bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are Europeans ready for a more democratic European Union? New evidence on preference heterogeneity, polarisation and crosscuttingness
Authors: HALE THOMAS , KOENIG‐ARCHIBUGI MATHIAS
Published: February 2016

Some scholars and policy makers argue in favour of increasing democratic contestation for leadership and policy at the European level, for instance by having European‐wide parties campaign for competing candidates for President of the European Commission ahead of European Parliament elections. But do such changes put the survival of the European Union at risk? According to the consociational interpretation of the EU, the near absence of competitive and majoritarian elements has been a necessary condition for the stability of the EU political system given its highly diverse population. This article contributes to the debate in two ways. First, it develops a more precise understanding of ‘problematic’ diversity by examining how three variables – the heterogeneity, polarisation and crosscuttingness of citizen preferences over public polices – affect the risk of democratic contestation generating persistent and systematically dissatisfied minorities. Second, it uses opinion surveys to determine whether the degree of diversity of the European population is problematically high compared to that of established democratic states. It is found that the population of the EU is slightly more heterogeneous and polarised than the population of the average Member State, although policy preferences in several Member States are more heterogeneous and polarised than the EU as a whole. Strikingly, however, policy preference cleavages are more crosscutting in the EU than in nearly all Member States, reducing the risk of persistent minorities. Moreover, policy preferences tend to be less heterogeneous and polarised, and nearly as crosscutting, in the EU as a whole as in the United States. For observers worried about how high polarisation and low crosscuttingness in policy preferences may combine to threaten democratic stability, these findings should be reassuring.
A Procedure for Calculating the Vertical Space Height of the Sacrum When Determining Skeletal Height for Use in the Anatomical Method of Adult Stature Estimation
Authors: Hayashi Atsuko , Emanovsky Paul D. , Pietrusewsky Michael , Holland Thomas D.
Published: February 2016

Estimating stature from skeletonized remains is one of the essential parameters in the development of a biological profile. A new procedure for determining skeletal height (SKH) incorporating the vertical space height (VSH) from the anterior margin of the sacral promontory to the superior margins of the acetabulae for use in the anatomical method of stature estimation is introduced. Regression equations for stature estimation were generated from measurements of 38 American males of European ancestry from the William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection. The modification to the procedure results in a SKH that is highly correlated with stature (r = 0.925–0.948). Stature estimates have low standard errors of the estimate ranging from 21.79 to 25.95 mm, biases from to 0.50 to 0.94 mm, and accuracy rates from 17.71 mm to 19.45 mm. The procedure for determining the VSH, which replaces “S1 height” in traditional anatomical method models, is a key improvement to the method.
Sudden Death Due to Undiagnosed Rheumatic Heart Disease in a Child
Authors: Rérolle Camille , Faisant Maxime , Lefrancq Thierry , Saint‐Martin Pauline
Published: February 2016

We report the case of a 5‐year‐old boy who died from complications of rheumatic heart disease with atypical presentation. He was hospitalized for recent inflammatory and neurological symptoms. He was diagnosed with viral encephalitis. He died the day after he was discharged. The macroscopic autopsy findings were unremarkable. Histology revealed typical rheumatic heart disease. Neuropathology showed cerebral infarction due to an embolic event linked with the rheumatic valvulitis. The cause of death was determined as heart failure due to rheumatic heart disease secondary to an undiagnosed acute rheumatic fever. It is related to an autoimmune response to infection with group A streptococcus. It mainly affects children in developing countries. In our case, viral encephalitis was consistent with the medical history and the proper diagnosis was made on histological analysis. Forensic pathologists should consider this diagnosis facing a sudden unexpected death in childhood, even in industrialized countries.
Is deep neuromuscular blockade beneficial in laparoscopic surgery? Yes, probably
Authors: Madsen M. V. , Staehr‐Rye A. K. , Claudius C. , Gätke M. R.
Published: February 2016

Background

Deep neuromuscular blockade during laparoscopic surgery may provide some clinical benefit. We present the ‘Pro‐’ argument in this paired position paper.

Methods

We reviewed recent evidence from a basic database of references which we agreed on with the ‘Con‐’ side, and present this in narrative form. We have shared our analysis and text with the authors of the ‘Con‐’ side of these paired position papers during the preparation of the manuscripts.

Results

There are a few low risk of bias studies indicating that use of deep neuromuscular blockade improve surgical conditions and improve patient outcomes such as post‐operative pain in laparoscopic surgery.

Conclusion

Our interpretation of recent findings is that there is reason to believe that there may be some patient benefit of deep neuromuscular blockade in this context, and more detailed study is needed.
A Randomised Trial of a Positive Intervention to Promote Well‐Being in Cardiac Patients
Authors: Sanjuán Pilar , Montalbetti Tomás , Pérez‐García Ana M. , Bermúdez José , Arranz Henar , Castro Almudena
Published: February 2016

Background

Negative emotions are linked to the onset and development of coronary heart diseases (CHD), whereas positive emotions are associated with better health and lower mortality rates among patients with these diseases. The objective of this randomised trial was to improve cardiac patients' emotional states using a Programme to Improve Well‐being (PIW) based exclusively on positive interventions (those that promote intentional behaviours and thoughts to improve well‐being).

Methods

Cardiac patients (n = 108) were randomly assigned to two parallel groups. In the control group, they participated in only a Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme (CRP group), whereas the intervention group also participated in the PIW (CRP+PIW group). Physical functional capacity, depressive symptoms, hostility, and negative and positive affect were assessed at T1 (baseline) and T2 (8 weeks later).

Results

At T2, after controlling for functional capacity, the CRP+PIW group reported a significantly less negative affect than the CRP group. Moreover, the CRP group did not change from T1 to T2, whereas the CRP+PIW group reported more positive emotions and fewer negative emotions and hostility at T2 than at T1.

Conclusions

Positive interventions effectively improve the emotional state of cardiac patients. We suggest that specific modules should be included in the CRP to improve well‐being.
Social enterprises as spaces of encounter for mental health consumers
Authors: Wilton Robert , Evans Joshua
Published: February 2016

Recent geographical scholarship has suggested that disabled people's encounters with non‐disabled others might constitute an important mechanism for community participation and social inclusion. Existing studies recognise the importance of the immediate material and relational character of place in shaping the nature of encounters between disabled and non‐disabled people. Yet there has been little attention – beyond questions of physical access – to the ways in which places might be practically created to facilitate positive interactions. In this paper, we examine the potential of social enterprises to serve as a space of encounter between disabled workers and non‐disabled others. Drawing on interviews and focus groups, we explore how and to what extent social enterprises (coffee shops, catering businesses, cleaning and janitorial companies, courier services) create supportive environments for interaction and encounter between workers with mental health problems, clients and members of the public. Our analysis suggests that specific efforts to accommodate and support mental health consumers in their employment‐based interactions contributes to an enabling relational space for encounters that begin to unsettle prevailing assumptions about mental ill health. At the same time, broader social conditions and enduring assumptions about mental health consumers work to reinforce disabling differences.
Inosine‐5'‐monophosphate is a candidate agent to resolve rigor mortis of skeletal muscle
Authors: Matsuishi Masanori , Tsuji Mariko , Yamaguchi Megumi , Kitamura Natsumi , Tanaka Sachi , Nakamura Yukinobu , Okitani Akihiro
Published: February 2016

The object of the present study was to reveal the action of inosine‐5'‐monophosphate (IMP) toward myofibrils in postmortem muscles. IMP solubilized isolated actomyosin within a narrow range of KCl concentration, 0.19‐0.20 mol/L, because of the dissociation of actomyosin into actin and myosin, but it did not solubilize the proteins in myofibrils with 0.2 mol/L KCl. However, IMP could solubilize both proteins in myofibrils with 0.2 mol/L KCl in the presence of 1 m mol/L pyrophosphate or 1.0–3.3 m mol/L adenosine‐5'‐diphosphate (ADP). Thus, we presumed that pyrophosphate and ADP released thin filaments composed of actin, and thick filaments composed of myosin from restraints of myofibrils, and then both filaments were solubilized through the IMP‐induced dissociation of actomyosin. Thus, we concluded that IMP is a candidate agent to resolve rigor mortis because of its ability to break the association between thick and thin filaments.
Comparative Evaluation of Partial α2‐Adrenoceptor Agonist and Pure α2‐Adrenoceptor Antagonist on the Behavioural Symptoms of Withdrawal after Chronic Alcohol Administration in Mice
Authors: Arora Shivani , Vohora Divya
Published: February 2016

As an addictive drug, alcohol produces withdrawal symptoms if discontinued abruptly after chronic use. Clonidine (CLN), a partial α2‐adrenergic agonist, and mirtazapine (MRT), an antagonist of α2‐adrenoceptor, both clinically aid alcohol withdrawal. Considering different mechanisms of action of the two drugs, this study was designed to see how far these two mechanistically different drugs differ in their ability to decrease the severity of ethanol withdrawal syndrome. The effect of CLN and MRT on ethanol withdrawal‐induced anxiety, depression and memory impairment was analysed using EPM, FST and PAR tests, respectively. Animals received distilled water, ethanol and/or either of the drugs (CLN and MRT) in different doses. Relapse to alcohol use was analysed by CPP test. Animals received ethanol as a conditioning drug and distilled water, CLN or MRT as test drug. CLN and MRT both alleviated anxiety in a dose‐dependent manner. MRT (4 mg/kg) was more effective than CLN (0.1 mg/kg) in ameliorating the anxiogenic effect of alcohol withdrawal. However, CLN treatment increased depression. It significantly decreased swimming time and increased immobility time, whereas MRT treatment decreased immobility time and increased climbing and swimming time during abstinence. The effect was dose dependent for both drugs. The results of PAR test show that CLN treatment worsens working memory. Significant increase in SDE and TSZ and decrease in SDL were observed in CLN‐treated animals. MRT treatment, on the other hand, improved working memory at both doses. Further, both CLN and MRT alleviated craving. A significant decrease in time spent in the ethanol‐paired chamber was seen. MRT treatment at both doses showed better effect than CLN in preventing the development of preference in CPP test. These findings indicate a potential therapeutic use and better profile of mirtazapine over clonidine in improving memory, as well as in alleviating depression, anxiety and craving associated with alcohol withdrawal.
An integrative conceptualization of organizational compassion and organizational justice: a sensemaking perspective
Authors: Shahzad Khuram , Muller Alan R.
Published: February 2016

Organizational scholars tend to view justice and compassion as incompatible. While both have important functions in organizational life, compassion's affective elements appear difficult to synthesize with the reasoning and impartiality that underlie the concept of justice. We draw on theoretical arguments from the sensemaking perspective to argue that we can integrate organizational compassion and organizational justice conceptually because both are inherently dynamic processes that rely on emotional and cognitive components, and both are shaped by the social context of the organization. Based on this integrative conceptualization, we propose a construct we call ‘compassionate organizational justice’, in which compassion becomes an integral element of an organization's justice requirements and members’ fairness perceptions, and that those justice perceptions in turn inform future instances of organizational compassion.
Development of an International Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry
Authors: Evans Sue M. , Nag Nupur , Roder David , Brooks Andrew , L Millar Jeremy , Moretti Kim L , Pryor David , Skala Marketa , J. McNeil John
Published: February 2016

Objectives

To establish a Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry‐Australia and New Zealand (PCOR‐ANZ) for monitoring outcomes of prostate cancer treatment and care, in a cost‐effective manner.

Materials and Methods

Stakeholders were recruited based on their interest, importance in achieving the monitoring and reporting of clinical practice and patient outcomes, and in amalgamation of existing registries. Each participating jurisdiction is responsible for local governance, site recruitment, data collection, and data transfer into the PCOR‐ANZ. To establish each local registry, hospitals and clinicians within a jurisdiction were approached to voluntarily contribute to the registry following relevant ethical approval. Patient contact occurs following notification of prostate cancer through a hospital or pathology report, or from a cancer registry. Patient registration is based on an opt‐out model. The PCOR‐ANZ is a secure web‐based registry adhering to ISO 27001 standards. Based on a standardised minimum data set, information on demographics, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, and patient reported quality of life, are collected.

Results

Eight of nine jurisdictions have agreed to contribute to the PCOR‐ANZ. Each jurisdiction has commenced implementation of necessary infrastructure to support rapid rollout. PCOR‐ANZ has defined a minimum data set for collection, to enable analysis of key quality indicators that will aid in assessing clinical practice and patient focused outcomes.

Conclusion

PCOR‐ANZ will provide a useful resource of risk‐adjusted evidence‐based data to clinicians, hospitals, and decision makers on prostate cancer clinical practice.
An in vitro study on disinfection of titanium surfaces
Authors: Widodo Arifo , Spratt David , Sousa Vanessa , Petrie Aviva , Donos Nikolaos
Published: February 2016

Objective

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficacy of different methods used for the decontamination of titanium surfaces previously infected with a Staphylococcus aureus biofilm.

Materials and Methods

S. aureus biofilms were grown on three different titanium surfaces (n = 114); polished, sandblasted large‐grit acid‐etched (SLA) and SLActive. The experimental groups were divided into six different disinfection modalities as follows: (i) rinsing with phosphate‐buffered saline, (ii) rinsing with chlorhexidine digluconate 0.2% (CHX), (iii) application of photodynamic therapy (PDT), (iv) use of cotton pellet, (v) use of titanium brush (TiB) and (vi) the use of TiB and PDT. The decontamination effect of each modality was evaluated by microbial culture analysis and by scanning electron microscopy imaging. Two‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni's post hoc comparisons were used to compare mean differences between colony‐forming units per millilitre (CFU/ml) values, surfaces and treatments (P < 0.025).

Results

This study demonstrated that the combination protocol (TiB and PDT) was the most effective in reducing S. aureus (P < 0.025) on polished (2.0 × 103 CFU/Disc) and SLA surface (6.9 × 103 CFU/Disc). On the SLActive surface, the combination treatment was not significantly different to the TiB group (1.0 × 105 CFU/Disc) or the PDT group (2.0 × 105 CFU/Disc).

Conclusion

The combined technique of TiB and PDT was shown to be an efficient method in reducing the number of S. aureus in both polished and rough titanium surfaces. These findings prompt further investigations in titanium decontamination techniques with a combination of TiB and PDT within a natural microcosm bacterial environment.
A diversity of peri‐implant mucosal thickness by site
Authors: Fuchigami Kei , Munakata Motohiro , Kitazume Takaaki , Tachikawa Noriko , Kasugai Shohei , Kuroda Shinji
Published: February 2016

Objectives

The objective of this study was to examine peri‐implant mucosal thickness at different sites of peri‐implant crevice around 70 implants placed in 35 patients.

Material and methods

The peri‐implant mucosal thickness was defined as distance of the peri‐implant mucosal margin and the coronal edge of bone/implant contact and measured using the cast models and dental radiography.

Results

The overall mean peri‐implant mucosal thickness was 3.6 ± 1.4 mm, wherein maxillary anterior implants, maxillary posterior implants and mandibular posterior implants had significantly different dimensions of median thickness of 4.25, 3.75 and 3.0 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the mesial and distal sites of those positioned implants measured unevenness in the thickness especially in the maxillary posterior region with statistical significance.

Conclusion

The proposed methodology to evaluate peri‐implant mucosal thickness measured with a big variation from overall 3.6 mm with a big variation from 1.6 to 7.0 mm in healthy volunteers. And significant difference was found in the depth among the three regions and, statistically, dispersion of individual peri‐implant mucosal thickness resulted in lack of consistency. Although dental implants have been well developed, predictable and prevailing prosthetics, onset of peri‐implantitis might be inevitable in some cases. Therefore, establishment of a standardized dimensional diagnosis of peri‐implant tissues followed by pathologic ascertainment could be taken into account for the prevention or curing of peri‐implantitis.
Evaluating the efficacy of restoration plantings through DNA barcoding of frugivorous bird diets
Authors: Galimberti A. , Spinelli S. , Bruno A. , Mezzasalma V. , De Mattia F. , Cortis P. , Labra M.
Published: February 2016

Frugivores are critical components of restoration programs because they are seed dispersers. Thus, knowledge about bird–plant trophic relationships is essential in the evaluation of the efficacy of restoration processes. Traditionally, the diet of frugivores is characterized by microscopically identifying plant residues in droppings, which is time‐consuming, requires botanical knowledge, and cannot be used for fragments lacking detectable morphological characteristics (e.g., fragmented seeds and skins). We examined whether DNA barcoding can be used as a universal tool to rapidly characterize the diet of a frugivorous bird, Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla). We used the DNA barcoding results to assess restoration efforts and monitor the diversity of potentially dispersed plants in a protected area in northern Italy. We collected 642 Eurasian Blackcap droppings at the restored site during the autumn migration over 3 years. Intact seeds and fragmented plant material were analyzed at 2 plastidial barcode loci (rbcL and trnH‐psbA), and the resulting plant identifications were validated by comparison with a reference molecular data set of local flora. At least 17 plant species, including 7 of the 11 newly transplanted taxa, were found. Our results demonstrate the potential for DNA barcoding to be used to monitor the effectiveness of restoration plantings and to obtain information about fruit consumption and dispersal of invasive or unexpected plant species. Such an approach provides valuable information that could be used to study local plant biodiversity and to survey its evolution over time.
Transfer of Perceptual Expertise: The Case of Simplified and Traditional Chinese Character Recognition
Authors: Liu Tianyin , Chuk Tin Yim , Yeh Su‐Ling , Hsiao Janet H.
Published: February 2016

Expertise in Chinese character recognition is marked by reduced holistic processing (HP), which depends mainly on writing rather than reading experience. Here we show that, while simplified and traditional Chinese readers demonstrated a similar level of HP when processing characters shared between the simplified and traditional scripts, simplified Chinese readers were less holistic than traditional Chinese readers in perceiving simplified characters; this effect depended mainly on their writing rather than reading performance. However, the two groups did not differ in HP of traditional characters, regardless of their difference in reading and writing performances. Our image analysis showed high visual similarity between the two character types, with a larger variance among simplified characters; this may allow simplified Chinese readers to interpolate and generalize their skills to traditional characters. Thus, transfer of perceptual expertise may be constrained by both the similarity in feature and the difference in exemplar variance between the categories.
Pneumocystis pneumonia in non‐HIV children: a 10‐year retrospective study
Authors: Ling Chen , Qian Suyun , Wang Quan , Zeng Jiansheng , Jia Xinlei , Liu Jun , Li Zheng
Published: February 2016

Background

Pneumocytis pneumonia (PCP) is a life‐threatening disease in non‐HIV infected children. However, there have been few studies that have examined the clinical characteristics associated with PCP and outcomes for these pediatric patients.

Objectives

A retrospective review was performed over a 10‐year period to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcome of non‐HIV children diagnosed with PCP at Beijing Children's Hospital in China.

Results

A total of 60 non‐HIV children diagnosed with PCP were included in the study. The overall mortality was 41.7% (25/60). Underlying diseases included connective tissue disease (n = 23; 38.3%), hematological disease (n = 14; 23.3%), nephrotic disease (n = 8; 13.3%) and immunodeficiency disease (n = 10; 16.7%). In all, 26/40 (65.0%) children developed PCP after receiving a follow‐up large dose of glucocorticoid because of recurrent disease. Median time from beginning glucocorticoid medication to PCP diagnosis was 245.9 days (range: 14–2100 days). The area under the ROC curve of CD4/CD8 T cell levels for the diagnosis of PCP was 0.902 (95% confidence interval, 0.849–0.955). The analysis rendered an optimum cut‐off value of 0.715 corresponding to 89.2% sensitivity and 80.4% specificity. Using a multivariate logistic regression model, three parameters were identified as significantly associated with mortality: LDH level, mechanical ventilation and co‐infection.

Conclusion

The outcome of PCP in non‐HIV children remains poor. A critical stage for PCP development is administration of follow‐up glucocorticoid without prophylaxis. CD4/CD8 ratio is a suitable biomarker for predicting PCP and diagnostic of PCP in non‐HIV children. Poor prognostic factors include LDH level, need for mechanical ventilation and co‐infection.
Paradigm Shift in the Surveillance and Management of Dysplasia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (West)
Authors: Soetikno Roy , Kaltenbach Tonya , McQuaid Kenneth R , Subramanian Venkataraman , Kumar Rahul , Barkun Alan N , Laine Loren
Published: February 2016

Patients with long‐standing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) colitis have a 2.4‐fold higher risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) than the general population, for both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) colitis. Surveillance colonoscopy is recommended to detect early CRC and dysplasia. Most dysplasia discovered in patients with IBD is actually visible. Recently published SCENIC (Surveillance for Colorectal Endoscopic Neoplasia Detection and Management in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: International Consensus Recommendations) consensus statements provide unifying recommendations for the optimal surveillance and management of dysplasia in IBD. SCENIC followed the prescribed processes for guideline development from the Institute of Medicine (USA), including systematic reviews, full synthesis of evidence and deliberations by panelists, and incorporation of the GRADE methodology. The new surveillance paradigm involves high‐quality visual inspection of the mucosa, using chromoendoscopy and high‐definition colonoscopy, with endoscopic recognition of colorectal dysplasia. Lesions are described according to a new classification, which replaces the term ‘dysplasia associated lesion or mass (DALM)’ and its derivatives. Targeted biopsies are subsequently done on areas suspicious for dysplasia, and resections are carried out for discrete, resectable lesions.
Helicobacter pylori‐negative and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs‐negative idiopathic peptic ulcers show refractoriness and high recurrence incidence: Multicenter follow‐up study of peptic ulcers in Japan
Authors: Kanno Takeshi , Iijima Katsunori , Abe Yasuhiko , Yagi Makoto , Asonuma Sho , Ohyauchi Motoki , Ito Hirotaka , Koike Tomoyuki , Shimosegawa Tooru
Published: February 2016

Background and Aim

Helicobacter pylori‐negative and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)‐negative idiopathic peptic ulcers (IPU) have attracted attention in Japan and other developed countries. The aim of the present study was to clarify the healing rate of IPU and the risk of recurrence.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective follow‐up study of patients with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) who were diagnosed in our previous multicenter‐prospective study. Three hundred and eighty‐two patients from four institutions in the Tohoku district were enrolled. Enrolled subjects were divided into four groups according to H. pylori infection and intake of NSAIDs. In these patients, we checked treatment course, healing rate during 3 months, and recurrence rate.

Results

Healing rates in the: (i) simple H. pylori group; (ii) H. pylori (+)/ NSAIDs (+) group, (iii) simple NSAIDs group; and (iv) IPU group, were 95.0%, 94.9%, 73.3%, and 77.4%, respectively. The healing rate of the IPU group was significantly lower than that of both the simple H. pylori group and the H. pylori (+)/ NSAIDs (+) group (P < 0.01). The recurrence rate of 13.9% in the IPU group was much higher than the 2.1% in the simple H. pylori group (P < 0.01). Additionally, the cumulative recurrence rates by the Kaplan–Meier method in the IPU group were significantly higher than those of the simple H. pylori group (P = 0.015).

Conclusion

We demonstrated that the clinical course of peptic ulcers is considerably different depending on the cause. IPU could be refractory to treatment and prone to recur compared with simple H. pylori ulcers.
Parietal hyper‐connectivity, aberrant brain organization, and circuit‐based biomarkers in children with mathematical disabilities
Authors: Jolles Dietsje , Ashkenazi Sarit , Kochalka John , Evans Tanya , Richardson Jennifer , Rosenberg‐Lee Miriam , Zhao Hui , Supekar Kaustubh , Chen Tianwen , Menon Vinod
Published: February 2016

Mathematical disabilities (MD) have a negative life‐long impact on professional success, employment, and health outcomes. Yet little is known about the intrinsic functional brain organization that contributes to poor math skills in affected children. It is now increasingly recognized that math cognition requires coordinated interaction within a large‐scale fronto‐parietal network anchored in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS). Here we characterize intrinsic functional connectivity within this IPS‐network in children with MD, relative to a group of typically developing (TD) children who were matched on age, gender, IQ, working memory, and reading abilities. Compared to TD children, children with MD showed hyper‐connectivity of the IPS with a bilateral fronto‐parietal network. Importantly, aberrant IPS connectivity patterns accurately discriminated children with MD and TD children, highlighting the possibility for using IPS connectivity as a brain‐based biomarker of MD. To further investigate regional abnormalities contributing to network‐level deficits in children with MD, we performed whole‐brain analyses of intrinsic low‐frequency fluctuations. Notably, children with MD showed higher low‐frequency fluctuations in multiple fronto‐parietal areas that overlapped with brain regions that exhibited hyper‐connectivity with the IPS. Taken together, our findings suggest that MD in children is characterized by robust network‐level aberrations, and is not an isolated dysfunction of the IPS. We hypothesize that intrinsic hyper‐connectivity and enhanced low‐frequency fluctuations may limit flexible resource allocation, and contribute to aberrant recruitment of task‐related brain regions during numerical problem solving in children with MD.
The Effects of Form‐Focused Instruction on the Acquisition of Subject‐Verb Inversion in German
Authors: Lindseth Martina
Published: February 2016

This study examines the effects of form‐focused instruction (FFI) on the acquisition of subject‐verb inversion word order in declarative sentences in German. A group of U.S. college students who participated in a semester‐long study abroad program in Germany and were comparable in terms of preprogram oral proficiency levels and accuracy scores in the use of the target structure in spontaneous production was split into experimental and control groups. During one‐hour sessions outside of the regular, content‐based courses, all students engaged in incidental FFI. The experimental group also received short treatments of instructor‐planned FFI on inversion during these extra sessions. Official ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interviews were used to obtain spontaneous speech samples before and after the program, and data on frequency and accuracy in the use of the target structure were extracted from these samples. The experimental group had significantly higher accuracy scores than the control group at the end of the program. The findings suggest that isolated FFI provided in intensive, planned lesson modules targeting a specific structure may help learners progress faster toward accurate use of this structure in spontaneous speech.
Instructional Decision Making and IPAs: Assessing the Modes of Communication
Authors: Kissau Scott , Adams Mary Jo
Published: February 2016

Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs) provide elementary, secondary, and postsecondary instructors with the opportunity to align standards‐based foreign language instruction with assessment practices. While IPA guidelines make it clear that all three modes of communication are to be assessed, the limited body of research on IPAs provides few insights into the extent to which teachers emphasize and assess each of the modes or to the factors that influence teachers' decision making. Using a mixed methodology, the researchers analyzed teachers' assessments in nine introductory K–12 foreign language classes and interviewed both teachers and students about assessment beliefs and practices. The findings suggest that teachers placed greater emphasis on the assessment of interpretive reading and presentational writing than on interpretive listening and interpersonal speaking. This unbalanced emphasis on the three communicative modes contrasted with teachers' stated beliefs and appeared to be due to a variety of logistical challenges and prior experiences. Recommendations to facilitate greater balance of assessment across all three modes of communication are offered.
A Simple Field Method for Assessing Near‐Surface Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity
Authors: Lewis J.
Published: February 2016

This technical note describes an effective and inexpensive field technique for measuring the saturated hydraulic conductivity of both undisturbed cores and repacked soil samples. The method requires no specialized equipment; everything that is required can be obtained in a hardware store. The method is a straightforward field implementation of the widely used falling‐head laboratory analysis directly derived from Darcy's law. As such, it sidesteps the need for empirical assumptions about soil texture and the relationship between saturated and unsaturated flow components which many permeameter‐based methods rely upon. The method is shown to produce results that are consistent with K values obtained elsewhere in the same homogeneous sand formation. Furthermore, the proposed method is useful for measuring hydraulic conductivity in drill cuttings obtained from direct push or auguring drill techniques, which cannot be done with any other field method. The range of hydraulic conductivity values that this test is appropriate for is on the order of 1E − 7 m/s to 1E − 3 m/s.
Effects of climate change and habitat loss on a forest‐dependent bee species in a tropical fragmented landscape
Authors: Nemésio André , Silva Daniel P. , Nabout João Carlos , Varela Sara
Published: February 2016

Climate change and deforestation are suggested to be the main drivers of decline in pollinators. Forest‐dependent species are expected to be the most affected and Euglossa marianae Nemésio (Hymenoptera: Apidae), an endemic species of the highly fragmented Brazilian Atlantic Forest (AF), is believed to be declining as a consequence of human impact.

Over the last 17 years, we carried out field surveys to unveil its distribution, allowing us to investigate the potential effects of global climate change on this species, from the last glacial maximum into the future, using species distribution models. Our main goals were to: (i) identify populations potentially under risk of extinction given future climate change; (ii) quantify the amount of climatically suitable and climatically stable areas for E. marianae within AF; (iii) evaluate the area that are available as natural habitat and under legal protection, in an attempt to indicate priority areas to preserve this species.

The most stable areas for maintaining populations of E. marianae were located in southern Bahia and northern Espírito Santo states, a region severely affected by deforestation and with several protected areas. Climate change per se does not seem to be the major problem for E. marianae. It may constitute an indirect problem given the limited dispersal abilities of this species, however.

Climatically suitable areas will probably increase southwards in the future, but the extreme fragmentation of AF adds great uncertainty as to whether the species will disperse southwards, to regions such as the ‘Serra do Mar’ in northeastern São Paulo.
Effectiveness of Azadirachta indica (neem) mouthrinse in plaque and gingivitis control: a systematic review
Authors: Dhingra K , Vandana KL
Published: February 2016

Objectives

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of Azadirachta indica (neem)‐based herbal mouthrinse in improving plaque control and gingival health.

Methods

Literature search was accomplished using electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and EMBASE) and manual searching, up to February 2015, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) presenting clinical data for efficacy of neem mouthrinses when used alone or as an adjunct to mechanical oral hygiene as compared to chlorhexidine mouthrinses for controlling plaque and gingival inflammation in patients with gingivitis.

Results

Of the total 206 articles searched, three randomized controlled trials evaluating neem‐based herbal mouthrinses were included. Due to marked heterogeneity observed in study characteristics, meta‐analysis was not performed. These studies reported that neem mouthrinse was as effective as chlorhexidine mouthrinse when used as an adjunct to toothbrushing in reducing plaque and gingival inflammation in gingivitis patients. However, the quality of reporting and evidence along with methods of studies was generally flawed with unclear risk of bias.

Conclusion

Despite the promising results shown in existing randomized controlled trials, the evidence concerning the clinical use of neem mouthrinses is lacking and needs further reinforcement with high‐quality randomized controlled trials based on the reporting guidelines of herbal CONSORT statement.
Micro‐computed tomography analysis of post space preparation in root canals filled with carrier‐based thermoplasticized gutta‐percha
Authors: Schroeder A. A. , Ford N. L. , Coil J. M.
Published: February 2016

Aim

To determine whether post space preparation deviated from the root canal preparation in canals filled with Thermafil, GuttaCore or warm vertically compacted gutta‐percha.

Methodology

Forty‐two extracted human permanent maxillary lateral incisors were decoronated, and their root canals instrumented using a standardized protocol. Samples were divided into three groups and filled with Thermafil (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties, Johnson City, TN, USA), GuttaCore (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties) or warm vertically compacted gutta‐percha, before post space preparation was performed with a GT Post drill (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties). Teeth were scanned using micro‐computed tomography after root filling and again after post space preparation. Scans were examined for number of samples with post space deviation, linear deviation of post space preparation and minimum root thickness before and after post space preparation. Parametric data were analysed with one‐way analysis of variance (anova) or one‐tailed paired Student's t‐tests, whilst nonparametric data were analysed with Fisher's exact test.

Results

Deviation occurred in eight of forty‐two teeth (19%), seven of fourteen from the Thermafil group (50%), one of fourteen from the GuttaCore group (7%), and none from the gutta‐percha group. Deviation occurred significantly more often in the Thermafil group than in each of the other two groups (P < 0.05). Linear deviation of post space preparation was greater in the Thermafil group than in both of the other groups and was significantly greater than that of the gutta‐percha group (P < 0.05). Minimum root thickness before post space preparation was significantly greater than it was after post space preparation for all groups (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

The differences between the Thermafil, GuttaCore and gutta‐percha groups in the number of samples with post space deviation and in linear deviation of post space preparation were associated with the presence or absence of a carrier as well as the different carrier materials.
Compositional analysis of protoporphyrinogen oxidase‐inhibiting herbicide‐tolerant rice and conventional rice
Authors: Nam Kyong‐Hee , Park Kee Woong , Han Sung Min , Kim Shin‐Woo , Lee Jae‐Hak , Kim Chang‐Gi
Published: February 2016

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) is a key enzyme of peroxidising herbicides. Transgenic rice event CPPO06, which overexpresses PPO gene derived from soil bacterium, Myxococcus xanthus, showed high resistance to PPO inhibitors. This study was designed to compare the compositional profile of rice event CPPO06 with that of conventional control and commercial cultivars. Field trials were carried out in the three different regions of South Korea during the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. After harvesting, brown rice samples were analysed for their proximates, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. Over 2‐year field trials, statistical differences between rice event CPPO06 and its control were found for crude protein, aspartic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, copper and potassium. However, all the tested values for these components were both within the 99% tolerance interval for the commercial cultivars and within the literature ranges. It was concluded that rice event CPPO06 is compositionally equivalent to that of the conventional rice.
Stability of fructooligosaccharides, sugars and colour of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) roots during blanching and drying
Authors: Campos David , Aguilar‐Galvez Ana , Pedreschi Romina
Published: February 2016

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) root is an important source of fructooligosaccharides (FOS). This study evaluated the influence of the blanching and drying processes on the sugars, FOS and colour of the obtained flour. Blanching in boiling water of 5 mm slices for 6 min allowed to inactivate 95% of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity. Blanching solutions containing ascorbic, citric and lactic acid were detrimental in terms of FOS retention (68.2–87.4%) due to hydrolysis mainly of GF3, GF4 and GF5 FOS, and also important losses of reducing sugars (RS) were observed (69.5–87.4% retention). Blanching treatments that included ascorbic acid/CaCl2 prevented RS and FOS losses and improved colour of the obtained flour. The drying tested temperatures of 50–80 °C did not affect the RS retention and FOS losses associated to hydrolysis and the use of 80 °C rapidly reduced the water content and minimised browning reactions yielding flours with excellent colour characteristics with high FOS content that can be derived to the elaboration of prebiotic containing functional foods or for the extraction and purification of FOS.
The Formation of Transnational Identity among French Immigrants Employed in French‐Speaking Companies in Israel
Authors: Amit Karin , Bar‐Lev Shirly
Published: February 2016

This study focuses on the formation of a transnational identity among immigrants from France who are employed in French‐speaking companies in Israel (mostly call‐centres). The preliminary qualitative analysis shows that this unique employment pattern contributes to the formation of their transnational identity, which is a combination of their francophone, Jewish and Israeli identity. The findings obtained from a larger‐scale online survey indicated that French immigrants employed in French‐speaking companies are more ethnically, socially and culturally segregated, and less fluent in Hebrew than French immigrants who are not employed in such companies. However, no significant differences were found between these two groups in their Israeli identity and sense of belonging to Israeli society. In general, the French immigrants feel at home in Israel, are satisfied with their life in Israel and plan to remain there. The implications of these findings for policymakers are discussed.
Injuries Reported and Recorded for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Who Live with Paid Support in Scotland: a Comparison with Scottish Adults in the General Population
Authors: Petropoulou Evangelia , Finlayson Janet , Hay Margaret , Spencer Wendy , Park Richard , Tannock Hugh , Galbraith Erin , Godwin Jon , Skelton Dawn A.
Published: February 2016

Background

Providers of supported living services to adults with intellectual disabilities (IDs) in the United Kingdom have procedures in place to monitor injuries; this provides opportunity to learn about the injuries being reported and recorded. The aim was to determine the incidence, causes and types of injuries experienced by 593 adults with intellectual disabilities who live with paid support in a 12‐month period.

Method

Injury data, collected via a standard electronic injury monitoring system, were compared with data collected for a matched sample of the general population in the same year.

Results

The adults with intellectual disabilities experienced a higher rate of injury. Falls were the commonest cause of injury for both samples, but significantly more so for the adults with intellectual disabilities.

Conclusions

The higher rate of injuries, particularly minor injuries, being reported suggests a culture of injury reporting and recording within these supported living services. Electronic injury monitoring is recommended for organizations providing supported living services for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Anticancer efficacy of a nitric oxide‐modified derivative of bifendate against multidrug‐resistant cancer cells
Authors: Ren Zhiguang , Gu Xiaoke , Lu Bin , Chen Yaqiong , Chen Guojiang , Feng Jiannan , Lin Jizhen , Zhang Yihua , Peng Hui
Published: February 2016

The development of multidrug resistance (MDR) not only actively transports a wide range of cytotoxic drugs across drug transporters but is also a complex interaction between a number of important cellular signalling pathways. Nitric oxide donors appear to be a new class of anticancer therapeutics for satisfying all the above conditions. Previously, we reported furoxan‐based nitric oxide‐releasing compounds that exhibited selective antitumour activity in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we demonstrate that bifendate (DDB)‐nitric oxide, a synthetic furoxan‐based nitric oxide‐releasing derivative of bifendate, effectively inhibits the both sensitive and MDR tumour cell viability at a comparatively low concentration. Interestingly, the potency of DDB‐nitric oxide is the independent of inhibition of the functions and expressions of three major ABC transporters. The mechanism of DDB‐nitric oxide appears to be in two modes of actions by inducing mitochondrial tyrosine nitration and apoptosis, as well as by down‐regulating HIF‐1α expression and protein kinase B (AKT), extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK), nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) activation in MDR cells. Moreover, the addition of a typical nitric oxide scavenger significantly attenuated all the effects of DDB‐nitric oxide, indicating that the cytotoxicity of DDB‐nitric oxide is as a result of higher levels of nitric oxide release in MDR cancer cells. Given that acquired MDR to nitric oxide donors is reportedly difficult to achieve and genetically unstable, compound like DDB‐nitric oxide may be a new type of therapeutic agent for the treatment of MDR tumours.
Behavioural response to combined insecticide and temperature stress in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Fournier‐Level A. , Neumann‐Mondlak A. , Good R. T. , Green L. M. , Schmidt J. M. , Robin C.
Published: February 2016

Insecticide resistance evolves extremely rapidly, providing an illuminating model for the study of adaptation. With climate change reshaping species distribution, pest and disease vector control needs rethinking to include the effects of environmental variation and insect stress physiology. Here, we assessed how both long‐term adaptation of populations to temperature and immediate temperature variation affect the genetic architecture of DDT insecticide response in Drosophila melanogaster. Mortality assays and behavioural assays based on continuous activity monitoring were used to assess the interaction between DDT and temperature on three field‐derived populations from climate extremes (Raleigh for warm temperate, Tasmania for cold oceanic and Queensland for hot tropical). The Raleigh population showed the highest mortality to DDT, whereas the Queensland population, epicentre for derived alleles of the resistance gene Cyp6g1, showed the lowest. Interaction between insecticide and temperature strongly affected mortality, particularly for the Tasmanian population. Activity profiles analysed using self‐organizing maps show that the insecticide promoted an early response, whereas elevated temperature promoted a later response. These distinctive early or later activity phases revealed similar responses to temperature and DDT dose alone but with more or less genetic variance depending on the population. This change in genetic variance among populations suggests that selection particularly depleted genetic variance for DDT response in the Queensland population. Finally, despite similar (co)variation between traits in benign conditions, the genetic responses across population differed under stressful conditions. This showed how stress‐responsive genetic variation only reveals itself in specific conditions and thereby escapes potential trade‐offs in benign environments.